Picard seasons ranked worst to best

Star Trek: Picard may have only lasted three seasons, but how they rank is notable!

Star Trek has had more than its share of big shows over its long existence, yet Picard was still a huge one. At long last, Patrick Stewart would reprise his role as Jean-Luc Picard in a series set decades after Star Trek: Nemesis. Besides showcasing Stewart, it would also rewrite the Trek universe with a new canon taking place of the old after the various shows, as well as showing how the galaxy evolved.

The show had an interesting arc, with the first two seasons seen as rough despite Stewart's fine performance as the elder Picard. The third season was hailed for being a terrific sequel to The Next Generation with some bold twists. So, here's a quick look at how each season of Star Trek: Picard ranks for anyone who wants to catch up on this series!

3. Season 1

The first season of Picard was a bit of a slow start but built up over time. It was somewhat jarring to see an older Picard whose career ended when Starfleet refused to help the Romulans recover from a galactic disaster. A Picard doubting himself isn't a fun sight and Stewart seemed out of place getting back into the role. The themes of refugees and Starfleet's politics bring in real-life issues, which is why Trek succeeds nicely. 

We're introduced to Michelle Hurd's feisty Raffi and the return of Jeri Ryan as a darker Seven of Nine with sensational action sequences. There are also cameos from Riker and Troi, with the former getting a great moment in the finale saving the day. Picard struggling with his mortality and his faith in Starfleet shaken did provide fodder for drama that Stewart pulled off.

But there's a lot of bad in this first year, from Picard not being the confident leader we expect to the convoluted plot involving the Romulans, synthetics, and constantly changing loyalties. The dreamscape sequences are poorly done, and the finale is lackluster. It's frankly amazing the show continued when this first year was a pretty big creative misfire.

2. Season 2

Having John de Lancie back as Q should have been a blast. Sadly, his return wasn't as great as hoped. It's not helped by the baffling plot of time travel transforming the Federation into a tyranny, with only Picard and a few others knowing it. 

That sets up a time travel trip to the 21st century that retreads moments from The Voyage Home. Heck, there's even a cameo from that punk rocker with the radio from that film. There are some decent turns, yet the show feels a bit lacking in what could have been a sharp story exploring the Borg and Brent Spiner as an ancestor of Soong. It does pick up with a big twist involving Soong and his daughter, which is genuinely disturbing. 

Allison Pill's quirky genius and her arc is treated too much as a comedy despite a big transformation, although it is fun to see Seven and Raffi bond during their adventures. Q does get more presence as it goes and we get a surprise return from an unexpected TNG face. It picks up in the finale and is an improvement over the first season while giving Picard more to do. 

A bit of Picard wrestling with the ghost of his father is carried well by Stewart and the rest of the cast is more vibrant. It's not an awful season, yet it seems to meander before the climax to be a bit of a letdown. Still, seeing Picard and Q engage in a war of wits is always a fun sight for TNG fans.

1. Season 3

Now this…, this is what fans had wanted of Picard all along. The final season was the true Next Generation reunion viewers had dreamed of and it outdid expectations. The entire cast is back with great touches, such as Worf becoming more of a pacifist, Troi and Crusher showing their action chops, and finding a way to bring back Data. Seeing them (and others like Tuvok) pop up automatically ranks this season high.

Then there's the plot as attacks on Earth lead Picard to the son he's never known, with Ed Speelers providing great energy as Jack. The actual storyline takes twists and turns you truly don't expect, with the return of arguably the two most powerful foes in all of Star Trek lore. We even get a brief return of the holographic Professor Moriarty!

The last two episodes are absolute thrill rides, with big-screen movies moved to the small screen. Every character gets a chance to shine with a couple of bold sacrifices and a fantastic conclusion. It's the perfect end to The Next Generation saga while paving the way for the future. That final scene is masterful and so the final season of Picard ranks as not just the best of that series but one of the best Star Trek projects in the last decade. 

Star Trek: Picard streaming on Paramount+.