Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) may be one of Star Trek's most serious captains, but this Star Trek: The Next Generation episode proved Patrick Stewart could be incredibly funny as well. Patrick Stewart has been open about how he could be a bit too severe on set during TNG season 1. Just as it took Stewart himself time to adjust to the sometimes silly antics of TNG's other cast members, it took Captain Picard time to lighten up as well.
Since Star Trek: The Original Series, the franchise has incorporated humorous elements into its stories, from banter between characters to entire comedic episodes. Not only did Star Trek: The Next Generation hit its stride by the show's third season, but the actors also appeared more comfortable in their roles. Patrick Stewart never failed to deliver a solid performance as Captain Picard, but his comedy chops were not obviously apparent until this late TNG season 3 episode. While the episode may not be a full-blown comedy, it definitely takes a less serious approach to things.
Star Trek: TNG’s “Captain’s Holiday” Shows How Funny Patrick Stewart Can Be
Patrick Stewart's Line Delivery Makes "Captain's Holiday" A Fun Episode
Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Captain's Holiday" begins with Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) working to convince Captain Picard to take a much-needed vacation. Picard insists he has no interest in taking time off, but Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) soon begin nagging him about it as well. Patrick Stewart perfectly plays his deadpan reaction to everyone's vacation suggestions, establishing the tone of the episode. When Picard finally makes it to the pleasure planet Risa, he sits down to read his book in the sun, only to be constantly interrupted.
In another hilarious sequence, Picard goes back and forth with a Risan woman, then a Ferengi named Sovak (Max Grodénchik ), and finally, Vash (Jennifer Hetrick), who proves to be the most interesting. Vash pulls Jean-Luc into a treasure hunt on Risa, and the two quickly fall into a romantic relationship. With a superfluous plot involving time-traveling aliens from the future, "Captain's Holiday" may not be Star Trek: The Next Generation at its best, but the episode does allow Picard to have some fun and gives Patrick Stewart a chance to be funny.
Star Trek TNG Should Have Given Patrick Stewart More Comedic Moments
TNG Didn't Lean Into Comedy As Often As Star Trek's Other Shows
The small moments of humor in "Captain's Holiday" prove that Star Trek: The Next Generation should have given Patrick Stewart more comedic opportunities. While Star Trek: The Original Series had episodes like "The Trouble With Tribbles" and "A Piece of the Action" that leaned into pure comedy, TNG did not dip into that well as often. Thanks to the family dynamic of TNG's crew, humor often found its way into the show, but comedy was rarely a focus. TNG did not need comedic episodes to be a good show, of course, and not all of its humor worked.
Patrick Stewart can certainly make a line funny without turning it into a joke.
Still, TNG's cast did well when given humorous material. Patrick Stewart can certainly make a line funny without turning it into a joke, imbuing Picard with a dry sense of humor that perfectly matches the captain's personality. Not everything about "Captain's Holiday" works well, but Patrick Stewart gets some great lines, and TNG's writers should have given him moments like this more often. While Captain Picard may never be the starship captain who regularly laughs and jokes with his crew, some episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation allowed Patrick Stewart to show a lighter side.
