Star Trek: Picard has hit solidly for three full weeks now, giving us more and more to discuss with each passing moment. Every re-watch brings something new and intriguing to the playing field to discuss. And this week’s episode certainly keeps up the tradition! Star Trek: Picard’s Red Door appears in a vision via another near-death experience for Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers). Therefore, adding to the mystery now burrowing its way through the final season!
As with all articles relating to Star Trek: Picard, there will be spoilers, so read on at your own peril! If you haven’t seen episode 3 yet, I suggest you hold off for now!
Jack’s Veterium Dream
Jack Crusher’s time on the U.S.S. Titan has certainly not been off to the best start. He’s been arrested, hunted, attacked and left to die. One has to wonder whether Jack’s just unlucky. Or does he have the same streak as his father to walk into things unexpectedly? As Doctor Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) said, “If you’re the son of Jean Luc Picard, you have a target on your back.” And it appears Jack’s is nearly as large as his father’s!
Attempting to defend himself against the Changeling (Chad Lindberg), Jack is thrown against the bulkhead. He loses his mask, exposing him to lethal doses of Veterium gas. As Seven Of Nine’s (Jeri Ryan) words echo in the distance while Jack struggles to breathe, he sees another Seven, blurred and backed by red, growing branches. He is told to “Come to me. Find Me. Connect the Branches. We’ll be together soon. Find me,” he sees flashes of storms, clouds and lightning before a red door opens ever so slightly. Found by the real Seven, Jack is dragged to Sick Bay.
This is where Star Trek: Picard’s Red Door appears. During Jack’s gas-infused dreams. But what is this door all about? Does it connect with our Changeling attackers? Or is it a deeper Star Trek lore connection we are missing? Let’s dig deeper!
Connections across Space?
But what is all of this? To investigate further, we look ever so slightly into the real-world meanings of Red, Storms and lightning. In dreams, red is supposed to be a need to respond quickly. You are confronting an unfamiliar problem and are ill-prepared. The lightning and storm represent struggle, hardship and caution in yourself. You don’t like not knowing. It shows that you know what is right but don’t always take the correct path, mistrusting those around you.
Could this Veterium-induced hallucination be Jack Crusher and his inner turmoil coming into play? It could be. However, this is likely something or someone contacting Jack. We know the storm the Titan has entered registers’ electronic and biological signatures. Could it be possible that something in the nebula is trying to contact Jack? Using his weakened state as a gateway to warn him? A red door can signify a welcoming friend and connection to a more spiritual plain. Which leads to… The Changeling.
The Changeling Face Of Evil
We also know that the Changelings split after the war, with a terrorist cell refusing to accept defeat. That means there are good Changelings out there and bad ones. Changelings have telepathic ability, as displayed in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) Episode “Things Past”. When plasma energy created a mini-link between Odo, Garak, Jadzia and Sisko, they all experienced the same nightmarish memories. And Odo himself was subject to hidden information and false truths during his trial in DS9 “Broken Link.”
In the DS9 Episode “Chimera”, we learn that Changelings can exist as space creatures in the vacuum of space. And the Founders did send One Hundred of their ‘Children’ into the vastness of space. Could there be a Changeling in the Ryton System’s Nebula, possibly a traitor amongst traitors, trying to help? Or one of the Hundred, surviving alone all these years. Adapted a change by the Nebula and what lies beyond Federation space…
A Crush(er)ing Veterium Nightmare
For Jack Crusher, this could be the beginning of something a bit more unsettling for him. And by his current streak, this could certainly bring into question a few more details about him and what makes him tick. Is Jack Crusher really who we think he is? Or is there something more sinister underlying? The Red Door could be the beginning, and as we’ve seen with nightmarish dreams in Star Trek Picard, they never end well!
As long as Jack Crusher doesn’t open a portal to the Synthetic Realm, the crew of the Titan should be able to weather whatever comes their way! For now, we must play the long game, waiting to see what the writers of Picard have in store for us. One thing is for certain, as final seasons go, it most certainly is going off with a bang!
Star Trek: Picard Season 3 airs on Paramount+ in the United States and on CTV Sci-Fi Channel and Crave in Canada. However, the series will be available on Amazon’s Prime Video service for most international locations in the following days. For coverage of all things Star Trek: Picard Season 3, follow Trek Central!
More From Trek Central
📰 – INTERVIEW: Star Trek: Picard Showrunner Talks Season 3!
🔥 – NEW Star Trek: Picard Clip Starts The Season 3 Plot
🔍️ – Explore Star Trek: Picard’s Stargazer
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