Star Trek: Picard was always going to end after 3 seasons

The second season of Star Trek: Picard debuts on March 3 on Paramount+

The recent news of the ending of Star Trek: Picard next year may have come as a surprise to many Trek fans. After all, no Trek series has ended after three seasons since The Original Series. But in September 2021, in an interview with TrekMovie, showrunner Akiva Goldsman said the original hope was to do three seasons of the series. He went on to say that three seasons of television couldn’t be greenlit, but that the plan was for three.

When asked what would happen if more seasons of Picard were requested, Goldsman replied that three seasons was the story as had been imagined. But he did add that as many seasons as Patrick Stewart wanted to do was what should be done.

"“For me, as many seasons as Patrick Stewart wants to do, that’s as many seasons of Picard there should be.”"

Three seasons of Star Trek: Picard will complete the arc

Goldsman confirmed that each of the three seasons were separate stories. That will give them the opportunity to complete an arc for Admiral Picard that first started in season one when he found another reason to keep going, got to see some old friends, and had a chance to say goodbye to Data. In season two, Picard will encounter both Q and the Borg Queen and meet up with his friend, Guinan, again.

Though we know nothing about season three, LeVar Burton has already confirmed that eventually all of the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew will be seen on the series, which would be a perfect wrap-up to the third season. A chance for fans to catch up with Admiral Picard’s former crew and to say goodbye one more time would be the perfect ending to PIcard’s journey.