Why Captain Picard Is Awesome

A character analysis of Star Trek The Next Generation's Captain Picard.

[theartofstorytelling]

What's your favourite Picard moment?

[catriona_drummond]

I had a not terribly educated upbringing. I bumped into Star Trek TNG as a Teenager, it was broadcasted in the afternoon, just after school.
And I watched and I learned all the things I didn't learn at school. Ethics, why I am learning, how to navigate social relationships honorably while others reveled in drama. And lots more.
About 10 years later, settled into a job, I had the leisure to rediscover all the great ideas I had learned from Star Trek. I found them in the Greek classics, Philosophy, in the Rennaissance, in Shakespeare or Goethe, of course. The outcry "I know this from Star Trek" became an almost regular occurrence. Star Trek had sneakily succeeded where school and upbringing had failed me. An actual education.
Star Trek TNG was a TV series that was bold enough to put itself on the shoulders of giants. And my generation truly benefited from it.

[brianboyle]

He's a man of culture, of science, an advocate, a listener, a warrior. He's a philosopher king. Yet never unbelievable. The greatest tribute to Stewart's Shakespearean background. He's the greatest TV character of his era.

[JanRademan]

The writers very quickly discovered they had a Shakespearean trained actor on their hands and leaned into it.

[MrRawnerves]

I am a Retired U.S. Army officer. In 1992 I was in a unit where once a month we received officer professional development training in leadership from our commanding officer. He would make us watch the TNG episode for that week and evaluate how Capt Pickard used his leadership skills to deal not only with the accomplishment of the mission but also with how he treated his subordinate officers and crew. We had to be ready to detail Pickards good leadership moments and also his mistakes. It was so much fun and learned a lot about true military leadership from the most unexpected place, a science fiction TV show.

[metalskinn]

I watched TNG religiously in the 90's when I was a kid and Picard always felt like a 2nd father or an influential schoolteacher in my life. Like you, his advice and wisdom has gotten my through tough times in my adulthood. My favorite quote of Picard's, “It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life.”

Love the character and I love this video, thank you for making it!

[spnhm]

In this era we’ve regressed from contemplating the potential of humanity to wondering when and where decency left us. This video is so welcome right now. May your channel have longevity and be profitable

[JRMilward]

"Failed to respect the creative process" perfectly sums up 99% of the problems with poor-quality media, especially in the last 10-15 years.

[andrewcoulthard-clark]

This was wonderful to see. Well done.

My favourite insight came from an interview between Patrick Stewart and late night talk show host David Letterman in 1997. Letterman was being silly, and asked Stewart if he and Jean-Luc Picard got into a bar fight who would win, and without thinking Stewart responded 'Actually, I don't think Jean Luc Picard would ever let the situation escalate to that position'...

It stuck me then, and it has stayed with me ever since.

[himynameisnickolas]

Captain Picard is the fictional character who has had the biggest impact on my development as a human being. So much of my morality was lifted directly from him and in every leadership position I’ve had in my life, I have directly emulated his leadership style. In my day to day life when I am faced with uncertainty in any difficult situation, I too always ask myself, “what would Captain Picard do?”, and in doing so, find the solution.

[rollingrock]

My favorite moments are when Picard gets serious and says something intellectually profound, with Stewart absolutely nailing it. It just comes so natural to him.

[wijcik]

"Family" helped me work through my third miscarriage. Like Picard, I am a high achiever, and it hurt that I couldn't control something so deeply personal and apparently "natural" for me as a woman. When he says that he wasn't smart enough, wasn't enough to stop assimilation, something inside me broke wide open and I sobbed like I hadn't allowed myself to before. That is the moment I credit as the beginning of my healing journey.

[NediSafa]

My son's father was absent after his sixth birthday and I'm glad he said that Picard was his role model.

[terriblecertainity]

Picard was my childhood hero and a big reason why I became a social worker. To do good for humanity

[maxtroy]

Just discovered your channel. Can’t thank you enough for this.

What you said about Picard being a role model … my family was broken. My home was abusive and my relatives are criminals. One saving grace for me growing up was staying up late and watching TNG. Picard became the father I never had, and the crew my adopted family.

I stayed out of trouble and became someone who is, as I’m sure my friends and colleagues would describe me, a decent and moral person. These same people were all shocked to learn about my upbringing and familial situation growing up.

When they would ask “what was different for you” I would always say, “Star Trek, and captain Picard”. They always thought it was funny but that was my honest answer

[philrabe]

"The Inner Light" is one of my favorite stories from television. Ever. I'm whistling it now, Picard's flute piece. It was so good they gave it a romantic reprise in S6? Definitely the best Star Trek universe episode

[wizard-pirate]

I'm so excited that you're going to be doing more TNG videos. It's such a rich topic.
My favourite Picard moment was when he's called to resolve an issue with the Sheliak threatening to kill a colony squatting on their planet. Picard's solution was to invoke a section of the treaty outlining the arbitration of disputes, nominating the Grizzelas to carry out arbitration. They just happen to be in hibernation for the next few months which makes the Sheliak angry. However, they concede and agree to allow time for the colonists to depart. The sheer guile and the response from Riker's quip "you enjoyed that, didn't you?", Picard says "You're damned right I did", it's all just perfect. Because you mentioned the character: it's something Horatio Hornblower would do, I think.

[harmanbeing]

Your channel is due for a blow up. These videos are so good. Would love to see more TNG stuff, especially something involving “the inner light”, my favorite episode.

[clockwark]

You delivered your criticisms of the Picard show with the tact and eloquence of the man himself.

[Gianne]

As a millennial who also grew up with ST:TNG Capt. Picard is one of my favorite characters in all of fiction. Seeing his story ark develop over 7 seasons and then carry into the movies was interesting. Star Trek First Contact is my favorite movie even though parts of it scared the crap out of me as an 8 or 9 year old when I saw it in the theaters in 1996. I thought that was the one TNG movie that actually did understand Picard’s character at least in following the post ark of Best of Both Worlds and seeing just how badly he was still hurting from his assimilation and the near full on destruction of the federation. He is such a special character in the Star Trek universe. I love Sisko, Janeway and Kirk but Picard will always have a special place in my heart as Capt. good video man!