Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) kept the banner celebrating Captain Picard Day from Star Trek: The Next Generation even though he hated the holiday. As seen in TNG season 7, episode 12, "The Pegasus," Captain Picard Day was a holiday celebrated every year mostly for the schoolchildren aboard the USS Enterprise-D. The children created various art depicting the captain, which Jean-Luc himself then judged. A young boy named Paul Menegay won the contest in 2370 by sculpting a clay sculpture of the captain's head.
The USS Enterprise-D was one of the first Starfleet starships to allow families on board, making it one of the first ships to have children. Captain Picard Day was likely created to teach the children on board about their captain and give them a fun break from their studies. Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) also points out that the kids look up to Picard, while Commander Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) simply enjoys poking fun at the captain. Picard himself is uncomfortable around children and does not enjoy being the center of attention, meaning he is not particularly fond of Picard Day.
Keeping The "Captain Picard Day" Banner Shows How Jean-Luc Mellowed With Age
Captain Picard Day Is Celebrated On June 16
Both Patrick Stewart and Captain Picard were more rigid and overly serious in The Next Generation's earliest days. As Stewart settled into his role and grew closer with the cast, he mellowed out, and over time, so did Picard. Although Jean-Luc maintained that he did not want a family for most of his life, he softened toward children as TNG progressed. From Picard's experience in "The Inner Light" to being trapped in a turbo lift with a group of kids in "Disaster," the Enterprise captain came to appreciate children more and more.
Jean-Luc keeps the Captain Picard Day banner among his most prized possessions in Star Trek: Picard, highlighting how he softened over time. Picard may not have wanted to spend much time around the children of the Enterprise, but he undoubtedly appreciated the sentiment behind the banner and the holiday it celebrated. Picard is clearly uncomfortable with being called a role model, remarking that the kids "have a rather exaggerated impression" of him. Picard has helped save the galaxy numerous times by this point in TNG, but he remains hesitant to accept attention and praise.
Captain Picard Might Have Pretended To Dislike Captain Picard Day To Maintain His Authority
Captain Picard Was Never One To Get Overly Excited Anyway
By TNG season 7, when "The Pegasus" shows Captain Picard Day, Jean-Luc's characterization has already shifted from the first season. While his discomfort with being the focus of attention appears to be genuine, it's possible Picard played up his dislike of Captain Picard Day. Part of the reason Picard never sat down for a game of poker with his crew was so that he could keep them at a distance. Jean-Luc could be pretending to hate Picard Day for a similar reason. When Riker jokes with him, for example, Picard maintains his serious captain demeanor.
By the end of TNG, Jean-Luc will finally sit down with his crew for a game of poker. By the time of Star Trek: Picard, Jean-Luc has evolved even more and is no longer the rigid captain he once was. Picard is still serious when things matter, but he's more willing to have fun and joke with his friends. The Captain Picard Day banner in Picard is not only a fun Easter egg for Star Trek: The Next Generation fans, but also illustrates that Picard has always been sentimental, it just took him years to show it.
