The excitement mounts in Star Trek: Picard’s third episode (The End is the Beginning), and it is well-earned after two episodes of slowly paced setup. Previously, Picard (Patrick Stewart) discovered a synthetic lifeform named Dahj (Isa Briones), who had mysterious ties to Data. But before he could get to the bottom of her mystery, she was killed by an elite, secret Romulan intelligence agency called the Zhat Vash. He sought answers with a synthetic research scientist named Dr. Jurati (Alison Pill), a colleague of Bruce Maddox, the man Data had worked closely with to unravel the puzzle that was his one of a kind positronic brain. Though Maddox had long disappeared, Jurati was able to tell Picard that if Dahj had been one of his creations, she would have a twin somewhere out in the galaxy. Desperate to get answers, Picard went to Starfleet to ask for a ship and crew to complete his mission. However, he drastically underestimated how damaged his relationship was with his former employer, and was not-so-politely asked to leave. Now, with a crooked head of Starfleet security on his trail, he must look for help outside of the system, more specifically, his former second in command, Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd).

Though this is an exciting episode, and a major step forward for moving the plot along, the core of it is about the relationship between Jean-Luc and Raffi, or lack thereof. While the chemistry is great between the two characters, there seems to be some odd lack of motivation at play here. It’s clear that Picard has been hurting from the loss of his ideal Federation, and has withdrawn from friends and co-workers since then, but Raffi’s hatred or deep hurt, (pointing a gun at Picard, and telling him to leave) doesn’t quite add up with what they’re showing happened between them. Sure, both of them lost their careers, but that seems more due to the Federation’s lack of willingness to help the Romulans than Picard’s lack of caring. He could have done more, and she certainly has a right to be disappointed in him, but the degree to which she blames him for every bad thing that happened to her when she was an adult making her own decisions, is pure craziness.

This episode introduces another new character, too: former Starfleet pilot Rios (Santiago Cabrera), who seems interesting enough, but also a little cartoonish in how much of a tough guy/rogue he is. His first appearance is shirtless, smoking a cigar, with a piece of shrapnel sticking out of his shoulder, giving you his best Hugh Jackman as Wolverine impression. That could be a calculated move in making you think he’s one thing, when he’s really something else, though. After all, it is later pointed out that he keeps a clean, neat, and orderly ship, and actually cares a good bit about doing the right thing, and needing a righteous cause. Only time will tell if he’s a two-dimensional archetype, or a more complex character hiding behind a facade. Still, for now, Cabrera has enough charisma to make you care while waiting.

The character of Soji (Dahj’s twin, also played by Isa Briones) has a subplot that has been running throughout each episode, revolving around her living and working on a “dead” Borg Cube that is run by Romulans. This seems, on the surface, like it should be one of the most exciting parts of the show, but so far...it’s not. Whether it’s because it’s so far removed from Picard, or the characters involved aren’t that interesting, or the writers really don’t know what they’re going to do with this B story, in the long run, it just kind of plods along with each episode, moving at a snail’s pace. Even when it does reveal something new, it’s hard to care. At best, the return of an old character from TNG provides some interest in this chapter, but even he shows up in such a boring way that it really doesn’t seem to matter.

“The End is the Beginning” has some major weaknesses, but the pickup in momentum makes up for most of them. By the end of the episode, you’re definitely excited to see what’s coming next, and you’re still happy to be back in Picard’s orbit having another adventure. This being a new show, they’re probably still trying to iron out some tone and writing issues as they go, so it should be worth sticking around to see how it turns out.

Grade: B