While it’s no secret that the second season of Star Trek: Picard will feature a check-in with the enigmatic Guinan (Patrick Stewart went on The View just to invite Whoopi Goldberg back!), the finale of season 1 has left some fans wondering when we might see other alumni from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Now, we seem to have an answer!
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, LeVar Burton very strongly hinted at the return of Geordi LaForge in the upcoming second season.
“How do I say this without getting in trouble…I think that is reasonable to assume that those people are still a part of Picard’s life and—sure, what the hell—yeah, absolutely!” he said, per io9. “You’ll see us all, probably not all at the same time but, you know, never say never.”
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That sure sounds like a yes. If so, that’s three characters so far (aside from our titular retired admiral, of course) that we can probably expect to see in Picard season 2. Last month, Brent Spiner said in an interview with TV Guide that he would “absolutely” love to reprise his role as Dr. Altan Inigo Soong. (Sadly, this is not the case with Data, whom the actor confirmed he’s finished playing.) Before that, in January, Sir Patrick Stewart appeared on The View so he could invite Whoopi Goldberg to reprise her role as Guinan. And let’s not forget everyone’s favorite counselor and captain-turned-pizza-chef.
While a list of returning and new cast-members has yet to be released, Stewart has shared the show’s intentions to bring back more familiar faces. “It is my hope that whenever the series wraps, we will have encountered all the principal actors from Next Generation,” he said during a panel at TCA in January, Deadline reports.
Geordi is a particularly interesting character to revisit, considering Picard‘s synth-heavy and Data-heavy story arc. In the Picard: Countdown comics, Geordi was also named as one of the engineering minds behind the rapid construction of the Romulan rescue fleet…the very same one blown up by synths clearly based on Soong androids.
So. Geordi has a lot to unpack, too, is what we’re getting at.
There’s no word yet on when Picard might be returning, since the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shut down the entertainment industry indefinitely. In the meantime, check out our thoughts on the nostalgic potential of season 2, or director/writer/executive producer Akiva Goldsman’s treatment for a Picard coronavirus episode.
Did someone forget Troi?!!!!
If you’re referring to characters appearing in Season 1, the article mentions “everyone’s favorite counselor and captain-turned-pizza chef,” so Troi was certainly included.
I am glad we’ll see Geordi again, and I hope they bring back Beverly. Even though the timeline has not shaken out as it could have in “All Good Things…” I believe those two still have unfinished business.
Frankly, I’d even be open to seeing Wesley come back, since his presence at the wedding in Nemesis was never explained. I thought he’d ascended to a higher plane or something with the Traveler… does he just pop back in to slum as a human again sometimes?
I have to admit, I still really am wishing to see Q. Not just because I particularly like the character, but aside from his interaction with Picard, his interactions with Data were among my favorite, and he was also connected to the Borg plotline as well as ‘what’s out there’. I kept hoping he would show up; although doing that without being a deus ex machina would be iffy.
And definitely seconded on Crusher.
Having Q not be John de Lancie would be weird. Having Q be a decades-older John de Lancie would also be weird.
I would love to see John de Lancie as Q, although as @5 points out, it would be kinda weird. What I would also love to see, in that case, is John Mulaney as Q, something I’ve seen thrown around in a few places.
I love John Mulaney, but I honestly don’t see why Q couldn’t appear however he wants, including as an older self (especially if he thought he might be able to get under Picard’s skin with it).
Hey, they de-aged Brent Spiner to play Data in a few scenes. I don’t see why they couldn’t do likewise with John de Lancie. They could do a scene with young Q, then [flash] he makes himself older to get down on Picard’s level or something. Full of mockery, of course.
Oh, yes, Q would appear as older just to annoy Picard more.
And then he’d run through various outrageous appearances (I shall leave those to the reader’s imagination), all with deLancie’s voice, until Picard finally says “all right, be the first one.”
I still think the funniest way to handle a Q appearance would be to leave it completely ambiguous as to whether or not this is the SAME Q whose mischief-making we’ve been following for decades; just have a member of the Continuum show up, proclaim “I am Q” then proceed as usual (without deigning to explain which Q they happen to be).
One would also like to note that cameo I’m most hoping for is one by USS Enterprise; preferably Sovereign-class, but I’m happy to see the old girl in her next incarnation as well! (Oh, and it would be interesting to see Geordi La Forge as a member of the ‘Save Romulans’ movement that actually stuck with Starfleet; if nothing else this would allow some new and potentially interesting angles on that unfortunate situation). (-:
It also occurs to me that he could bring in his hokey mariachi band and annoy the heck out of Rios too ;)
And I feel like the Elnor/Q interactions could also be pretty interesting because Elnor would probably haaaaate him.
He’s not TNG but I’d love to see (even if it’s just a cameo) Benjamin Sisko returned from the wormhole and reunited with his wife and kid.
Aside from the Picard comics, Geordi was also in the Last Best Hope novel tie in, so that would make sense…And BTW, am I the only one who would love to see Barclay make an appearance…
Yea, Q appearing to Picard as similarly aged would be something I’d expect. Plus, he’s already done it in “All Good Things” so there is a precedent. I’d love to see some more Q snark in the new show :)
@12: I highly doubt Avery Brooks would return to the Star Trek franchise in any capacity. He’s not even interested in being interviewed regarding Star Trek, per his declining to participate in the recent DS9 documentary. Therefore, I would presume he wouldn’t get involved in something even more active like acting.
I’d love to see Worf back.
@15: Well they could have a Kasidy Yates cameo to give an update.