Two episodes in, and Star Trek: Picard is actually good. Since this is the third season, I was concerned that I’d have to wade through two crappy seasons for continuity. So far, the only character from prior seasons is a female Huggy Bear. You remember Huggy Bear, the black junkie from Starsky and Hutch. He was always tweaking, but aspired to be useful.
Picard and Riker go on a buddy trip to save Beverly Crush from the Hypnotoad ship. Picard and Riker retain great chemistry, and play up the over-the-hill angle with good natured humor.
In a nice touch, it isn’t just legacy characters, but their kids who show up.
They are up against a by-the-book captain who isn’t a bad guy, just doesn’t hold with the swashbuckling ways of Picard and Riker. Seven-of-Nine is his first officer. She was a better character when she was struggling with her Borg nature. Now, she’s more like everyone else.
I don’t know if Star Trek: Picard got better writers or a new show runner, but it’s actually a good show now, compared to the muddled show it started out as.