Summary
- Jean-Luc Picard's regret about not starting a family in Star Trek Generations was resolved in Picard season 3.
- Picard discovered he had a son, Jack Crusher, who joins Starfleet and carries on the Picard legacy.
- Jack Crusher serves on the USS Enterprise-G, alongside Captain Seven of Nine, potentially facing adventures with Q.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) expressed a particular regret in Star Trek Generations, but Star Trek: Picard season 3 fixed it for him. Throughout his time on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Picard prioritized his Starfleet career, devoting his life to serving the United Federation of Planets. Picard's crew on the USS Enterprise-D became his family, but he still kept them at arm's length most of the time. Even when enduring traumatic experiences and facing off against frightening foes, Picard rarely let his fear or anxiety show.
Star Trek: Picard season 2 revealed that Jean-Luc's childhood trauma kept him from opening up and gave him reservations about being a father. Jean-Luc chose to focus on his career and he rarely regretted that decision, although Picard did express some regret about not starting a family. In Star Trek Generations, Jean-Luc learned that his brother Robert (Jeremy Kemp), sister-in-law, and nephew René (David Tristan Birkin, Christopher James Miller) died in a tragic accidental fire, meaning no one was left to carry on the Picard legacy. But Star Trek: Picard season 3 changed that.
Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), too, prioritized exploring the stars over starting a family, but several Star Trek captains have successfully managed to do both.
Jean-Luc’s Biggest Star Trek Generations Regret Was Fixed By Picard Season 3
Jean-Luc expressed regret about never starting a family in Star Trek Generations.
Upon learning of the death of his brother and nephew in Star Trek Generations, Captain Picard opened up to Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis). Picard had considered his nephew the closest thing he would ever get to having a son and he felt comforted that René would continue the family line. Without the "responsibility to carry on the family line," as Troi put it, Jean-Luc had few regrets about devoting his life to Starfleet. René left Jean-Luc lamenting that after him, there would "be no more Picards."
Jean-Luc, Beverly, and Jack were together as a family,
Star Trek: Picard season 3 reunited the original crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation, revealing that Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and Jean-Luc Picard had a son. The existence of Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) came as a surprise to Jean-Luc, as Beverly had kept him a secret. After Picard got over the shock of discovering he had a son, he sat down with Jack and the two began to get to know each other. By the end of Star Trek: Picard season 3, Jean-Luc, Beverly, and Jack were together as a family, and Jack had joined Starfleet, following in the footsteps of his impressive parents.
Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher are both Starfleet Admirals at the end of Star Trek: Picard season 3.
Will Jack Crusher Take His Father Jean-Luc Picard’s Last Name?
Now that Jack has a relationship with his father, will he add Picard to his name?
Dr. Beverly Crusher raised Jack on her own, and he took the name Jack Crusher to protect Jean-Luc's son from his many enemies. It remains to be seen whether Jack will change his surname to Picard. Star Trek: Picard established that Kestra (Lulu Wilson), the daughter of Deanna Troi and Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) uses Troi-Riker as her last name, so Jack could take on the name Crusher-Picard or Picard-Crusher. Regardless of what name he chooses to go by, Jack still carries on the Picard line with his very existence.
Jack Crusher breezed through Starfleet Academy in one year, which he attributed to "nepotism."
Not only did Jack Crusher join Starfleet at the end of Star Trek: Picard season 3, but he also landed a position on the newly rechristened USS Enterprise-G. While it remains unknown exactly what Jack Crusher's position as Special Counselor to the Captain entails, he will serve on the bridge alongside Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). Hopefully, Seven and Jack's adventures will someday make it to the screen, especially considering Q (John de Lancie) appears to have an interest in Jack. Whatever happens, Jean-Luc Picard should feel comfort in the fact that he now has a son to carry on his Star Trek legacy.
