15 essential Captain Picard episodes to get you pumped for his return

“The Defector” (S3E10)

Picard perks: Picard the Shakesperean.

What it’s about: When a Romulan officer defects to the Federation, Captain Picard struggles with the dilemma of whether he is to be believed, or whether he is a trap. If he is to be believed, action must be taken immediately to prevent a war, but if it is a trap, a war will be started.

Patrick Stewart displays Picard’s fear perfectly. The weight of “kingship” on Picard is so clear and concrete in this episode. Each wasted second trying to figure out the Romulan plot weighs on him more and more heavily.

Calling upon some Klingon allies, he decides to believe the Romulan officer is not lying, but upon discovering the location had no weapons or base, Picard immediately figures it out. This was a test for the Romulan officer himself, as he had made it known he desired peace with the Federation.

When Romulan ships uncloak and threaten to seize the Enterprise, Picard doesn’t even flinch and calls upon the Klingon warbirds to decloak. He even takes a seat to allow his Romulan guest to finish putting the pieces together himself and confront his people himself.

Picard Quotes:

• “We have less than 48 hours to prevent a war or perhaps… to start one.”
• “You already betrayed your people, Admiral! You made your choices sir! You’re a traitor! …You crossed over, Admiral. You make yourself comfortable with that.”
• “When told Enterprise would not survive an attack: “And you will not survive ours. Shall we both die together?”