Mind-Blowing Time Jump in Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Unveils Stunning Enterprise-D Mystery
Discover the mysteries surrounding the USS Enterprise-D's year-long absence in Star Trek: Picard Season 3's intriguing time jump Unravel the enigma of its whereabouts in the highly anticipated Star Trek: Legacy and ponder its potential return
Summary
The USS Enterprise-D likely returned to the Fleet Museum for restoration after defeating the Borg, implying it was in good enough shape for action.
The Enterprise-D might have transformed into an exhibition, potentially visiting Federation outposts to uplift morale following the Frontier Day festivities.
Whether the USS Enterprise-D will make a comeback in Star Trek: Legacy remains uncertain, as the emphasis should be on fresh vessels and challenges. However, if the narrative necessitates it and the universe is in jeopardy, there exists a possibility for its return.
The time jump in Star Trek: Picard season 3 raises a significant question about the fate of the USS Enterprise-D during the intervening year. For years, Commodore Geordi La Forge had been overseeing the extensive refurbishment of the Enterprise in secret at the Athan Prime Fleet Museum. Originally planned to be unveiled as a new exhibit after completion, unforeseen events in Picard season 3 forced an early reveal.
After the successful defeat of the Borg, the USS Enterprise-D rejoined the USS Titan-A to evaluate the damage caused during Starfleet's Frontier Day celebrations. A year later, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and Captain William T. Riker joined Enterprise Commander Geordi La Forge for a final farewell before the ship embarked on its new role as a museum attraction. Intriguingly, the period between defeating the Borg and the official installation at the Fleet Museum leaves much to ponder.
What Picard Season 3’s One Year Later Time Jump Means For USS Enterprise-D
It is highly probable that the USS Enterprise-D was brought back to the Fleet Museum for Geordi to complete the restoration work. The ship encountered some damage during its daring encounter with the Borg Queen, which slightly delayed the renovation process. While viewers only witnessed the bridge, the rest of the ship appeared to be in a good enough condition for active duty. This suggests that the Enterprise was not far from being included in the exhibits. However, the year between destroying the Cube and finally placing the Enterprise in one of the outer rings implies that it could have embarked on a final victorious journey.
Similar to the USS Voyager in Star Trek: Lower Decks, it is conceivable that the USS Enterprise-D became a temporary exhibition. To prevent a repetition of the Veridian III incident, it is evident that the Enterprise would not have landed in San Francisco. Instead, it may have toured various Federation outposts. Considering the disastrous Frontier Day celebrations, offering Federation citizens the opportunity to step foot on the legendary USS Enterprise-D would have surely boosted morale. Additionally, one might envision Jean-Luc Picard instructing Data and Geordi to chart a course towards "Second star to the right and straight on till morning," as they embarked on a final voyage together.
Will USS Enterprise-D Return In Star Trek: Legacy (& Should It?)
It is too soon to determine if Star Trek: Legacy will be commissioned or if the USS Enterprise-D will be featured. The main question is whether it should return in Terry Matalas' proposed continuation of Star Trek: Picard season 3. Legacy should primarily focus on new ships, new aliens, and new threats, as it tells the story of Picard's next generation. However, the availability of the Enterprise-D sets does open up the possibility for its return if the narrative calls for it.
Since Star Trek: Legacy introduces a new Enterprise, it would undermine the show if it focused too much on its predecessor. In the early days, Star Trek: The Next Generation often struggled to be seen as separate from its predecessor, so it is important for Legacy to avoid this. However, there are hints that Q (played by John de Lancie) and the children of various TNG characters may be involved, which could lead to a scenario where the next generation is sent back to their parents' Enterprise for a mission. Ultimately, Star Trek: Picard season 3 provided a satisfying conclusion to the story of the USS Enterprise-D, and it should only be revisited if the universe is truly in jeopardy.
