SNL Pays Tribute to Patrick Stewart and the enduring example of Picard
Picard’s post-Cold War Federation
When Stewart first appeared as Picard in 1987, the Berlin Wall was still standing. The Soviet Union collapsed before the show’s fourth season began, while the series imagined a world beyond the Cold War.
The earlier Star Trek series placed the Federation in a position like that of the United States, facing rival powers such as the Klingon Empire. In The Next Generation, the Klingons had become allies, and Lieutenant Worf served on Picard’s bridge.
Power used for protection
The Federation represented both America’s post-Cold War dominance and an idealized version of the country. The Enterprise often responded to environmental disasters or carried ambassadors to peace talks rather than fighting alien forces.
Though the ship held enough weapons to destroy planets, Picard more often used it to distribute vaccines. The series explored the responsibilities that come with power, with Picard defending universal rights as well as commanding the Federation’s most advanced ship.
A lasting example of leadership
Stewart’s Shakespearean background helped him deliver the show’s often weighty dialogue with gravity. In “The Measure of a Man,” Picard defends the android Data’s right to refuse being dismantled for research.
Picard comes to see that the case concerns more than one individual: it could determine whether an entire class of beings has rights. The article describes his liberal ideals as belonging to a past era, but argues they should not be discarded because the United States has failed to meet them.
Key points
- SNL paid tribute to Patrick Stewart and his portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
- The Next Generation imagined a powerful Federation that favored diplomacy and humanitarian action.
- Picard’s defense of Data raised questions about rights and the treatment of an entire class of beings.
- The article argues that Picard’s ideals remain relevant despite the United States falling short of them.