Star Trek: Picard paid a remarkable tribute to the late-great Anton Yelchin.
Star Trek: Picard’s third season had been one giant love letter to the fans, with its constant desire to source, cameo, and put in easter eggs from previous shows. It became the hallmark of the show, for better or worse. The plot almost became second to fans asking, “Who’s showing up next”.
That worked, fans loved the show, but it also gave showrunner Terry Matalas the ability to thank so many past and present characters and actors for their work on the franchise up until this point. Not every cameo worked, and some felt out of place, but when they hit, they hit.
Moreover, the one thing that Picard did as well, if not better than any other show in the Nu Trek Era was his ability to pay respect to those who have come and gone. And maybe no one got a more touching and deserved tribute than Anton Yelchin, the actor who played Pavel Chekov in the Star Trek Kelvin films, and who tragically died far too young.
Star Trek: Picard really does Anton Yelchin’s tribute right
Yelchin, who played Pavel Chekov in the Kelvin Timeline of films, was an instant hit and did Walter Koenig, the original Chekov actor, proud. Both actors played Chekov, a young Russian-born genius, and Starfleet cadet. In both the original show, set in the prime universe, and the films set in the Kelvin universe, Chekov was energic, likable, and just too dang fun not to enjoy.
His passing was hard, and the Kelvin timeline hasn’t seen another new film since his passing.
Matalas, who clearly knew the Star Trek fandom has missed Yelchin, pulled off an ace maneuver. At the start of the final episode of Picard, the President of the United Federation of Planets would make a final distress call, imploring ships to stay away from Earth.
That President’s name was Anton Chekov, the prime timeline son of Pavel Checkov. Not only was there a new Chekov, but Koenig did the voice for Anton. A fitting decision, as Chekov’s son was of course named after Yelchin himself.
A nice tip of the cap to a Star Trek icon gone too soon.