Everything we know about Data in Star Trek: Picard, a possible Worf sighting, and more

There have been conflicting hints about how big Data’s role will be in the new Star Trek: Picard. In the meantime, Star Trek: TNG fans can get excited about a Worf hint in the new series.

With the recent Short Treks episode, “Children of Mars,” Star Trek fans were given more foundational knowledge heading into Star Trek: Picard.

The featured attack on Mars is linked to the visions that Jean-Luc Picard has of Mars being attacked by “rogue synths.” Whether or not the synths are tied to Romulans, or rogue Borg members who are being manipulated by Romulans, we’ll soon find out. However, neither is definitive: The synth units could be acting independently.

Watch Short Trek‘s “Children of Mars” here:

Short Trek’s “Children of Mars” also gave us an important glimpse of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard reacting to the Mars devastation caused by the rogue ships. The short sets up a darker timeline heading into Star Trek: Picard, one that will feature the destruction of Romulus, the Romulan refugee aftermath, and what leads Jean-Luc to leave Starfleet. We see from the featurettes released by CBS that the sacrificial death of Data from Nemesis continues to haunt Picard, indicated in the scene where Data’s broken parts are shown in a container kept by him.

But it also calls into question the link with the rogue factors and Data. Are the synths tied to a rogue android army fashioned after the sentient artificial lifeform, Lietenant Commander Data, or B-4, the AI where Data’s memories were uploaded to?

If you’re looking for Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes to bone up on prior to checking out Star Trek: Picard and the Data connection, “A Measure of a Man” (S2), “I, Borg” (S5), “The Best of Both Worlds Part I” (S3), “The Best of Both Worlds Part II” (S4), “Descent Part I” (S6) and “Descent Part 2” (S7) are all good prep. You can conveniently find all the TNG episodes on Netflix or Amazon Prime.

In another hint of things to come, CBS released a teaser that featured the song “Blue Skies,” which was sung by Data at Commander Will Riker’s and Deanna Troi’s wedding at the beginning of Star Trek: Nemesis. Comm. Data transferred his memories to B-4, the third Soong prototype, and those memories began to manifest after Data sacrificed himself to save Captain Picard at the end of Nemesis, with B-4 humming “Blue Skies” at the end of the film. Can we presume the appearance of B-4 in Star Trek: Picard? Brent Spiner, who played Data and B-4, has said not to expect a big role for him.

But that doesn’t rule out an army that could have been commissioned by Dr. Agnes Jurati, a direction that Captain Picard wanted to avoid. Perhaps Dr. Jurati was able to create that army after all, and there’s certainly a strong indication that one has been generated, as evidenced in the lengthy trailer released earlier.

Last fall Spiner seemed to admit that Data was coming back in the shape of a hologram. This could mean that he will continue to appear to Picard in visions or hologram, but will not manifest in a resurrected form of any sort. Any appearance that involves Data in reality may just be relegated to perhaps B-4 or Data’s legacy nefariously living on in the form of tech used for a golden-skinned army, inspired by Dr. Noonian Soong’s original android Data.

It all speaks to a much bleaker outlook among the Federation than previously portrayed on The Next Generation, which Patrick Stewart has eluded to as well.

Which brings us to another Next Generation alum, Ltn. Comm. Worf, and if he will be featured in Star Trek: Picard. The showrunners and Stewart have said that Picard was never intended as a reunion of TNG characters, and only Data, Commander William Riker, and Deanna Troi are confirmed returning roles. But some savvy internet fans noticed a recognizable signature among cast members on a signed clapper. Even more suspicious, producers haven’t denied the case. So, can we all expect a very surprising cameo from Michael Dorn as Worf? Just another reason to be excited about this eagerly awaited show.

The good news is that unofficial news that Star Trek: Picard has been renewed for a second season is now official from CBS.

"“The energy and excitement around the premiere of Star Trek: Picard has reached a magnitude greater than all of us at CBS All Access could have hoped for,” said Julie McNamara, EPV of Original Content at CBS on Sunday, via Deadline. “We’re thrilled to announce plans for a second season before the series’ debut, and we are confident that Star Trek fans and new viewers alike will be captured by the stellar cast and creative team’s meticulously crafted story when it premieres on January. 23,” McNamara added."

Star Trek: Picard debuts January 23 on CBS All Access, with episodes available the next day in the UK on Amazon Prime. Short Treks is currently playing on CBS Access.