Star Trek: Picard: Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1 review

Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1

The penultimate episode. Quite interesting. La Sirena, Narek and the Artefact arrive at Coppelius, Soji's homeworld. But first, the intro scene, with La Sirena in the transwarp conduit. It it would be turbulant would be obvious, and the shot of Jurati cowering under the table was done rather well. Arriving at Coppelius, La Sirena is attacked by Narek. This battle was done well, including Narek projecting a false image of his ship to gain advantage over La Sirena. Then giant orchids envelop the two ships and the Artefact.

Thus they all crash on the planet's surface near the Synth settlement. But something is up with Picard. Jurati scans him and finds out about his neurological condition, which may be getting worse. The scene where he talks to the crew about his condition and that they shouldn't treat him like a dying man was very well written (and acted). They decide to go the Artefact first, before going to the Synth settlement. There, they find that Elnor, Seven and many XBs had survived the crash. A rather good scene.

The conversation between Picard and Seven was good also. 'Passing the torch' as it were. But Raffi and Rios discover that 218 Romulan warbirds are on the way. (Something about that number? Or 109?) They then go to the Synth settlement, where they discover many Synths. Some who have similar skin tones to Data, including Jana's sister Sutra, and others who look more human. There is also Noonian Soong's son, Altan Inigo Soong. (An unexpected, and interesting development.) Also a Synthetic cat named Spot II.

(A very good addition.) However, not all seems right in this seemingly idyllic community, especially when the vistors reveal that the Romulans are coming to destroy them. They don't have enough of the Orchids for one thing. But something else is up. When Jurati reveals what she knows from the Admonition, Sutra, having studied Vulcan culture, offers to mind meld with her. (Jurati's fear and anxiety was expressed rather well here.) Then Sutra tells what the Admonition means. That an extragalatic federation of Synths will save them from the Organics.

Making matters worse, Narek is captured and Picard tries to dissuade Sutra from her plan. That his speech fails, is understandable, given that the Synths (and Soong) are paranoid. (And Sutra seemingly has framed Narek for murdering one of the other Synths...) An episode with a feel more like TNG, it is still a good set up for what comes next. 8.8/10.