Jonathan Frakes’ Star Trek: Picard Episodes Ranked

by

Jonathan Frakes directed six episodes of Star Trek: Picard, bringing a cinematic touch thanks to his background in feature films. He’s known for working well with actors, and his strong relationship with Patrick Stewart was a real asset. In two of the episodes he directed, Frakes also appeared on screen as Captain Will Riker.

Once Jonathan Frakes started directing episodes of Star Trek: Discovery – ultimately directing eight, and considering it a show close to his heart – it was natural that he’d also direct Star Trek: Picard. His involvement ensured a consistent creative vision for Patrick Stewart’s return as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard.

Jonathan Frakes famously directed Star Trek: First Contact, widely considered the best film from Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as Star Trek: Insurrection. Recognizing his talent for directing, Star Trek: Picard consistently brought him on board, with Frakes directing multiple episodes in each of the show’s three seasons – often in blocks equivalent to the length of a full movie.

Jonathan Frakes directed two episodes of each season of Star Trek: Picard. These six episodes were all particularly strong and stand out as highlights of the series, with one often considered among the best Star Trek: Picard has to offer.

6. “Stardust City Rag”

Star Trek: Picard Season 1, Episode 5

In the middle of the first season of Star Trek: Picard, the episode “Stardust City Rag” brought Admiral Picard and Seven of Nine together for the first time as a team. They worked together to break into a nightclub on Freecloud, owned by Bjazil, an old rival of Seven’s and a powerful crime boss, in order to save Dr. Bruce Maddox.

The heart of “Stardust City Rag” revolves around Picard and the diverse crew of La Sirena pretending to be extravagant gamblers. Their disguise doesn’t fool Bjazil, and predictably leads to a fight. With Picard sporting an eyepatch and adopting a fake French accent, the story becomes somewhat chaotic and the deception feels unconvincing.

Okay, so “Stardust City Rag” kicks off with this really tough moment – Icheb, Seven of Nine’s son, is killed. But honestly, what really got to me wasn’t just that, but how it all unfolded alongside Raffi finally reconnecting with her son, Gabriel, after so long, and Agnes making the incredibly difficult decision to kill Bruce Maddox. Jonathan Frakes directed it all so well, it just made those emotional scenes hit so much harder.

5. “Fly Me To The Moon”

Star Trek: Picard Season 2, Episode 5

The episode “Fly Me To The Moon” from Star Trek: Picard season 2 focuses on Renee Picard (Penelope Mitchell), an ancestor of Jean-Luc Picard, and her important mission to Jupiter. This mission is meant to improve the future, but it’s threatened by a dangerous team-up between Q (John de Lancie) and Dr. Adam Soong (Brent Spiner). The episode explores the emotional struggles Renee faces as she attempts to complete her journey.

“Fly Me To The Moon” kicks off a two-part story set at a glamorous NASA gala. Captain Picard and his crew need to connect with and safeguard Renee Picard. The exciting party atmosphere is a highlight, though getting there involves a complicated rescue mission: Seven of Nine and Raffi Musiker have to free Captain Rios from US Immigration custody.

The show Star Trek: Picard linked itself to the original Star Trek series by revealing that Tallin (Orla Brady) is responsible for safeguarding Renee Picard, as her existence is crucial to the timeline. Jonathan Frakes skillfully directs the episode ‘Fly Me To The Moon’, balancing different moods and hinting that the most important parts of the story are yet to unfold.

4. “Absolute Candor”

Star Trek: Picard Season 1, Episode 4

The Star Trek: Picard episode, “Absolute Candor,” is a refreshing surprise. It reveals new and unexpected facets of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and culminates in the exciting debut of Seven of Nine in Patrick Stewart’s series.

In “Absolute Candor,” we learn more about the Romulans through scenes set in 2385. These flashbacks show Admiral Picard moved a group of Romulan warrior nuns, known as the Qowat Milat, to the planet Vashti. When Picard revisits in 2399, he discovers Elnor, the young boy he once knew, has grown up and is now dedicated to helping with Picard’s challenging mission.

The story gets more complicated on the Borg Cube as Romulan spies, Narissa and Narek, continue to influence Soji, who is close to discovering she’s an android. Director Jonathan Frakes skillfully manages the episode’s emotional depth, particularly a heartwarming moment where Picard, known for not liking children, finally shows affection for Elnor.

3. “Two Of One”

Star Trek: Picard Season 2, Episode 6

In the Star Trek: Picard episode “Two of One,” director Jonathan Frakes expertly highlights the show’s characters. The episode’s most memorable moment is the unexpected connection that develops between Dr. Agnes Jurati and the Borg Queen (Annie Wersching), leading to a surprising musical performance as their identities merge.

In a heartwarming moment, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard encounters his ancestor, Renee Picard, and offers her support. The episode, “Two of One,” begins and ends with Jean-Luc suffering a major injury, which leads into a detailed exploration of his difficult childhood in season 2 of Star Trek: Picard.

In the episode “Two of One,” Kore Soong (Isa Briones) uncovers her father, Dr. Adam Soong’s, dangerous and unethical experiments with genetics and cloning, mirroring the emotional impact of Jurati’s musical performance. Directed with skill by Jonathan Frakes, this episode stands out as a highlight of the often-debated second season of Star Trek: Picard.

2. “Seventeen Seconds”

Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 3

In the Star Trek: Picard season 3 episode “Seventeen Seconds,” director Jonathan Frakes really gets things moving. The episode throws the USS Titan-A into a dangerous situation as Captain Vadic and her ship, the Shrike, pursue them through the Ryton Nebula.

“Seventeen Seconds” delivers several intense and moving scenes, including a heartfelt conversation between Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher about their son, Jack, and a tense showdown between Picard and Will Riker while aboard the Titan.

Captain Worf, played by Michael Dorn, joins the third season of Star Trek: Picard, assisting Raffi Musiker in a tense and forceful encounter with a Ferengi named Sneed (Aaron Stanford). The episode, “Seventeen Seconds,” serves as an exciting lead-in to the end of the season’s first story arc and features compelling, well-developed characters.

1. “No Win Scenario”

Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 4

“No Win Scenario” is a brilliantly crafted episode of Star Trek: Picard, showcasing exceptional performances, writing, and direction by Jonathan Frakes. Many consider it the best episode of season 3, and perhaps the best of the entire series starring Patrick Stewart.

The USS Titan-A’s dramatic escape from the Ryton Nebula and triumph over the Shrike is a truly exciting highlight, especially with Captain Riker’s clever tactic of using an asteroid to disable the enemy ship. The victory is made even more memorable by a classic Star Trek reveal: the Ryton Nebula isn’t just a cloud of gas, but a living entity that spawned a family of giant, space-dwelling creatures.

The episode “No Win Scenario” reaches a new level thanks to two powerful performances: Patrick Stewart’s heartfelt confession as Picard to his son, Jack, and Todd Stashwick’s intense monologue revealing Captain Shaw’s painful past and his animosity towards Picard.

Anyone who sees the standout episode of Star Trek: Picard directed by Jonathan Frakes is guaranteed to be impressed and remember it.

Read More

2025-11-24 18:11