Alright, let's discuss. Some reviewers - all very friendly to this new season of #StarTrekPicard - have bristled at Picard using an F-bomb. Fair reaction. Everybody's entitled, certainly. But I've been genuinely curious as to why. This article makes a few points worth exploring.

https://twitter.com/BackoftheHead/status/1634588457484861442

Picard being too eloquent, too sophisticated for such language. First, it's important to move past the accent. It's easy to hear that elevated British tone escaping the mouth of a gentlemanly Shakespearean actor and assume some elevated intellectualism.

It may be time to recalibrate “fan service” as a critique. Our JOB is to service the fans. To give them the very best version of what they came for, what they love. Sometimes, that involves elevating the familiar while evolving the story or world into something new by degrees. Honoring history is important. Tonal, mythological, visual touch points are important. It’s necessary to challenge expectations, to move the story in dynamic ways — but within the context and creative language of the thing you’ve been tasked with safeguarding.

Heading into tonight’s premiere of #startrekpicard there are a lot of people to thank. Our cast, our crew. Editors and composers. I’m deeply grateful. But I’d like to take a moment to thank the writers — my friends and colleagues who worked tirelessly to make S3 so terrific. They elevated everything. Brought their A-game into battle. Gave their hearts to every scene. They sacrificed their time, their sanity. All to make something lasting and worthwhile.

Yes, there is a vocal portion of the Trek fanbase who don’t connect with more modern Trek. That’s fine. We all plug into things at different times and for different reasons. Whovians each have “their” Doctor who encapsulates the sensibilities of a given era. And we can all argue about which more modern elements are or aren’t analogous to the inherent ideals of TOS or TNG or DS9, etc. Also fine. Everything is to-taste. But we were all raised loving some era of Star Trek – and not only Trek, but other series, as well.