“Family” is a great episode ofStar Trek: The Next Generation, but rewatching it always makes me mad that Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s (Patrick Stewart) relatives were killed off inStar Trek Generations. “Family” introduced Jean-Luc’s older brother, Robert Picard (Jeremy Kemp), Robert’s wife, Marie (Samantha Eggar), and Jean-Luc’s nephew, René (David Tristan Birkin). “Family” is a lovelyStar Trek: The Next Generationepisode written by Ronald D. Moore and directed by Les Landau.
It was rare forStar Trek: The Next Generationto take a break from exploring new worlds to, instead, delve into Captain Picard’s past and inner life.“Family” is also a notable instance of serialization byTNG, asStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 4, episode 2 is a direct follow-up to the conclusion of"The Best of Both Worlds"and deals with how Picard copes with his humanity being restored from his ordeal as Locutus of Borg.
Tragically, Robert, Marie, and René Picard only appeared once (althoughBirkin returned to play the young Jean-Luc PicardinStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 6, episode 7, “Rascals”). InStar Trek Generations,Captain Picard is devastated to learn his family died in a house fire. Robert Picard, his wife, and child killed off-screen was a nasty resolution to the beautiful, profound, and heartfelt reunion in “Family,” and it never sits right. However,Star Trekhas since made it an integral part of Jean-Luc Picard’s story.
Star Trek Generations Still Feels Wrong
Star Trek: The Next Generationseason 4, episode 2, “Family,” gave Jean-Luc Picard a heart and soul beyond his stature as the wise and indomitableCaptain of the Enterprise.“Family” was Jean-Luc’s first time returning home to the Picard vineyardin La Barre, France, in 20 years. Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) even teased Picard that it was the first time in three years the Captain had taken shore leave. Jean-Luc ultimately found the support he needed by mending fences with his estranged older brother, Robert.
Chateau Picard: Star Trek’s History of Jean-Luc’s Family Wine
Jean-Luc left the vineyards of Chateau Picard for a life in the stars but would eventually return. Here’s the history of the Picard family’s Bordeaux.
Rewatching “Family,” it always infuriates me thatStar Trek Generationskilled off Robert Picard’s clan. It wasPatrick Stewart himself who wanted Jean-Luc’s family to dieoff-screen to hammer home that he would be left as the last Picard. Stewart wanted to play that profound loss to give Picard dramatic weight inStar Trek Generations, andSir Patrick even suggested that Robert’s family die in a house fire.
It’s a callous way to dismiss the warm and loving family Jean-Luc found when he came home to France.
Ultimately, what Robert Picard and his family’s death amounted to inStar Trek Generationswas a couple of scenes where Captain Picard mourned them (primarily the loss of his nephew, René, more than his brother or sister-in-law). By theend ofStar Trek Generations,Picard has seemingly reconciled and moved on from his personal tragedy, and it’s never mentioned again. It’s a callous way to dismiss the warm and loving family Jean-Luc found when he came home to France in TNG.
“Family” Humanized Star Trek: TNG’s Captain Picard
Jean-Luc Became A Better Character Because Of “Family”
“Family” was a crucialepisode ofStar Trek: The Next Generationfor Captain Picard. For the first time,Jean-Luc was emotionally vulnerable, uncertain, and even considered leaving the Starship Enterprise for a fleeting moment. In Marie and René, Jean-Luc saw the good fortune Robert had that escaped Jean-Luc because of his choice to commit himself to Starfleet. Meanwhile, Robert’s hostility and coldness were ultimately to test his little brother, to learn why, exactly, Jean-Luc had returned home.
Why Didn’t Picard Save His Family In Star Trek Generations?
Captain Picard could have gone back in time to save his family in Star Trek Generations, creating a plot hole that hamstrings the TNG film’s climax.
Jean-Luc was never more relatable than when he broke down in tears after fighting Robert in the mud.Robert (and the audience) were touched to see Jean-Luc is human, not the perfect, indefatigableCaptain of the Enterprise. Robert comforting his brother is one of the kindest moments that happened to Captain Picard. “Family” gaveStar Trek: The Next Generationpermission to further explore Captain Picard’s humanity, and classic episodes like “The Inner Light” wouldn’t have been possible without Jean-Luc’s homecoming.
How Jean-Luc Picard Was Changed By Star Trek Killing His Family
Jean-Luc Eventually Became His Brother
As Jean-Luc Picard’s story unfolded inStar Trek: Picard,he ironically became his brother. Robert Picard’s off-screen death left Jean-Luc as the last Picard, but the Captain had reconciled the fact that the family line would die with him because he had no children (or so Jean-Luc believed).Star Trek: Picardseason 1 essentially made Jean-Luc into Robert:after quitting Starfleet, Picard returned to his family’s vineyard in La Barre, France, and became a winemaker like his elder brother and the previous generations of Picards.
Robert Picard called Jean-Luc an"arrogant son-of-a…“inStar Trek: The Next Generation’s “Family,” and it was that arrogance that led to Admiral Picard quitting Starfleet in the mistaken belief they wouldn’t accept his resignation.
Star Trek: Picardseason 2 excluded Robertfrom Jean-Luc’s flashbacks revealing the truth about the death of their mother, Yvette Picard (Madeline Wise), and that their father, Maurice Picard (James Callis), wasn’t the villain Jean-Luc believed he was. Ultimately, Jean-Luc fully became his brother, Robert, inStar Trek: Picardseason 3. Upon learning he has a son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), with Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden),Admiral Picard ended hisStar Trekstory with the family he once never believed he would ever have.
“Family” Also Set Up Star Trek: Picard
Jean-Luc’s Future Sprung From “Family”
Although Captain Picard’s homecoming was the A story ofStar Trek: The Next Generation’s “Family,” and the B story revolved around thehuman parents of Lt. Worf(Michael Dorn) visiting the USS Enterprise-D, “Family” also had a C story that impacted Picard’s future. Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) watched a hologram recorded for him by his late father, Lt. Commander Jack R. Crusher (Doug Wert).Star Trek: Picardeventually strengthens Jean-Luc’s ties to the Crusher clan, and his unresolved relationship with Dr. Beverly Crusher, to enable Picard to have a family of his own.
Every Picard Family Member In Star Trek
Admiral Jean-Luc Picard is part of a proud family of explorers and wine-makers. The Picard family spans generations of Star Trek.
The seeds of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard’s future were planted inStar Trek: The Next Generation’s “Family.” Jean-Luc eventually became the person he originally fled Earth and joined Starfleet to avoid, filling the shoes of his older brother, Robert. To Jean-Luc’s surprise, he eventually gained a family of his own, and a son to carry on the Picard family line (if not the Picard surname). Yet all of this could still have been achieved withoutStar Trek Generationskilling off Picard’s family off-screen. It’s still a poor way to follow up one of the seminal Picard episodes ofStar Trek: The Next Generation.
