In this super-sized episode, Jamala joins Jarrah and Sue to look back at the first season of Star Trek: Picard. We discuss overall impressions; new and returning characters; themes of xenophobia, mental health, queer representation, government corruption, sexuality; and SO much more.
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Hosts: Jarrah, Sue
Guest: Jamala Henderson
Editor: Andi
Transcription: Grace
Download Transcript: PDF or Word
Check out our Season 1 recaps:
Ep 1: Remembrance
Ep 2: Maps and Legends
Ep 3: The End is the Beginning
Ep 4: Absolute Candor
Ep 5: Stardust City Rag
Ep 6: The Impossible Box
Ep 7: Nepenthe
Ep 8: Broken Pieces
Ep 9: Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1
Ep 10: Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2
I totally agree with you. The recovery after talking to Rios does feel very fast, and hopefully they’ll talk about that further. It is really unfortunate that the Earth of the future doesn’t have a better way to approach/talk about addiction. In the podcast episode you mention Chabon talking about how this is more of a representation of our society now, which explains why they did something along these lines. Our society does struggle with its approach to addiction and has many different ways of helping those who suffer from addiction. It could have been done better, but I think it was rushed in some places to better suit the narrative. I really think it goes back to the same issue with minority/LGBTQ casting and killing off minority/LGBTQ characters. The writers and show runner are trying to be inclusive but aren’t making the effort to really think beyond that when they use those characters in the story. Rafi’s addiction storyline was rushed because they needed it to be, not because they were worried about realism. Which is really unfortunate because it does seem to reinforce the false impression that you can just “want” to not be an addict anymore. That as long as you love someone enough they can recover.
In regards to Rafi’s addiction story line, I didn’t think it was that unrealistic. As a child of an addict I’ve experienced the “I haven’t done drugs in x amount of days, I’m better now”. Her son’s reaction was 100% natural feeling. I can only imagine how may times he’s heard that before. I also felt the ambivalence the others met her relapse with to be common. When you know an addict, even love one, you become almost numb to their waves of destructive behavior. Especially the longer they fight the help available to them. It was maybe more surprising that Jurati wasn’t as worried since she didn’t know Rafi as well as the others did but Jurati didn’t do much outside of what she was manipulated into doing. It was a different way of telling an addiction storyline in media than has been done in the past. It felt more real and less of a shocking anti-drug PSA hidden behind a movie or television program.
Thanks Kourinthia. I really appreciate your perspective on this. I agree the scene with her son is very believable. I was more questioning whether we’re supposed to believe she recovers after just talking with Rios and also whether 24th century society should’ve developed any better ways to approach the issue of addiction.
Give Robert Picardo a talk show. Call it “Star Trek: Picardo”.