Captain Picard Day Is The Best Holiday On The USS Enterprise D
Jean-Luc Picard Revels In His Ship's Idol Worship
Captain Picard is speaking with his Starfleet superior about a new assignment for Enterprise. They chat via subspace on a monitor in the observation lounge. As she’s ending the communication, the admiral spies the Captain Picard Day banner hanging in the background.
Admiral Blackwell: (confused) Captain Picard Day?
Picard: (nervously) Oh, er, yes. It's, er, it's for the children. I'm a… a, I'm a role model.
Admiral Blackwell: I'm sure you are. Starfleet out.
Yes, aren’t we all quite sure. We agree on an incredibly comforting fact - Jean-Luc Picard is one helluva role model for all of us and for all time. Even the Klingons or his lovable arch nemesis, Q, wouldn’t dispute us on such a well known truth. It’s probably why the haughty superbeing keeps on hounding the apparently lowly human being. I mean, really, does that cosmic snob have a holiday celebrating his Q-ness?
Tis the season for both planetary and outer space partying. As we all gather together to embrace our loved ones during the festive holidays and ring in a new year, remember that there’s only one Star Trek character who’s legendary reputation has earned him his very own day.
Imagine, if you will, having a holiday dedicated to the sheer magnificence that is only you. On that special day, all those lucky to be around your specialness stop their normal routine to celebrate the grandeur of your very existence. Talk about existential glory. They’ll be content to bask in the brilliance of your soothing, healing light.
Picard Power
The Next Generation episode which features Captain Picard Day is The Pegasus from the seventh season. Riker is main focus of the Star Trek tale, since it reunites him with his old Captain, played by Terry O’Quinn, the actor best known from those nifty thriller movies, The Stepfather series.
But despite how much importance a phased cloaking device may be to Starfleet intelligence and to the giddy geeks at R&D back on Earth, this is all about celebrating Picard’s Day.
Picard assures his commanding officer, the bewildered Admiral Blackwell, that the day is meant for children. He’s a role model. Picard’s like some interplanetary trotting athlete. Children need to look up to and aspire to be like the successful of our society. All too true. However, for a moment, pretend all of the Enterprise celebrates the fabled Captain Picard Day.
His loyal crew could go absolutely crazy for their captain.
Data, no doubt, would compose a complex poem - an Ode To Picard - much the same as his Ode To Spot, his cat. Dr. Crusher might whip up a harmless neurotransmitter in her hypospray to make everyone sound exactly like Picard for a day - Riker, of course, wouldn’t need to take the shot. Worf would create a holodeck MMA program with opponents boasting variations of Picard’s baldness. Finally, Geordi would reprogram replicators to add him to food orders, with help from Guinan in Ten Forward. We’d sample: Picard Pie. Picard Pasta. Picard Pudding. Picard Paella. Yummy!
Yes, the Enterprise D celebrating the sheer joy of Captain Picard Day is simply a unique Star Trek wonder to behold. If observed in the spirit in which it’s been generously given, it could be a model for others to follow; Captain Kirk Week, Major Kira Month, Commander Chakotay Retreat - etc. Honestly, I’m a big cheerleader for Constable Odo Weekend. The mere thought of bathing in his relaxing, warm, gelatinous goo really fires me up but good.