Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Finale – “The Last Generation”Star Trek: Picard season 3’s finale featured one of Counselor Deanna Troi’s (Marina Sirtis) finest moments that redeemed the crash of the USS Enterprise-D in Star Trek Generations. Troi joined her husband, Captain Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes), and the rest of the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew in saving the galaxy from the Borg one last time. Every TNG iconic character got a moment to shine in Picard season 3, and Troi’s most heroic act redeemed how she was unfortunately at the helm when the Enterprise crash-landed on Veridian III.
The USS Enterprise-D was destroyed in Star Trek Generations thanks to the machinations of the Klingon Duras sisters, who used Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge’s VISOR as a means for their torpedoes to bypass the Galaxy Class starship’s shields. The Enterprise destroyed the Klingons but Commander William Riker ordered a saucer separation when the warp core was breached. Unfortunately, the saucer couldn’t escape far enough from the stardrive’s explosion. Riker ordered Counselor Troi to take the Enterprise’s helm, but there was little Deanna could do to prevent the saucer from crash-landing.
How Picard Season 3 Redeems Troi Crashing The Enterprise In Star Trek Generations
Star Trek: Picard season 3’s finale, “The Last Generation,” knowingly placed Counselor Troi back in the familiar position of taking the helm of the Enterprise-D in a crisis, but this time Deanna truly saved the day. Faced with the no-win scenario of destroying the Borg Cube, which would doom Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Captain Worf (Michael Dorn), Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), and her husband, Riker, on the Cube, Troi’s Betazoid empathic powers told her where her friends were. Deanna boldly took the helm and flew the Enterprise to a last-second rescue so that Picard and the others beamed aboard in the nick of time. Troi even performed a drift as she impressively slid the Enterprise into position.
While Troi has been scapegoated for crashing the Enterprise in Star Trek Generations, it’s notable that her actions landed the saucer relatively on Veridian III and prevented a catastrophic loss of life. Troi holds the rank of Commander, but she’s not a starship helmsman, yet Deanna didn’t hesitate when Riker told her to pilot the Enterprise in an impossible situation. In Star Trek: Picard‘s finale, Troi came through with flying colors, and it was her quick thinking, courage, and resourcefulness that ensured the Enterprise-D’s family achieved their last, great victory with no loss of life once again.
Troi Was The Key To Star Trek: Picard Season 3
Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas promised that Deanna Troi is one of the “keys” to season 3 in response to fan complaints that Troi didn’t join the story until later in the season. Indeed, Troi was a crucial part of the story who unlocked the biggest mystery of Picard season 3: Jack Crusher’s secret. Thanks to Troi’s skills as a Counselor and her Betazoid powers, she was able to open the red door in Jack’s mind and see the Borg Cube within, confirming that Picard’s son was infected with Borg DNA and was destined to be a tool of the Borg Queen (Alice Krige).
Deanna and Will Riker’s marriage was tested in Star Trek: Picard season 3, but they were able to reconcile and joined the rest of the Enterprise-D crew as a unified front. Troi’s dread that she would lose Will to the Borg turned out to be the impetus she needed to locate her husband and save them, taking the helm of the Enterprise in the process. Star Trek: Picard season 3 not only resurrected the USS Enteprise-D but it also gave Counselor Troi a rousing redemption as its pilot, wiping the bad memories of Star Trek Generations away, at last.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 is available to stream on Paramount+.
