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James Callis earned praise for his portrayal of Gaius Baltar in Battlestar Galactica, but Star Trek wasted him as an actor. Callis delivered one of the most compelling and multi-layered performances in science fiction history with Baltar. This deeply flawed yet endlessly fascinating character became a core pillar of Battlestar Galactica's success, energizing its narrative complexity and supercharging its emotional weight.

Callis’ work as Baltar proved his ability to thrive in the intricate moral and political landscapes often found in high-quality science fiction. As such, Star Trek fans had reason to be excited when Callis was announced as Maurice Picard, the estranged father of Jean-Luc Picard, in Star Trek: Picard. His casting suggested that the role might carry the same dynamic energy and philosophical undertones Callis had embodied as Baltar. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, and the character was nowhere near as meaty as Baltar.

Why Gaius Baltar...

Star Trek: Picard season 2 explores Jean-Luc's childhood trauma with his father Maurice, shedding new light on their complex relationship. James Callis portrays Maurice Picard, Jean-Luc's father, in Star Trek: Picard, adding depth to the character's backstory. Battlestar Galactica's Callis, known for his role as Dr. Gaius Baltar, is now part of two iconic science fiction franchises.

In Star Trek: Picard season 2, Battlestar Galactica's James Callis portrayed Maurice Picard, the father of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). Picking up twenty years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, Star Trek: Picard saw Jean-Luc get pulled into more galaxy-saving adventures with friends both new and old. In Picard season 2, Picard was forced to confront his childhood trauma thanks to interference from Q (John de Lancie). Throughout season 2, Picard experienced flashbacks to his childhood that helped him recontextualize the complex relationship between his parents, Yvette (Madeline Wise) and Maurice Picard.

The Picard family wine predates the Nazi occupation of France and has been available in the Star Trek universe since 2256. Jean-Luc Picard took over the winemaking business during his retirement to honor his family legacy and seek refuge. Chateau Picard wine is disliked by some characters in Star Trek, but is enjoyed by others, like Captain Christopher Pike.

Even before its many Star Trek: Picard appearances, Château Picard has been shipping bottles of Bordeaux across the galaxy throughout Star Trek's history. Now that he's - mostly - retired from Starfleet, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) keeps the family business of winemaking running, a role that his father had always wanted for him. Jean-Luc Picard's issues with his father are well-documented, most notably in Star Trek: Picard season 2 when the meddling of Q (John de Lancie) allowed Jean-Luc to get to the heart of the childhood trauma at the root of their estrangement.

Q's motivation in creating a dystopian alternate reality in Star Trek: Picard season 2 was flawed; he could have achieved his goal by repeating the classic Tng episode "Tapestry" instead. Annie Wersching's portrayal of the Borg Queen in Picard season 2 brought a unique loneliness and vulnerability to the character, providing a fresh spin on the Borg's desire for assimilation. Despite some flaws in the overall story logic, Picard season 2 still had great Star Trek moments, including John de Lancie's brilliant performance as a malevolent Q and the exploration of a Mirror Universe-like dystopia.

Star Trek: Picard season 2 had its flaws, but it had some great moments that developed the character of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and laid the groundwork for the Star Trek: The Next Generation reunion season. The biggest flaw in Picard season 2 was the motivation for Q (John de Lancie) to create a dystopian alternate reality,...

Captain Archer broke the mold of previous Enterprise Captains by adopting a contemporary style, with casual dress and colloquial speech, reflecting the 22nd-century setting of Star Trek: Enterprise. Unlike other Enterprise Captains, Archer didn't have the father issues and familial trauma that characters like Picard had, as he had a good relationship with his father and devoted his life to exploring the galaxy. Captain Archer was the first to bring a pet aboard the Enterprise, his beloved beagle named Porthos, creating a unique bond between man and dog in the vastness of outer space.

Star Trek: Enterprise's Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) both broke and created the mold of Captain of the Enterprise thanks to the series being a prequel. Set from 2151 to 2154, with its final episode glimpsing events from 2161, Enterprise chronicled the first starship by that name, the Nx-01, which was Starfleet's first Warp 5-capable starship that allowed for galactic exploration.

The confrontation between Sisko and Picard in DS9's pilot goes beyond their roles as Locutus of Borg and Sisko's grief; it highlights their fundamental differences as Starfleet officers and lead characters. The conflict between them is rooted in Picard's issues with fatherhood and his inability to understand Sisko's desire to raise his son in an ideal environment. Sisko proves that it is possible to be both a loving father and a dedicated Starfleet officer, challenging Picard's belief that officers should prioritize their duty over their family. Sisko becomes Star Trek's best father figure and helps DS9 establish its own unique identity.

The confrontation between Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's pilot is legendary, but there's a much deeper meaning to their feud that goes beyond Locutus of Borg. In DS9's pilot episode, "Emissary", Picard invited...

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' crossover episode is filled with hilarious references to Star Trek: The Next Generation, including a subtle nod to Jean-Luc Picard's near-death experience. Ensign Mariner and Ensign Boimler are transported back in time to the 23rd century and collaborate with Ensign Uhura to decode the language on a portal. The episode also features a reference to the game dom-jot, which played a significant role in the history of Jean-Luc Picard and his artificial heart.

Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 7 - "Those Old Scientists"One of the many Easter eggs in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' crossover episode is a subtle reference to the near-death experience of the young Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), as depicted in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "Tapestry." It's just one of many references to Star Trek: Tng that are recklessly, but hilariously, thrown out by...

Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Picard Season 3Star Trek: Picard season 3 completely ignored the Khan tease at the end of season 2. A thrilling reunion of Star Trek: The Next Generation's beloved cast that also introduced a plethora of new characters who quickly became fan favorites, Star Trek: Picard season 3 brought the Tng story to a rousing and satisfying end. Fueled by nostalgia for Tng, Picard season 3 was far better received than the previous seasons, which also had their own callbacks to The Next Generation and the greater Star Trek franchise.

Watching Star Trek: Picard seasons 1 and 2 wasn't required to enjoy season 3, but the final season did build upon what was previously established. Admiral Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) evolution and acceptance of fatherhood were possible because he was able to face his past trauma and issues with his own father, Maurice Picard (James Callis), in season 2. Picard's second season also...

Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Picard Finale - "The Last Generation"The return of Q (John de Lancie) in Star Trek: Picard's season 3 finale makes more sense of the trickster's convoluted season 2 storyline. In a surprise post-credits scene, Ensign Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) encountered his father's old cosmic sparring partner Q, in his quarters aboard the USS Enterprise-g. Despite his apparent death in Picard's season 2 finale, Q now has his sights set on Jack Crusher, for whom the trial of humanity is just beginning.

Now that Q's plans for the son of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) have been revealed, it makes sense of his confusing plan from Star Trek: Picard season 2. Q's meddling with time was apparently a means to get Jean-Luc to confront his own father issues. However, it was never entirely clear why Q had to create a dystopian timeline, threaten the life of Picard's ancestor,...

Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 8 - "Surrender"There's a running joke in Star Trek: Picard season 3 that several characters don't like Château Picard wine gifted to them by Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). The Picard family had a long tradition of winemaking which led to conflict between Jean-Luc and his father Maurice Picard (James Callis). Maurice wanted Jean-Luc to continue the family business, while the young Picard dreamt of the stars and a career within Starfleet. After retiring from Starfleet, Jean-Luc moved back to Château Picard to continue producing the wine that his family has been making for centuries. However, it seems as if he's not cut out for the wine trade.

Each season of Star Trek: Picard has seen adventure land at the door of Château Picard, drawing Jean-Luc out of retirement to unmask a Romulan conspiracy, reverse seismic changes to history, and rescue Dr. Beverly...

Jean-Luc Picard is one of the most important characters in Star Trek history, and his lengthy timeline touches several generations of the franchise. First seen as the captain of the USS Enterprise-d, Jean-Luc Picard immediately stood out from the captains that came before him because of his strict moral code. Though he was somewhat stern and inflexible, Picard's character was always the shining example of the Federation's lofty ideals, and he embodied the utopian future that Star Trek took place in. Whether on the small screen or the large, Jean-Luc Picard has never failed to live up to his high standards of excellence.

While he appears in every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the Tng films, Jean-Luc Picard's adventures started long before he boarded the Enterprise, and they carried on after the ship was decommissioned. Though Picard changed after his days on Tng, the foundation of his character remained fixed,...

Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 3 - "Seventeen Seconds"The long-awaited Star Trek: Picard season 3 heart-to-heart between Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) is one of Star Trek's greatest scenes. Picard season 3's premiere established the surprising fact that Beverly broke contact with Picard and the rest of her friends from the USS Enterprise-d and E for over 20 years. Picard and Captain Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) staged a mission to rescue Beverly, only to learn Dr. Crusher has an adult son named Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) - and Jean-Luc Picard himself is Jack's father.

Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 2, "Disengage," culminated in a powerful scene where Jean-Luc and Beverly came face-to-face for the first time in over two decades. In a masterful display of acting from Gates McFadden and Patrick Stewart that needed no dialogue, Crusher confirmed to Picard that Jack is his son,...

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 2, "Disengage."Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) has finally become a father in Star Trek: Picard season 3, but he was previously faced with this opportunity in the final season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The conclusion of Picard season 3, episode 2, "Disengage" confirmed what viewers had been suspecting all along, that Jack Crusher (Ed Speelers) is the son of Jean-Luc and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). Picard's issues with family and fatherhood have been well documented in Star Trek, from as far back as the season 4 episode "Family".

Star Trek: Picard season 2 built upon revelations of Jean-Luc's difficult relationship with his father, Maurice Picard (James Callis), and Jean-Luc's repressed memories of his mother, Yvette's (Madeline Wise), suicide when he was a boy. Jean-Luc's career in Starfleet was a way for him to avoid confronting his own childhood trauma. Having finally...

This post contains spoilers for "Star Trek: Picard" season 2.

On the cult TV series "Battlestar Galactica" (1978-1979), actor John Calicos played the evil Count Baltar, a human traitor who had sold out his species to the Cylons, a phalanx of genocidal androids who aim to destroy all humanity. Baltar was often seen in capes and robes and looked very much like a supervillain. In the world of "Battlestar," the Cylons have, in a sudden attack, destroyed the human homeworld. The remaining survivors must traverse through dangerous, enemy-laden space to the only known source of safety, a long-lost planet called Earth. Baltar would alternately betray the humans, but also secretly help them when he realized the depth of the Cylons' villainy.

The 2003 revival of "Battlestar Galactica" began with a massive miniseries experience, and the character of Baltar was reimagined as the more morally complicated Dr. Gaius Baltar, played by actor James Callis.

Like many of this season's offerings, Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 9 treads new ground in terms of look and feel for a franchise that has traversed the galaxy but has typically retained a uniformity of style.

Furthermore, it continues the trend of Star Trek: Picard in that it invests in characters' introspection and reflection of self and the past.

Rather than contrasting humanity with other species and cultures, it reframes the humanity we think we know and allows -- even encourages -- growth in our perspective on how we shape the future.

The most prominent piece to fall into place here is the (literal) key to Picard's childhood trauma.

With Tallinn's support and, ironically, Adam Soong's intervention, Picard's relationship with his father became clear on Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 7 when the truth of his mother's mental illness was revealed.

Maurice Picard: Play anything you want. Just don't break anything.

This Star Trek: Picard article contains spoilers.

Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 6

Continuing a kind of mash-up between 12 Monkeys and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard has entered into its final batch of episodes. At this point, the show has a lot going on: from a rogue Soong (Brent Spiner) to a new hybrid Borg Queen (Alison Pill And Annie Wersching), and of course, the still unexplained mystery of Q’s vanishing powers. But, for the most part, in Episode 7, “Monsters,” the show slows down. Here, we’re in Jean-Luc’s mind for about half the episode, which could have triggered a clip-show episode a la Tng’s “Shades of Gray” but thankfully didn’t.

Instead, Picard brought a batch of deep cuts and easter eggs from the entire Star Trek franchise, and a few other sci-fi franchises along the way, too.

Picard Enterprise-e Ready Room?...

Let's get this straight. Despite the many tips of the hat to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine this season, that. is. not. Bashir.

Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 7 gets pretty in-depth and trippy as Tallinn forms a mechanically-assisted mind-meld with Picard in an effort to get him psychologically unstuck. It answers many questions but opens the door to some even trickier ones.

Meanwhile, on the outside, Rios makes a questionable decision around Dr. Teresa that culminate in flapping some ri-donk-ulous butterfly wings when he takes her and her son on a field trip to La Sirena.

Yeah, so let's talk about that first.

Of the entire 24th century crew, Rios is the most enamored of 2024 Earth, with Seven living footloose and Borg implant-free as a close second.

He's in love with the food, the vibe, and the good doctor, Teresa Ramirez.

Rios: Who do you want me to be?

Teresa: A good guy.