As a longtime fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, I was excited when Star Trek Picard was announced. But after watching the first two seasons, I was underwhelmed and stopped watching. However, Season 3 has completely won me over, and I can't recommend it enough. The show has finally found its footing and is delivering on its promise to bring back the spirit of Star Trek: the Next Generation.

If you haven't already watched Star Trek Picard, or, if like me, you gave up into Season 2, here's a recap of the first three episodes of Season 3.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Season 3: Episode 1

Trust me, this episode is packed with action, suspense, and some serious nostalgia that'll make your inner Trekkie do a happy dance! So let's dive right in...

In this episode, we're taken to the 25th century, where our beloved Dr. Beverly Crusher and her son Jack are attacked aboard the SS Eleos XII. Beverly sends an emergency message to none other than Jean-Luc Picard, her former captain, and dear friend. Now, if you're a hardcore Trekkie like myself, you'll remember that Picard and Beverly go way back to Star Trek: The Next Generation. I mean, these two have some serious history, and it's so heartwarming to see them reunited on screen once again.

Picard's love interest Laris encourages him to go to Beverly's location, and he wastes no time in teaming up with his former first officer, Captain William Riker. Riker, another familiar face from Star Trek: The Next Generation, stages a surprise inspection of the USS Titan-A, the successor to his former ship, with hopes of convincing its captain Liam Shaw to help them find Beverly without revealing why. But of course, things don't go as planned, and it's up to Seven of Nine, another fan-favorite character from Star Trek: Voyager, to save the day and change the Titan's course.

Meanwhile, Starfleet intelligence officer Raffi Musiker is on a mission to find a stolen portal device before it's used in a terrorist attack. But unfortunately, she fails to do so, and the device is used to destroy a Starfleet facility. Can you say intense?

Finally, Picard and Riker board the Eleos to find Beverly in stasis and are met by Jack as a large ship appears. And if you're anything like me, at this point, you're probably already on the edge of your seat, wondering who or what is on that ship.

Overall, this episode was nothing short of amazing, and as a lifelong Trekkie, it was incredible to see so many familiar faces and references to Star Trek: The Next Generation.

What were some of the additional references? For example, when Riker and Picard are on the shuttlecraft approaching the Eleos XII, Picard says, "This is reminding me of the time when we went to Romulus to meet with the new Praetor." This is a reference to the Next Generation episode "Unification," in which Picard and Spock travel to Romulus to investigate rumors of a possible alliance between the Romulans and the Vulcans.

Another connection to The Next Generation is the introduction of a new character, Captain Liam Shaw of the USS Titan-A, played by Todd Stashwick. The USS Titan was originally introduced in the Star Trek: Titan novel series, which followed the adventures of Captain Riker and his crew after the events of The Next Generation. This nod to the expanded universe of Star Trek is sure to excite fans of the franchise who have followed its many iterations over the years.

Season 3: Episode 2

The episode starts with the Shrike trying to capture the Eleos, and things quickly take a turn for the worse when they lock on to the Eleos with a tractor beam. Thankfully, Seven of Nine persuades Commander Shaw to intervene, and Picard, Riker, and Jack are transported to the Titan, along with Dr. Beverly Crusher, who is transported to the Titan's medical bay.

Meanwhile, Picard, Riker, and Jack are brought to the bridge, where they meet the Shrike's captain, a bounty hunter named Vadic. Turns out, Jack is an intergalactic criminal with a massive bounty on his head! Shaw decides to hand Jack over to save the crew, but Picard and Riker aren't having it.

To complicate matters, Jack escapes from custody and tries to transport himself over to the Shrike to save his mother. Shaw is about to send Jack over to the Shrike, but Picard pulls his Admiral rank and stops Shaw. Why? Because Picard finally realizes that Jack is his son! Talk about a family reunion!

And that's not even the half of it! Raffi meets with the Ferengi criminal Sneed, hoping to find those responsible for the attack. Her handler orders her to stop investigating, but she nearly gets killed by Sneed! Lucky for her, Worf steps in and saves the day by taking down Sneed and taking off his head in the process. Yes, you heard me right, Worf is back and better than ever! So when you watch this episode, buckle up, folks, because "Disengage" is one wild ride!

Season 3: Episode 3

"Seventeen Seconds," is a total rollercoaster of action, drama, and of course, nods to the classic series Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG).

Directed by the one and only Jonathan Frakes (aka Commander Riker himself) and written by Jane Maggs & Cindy Appel, this episode starts off with a bang as the Shrike attacks the Titan, injuring Shaw and causing Riker to take command. It's like we're right back on the Enterprise-D during one of those intense space battles we all know and love.

But things really heat up when Beverly discusses with Picard the major secret she had been keeping from him - the existence of their son, Jack. This is a huge bombshell that ties back to Beverly's on again, off again, relationship with Picard on TNG.

As the Titan tries to escape the nebula, the Shrike uses some seriously advanced portal technology to corner them. But never fear; Picard is here with a plan to lure the Shrike into a trap.

Meanwhile, Jack and Seven uncover a Changeling saboteur on the Titan. This plot point is a nod to the Dominion War arc in Deep Space Nine, where Changelings were major antagonists.

But the real twist comes when Raffi and Worf capture a criminal responsible for an attack on M'talas Prime, only to discover that he's a Changeling too, working for a group that has been fighting the Federation since the end of the Dominion War. It's like we're back in the midst of a political conspiracy straight out of TNG's "The Drumhead" or "Chain of Command."

With Picard's encouragement, Riker finally decides to fight back against the Shrike, but their weapons are redirected back at them with a portal, causing major damage to the Titan. And just like in TNG's "Disaster," Riker blames Picard for the mess they're in and orders him off the bridge as they head towards a gravitational anomaly in the nebula.

Overall, "Seventeen Seconds" is a thrilling ride that pays homage to so many classic Star Trek moments.

Make It So

Overall, the first three episodes of Star Trek: Picard season 3 have set the stage for an exciting and action-packed season. The return of classic Star Trek characters and villains, as well as the introduction of new ones like Captain Shaw, promises to keep fans engaged and invested in the story. And with the added Easter eggs and references to The Next Generation and other Star Trek series, there's plenty for longtime fans to enjoy as well.

While Season 3 was announced as the last season for Star Trek Picard, I hope that the new direction of this season fuels the desire for a full-on Star Trek: The Next Generation reboot! Until then, I'll be enjoying each new episode of Star Trek Picard, which drops on Thursdays on Paramount+

Looking for more Star Trek? Check out the selection of Star Trek comics currently on HipComic below: