Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden discuss love and excitement for the TNG crew in Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard

Sir Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden conducted a series of video interviews in addition to their panel at San Diego Comic-Con. Just like we did for Strange New Worldswe’ve rounded up all the highlights of what they had to say about season 3 of Picard and beyond.

Don’t call it a goodbye

The big news about Season 3 of Picard is the return of the main cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, with the first reveal of how the characters will be featured at the Comic-Con panel. However, Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden got a little sour when asked if the season was a “reunion,” telling EW:

Stewart: I don’t want to disappoint you, but it’s not about a Next Generation Reunion. It really isn’t. It’s part of a narrative, a very serious narrative, that develops throughout Season 3. And it actually brings us together, I can say right at the end, because that’s what you’d like to know. It’s not just a walk down memory lane, from afar.

He had a similar response (with McFadden supporting him) when asked about a reunion by TV Insider:

Stewart: I think it’s important to say that season three is much more than a reunion season. Much much more. It’s intense. It’s personal. It’s social. It’s a family. And it’s getting very serious.

McFadden: Indeed. It’s quite an adventure. And it’s a brilliant story of how they unfold when we get together and what happens. I was excited. I think it’s a great season and I’m sure the fans would love it.

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The characters have evolved… and there’s some tension

Also wanting to clarify that the TNG characters have changed over the years, both actors left an odd tidbit for EW:

McFadden: I was approached and [showrunner] Terry Matalas told me this incredible story involving Crusher Picardand it was something else entirely that I hadn’t explored on the [The Next Generation]. And that’s what made it so exciting…our characters evolved as we evolved as people. And I think that makes it incredibly rich, also very different.

Stewart: And as far as Picard is concerned, a secret history is also acknowledged.

McFadden offered TV Insider more about how the characters have changed:

McFadden: All of the characters have evolved because we humans have evolved, and of course that will be reflected in our characters. But we had a lot of fun and laughed a lot and got silly like always. And we also had some very moving moments. So I think the story is really brilliant and very powerful. I loved the story and I hope the fans will too.

Stewart confirmed to IGN that there is some tension between some of the characters:

Stewart: Yes, there is stress in relationships. And that’s, I think, after how many 25 years, that’s totally appropriate. You can’t be sure that you know the same person you knew all those years ago. Still, there is a tiny celebratory aspect to it. Not huge. But it is there. For us personally it was wonderful to be back on set with these actors who played such an important role in our lives 35 years ago is extraordinary. And we’re all still here.

McFadden said it was great to have everyone back together even if there was tension between them, telling EW:

Everyone is amazing in it. Worf, Troi, Riker. And it’s very special to have that kind of bond and then revisit it but in a very different way. And Star Trek too. I love being involved with this franchise. I really do that because it stands for something. It stands for our universe and our possibilities for the future and we are good role models. And that’s what we need now.

Beverly and Jean-Luc haven’t kept in touch…but do have a connection to Shakespeare

McFadden confirmed in several interviews that Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher had not seen each other for approximately 25 years prior to the events Picard Season 3. However, she spoke to EW about the strong bond they continue to have:

McFadden: Picard and Crusher had this very special love affair. It’s very strong. Very unique. And to me it’s almost Shakespeare. It’s almost like a sonnet [#116] “That sees storms and is never shaken.” It’s that kind of thing. And I always thought so, but to actually be in a situation where we need to rediscover and reanalyze our feelings for each other? We haven’t seen each other for 20-25 years… that was really strong.

Stewart: Yes, very strong.

And with IGN, the couple spoke about how their dynamic has changed:

Stewart: There is dynamic. It won’t be the way it was.

McFadden: Right, that’s great. I mean we have great chemistry and it was so much fun shooting our scenes.

And to TV Insider, the pair said they might still argue, but the nature of the discussions has changed:

McFadden: She’s older and wiser and just as argumentative as ever, unfortunately.

Stewart: But the discussions are often personal, family in nature, which I can’t tell you about.

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dr Crusher was busy helping people… and another character wasn’t

The acting couple offered IGN some insight into what Dr. Crusher intended in the decades after their last appearance Star Trek: Nemesiswith Stewart hinting that one of the other TNG characters might not be held in such high esteem:

McFadden: I think Beverly is someone who is always moving on and really wants to do good in the world. Especially when you realize through the images of the Webb telescope how vast and unfathomable the universe is. I think she has explored many things and she is a very intelligent woman and I think you will find that she has done many things.

Stewart: She’s also researched and researched and helped people, which probably can’t be said for everyone Next Generation [characters].

McFadden: Well, she’s both a scientist and a doctor. The Hippocratic Oath is obviously important, but it’s unexpected that they come together, but it’s quite the story.

What about Wesley?

Will we see Wil Wheaton’s Wesley Crusher return? Picard (as he did in season 2) and reuniting with his space mother in season 3, McFadden kept it vague:

McFadden: My space son, that’s what I call Wil Wheaton. He calls me his space mom, which is a privilege. He and I talk all the time. He’s a doll. I’m so lucky to have him in my life but no I didn’t see him in the last season but you just have to see what happens in the third season.

Gates McFadden as Dr. Crusher on the Season 3 poster

Coming in 2023

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 is expected in early 2023. Picard will be streamed exclusively on Paramount+ in the US while being distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution on Amazon Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories and in Canada, aired on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streamed on Crave.