The Captivating Enigma of Cristobal Rios Revealed in Star Trek: Picard

In the early 2020s, Star Trek is experiencing a renaissance with multiple shows airing simultaneously. Fans have a wide array of Star Trek media to choose from, including Discovery, Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, and Picard. While Discovery is now set in the far future and Strange New Worlds takes place in the past, Picard is the only live-action series in Star Trek's present time. The Star Trek universe boasts a multitude of multi-layered and captivating characters.

Among these characters, one of the most intriguing, yet unfortunately short-lived, is ex-Starfleet officer Cristobal Rios. This charismatic renegade took audiences by surprise during the first season of Picard and instantly became a beloved figure. Despite appearing in only two seasons of Picard, Cristobal Rios will continue to live on in the hearts of fans, and hopefully, he will make a return to the series in some capacity. Additionally, Santiago Cabrera, the incredibly talented actor behind the role, deserves more time to showcase his skills aboard a starship.

Who is Cristobal Rios

Cristobal Rios stands out as one of the most intriguing figures in the Star Trek universe. What sets him apart is his role as captain of a ship operated entirely by holograms, an homage to Star Trek: Voyager's iconic Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH). Just like the EMH, Rios's holograms possess distinct personalities and accents. Despite Rios being Chilean, his EMH sports an English accent, while the Emergency Navigation Hologram (ENH) speaks with an Irish lilt.

This not only showcases Santiago Cabrera's exceptional acting abilities but also adds layers to Rios's character. In the first season of Picard, when audiences first encounter Rios, he commands the humble cargo vessel La Sirena. However, before joining La Sirena's crew, Rios served as a Starfleet officer aboard the U.S.S. Ibn Majid under the leadership of Captain Alonzo Vandermeer. It was during this time on the Ibn Majid that Rios experienced a deeply traumatic event, resulting in the loss of his rank and reputation due to a cover-up.

During the incident, Captain Vandermeer tragically killed two ambassadors on his ship before ending his own life. Prior to his suicide, he disclosed to Rios that the ambassadors were actually synthetic beings and that Starfleet had ordered their assassination. If not carried out, the ambassadors would have presumably destroyed the Ibn Majid along with everyone onboard. Overwhelmed by the distressing event, Rios subsequently expelled the ambassadors from the ship and feigned ignorance regarding his Captain's tragic actions.

Following the incident, Starfleet discharged Rios from their organization due to his post-traumatic stress. He then assumed command of La Sirena, accompanied by his holographic crew members, but became withdrawn and pessimistic. This state persisted until the events depicted in Picard.

What Happened to Rios in Picard?

In the second season of Star Trek: Picard, Picard, Rios, Seven of Nine, and their group find themselves transported to an alternate dimension called The Confederation of Earth, where the Federation of Planets never came into existence. They witness the authoritarian rule of this alternate Earth before jumping to the year 2024. Their mission becomes stopping the Confederation from ever forming, which involves ensuring the completion of Picard's ancestor's Europa mission.

Upon their arrival in 2024, Cristobal experiences a malfunction in his transporter and is rendered unconscious. When he awakens, he discovers himself in a small clinic where he encounters Dr. Teresa Ramirez, who provides healthcare to undocumented workers. Unfortunately, their meeting is abruptly ended when Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents invade the clinic and arrest Dr. Ramirez and Rios. Seven of Nine and Raffi later manage to free Rios from a prison transport bus, and he ultimately reunites with Teresa at the clinic, where he meets her son, Ricardo.

It becomes evident to both Rios and the viewers that his affection extends not only to Teresa but also to the 21st century. He acknowledges its imperfections, yet quickly develops an appreciation for its intricacies, such as the act of lighting a match. While this may be a mundane gesture for the audience, something taken for granted, it feels remarkably human and genuine to Rios, surpassing anything he has encountered in the 24th century. Driven by his love for Teresa and her son, as well as these newfound connections, Rios makes the difficult decision to remain behind while Picard and the crew return to their own time period at the end of the season. This choice, although heart-wrenching for Raffi and the audience alike, aligns perfectly with Rios's true nature.

Where was Rios During Star Trek: First Contact?

According to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Captain Pike, World War III started in 2026, a mere two years after the events of Picard season two. Despite Rios' knowledge of the impending conflict as a time traveler, he made the conscious decision to remain in that timeline. Dedicated fans of Strange New Worlds would know from Captain Pike's account that this devastating war claimed the lives of 600 million people and left every major nation on Earth in ruins. It might be assumed that Rios was a casualty of this war. However, Picard was informed by Guinan, portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg, that Rios had a long and fulfilling life with Teresa.

Guinan spared the gruesome details of the war and the survival of the small family unit. However, they did manage to emerge from the war unharmed. Rios and his family established Maroposas, a small medical initiative dedicated to restoring Earth's atmosphere and addressing alleged nuclear fallout. Teresa lived until old age, but Rios passed away before her in a bar fight triggered by a dispute over medical supplies. He died in the same bold and honorable manner in which he lived. Although Cristobal Rios was not present for First Contact, Ricardo (and possibly his mother) certainly witnessed it, as he was just a child during the events of Picard season two.