Is Captain Picard Your TV Dad?

Who is your TV dad? For many of us, it's a guy who doesn't have any children and instead captains a starship. Take a look at this tribute to the awesomeness that is Jean-Luc Picard.

This episode is made possible by the generous James Neumann (you are awesome, sir!) and the other magnificent supporters over on Patreon. They make this whole thing possible. Cheers Patreon supporters, and thank you!

Research is primarily mine. Please feel free to leave a comment, but keep it civil. Also, feel free to ask any questions you might have regarding Star Trek or science fiction.

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Video
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Beaver’s Library Book, Leave It To Beaver, 1959
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Father’s Day, Rosanne, 1989
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Music
Hold On A Second
John Deley And The 41 Players
YouTube Audio Library
Not For Nothing
Otis McDonald
YouTube Audio Library

[RowanJColeman]

I gotta say Patrick Stewart's performance as Picard is fucking incredible, nuanced, layered, believable, moving. He should've won all the awards as far as I'm concerned.

[DeekerJones]

Lacking a father in my life, I looked to Cpt. Picard as a role model in my youth. I found myself drawn to his stoicism and sense of duty and loyalty. I was so pleased to see this video. Thanks for this channel!

[sadhydra]

Jean Luc Picard lived an entire lifetime in which he raised 2 children.

[sethlockman]

In The Inner Light we get to see Picard shine as a parent. This basically proves he could have been the best dad ever, if he had chosen that path.

[Dotanalyst]

I have a very special appreciation for Captain Picard. During my developmental years I was one of those kids that everyone bullied at school for being a nerdy weakling. This, plus my lack of friends and my parents always fighting at home have left me alone and lost with no one to look up to. Then one day they showed an episode of TNG on TV. I watched it and it changed me. When I saw Patrick Stewart on screen as Picard, a stoic, logical, empathic, honorable and strong individual who stands up for what is right regardless of other influences, I said to myself: "This. This is the sort of man I want to be when I grow up."

Captain Picard was my first role model and after I watched the entirety of TNG, I went on to emulate the qualities I saw in him and based my set of values on his. Picard's influence probably saved me from doing a lot of stupid shit like becoming a junkie or an alcoholic and it made a thinker. When I will have children, I will make sure to make them watch Star Trek TNG with me and learn the same values as I did. I find it extremely important especially in our world today, where it seems like positive role models are becoming as rare of a sight as unicorns.

[michaelfinlay]

As a kid growing up in the 80's and 90's without a father Jean-Luc Picard was my hero, and the kind of man I wanted to be.

[gnetkuji]

Picard is a great dad and not just because he's competent.  He's great in a way entirely different to most other TV dads.  Lately the trend has been to show moronic dads on TV, but that trend is relatively new.  In the 1950s, dads were often the *only* competent person in a household.  The message of the show was one of reinforcing the blind trust in the literal patriarch of the home.  After all, "Father Knows Best" was *literally* the name of one of such shows to run during that era.  Picard represents an interesting new take on the concept, and one, I believe, is firmly placed in that odd transitional period between the 50s-60s "Father as Dictator" and the 90s-00s "Father as Moron."  He represents the dad figure who is not simply right because he says he is.  His ethos is one of scientific correction, changing his views to meet the evidence at hand, and only refusing to change when the demands of the situation require the intentional disavowing of said evidence-based reasoning.

Picard is a dad for a new era.  A father figure exuding competence without deriving his authority from a stubborn sense of privilege or omniscience.  A father figure whose quality is derived from his beliefs and behaviors, rather than the thinnest coincidence of biology having made him a white male.  The world could use more parents like him, both inside and outside of our entertainment.

[danielhall]

The uncompromising moral core allways made Picard stand out

[-cosmicrogue-]

*I always felt that Picard was space Atticus Finch.* 
He wasn't as passionate, bold, or dynamic as the other captains. 
He was stoic, steady. Private and sometimes even _cold._ 
But he shone brightest when he was allowed a chance to articulate what was on his _mind._ 
Like Atticus Finch, he was often placed in the position of defending an individual, an idea, and even humanity itself while on trial. Kirk's arena was a literal one, Picard's was a courtroom. Episodes like _The Drumhead_ and _The Measure of a Man_ show Picard using his mind, his intellect, and unshakeable morality as a weapon. He could cut an antagonist to pieces with his words as Worf could with a Bat'leth.

[commanderpower]

I totally agree. Of all the Heroes and Villian, Captains and Leaders in the world of fiction, I hold Captain Picard beyond all others. Sir Patrick Steward is one of the greatest actors of our time. I grew up with him as a source of reason, wisdom, ethics, and general heroism. I love Sir Patrick Steward, and Jean-Luc Picard has always been my favorite Captain. 

Well said sir! Totally Agree!

[IN-tmmw]

My father loved startrek and got the WHOLE FAMILY into it. every Saturday we would order pizza and watch a new episode of TNG. i consider Picard to be my second dad over all and first real TV DAD. much of who i am today came from him and my father.

[roguerook]

The highest compliment that can be paid to Capt. Picard is the way in which Worf views him. Word could break Picard like a balsa-wood toy. Worf knows this, and Picard knows this. But Worf knows that Picard's tenacity and intelligence make Picard a dangerous foe, even in the face of overwhelmingly superior strength. The way in which Michael Dorn expresses this as Worf, when standing off against Picard in the few episodes when they clash, speaks volumes about their relationship. A true testament to great writing and acting.

[thomaswayne]

Hasn't Picard always been sort of a father figure to Data? Is it just me? Anyway, Picard is definitely my favourite captain ^^

[ennius]

Picard is certainly a person we could learn a lot from.

[GermanLeftist]

Star Trek: TNG was one of my first TV shows, and I like to think that Picard (and the rest of the show as well) shaped my moral thinking like nothing else.

[SailorIda]

My father showed me both star wars and star treck as a child. The few times I was sick and he was at home we would watch star treck on the tv. After time I came to notice that picard and dad shared some personalities. Mostly calm and analytical, caring and gentle yet with the ability to be stern if needed, a good sense of justice and morals, helping those he can while teaching them to stand on their own, listening and willing to learn while still guiding others and a person I admire. While its getting hard to remember my dad at times I still get this feeling of seeing him when I watch Picard in action. And if you all exuse me now while I go to cry from missing dad and watch some star treck... thank you Picard for helping me to see a piece of dad.

[theseriousaccount]

I grew up without a dad and i always thought that if i had a dad he should be like Picard.

[Korgano]

Captain Picard is a superb example of principled leadership, excellence, concern for those with less than himself, and intellectual curiosity. The world needs more men like him.

[shibolinemress]

Picard was a great mentor to Data. That's more the role I see him fulfilling in my life as well. He really is a role model! 😉

[FromDreamRealityNow]

I must say, yes. Star Trek tng got me through my childhood, gave me creativity and hope.