Star Trek: Picard transferred the conn in a heartbreaking manner

Warning! This post contains spoilers for the second to last episode of Star Trek: Picard “Vox.” Please read at your own risk.

Seriously, do not read this article if you have not watched “Vox” and do not want to be spoiled. 

Star Trek: Picard is wrapping up with only one episode remaining for the crew of the newly-restored Enterprise-D to take on the entirety of Starfleet which is now controlled by Admiral Jean-Luc Picard’s greatest enemy—the Borg. When the USS Titan was assimiliated by the Borg using genetic material retrieved from Admiral Picard’s body, Picard and his crew were forced to abandon ship and take refuge on a shuttle which Commordore La Forge then used to take them to the Fleet Museum to retreive the Enterprise.

Before that could happen, though, they were embroiled in a battle in the maintenance bay of the Titan and were pinned down. Captain Shaw, Seven of Nine, and Raffi held the front line against the members of the crew which had been assimilated, but Shaw was shot by one of his own assimilated crew members. As he lay dying on the floor, he transferred the conn to Seven of Nine, even using her preferred designation when he turned over the ship.

Star Trek: Picard took an understandable but disappointing route.

For practically the entirety of the season, fans have been interested in a Star Trek: Titan series with Captain Shaw (Todd Stashwick) as the lead. That possibility was effectively eliminated today with Shaw’s death…unless, of course, he is brought back to life which is always possible in Star Trek. Still, it makes sense if the intention all along was to have Seven of Nine be the captain of the Titan for a future series.

It doesn’t, however, make it any less disappointing. Shaw has been a unique addition to the Star Trek universe with his gruff and sarcastic manner which few captains have possessed in the history of Star Trek. Stashwick has the presence to carry a series all on his own, and unless something drastic happens, that’s not going to occur now. And that is unfortunate.

It was a heartbreaking transfer of the Titan, but in a battle with the Borg, there will be casualties as we’ve seen in the past. So it should come as no surprise that one of the lead characters became a victim.

Star Trek: Picard concludes next week, April 20th, on Paramount+.