Picard Season 3

[Mort]

It's a reasonable upgrade to their appearance, given both improved CGI and a more mature rating. Makes it feel like they're still living beings, even in goo form.

The bucket was a little weird. A changeling could rest in pretty much any enclosed container, such as the various drawers Seven was rummaging through, or could just replicate a bucket as needed and then return it to the mass buffer afterwards.

Yeah, them showing a "changeling" bucket and then having that be exactly what Seven finds was a bit of plot contrivance. But it moved quickly and didn't detract from the episode, IMO.

 

[Ryujin]

It's a reasonable upgrade to their appearance, given both improved CGI and a more mature rating. Makes it feel like they're still living beings, even in goo form.

The bucket was a little weird. A changeling could rest in pretty much any enclosed container, such as the various drawers Seven was rummaging through, or could just replicate a bucket as needed and then return it to the mass buffer afterwards.

I figured that the bucket was just fan service.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Yeah, them showing a "changeling" bucket and then having that be exactly what Seven finds was a bit of plot contrivance. But it moved quickly and didn't detract from the episode, IMO.

Indeed. If they'd had a longer episode and a lot of time to explain they could have had, say, the bucket be shielded from scans or special in some other way justifying its existence, but it wasn't totally implausible.

 

[Ryujin]

Yeah, them showing a "changeling" bucket and then having that be exactly what Seven finds was a bit of plot contrivance. But it moved quickly and didn't detract from the episode, IMO.

Having the "Changeling bucket" of a random Changeling look pretty much exactly like Odo's, that he got on Bejora, was a pretty blatant thing. Then again if that's the only thing I have to complain about in the episode...

 

[MarkB]

Having the "Changeling bucket" of a random Changeling look pretty much exactly like Odo's, that he got on Bejora, was a pretty blatant thing. Then again if that's the only thing I have to complain about in the episode...

That kind-of works, the changelings all modelled their looks on Odo's, which was modelled on a Bajoran, so maybe when they need to replicate buckets out in the field, they go with the same style as his.

 

[Stalker0]

I agree, this episode was, by far, the best ,and hope it goes up from here! Sadly this is leading me to conclude, much as I like the actress, is that the best Rafi is no Rafi - we'll see if the show can fix that.

One big gripe:

Spoiler

Did they REALLY have to make Shaw's beef with Picard be near identical to Sisco's problem with Picard? Granted, there would be PLENTY of officers with the same issue (well as many as are left, it was over 30 years ago) but it came off as so Samey. And if they were going for a call back, for me, it fell flat.

Other than that though, big improvement and great episode.

Spoiler

While its the same cause, the two are ultimately handling it in very different ways.

For Sisko, its anger and loss at the death of his wife. In a way he sees Picard as the man who killed his wife.

For Shaw, its survivor's guilt. He has more a PTSD scenario, and Picard is the trigger for his trauma.

Ultimately it works for me. Now what doesn't work, is him having Seven as a first officer. Even if an Admiral wanted it, Captains do usually get some say especially in their first officer. That pairing just makes NO sense, unless Shaw is so focused on picard as his trauma he honestly doesn't think of Seven in that way, or maybe even sees Seven in the same light as himself....someone who "survived" the Borg and was traumatized by them.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

That kind-of works, the changelings all modelled their looks on Odo's, which was modelled on a Bajoran, so maybe when they need to replicate buckets out in the field, they go with the same style as his

It probably was just a callback/easteregg for DS9 fans, but if there is a story reason for it, it might also be symbolic to the Rogue Changlings:

When Odo joined the Great Link for good, he probably also shared his experiences with the bucket. The bucket represents a time where he was arguably still the most isolated from everyone around him, and from his people. And when shapechanging was part of the job, but not a fun experience to explore or take joy in.
Only when he grew closer to the crew, and when he learned more about his people did he abandon it, started having his own room with shapeshifting "toys" to explore his ability.

The rogue Changlings are isolated from the Great Link too, and for them, shapechanging right now is a job, something they must do to accomplish their goals, not for the fun of it. Unlike Odo, they'll never make the mistake of falling in love with Solids (at least that's what they believe), but very much like Odo, they seek to return home one day, when they have done what they need to do. The Bucket is a symbol of what they are right now, but also a warning that it will be the rest of their existence if they fail.

 

[bloodtide]

That kind-of works, the changelings all modelled their looks on Odo's, which was modelled on a Bajoran, so maybe when they need to replicate buckets out in the field, they go with the same style as his.

There IS a small chance that they might explain this a bit. Maybe Odo started an "Exchange Program" for Changelings to 'live' in the Alpha Quadrant to learn more about Solids first hand. Basically "recreate" the life Odo had on DS9 and hope the Changeling would understand Solids more and maybe even befriend some. The Odo Exchange Program would teach the Changelings to use a bucket....as that is what Odo did.

It's also possible there is a Changeling Colony on or near Bajor. This again makes sense if done by Odo.

DS9 itself might even have a Changeling Visitors Center for "Changelings new to the Alpha Quadrant". Again likely set up by Odo.....or even Quark. Amazingly, Quark would be a great person to teach a Changeling about "solid social life". Buy a Bucket Bed, just like the great Odo once used, only six bars of gold pressed latinum!

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Terry, Picard Season 3 showrunner, walked right into the Lion's Den, a stream with Critical Drinker, Nerdotic, and David Cullen among a host of others. Dude has nuts of steel, but I think her earned, all but the most fanatical Kurtzmen haters respect. Nothing less then Kurtzmen head on a silver platter drench in gravy made from his own tears will appease Doomcock however so no one bothered to invite him.

 

[Rabulias]

Episode 5 continues the pattern of each episode being better than the last.

I do wonder though: they are making the Changelings so hard to detect that they seem unbeatable. Any victory without a solid (pardon the pun) rationale may seem like cheating or some deus ex machina.

Minor quibbles: So the Changeling's organs only revert to liquid form when dissected very finely, but their blood does not revert when separated from the body? That seems contradictory. Or are they producing a fake blood that is not part of them? And did Dr. Crusher say they had no DNA at all? Maybe that would be a way to detect them? Or is that only when they are dead?

And it was great to see Ro Laren again.