Picard 1x4 "Absolute Candor"

rating: ****

the story: Picard's latest recruit is from a Romulan colony he was forced to abandon.

review: The Romulans have existed in franchise lore since the original series, and have been a treasured aspect of it since that first appearance, "Balance of Terror."  But their role has been about as aloof as they've tended to be themselves, famously featured in Next Generation, but never to the level of the Klingons.  But their presence has been steadily expanding since Star Trek Nemesis, which showcased them as the principal antagonists in one of the films for the first time, and then again with Star Trek (2009). 

"Absolute Candor," however, is the new Romulan peak.  In exactly the way Next Generation finally allowed Klingons to be more than mere warriors, to flesh out a whole culture, Picard has now allowed Romulans to be something other than mere prototype, more than just "devious Vulcans."

Some fans might chafe at the notions emerging in the episode, that because we'd never seen it before, it seems too contrived now.  But Picard himself, having pierced the veil of Romulan society, thanks in part, no doubt, to his experiences in Nemesis, found himself in a perfect position to learn far more than the Federation itself ever knew ("Balance of Terror" itself was the first time anyone had seen a Romulan, much less knew the Vulcan connection).

And he immersed himself in a community.  Arguably, what always stood at the heart of Picard's reluctance around children was the fear that he himself would never have them.  That's addressed in "Candor" as well, and itself is a valuable aspect of the episode.  And yet, it's that community that always defined Picard, whether his Enterprise days or even earlier, as he bonded with the Crushers, and what he so tellingly lost, as everyone keeps reminding him, when he left Starfleet.  He put himself in isolation, not merely from Kirk's notions of "making a difference," but from any real semblance of family, which he probably thought he had sacrificed permanently to pursue his youthful dreams.

And so as we learn more about Romulans, we see Picard himself once again more clearly.  And it's probably the best window into the man we've yet gotten, at least in this series.

criteria analysis:

• franchise - Romulan society blossoms!
• series - We meet another member of Picard's new crew!
• character - The deepest look into Picard's recent past we've yet gotten.
• essential - Will serve as a defining look into the Romulans.

notable guest-stars:
Jeri Ryan (Seven)