Todd Stashwick’s Star Trek: Picard Captain & Popularity Explained

Todd Stashwick's Captain Liam Shaw became a breakout fan favorite by the end of Star Trek: Picard season 3. In its third and final season, Picard reunited Star Trek: The Next Generation's crew aboard the newly rebuilt USS Enterprise-D for one final adventure. When Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) received a distress call from his friend and former flame Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), he didn't hesitate to come to her aid. Picard reached out to his former first officer, Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and the two hatched a plan to help Dr. Crusher — with or without Starfleet.

When Picard and Riker arrived on the USS Titan for a surprise "inspection," Captain Liam Shaw immediately knew they were up to something. Shaw was not impressed with Picard and Riker despite their objectively impressive Starfleet careers. Shaw's cold and downright rude reception of two Star Trek greats did not exactly endear him to fans, but popular opinion of the new Titan captain would soon shift. Despite Shaw's refusal to help, Riker and Picard commandeered the Titan anyway, pulling the reluctant and delightfully snarky Shaw into a dangerous and ill-fated mission. For all his antagonism, Shaw's status as a fan favorite was quickly established.

Todd Stashwick Played Captain Liam Shaw In Star Trek: Picard

Stashwick Previously Worked With Showrunner Terry Matalas On 12 Monkeys

A former engineer and self-proclaimed "grease monkey," Shaw ran a tight ship, doing things by the book in order to keep his crew safe. Picard and Riker's arrival completely upended Shaw's routine, plunging him into a dangerous battle he never asked for and putting his entire ship in danger. Shaw never tried to hide his annoyance, but he helped when he could, getting injured numerous times in the process. With his compelling backstory and entertaining quips, Shaw became one of Star Trek's best new characters, ultimately sacrificing himself to help Picard and his friends escape.

Captain Shaw was brought to life by Todd Stashwick, who has appeared in numerous popular films and television shows since he began acting in 1997. Stashwick is perhaps best known for portraying Theodore Deacon in Syfy's 12 Monkeys, which was co-created by Picard season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas. He has also appeared in episodes of Supernatural, Heroes, Justified, The Originals, and The Last Thing He Told Me. Stashwick is set to reunite with Terry Matalas for Marvel's upcoming Vision series, in which he will portray an assassin hunting Paul Bettany's Vision.

Todd Stashwick Played A Vulcan On Star Trek: Enterprise

Stashwick Portrayed Talok In Star Trek: Enterprise Season 4, Episode 9, "Kir'Shara"

Star Trek: Picard was not the first Star Trek show that Todd Stashwick appeared in, although his previous role was relatively minor compared to Captain Shaw. In 2004, Stashwick played a Romulan named Talok in Star Trek: Enterprise season 4, episode 9, "Kir'Shara." Although Talok was posing as a Vulcan military officer, he was actually a Romulan agent in deep cover. Talok had previously served under Command T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) during the Tomed Mission, although the details of this mission remain known.

Talok was involved in a covert alliance with Administrator V'Las (Robert Foxworth), the head of the Vulcan High Command. In his one Enterprise appearance, Stashwick's Talok set out to find the Kir'Shara, which contained the writings of Surak (Bruce Gray). Talok tried and failed to prevent Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) from presenting the Kir'Shara to the High Command. After acquiring Surak's true teachings, the Vulcans relieved V'Las from his position and disbanded the High Command, and Talok traveled back to Romulus.

Why Todd Stashwick’s Captain Shaw Became So Popular In Star Trek: Picard

Stashwick Made Shaw Impossible To Hate

Captain Shaw may have been less than friendly to Picard and Riker, but he grew on Star Trek fans over the course of Star Trek: Picard season 3. Todd Stashwick's captivating performance as Shaw was undoubtedly one of the main reasons for this surge in popularity. From his hilarious quips and one-liners to his devastating monologue about the Battle of Wolf 359, Stashwick made Shaw impossible to hate. Anyone who refers to changelings as "goo-people, walking, talking clay-dough" can't be all bad. Shaw's tense relationship with his first officer, Commander Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), also made for a fascinating storyline.

As more about Shaw's history was revealed, it brought his actions into context, offering an explanation for his earlier behavior. As an ensign, Shaw was understandably traumatized by his experience at the Battle of Wolf 359, during which he watched Picard - as Locutus of Borg - order the destruction of nearly forty Federation starships. Although this does not justify Shaw's insistence on using Seven of Nine's human name, it explains why he has such resentment and fear of the Borg. In the end, not only does Shaw sacrifice himself to save the others, but he also leaves a recording praising Seven and promoting her to Captain.

Will Todd Stashwick’s Shaw Return To Star Trek?

The Short Answer Is: Maybe?

Captain Shaw may have died in the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Picard season 3, but both Terry Matalas and Todd Stashwick have confirmed that the character can come back. Stashwick himself has referred to Shaw as "Spock dead," and Matalas has said that there is already an "amazing" plan laid out for Shaw's return. After the end of Picard season 3, fans began clamoring for a spin-off following Captain Seven of Nine and her adventures aboard the USS Enterprise-G. Despite this fan enthusiasm, the proposed Star Trek: Legacy spin-off remains dead in space as Paramount focuses on other Trek projects.

Hopefully, audiences will one day get to see Shaw return if Star Trek: Legacy or a similar Picard spin-off gets made. Matalas and Stashwick certainly seem on board, and several other cast members have also expressed a desire to tell more Star Trek stories. In the meantime, Matalas and Shaw will both be involved in Marvel's Vision series, which will likely keep them busy for the time being. Ultimately, Captain Shaw's onscreen return depends entirely on whether Paramount Studios decides to continue the story that began in Star Trek: Picard season 3.