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The Picard finale was a great affair, but it could have been even bigger! Here's some of the cooler ideas that didn't make it in!

Caution: This article contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Picard Season 3

Star Trek: Picard had a rough go in its first two seasons. Having Patrick Stewart back as Jean-Luc Picard was a great idea, with Star Trek fans excited to see the return of the iconic captain. 

However, the first two seasons were muddled. Seeing a broken Picard looking old as he faced a Romulan plot was hampered by a confusing storyline and a lack of engaging side characters. Season 2 had the return of Q, yet it also suffered with a time travel plotline and a rushed finale. 

Season 3, however, was what Star Trek fans had always wanted: A full-on reunion of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast on a grand adventure. It was everything fans could hope for,...

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Long Bright River is a crime drama miniseries created by Liz Moore and Nikki Toscano. Based on Moore’s 2020 book of the same name, the Peacock series is set in Philadelphia, and it follows police officer Mickey as she patrols a high-crime neighborhood and soon begins to investigate the murder of three young women. Long Bright River stars Amanda Seyfried, Ashleigh Cummings, Callum Vinson, John Doman, Nicholas Pinnock, and Dash Mihok. So, if you loved the intense story, thrilling mystery, and compelling characters in Long Bright River, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Mare of Easttown (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO

Mare of Easttown is a crime drama miniseries created by Brad Ingelsby. The HBO series is set in the small Philadelphia suburb of Easttown, and it follows police detective Marianne Sheehan...

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Sharp Objects is a psychological mystery thriller drama series created by Marti Noxon. Based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn, the HBO series follows Camille Preaker, an emotionally troubled investigative reporter who just got out of a psychiatric hospital. Camille travels to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, to investigate the murder of two young girls, but she soon finds herself confronting her own childhood trauma. Sharp Objects stars Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina, Eliza Scanlen, Matt Craven, Henry Czerny, Taylor John Smith, Madison Davenport, and Sydney Sweeney. So, if you loved the intense psychological story, thrilling mystery, and compelling characters in Sharp Objects, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Top of the Lake (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – BBC Two

Top of the Lake is a mystery...

Christina Hendricks and Chris O’Dowd sit down for an exclusive interview with HeyUGuys to discuss Small Town, Big Story, a highly anticipated Sky Original series. Created by O’Dowd, the six-part series also stars Paddy Considine, David Wilmot, Michelle Forbes, Peter McGann, and Evanne Kilgallon.

Set in a quirky rural town on the Irish border, the show follows a community of eccentric misfits whose lives are upended when a major Hollywood production arrives, shining an unwelcome spotlight on a long-buried secret dating back to the eve of the Millennium. Blending comedy, mystery, and a touch of the surreal, Small Town, Big Story promises to be a fresh and imaginative take on small-town life and the unexpected ways in which past and present collide.

Chris O’Dowd, who both created and wrote the series, has drawn inspiration from his own upbringing in Boyle, County Roscommon. Many of the characters are based...

Like many Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters, Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) underwent a complex character evolution throughout DS9's seven seasons. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's First Officer was originally supposed to be Star Trek: The Next Generation's Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes), but when Forbes declined to return as Ensign Ro, DS9 created Major Kira instead. Unlike Ro Laren's Starfleet-adjacent point of view in Tng, Kira's backstory in the Bajoran Resistance placed her closer to the front lines of the conflict between the Bajorans and their Cardassian oppressors.

Born in 2343 in Bajor's Dahkur Province, Kira Nerys grew up in a refugee camp with her parents, Kira Taban and Meru; and her brothers, Reon and Pohl. When Nerys was three years old, her mother was taken to be a comfort woman for the camp's Cardassian overseers, and Meru became Gul Dukat's (Marc Alaimo) mistress. Dukat ensured that Kira's family was safe,...

The USS Enterprise-d of Star Trek: The Next Generation was missing one element that every other Starship Enterprise has had. Following the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his Enterprise crew, Tng ushered in a new golden era of Star Trek that lasted throughout the 1990s. With crew members like Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) and Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), the crew of Captain Picard's Enterprise became almost as popular as that of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner).

In both Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation, each main character had a specific role to play on their Starship Enterprise. Both ships, for example, had Chief Medical Officers and Chief Engineers who were part of the main cast. But while the Enterprise of Tos had a dedicated helmsman in Lt. Sulu (George Takei), the Enterprise-d had a rotating cast of pilots. From...

The '90s was rich with the resurrection of cutting edge horror and neo-noir films, and Kalifornia took the best out of every genre, even allowing Brad Pitt to shed the title of America's blue-eyed sweetheart, in a dark and disturbing thriller. The movie also features Juliette Lewis in an equally riveting role, and together they wreak havoc upon a sophisticated, city-living couple played by David Duchovny and Michelle Forbes. One of the '90s greatest thrillers, it mixes horror and violence to make statements about how American culture consumes serial killings and death like entertainment.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) was not one to hold grudges, but one betrayal on Star Trek: The Next Generation hit Jean-Luc so hard that he remained upset for over 30 years. Although Jean-Luc Picard cared deeply about his crew members aboard the USS Enterprise-d, he kept himself emotionally distant from them. Picard devoted his life to Starfleet because he truly believed in Starfleet's mission, and he did his best to uphold their ideals. Picard had to learn the hard way that not every Starfleet officer shared his faith in the organization.

When Star Trek: The Next Generation began, Gene Roddenberry envisioned no major conflicts among the Starship Enterprise's crew. This rule was limiting from a storytelling perspective, but it became more lax as the show progressed. Early in Tng season 5, a new confrontational character joined Star Trek: The Next Generation's cast, shaking up the established dynamic of the crew.

In Star Trek, both Section 31 and Starfleet Intelligence are intelligence agencies linked to Starfleet, but they have different histories within the Star Trek timeline, and serve different narrative purposes. Before the formation of Star Trek's United Federation of Planets, Starfleet existed as an Earth-based paramilitary organization with the primary function of exploration. As humans became major players in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, Starfleet's secondary mission of preserving peace became much more relevant, especially after Star Trek: Enterprise's Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) made contact with hostile species like the Klingons and Xindi.

In Star Trek, Starfleet and the Federation aren't the same thing. The Federation is the governing body that unites allied member worlds, and Starfleet is technically Earth's exploratory and peacekeeping organization, which expanded its reach to serve the entire Federation. To protect the Federation's members and borders, Starfleet must gather information about enemies of the Federation.

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The Agency is a spy thriller drama series created by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth. Based on the French series The Bureau by Eric Rochant, the Showtime series follows Martian, a covert CIA agent who had been undercover for six years but is suddenly ordered to abandon his cover and return to London station to continue his work. When the love he left behind with his cover reappears in London, suspicions arise. The Agency stars Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, Katherine Waterston, Harriet Sansom Harris, Richard Gere, and John Magaro. So, if you love the intensely thrilling plot, nail-biting drama, and compelling characters in The Agency, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Game (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – BBC America

The Game is a Cold War spy thriller drama series created by Toby Whithouse.

Despite only appearing in nine total episodes of Star Trek between Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard, Michelle Forbes' Ro Laren remains one of the franchise's most popular secondary characters. In 1987, Tng introduced the world to Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise-d. Tng not only ushered in a golden era of Star Trek, but also introduced some of the franchise's most enduring and beloved characters. Almost all of Tng's main cast members became Star Trek greats, but the show also introduced some pretty phenomenal secondary characters.

One of these characters was Michelle Forbes' Ensign Ro Laren, who joined the crew of the Enterprise-d in the aptly titled "Ensign Ro," the third episode of season 5. With her complicated past and tumultuous relationship with Starfleet, Ro was unlike any of the other officers serving on Picard's Enterprise. Prior to joining Picard's crew, Ro...

David Tristan Birkin portrayed a young Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) in Star Trek: The Next Generation two years after he had played Picard's nephew, Ren. Birkin has been acting since 1989, but he currently works as an artist and writer, as well as a Senior Lecturer in Photography at London College of Communication. Much of Birkin's photography centers on war, and his work has been exhibited around the world. He also co-founded Visible Justice, a research hub at the University of the Arts London that celebrates the combination of art with social justice.

In one of his first acting jobs, David Birkin portrayed Ren Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4, episode 2, "Family," which sees Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) visit his brother on Earth. A couple of years later, Birkin popped up in Tng season 6, episode 7, "Rascals," as Captain Picard himself, after a transporter accident transformed him into a child.

Hollywood has faced increasing scrutiny over the past decade over how the business works behind the scenes, even down to the treatment of the underlings serving Tinseltown's all-powerful executives. There have even been narrative films about the headline-making subject, such as She Said (2022) and The Assistant (2019), and the excellent current HBO series, The Franchise. But 30 years ago, Hollywood was also turning the lens on itself, with meta features like Swimming with Sharks. In the satirical comedy-drama, Kevin Spacey plays an esteemed but abusive producer who treats his latest assistant (Frank Whaley), as expected, like garbage.

Decades later, the topical film was adapted to the small screen for a series of the same name, starring Kiernan Shipka and Diane Kruger. MovieWeb recently spoke with George Huang, the original film's writer and director, amid the release of his latest feature Weekend in Taipei and learned more about how the original Swimming With Sharks...

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Citadel: Honey Bunny is an action spy thriller drama series created by Sita R. Menon, Raj, and Dk. The Prime Video series is the third entry in the Russo Brothers‘ Citadel franchise and it follows Honey, a struggling actress who was recruited by Bunny, a stuntman for a side gig as a spy. Years later Honey has a daughter and she is hunted by agents and she must find a way to protect herself and her daughter. Citadel: Honey Bunny stars Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the lead roles with Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon, Sikander Kher, and Saqib Saleem. So, if you loved the explosive action, thrilling espionage drama, and compelling characters in Citadel: Honey Bunny here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Citadel (Prime Video) Credit – Prime Video

Citadel is a...

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Special Ops: Lioness is a spy action thriller drama series created by Taylor Sheridan. The Paramount+ series stars Zoe Saldana in the lead role with Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Kelly starring in supporting roles. Special Ops: Lioness follows the story of Joe, a CIA operative who leads a team that fights against terrorism. The Paramount+ series is much more than the synopsis we gave you above but to know what it is, you will have to check it out for yourself if you have already seen it and loved the thrilling action, complex story, and compelling characters here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Homeland (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Showtime

Homeland is a spy thriller drama series created by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa. Based on the Israeli series Prisoners of War by Gideon Raff,...

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The Americans is a period spy thriller drama series created by Joe Weisberg. The FX series is set during the Cold War and it follows the story of Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Soviet Kgb intelligence officers who are sent to Washington D.C. to pose as an American couple to gather information on the American government. The Americans stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys in the lead roles with Maximiliano Hernández, Holly Taylor, Keidrich Sellati, Noah Emmerich, Annet Mahendru, Susan Misner, and Alison Wright starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the intensely thrilling story, nail-biting drama, and compelling characters in The Americans here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Spy (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

The Spy is a French English-language spy thriller drama series created by Gideon Raff. Based on the life...

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Citadel: Diana is an Italian techno-thriller spy action drama series developed by Alessandro Fabbri. The Prime Video series is the second entry in the Russo Brothers‘ Citadel spy universe. It is set in 2030 and it follows Diana Cavalieri, a Citadel agent who was undercover in Manticore when Citadel was destroyed. After years stuck undercover, Diana finally has the chance to get out but she has to trust someone very dangerous. Citadel: Diana stars Matilda De Angelis in the lead role with Lorenzo Cervasio, Maurizio Lombardi, Julia Piaton, and Thekla Reuten starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the intensely thrilling story, amazing spy drama, and compelling characters in Citadel: Diana here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Citadel (Prime Video) Credit – Prime Video

Citadel is a techno-thriller spy action drama series created by Josh Appelbaum,...

The Tyrant is a South Korean spy action-thriller series written and directed by Park Hoon-jung. The Disney+ series revolves around four different people trying their best to find a bioweapon, which was stolen during a secret handover to the United States intelligence service. The Tyrant stars Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, Kim Kang-woo, and Jo Yoon-su in the lead roles with Mu Jin-sung, Kim Joo-hun, Lee Ki-young, Park Hyung-soo, Choi Jung-woo, and Justin John Harvey starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the spy drama, action, sci-fi elements, and a thrilling plot in The Tyrant here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Veil (Viki & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Mbc TV

The Veil is a South Korean spy action thriller series created by Hong Seok-woo. The Mbc TV series follows the story of Han Ji Hyuk, the top field National Intelligence Service agent who was betrayed and...

Homicide: Life on the Street has been absent from streaming, but the critically acclaimed crime drama has finally found a new home and will launch next month. It has been announced that all seven seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street will be available on Peacock in the US starting on August 19th. All 122 episodes have been remastered for HD and 4K viewing, and Homicide: The Movie is also included.

The series was based on David Simon’s book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and was created by Paul Attanasio. It followed the Baltimore Police Department’s Homicide Unit. Bleak and unglamorous, the show was praised for its more realistic treatment of detectives and their work; threads weren’t always tied up at the end, and criminals sometimes got away. It also boasted one hell of a cast, including Andre Braugher, Ned Beatty, Yaphett Kotto, Melissa Leo, Giancarlo Esposito,...

It's been a long time coming, but Homicide: Life on the Street is finally making its way to streaming. After it was recently teased that the show would soon start streaming, it's been confirmed that its new home will be at Peacock.

On Monday, it was announced that all seven seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street are coming to Peacock on Aug. 19, 2024. The show has never been made available on any of the major streaming platforms up to this point due to all of the issues with the rights that needed to be sorted out. Undoubtedly, this will be great news for fans who remember watching the series but have not since had a way to revisit it with other beloved classics from the era.

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Related All 4 Jaws Films Resurface on New Streaming Home

The Jaws franchise has found a new streaming home for July, bringing with it...

“Homicide: Life on the Street” and “Homicide: The Movie,” which has been remastered to HD and 4K for the very first time, will make its streaming debut in the U.S. on Peacock beginning August 19. The police drama examines the calculating and exacting detective work of the often confrontational, passionate, and opinionated homicide department in Baltimore. With a determined cast of characters that never let up in their quest for truth and justice, this gripping hourlong series remains the standard bearer of how police handle the job both professionally and personally.

From Universal Television, “Homicide: Life on the Street” originally launched on NBC in 1993 and ran for seven seasons, for a total of 122 episodes. It was succeeded by “Homicide: The Movie” in 2000, which served as the series finale. The drama was created by Paul Attanasio and based on David Simon‘s book “Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets.” Tom Fontana...

The iconic show Homicide: Life on the Street is coming to Peacock on August 19. The release includes all 7 seasons, 122 episodes, and the series-concluding movie. The show is remastered in HD and 4K for an improved viewing experience.

The iconic Homicide: Life on the Street is finally coming to streaming. Crossing over several times with the Law & Order universe, and based on David Simon's book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, the police drama is a favorite among general audiences and television historians. But because of complicated rights issues, Homicide has never been able to stream.

That will soon change, as The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Homicide: Life on the Street will be available on Peacock, starting August 19. That includes all seven seasons and 122 episodes, in addition to the series-concluding Homicide: The Movie. It will be remastered for HD and 4K viewing.

What To Know About Homicide: Life on the Street...

One of the most revered police dramas of all time, Homicide: Life on the Street, examines the calculating and exacting detective work of Baltimore’s often confrontational, passionate, and opinionated homicide department.

With a determined cast of characters that never let up in their quest for truth and justice, this gripping hourlong series remains the standard bearer of how police handle the job both professionally and personally.

From Universal Television, Homicide: Life on the Street originally launched on NBC in 1993 and ran for seven seasons, for a total of 122 episodes. It was succeeded by Homicide: The Movie in 2000, which served as the series finale.

The series was created by Paul Attanasio and based on David Simon’s book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets. Tom Fontana was the series head writer and showrunner.

Throughout its run, Homicide: Life on the Street was critically acclaimed, receiving nominations and accolades from the Television Critics Association,...

One of the more critically acclaimed dramas of the past 30 years has at last found a streaming home.

Starting Aug. 19, Peacock will feature Homicide: Life on the Street. All seven seasons and 122 episodes of the former NBC show, as well as the series-wrapping Homicide: The Movie from 2000, will be available, remastered for HD and 4K viewing.

Homicide was based on David Simon’s book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and created by Paul Attanasio; Tom Fontana was the showrunner and executive produced with Barry Levinson, Henry Bromell and Jim Finnerty. The series followed detectives in Baltimore’s homicide unit and was praised for its acting and a more realistic depiction of detective work — including some cases that don’t get solved — than on many other network crime dramas.

Over the show’s seven seasons, the cast featured Andre Braugher — who won his first Emmy 1998 for playing Detective Frank Pembleton — Ned Beatty,...

It’s official: Homicide: Life on the Street is coming to Peacock.

David Simon — who wrote the book on which the series is based — teased in June that the police drama was going to end up on a streamer. “Word is that NBC has managed to finally secure the music rights necessary to sell Homicide: Life On The Streets to a streaming platform,” he wrote on X.

All seven seasons of the series and Homicide: The Movie, which has been remastered to HD and 4K, will drop August 19 on Peacock.

From Universal TV, Homicide: Life on the Street followed the detective work of the homicide department in Baltimore. It originally launched on NBC in 1993 and ran for a total of 122 episodes.

The series was created by Paul Attanasio; Tom Fontana was the series head writer and showrunner. It starred Andre Braugher, Ned Beatty, Richard Belzer, Yaphet Kotto, Melissa Leo, Giancarlo Esposito,...

Star Trek celebrates strong female characters in leadership roles, reflecting a vision of equality in a futuristic utopia. Iconic women like Lt. Uhura and Captain Burnham have paved the way for diversity and inclusivity in the Star Trek universe. From powerful captains to clever doctors and empathetic counselors, the women of Star Trek bring compassion, intelligence, and strength.

Star Trek has introduced an incredible cast of truly amazing women throughout its nearly 60-year history. In the utopian future of Star Trek, women can climb the ranks of Starfleet to achieve the same positions of authority as their male counterparts. While this ideal was somewhat hindered by the landscape of the 1960s, modern Star Trek fully embraces Gene Roddenberry's vision of a peaceful future where all kinds are welcome. From Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) on Star Trek: The Original Series to Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) on Star Trek: Discovery,...

Orphan Black: Echoes season 1 introduces a now-adult Dr. Kira Manning and sets the stage for a major character's return. The spinoff follows amnesiac Lucy, but Kira's connection to the original series is revealed in the finale. Kira's relationship with Charlotte, a younger Project Leda clone, could be further explored in the spinoff, making Maslany's return as an adult Charlotte more intriguing.

The story that unfolds in Orphan Black: Echoes season 1 perfectly sets up a major character's return years after the original Orphan Black finale. Not only that, but Echoes, which centers on a now-adult Dr. Kira Manning (Keeley Hawes), pretty much requires a particular Leda clone to make an appearance during the spinoff's sophomore outing. While the spinoff follows amnesiac Lucy (Krysten Ritter) for the majority of its runtime, Orphan Black: Echoes episode 1's ending pays homage to the original series by revealing that Kira, Sarah Manning's (Tatiana Maslany) daughter,...

Major Kira Nerys, played by Nana Visitor, was a groundbreaking character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, offering a contrasting perspective to Starfleet and showcasing a complex, emotional backstory. Bajorans, like Kira, are defined by their faith, adding to the series' celebration of diverse beliefs and cultures. Nana Visitor's Major Kira Nerys was a trailblazer for women in the 90s, displaying a full range of emotions and challenging gender norms, making her an iconic character in Star Trek history.

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Nana Visitor's Major Kira Nerys is the Bajoran First Officer to Starfleet's Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks). Originally, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was supposed to feature Star Trek: The Next Generation's Lieutenant Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) as DS9's first officer. When Forbes declined to return to Star Trek as a lead character, Major Kira Nerys, a new Bajoran character, was created for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Moore's experiences on DS9 influenced the darker tone of Battlestar Galactica, with similar storylines and character inspirations. Connections between the two shows include shared actors, music mysteries, and thematic similarities in character development. DS9's influence on Battlestar Galactica writers helped shape the morally ambiguous and darker themes of the rebooted series.

Ronald D. Moore's 2004 Battlestar Galactica reboot borrowed a story idea from his first season as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's supervising producer. When Star Trek: The Next Generation ended in 1994, Ronald D. Moore joined the DS9 team as a writer and supervising producer. Together with Ira Steven Behr, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and the rest of the DS9 team, Moore was instrumental in shaping the Dominion War arc between seasons 3 and 7. Years later, when Ronald D. Moore rebooted Battlestar Galactica, it was clear that Moore's experiences on DS9 influenced his darker take on Glen A. Larson's space opera.

Battlestar Galactica crossed over with Star Trek multiple times, with connections becoming more pronounced in the 2004 reboot. Various actors from Star Trek have appeared in Battlestar Galactica, including James Callis, Michelle Forbes, and Callum Keith Rennie. The interchange of actors like Rekha Sharma and connections between the two franchises add depth to both sci-fi universes.

Given that its creator, Ronald D. Moore was a key creative force behind the Star Trek franchise in the 1990s, it's hardly surprising that multiple Trek actors have appeared in Battlestar Galactica. However, even before its 2004 reboot, Battlestar Galactica crossed over with Star Trek multiple times. Star Trek: The Original Series' Og Klingon actor, John Colicos played Battlestar Galactica's original Baltar, while Star Trek: The Next Generation's Q actor John de Lancie had a minor role in the original BSG during his early career.

However, Ronald D. Moore's Battlestar Galactica reboot made the...

An intense espionage drama with incredible performance and a thrilling storyline is always what we are waiting for and that’s just what we got in FX’s latest series The Veil. Created by Peaky Blinders‘ Steven Knight, The Veil follows the story of two women traveling from Istanbul to Paris and London as one is hiding a dangerous secret while the other is on a mission to expose it before thousands of lives are lost. The Veil stars Elisabeth Moss in the lead role with Yumna Marwan, Josh Charles, Dali Benssalah, Joana Ribeiro, and James Purefoy starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the heart-pumping thrill ride of lies and deception in The Veil here are some similar shows you could check out next.

Killing Eve Credit – BBC America

Killing Eve is an espionage thriller and black comedy series created by Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Based on a...

The Cylons, androids created by man, are the villains of "Battlestar Galactica," but they wear human guises. This reflects how the show's human heroes are all deeply flawed people and humanity's foibles (from arrogance to self-destructive) continue to haunt them even as their technology soars past the modern day.

Indeed, the best villain in "Battlestar Galactica" was a human character: Admiral Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes), commander of the Battlestar Pegasus. In the series' pilot min-series, the Cylons attack humanity's 12 colonies. The only survivors appear to be Galactica herself and a handful of civilian spaceships, who set out to find the mythical world Earth to be their new home.

Midway through season 2 in the episode, "Pegasus," the Galactica and her fleet meet the Pegasus, the other Battlestar which survived the genocide.. It doesn't stay a happy reunion for long. In a great dramatic move, Cain pulls rank on Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos...

Star Trek: The Next Generation and Lost share a connection through actors appearing in both iconic shows. Both series feature characters navigating strange occurrences and mysterious phenomena in their respective universes. From renowned guest stars to memorable roles, these actors brought their talent to both Tng and Lost.

Star Trek: The Next Generation and Lost may not seem to have much in common beyond being science fiction television shows, but several actors appeared in both shows. Following the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-d, Tng picked up about a century after the events of Star Trek: The Original Series. Although Tng got off to a bit of a rocky start in its first two seasons, it would go on to produce some of the best science fiction television of all time. Over the course of seven seasons, the Enterprise-d explored the galaxy, encountering numerous strange aliens and unexplainable anomalies.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 delivers an amazing adventure. Star Trek: Discovery season 5 has a lot of downtime. Season 5 is a thrilling cinematic Star Trek movie stretched across 10 hours.

Star Trek: Discovery returns for one last dance that occasionally feels as if the show has two left feet. It's worth mentioning that Discovery season 5 wasn't originally written as the final outing for Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew. An epilogue was written and shot after filming on Discovery season 5 was completed to provide proper closure. While there's no sense of those reshoots impacting the first four episodes available for review, there are some attempts to tie up character arcs that feel quite clunky in their execution.

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Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery,...

Terry Matalas wanted more Star Trek cameos in Picard season 3, including Voyager and Deep Space Nine characters, to create a Star Trek Avengers: Endgame. An Avengers: Endgame-style finale for Picard season 3 could have included an extended sequence at Frontier Day with brief cameos from various Star Trek characters. However, too many cameos might have overwhelmed the main story, and bringing back too many legacy characters could have strained credulity.

Star Trek: Picard season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas would have loved to have more Star Trek cameos in Picard season 3, including characters from Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation were the main focus of much of Picard season 3, but they weren't the only characters who returned. Voyager's Captain Tuvok (Tim Russ) made a surprise appearance in Picard season 3, as did Commander Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes...

Michelle Forbes excels at portraying complex, vulnerable characters in iconic TV shows, showcasing her acting prowess and emotional depth. Forbes turned down a lead role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to pursue diverse acting opportunities, proving her versatility and commitment to her craft. Ro Laren's impactful return in Star Trek: Picard season 3 highlights Forbes' ability to embody older characters with experience and weariness, adding depth to the narrative.

Michelle Forbes played one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's best-loved recurring characters, but Ensign Ro Laren is just one entry on an impressive list of film and TV credits. The character of Ensign Ro in Tng was so popular that Michelle Forbes was offered the chance to join Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as one of the leads. However, Forbes turned this down to pursue other acting roles, which in retrospect feels like the right choice for her as...

Michelle Forbes first played Dara in Star Trek: Tng before becoming the popular Ensign Ro Laren in season 5. Ro Laren's flaws and troubled past brought a refreshing dynamic to Tng, culminating in a shocking betrayal in season 7. Ro Laren may make a comeback in upcoming Star Trek projects, potentially revealing her survival after a shuttle explosion.

Before she played Ensign Ro Laren, Michelle Forbes played an entirely different character in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Ensign Ro Laren was created by Michael Piller, and introduced in Tng season 5. Discussing the character of Ro in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, Rick Berman said that the character originated from a desire to feature "character with the strength and dignity of a Starfleet officer but with a troubled past, an edge." Michelle Forbes was cast as Ensign Ro and joined the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation on a recurring basis.

The premise for "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" is a little complex for the non-Trekkie, but ripe for drama when one delves in.

The titular station, Deep Space Nine, was in orbit around the non-Federation world of Bajor. For the past several decades, Bajor had been militarily occupied by the Nazi-like Cardassians, a species that regularly enslaved and mass-murdered Bajoran citizens. At the outset of the series, the Cardassian occupation had just ended, and Bajor inherited their disused station. In order to aid the Bajoran restoration, Starfleet was assigned to run Deep Space Nine and to oversee the rebuilding of Bajor's government (which was already tilting dangerously close to a corrupt theocracy).

Commander Sisko (Avery Brooks) was the Starfleet officer put in charge of the broken-down DS9 and his first officer was the haughty former Bajoran resistance fighter, Major Kira (Nana Visitor). "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" was unique in...

Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) first appeared in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Ensign Ro", and she introduced an interesting character dynamic to the series. Whereas most of the characters on "Next Generation" were wholly devoted to Starfleet principals and unwaveringly loyal to Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), Ensign Ro felt that Starfleet frequently let suffering go unacknowledged. She was combative and disobedient as a result, often openly defying her captain and responding to diplomatic solutions with belligerence.

Forbes' performance was so assured and defiant, however, that Ro's disobedience never felt impulsive or immature. Her reactions were organic and principled, revealing a hardened but understandable heart. Ro only appeared in eight episodes of "Next Generation," but she was always welcome to shake up the system and offer metaphorical headbutts to her commanding officers.

Ro's final "Next Generation" episode was "Preemptive Strike" wherein she found herself sympathizing with a group...

Gates McFadden, known for her role as Dr. Beverly Crusher in Star Trek, would be a great addition to The Orville, possibly playing a mentor figure to Dr. Claire Finn. Jeffrey Combs, a versatile actor known for his various roles in Star Trek, would be a natural fit for The Orville and could play anything from a villainous Krill to a Union officer. Battlestar Galactica star Michelle Forbes would make a fantastic Orville admiral, bringing a stern and authoritative presence to the show and providing a great foil for Captain Ed Mercer.

While the future of The Orville is still uncertain, there's a long list of dream cameos should Seth MacFarlane's sci-fi comedy drama be renewed for season 4. Across three seasons, The Orville has had an impressive array of celebrity cameos from Hollywood movie stars to beloved Star Trek actors. As the creator of Family Guy and the Ted movies,...

The 2004 version of Battlestar Galactica lacked LGBTQ+ representation, which needs to be addressed in any future revival. LGBTQ+ characters were downplayed or implied, with only one openly gay character and limited exploration of their identity. The show's lack of LGBTQ+ representation was a broader issue in the industry during the 2000s, but recent TV shows have made progress in diverse LGBTQ+ storytelling.

The next time Battlestar Galactica gets updated for a modern audience, the producers need to fix one of the biggest problems from the acclaimed 2004 reboot. In all its incarnations, Battlestar Galactica revolves around a future war between humans and androids of their own making called Cylons. A revamp of the Battlestar Galactica franchise, either as a feature film or another TV series, has been in and out of development for years. It’s only a matter of time before this beloved sci-fi property makes a comeback, and when it does,...

Ensign Ro Laren was a significant addition to Star Trek: The Next Generation, providing conflict and narrative tension due to her reluctance to cooperate with Starfleet authority. Showrunner Michael Piller praised actor Michelle Forbes for her portrayal of Ensign Ro, highlighting her performance as a key factor in the character's success. Ro Laren's storyline continued in Star Trek: Picard season 3, where she returned as Commander Ro Laren, now working for Starfleet Intelligence, and had an emotionally charged reunion with Jean-Luc Picard.

One of the "greatest accomplishments" of Star Trek: The Next Generation was Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes), according to showrunner Michael Piller. Tng season 5, episode 3, "Ensign Ro", introduced Ro as a Bajoran survivor of the Cardassian occupation, assigned to the USS Enterprise-d to help weed out a Bajoran terrorist cell. Ro's reluctance to cooperate with Starfleet authority became a selling point of the character since Ensign Ro shook things...

While not explicitly queer in The Next Generation, fans have long considered Tasha Yar as being coded lesbian or bisexual. While it took a few decades, the franchise eventually agreed, pairing her with Ro Laren in 'The Last Generation.' The story sees the two meet when the timeline is rewritten, turning Starfleet's heroes into anti-Klingon freedom fighters on a conquered Earth.

In the prime Star Trek timeline, Tasha Yar met her death early in The Next Generation’s run, leaving large parts of her character and backstory undeveloped. In 2008, Idw released Star Trek: The Last Generation, giving her a surprising queer romance with another Enterprise crew member.

Star Trek: The Last Generation was written by Andrew Steven Harris and drawn by Gordon Purcell. Set in a timeline in which the Klingons have overrun the Federation, Tasha and many of her comrades are resistance fighters. Fans learn that in this timeline,...

Four actors quit Star Trek: The Next Generation on their own accord, including Denise Crosby, Diana Muldaur, Wil Wheaton, and Michelle Forbes. The early chaos in the show's writer's room led to the departure of Denise Crosby, who played Lt. Tasha Yar, and the introduction of Diana Muldaur's Dr. Katherine Pulaski. Wil Wheaton quit the show due to behind-the-scenes troubles and the desire to pursue other acting opportunities. Michelle Forbes, despite being a popular character, chose to leave for more variety in her career.

Several actors came and went throughout the seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but these four regulars quit the show of their own accord. Beginning in 1987, Tng followed the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew on the USS Enterprise-d. While the first season established Tng's main characters, the quality of the episodes was inconsistent as the show struggled to figure...

Commander Ro Laren's death in Picard raises questions about her opinions on the events of Deep Space Nine, including her feelings about the Maquis and the Cardassians. Ro Laren's link to Deep Space Nine could have explored her reactions to Benjamin Sisko as a religious icon and his actions against the Maquis. The Dominion War likely impacted Ro's service to the Maquis, and fans are eager to see her character resurrected in a potential Star Trek: Legacy series.

The brutal death of Commander Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) in Star Trek: Picard season 3 dodges some big questions about the Bajoran's opinions on the events of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The Star Trek: The Next Generation character was brought back in Picard season 3, episode 5, "Imposters", where it was revealed that she had rejoined Starfleet as an intelligence officer. Ro and Captain Worf (Michael Dorn) were working covertly to unmask the extent...

Captain Picard saw potential in both Bajoran officers and wanted them to succeed, despite their troubled pasts. Ro Laren disappointed Picard with her betrayal and he still feels the sting of it 30 years later when she returns. Sito Jaxa's death may have influenced Ro's decision to join the Maquis, as she had already witnessed the loss of fellow Starfleet officers and held a grudge against the Cardassians.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) praised the young Bajoran Ensign Sito Jaxa (Shannon Fill) after her tragic death on Star Trek: The Next Generation, making the betrayal of Bajoran Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) hit even harder. The Bajorans were introduced in the Tng season 5 episode "Ensign Ro," as a people who had faced years of subjugation due to the Cardassian occupation of their planet, Bajor. Ensign Ro Laren was the first Bajoran to appear in Star Trek, and she quickly proved to...

Commander Ro Laren's survival in Star Trek: Picard season 3 is hinted by the show's production designer, Dave Blass. A cryptic tweet from Blass suggests that Ro may have been beamed aboard the USS Schrödinger before her shuttle exploded. While her survival was not confirmed on the show, the possibility of Ro Laren being alive leaves room for future exploration in a potential spinoff series, Star Trek: Legacy.

Commander Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) died in Star Trek: Picard season 3, but production designer Dave Blass seems to hint that Ro may have survived. Commander Ro made a shocking return in Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 5, "Imposters." The former Maquis traitor-turned-Starfleet Intelligence operative boarded the USS Titan-a to expose the Changeling threat to Starfleet. Ro also reconciled her decades-long estrangement with Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) before her shuttlecraft was destroyed by a bomb planted by the Changelings.

On Twitter/X, Star Trek: Picard...

"The Inner Light" is handily one of the best episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." The events of the episode are so dramatic that it's a little unusual that Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) didn't bring them up more often in future episodes of the show. Indeed, in the third season of "Star Trek: Picard," the retired admiral mentions that he's finally ready to be a father and let the next step of his life unfold, failing to acknowledge that he already lived to be an old man, already raised his own children and grandchildren, and already fell deeply in love with an alien woman on a distant planet where he lived for many decades. Never mind that it was all a memory implant given to him by a rogue space probe. 

The events of "The Inner Light" dictated that Picard essentially has two lifetimes worth of memories crammed into his head.

Battlestar Galactica showcased devastating character deaths, treating dying as a serious business and not for cheap shock value. Deaths of supposedly "villain" characters were sometimes more emotionally impactful than those of the "heroes", adding moral ambiguity to the show. The show had a rich set of characters with tragic backstories, making their deaths even more heartbreaking and thought-provoking.

Battlestar Galactica was never afraid to kill characters off, but it never took the decision lightly, creating some of the most devastating death scenes on TV in the early-to-mid 2000s. Depicting the Colonial Fleet's search for a new home following the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, BSG had an estimated death toll of 50 billion people before the show got properly started. That death toll would only increase with time as the war between the Cylons and the Colonial Fleet would intensify across BSG's four seasons, bringing with it the deaths of many beloved characters.

Patrick Stewart initially didn't want Star Trek: Picard to retread The Next Generation, but was convinced after seeing familiar faces return in seasons 1 and 2. Showrunner Terry Matalas wanted to bring back the entire cast of The Next Generation for Picard season 3, and Patrick Stewart eventually warmed up to the idea. Due to budget constraints, certain things had to be cut and some of the other cast had to go away to make room for the old cast to return.

Star Trek: Picard season 3's lauded reunion of Star Trek: The Next Generation's cast happened because Patrick Stewart "warmed up" to the idea, explains showrunner Terry Matalas. Originally, Stewart didn't want Star Trek: Picard to retread Tng, and making a very different show was what sold Sir Patrick to play Jean-Luc Picard once more. However, as more and more familiar faces from Tng appeared in Star Trek: Picard seasons 1 and...