Jaw-Dropping Star Trek TNG Easter Egg Hints at Young Picard's Near-Death Experience

Summary

Ensign Mariner and Ensign Boimler find themselves embarking on a time-travel adventure to the 23rd century, where they join forces with Ensign Uhura in deciphering the enigmatic language inscribed on a mysterious portal.

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 7 - "Those Old Scientists," there is a reference to the game dom-jot, which holds significance in the history of Jean-Luc Picard and his artificial heart. This episode contains multiple Easter eggs, including a subtle nod to Jean-Luc Picard's near-death experience from the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "Tapestry." Ensigns Beckett Mariner and Brad Boimler make various references to Star Trek: TNG during their visit to the USS Enterprise in the 23rd century, with mentions of Worf's honor and distinctions between Q and Trelane. The crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks is filled with references to all eras of the franchise.

Strange New Worlds Crossover’s TNG Young Picard Easter Egg Explained

Transported by the Krulmuth-B portal, which had been inactive for 120 years, Boimler and Mariner find themselves back in the 23rd century. In an attempt to decipher the mysterious markings on the portal, Mariner enlists the help of Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) to identify the language. After some time, they realize that the markings are in Nausicaan. With the aid of some potent cocktails and a couple of references to the yet-to-be-born Jean-Luc Picard, Uhura successfully translates the markings, revealing the amusing message - "This is a time portal."

After finally agreeing to take a break, Uhura sets aside her PADD, which is then picked up by her friend Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia). Upon examining the symbols, Ortegas recognizes them from a dom-jot set that she had been offered before on Starbase Earheart. Explaining the game to Uhura, Mariner mentions that it's "a billiard game that Nausicaans are terrible at, yet love to gamble on." It was due to a dispute over a rigged game of dom-jot on Starbase Earheart that led to the near-fatal stabbing of the young Ensign Jean-Luc Picard, resulting in the necessity of him being fitted with an artificial heart.

In "Tapestry," it was discovered that the pivotal moment that shaped Jean-Luc Picard into the remarkable Captain he would become was being stabbed in the heart. Confronting death at such a tender age opened his eyes to the delicate nature of life and sparked a newfound willingness to take risks. Thus, it is rather fitting that Uhura's profound realization about the importance of unwinding and finding joy outside of work is intertwined with a reference to the most defining experience in Picard's early life. This connection becomes even more significant when considering that in the preceding episode, "Lost in Translation," Uhura's encounter with Kirk helped her confront her own fear of mortality, mirroring Picard's transformative ordeal on Starbase Earheart.

Strange New Worlds Season 2 Had Another Picard Easter Egg

In Strange New Worlds season 2, Captain Pike's encounter with a blade-wielding Nausicaan is not the sole Star Trek: The Next Generation Easter egg. Earlier in the season, during the episode titled "Among the Lotus Eaters," Captain Pike and his girlfriend Captain Batel (Melanie Scrofano) had a rare opportunity to enjoy a meal together. Of course, no meal is complete without a bottle of Château Picard wine, which is exactly what Pike is savoring while Batel receives a refusal from Starfleet Commodore.

Maurice Picard does not support his son Jean-Luc's dreams of traveling between galaxies. However, their family wine, Château Picard, has made its way to various locations. In Star Trek: Discovery season 1, Captain Philippa Georgiou kept a bottle of Château Picard in her ready room aboard the USS Shenzhou. Even after the events of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Jean-Luc continues to give bottles of the wine to his friends and colleagues, with differing levels of success. You can catch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 on Paramount+ every Thursday.