Patrick Stewart Candidly Opens Up: The Real Story Behind Picard's Explosive Season 3 F-Bomb

Summary

Patrick Stewart defends Jean-Luc Picard's F-bomb in Star Trek: Picard season 3, stating it was appropriate for his character's emotional state and to make an impact on viewers.

Director Jonathan Frakes supported Stewart's improvisation and considered the inclusion of the profanity justified and fitting, considering the high-stakes nature of the scene.

Given the history of profanity in past Star Trek series, Picard's choice to drop the F-bomb serves as a reminder that even an iconic space hero like him is susceptible to human emotions.

Patrick Stewart discusses Admiral Jean-Luc Picard's controversial use of profanity, which he spontaneously added in Star Trek: Picard season 3. In episode 4, "No Win Scenario," Jean-Luc shares a personal story with his son, Jack Crusher, where both he and Lt. Jack R. Crusher were stranded in a shuttlecraft for a grueling ten hours. While some fans appreciated the authenticity of Picard's dialogue, others, including Screen Rant, objected to the specific curse word, sparking a debate about the inclusion of swearing in Star Trek.

Included in the home video release of Star Trek: Picard season 3 is a featurette on disc 3 titled "The Making of The Last Generation," which provides a detailed behind-the-scenes look at the final season of Picard. In this featurette, Patrick Stewart explains the reasoning behind Jean-Luc Picard's unexpected use of the F-bomb. Read his quote below:

When you employ language, it is occasionally done in a particular manner to exert an influence not only on the character you are addressing, but also on the audience observing. And I perceived this to be arguably suitable given that Picard had almost reached a point of being unable to manage his emotions. He was completely overwhelmed - the use of such language evidenced this. While I apologize if anyone took offense, it was not a tactic employed solely for the purpose of creating sensation. Rather, it was a portrayal of Picard's loss of control.

How Picard's F-Bomb Happened In Season 3

Jonathan Frakes, the director of Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 4 titled "No Win Scenario," revealed in the commentary track of the Picard season 3 home video release that he encouraged Patrick Stewart to drop an F-bomb. This happened during a scene set in a holodeck recreation of 10 Forward, where Picard, Jack, and the crew of the USS Titan-A found themselves anxiously gathered in the bar, anticipating their impending doom. According to Patrick Stewart, the overwhelming circumstances caused Picard to lose control, leading both him and Frakes to believe that using the word "f*cking" in that particular moment was both understandable and fitting.

It is worth noting that cursing has always been a part of Star Trek. From Dr. Leonard McCoy's use of swear words in the original series to Data's exclamation in Star Trek Generations. Even the villain, Vadic, in Picard season 3 cursed the "solids" who caused her demise. Ultimately, when Admiral Jean-Luc Picard utters an F-bomb in season 3, it serves as a reminder that even a great space hero like him, whether human or synthetic, is still fallible.

The final season and complete series of Star Trek: Picard are now available on Blu-ray, and the Star Trek: Picard Legacy Collection will be released on November 7.

Source: Star Trek: Picard season 3 Blu-ray