I’ve never seen a Star Trek character go from hated to beloved as quickly as this guy

I have never seen a Star Trek Characters go from hated to beloved as quickly as that Star Trek: Picard Character. Star Trek Had its fair share of characters that I loved, however It was always a slow burn like that Star Trek Reveals sympathetic backstories or understandable motives of characters. Star Trek: Deep Space NineS Quark (Armin Shimerman) took a while for me to warm up to, and I’ve changed my mind on Lwaxana Troy (Majelle Barrett-Rodenberry) over the years. And after almost 30 years, Star Trek: Prodigy Made me like Captain Chakotay (Robert Beltran) of Star Trek: Voyager.

Making the unlikable actually likable is one of those things that Star Trek Does best, of course. Star TrekThe aliens become more sympathetic when we learn what makes them tick, and communication helps us find meeting points between alien values ​​and human morality. Star Trek Always wrapped up “the other” In a foreign metaphor, so I’ve been trained as a lifelong Star Trek Fan to find humanity under a rubber facadeHowever Star Treks humans directly against our heroes, like Star Treks “Admirals”, are painted as misguided, if not flat-out wrong. That changed Star Trek: Picard Season 3.

Why Star Trek: Picard’s Captain Shaw was hated at first

Captain Shaw didn’t like Picard and Riker, so we didn’t like Shaw: that’s the point

in Star Trek: Picard In season 3’s premiere episode, “The Next Generation”, Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick) is the abrasive captain of the USS Titan-A, a character tailor-made to be hated because Shaw treats Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Captain William Ricker (Jonathan Frakes) as dirty interlopers instead of Starfleet heroes. When Picard and Riker board the USS Titan-A intending to use Shaw’s starship for their own mission, Shaw sees right through their thrust. Shaw makes Picard and Riker wait, starts dinner without them, and shuts them down Star Trek: The Next Generation Alumni down with a memorable “No.”

At this point in Star Trek: Picard Season 3’s story, I’m not supposed To like Captain Shaw. I’ve watched Picard and Riker succeed time and time again Star Trek: The Next Generation, So I’m automatically on their side, and I believe they have the most honest intentions. It doesn’t matter that Shaw rightfully denies Picard and Riker’s plan because it would put the Titan’s crew at risk. I don’t like the way the new show guy is immediately rejecting legendary starfleet officers who I honor, So I mentally categorize Captain Shaw as an antagonist “Other”. He might as well be a Cardassian.

Captain Shaw’s Star Trek: Picard backstory made him an instant favorite

Captain Shaw survives Starfleet’s stand against Locust of Borg in the Battle of Wolf 359

Like other fans, my opinion of Captain Shaw has returned Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 4, “No Win Scenario”, watching Todd Stashwick’s visceral monologue detailing Shaw’s backstory. In those moments it becomes clear that Some part of Captain Shaw is still stuck in the battle of Wolf 359, facing down death on a massive scale. With his past laid bare, Shaw invites sympathy with parallels between the Titan-A’s current no-win scenario, and surviving Starfleet’s deadliest stand against the Borg. Liam does not differentiate between Picard and Locutus. They are both deadly.

With a backstory that makes Captain Shaw a more sympathetic character, Star Trek: Picard Proves that it is better not to judge for a Star Trek Show finishes tell its story. Instead of being framed as right or wrong, Captain Shaw’s hostility towards Admiral Picard and Captain Riker and microaggressions against Seven of Nine are explained by Shaw’s experience as a survivor of Wolf 359. Instead, Shaw’s cautious, by-the-book leadership style stems from a trauma-induced need to protect himself And the Titan-A by doing everything just right. Captain Shaw is not malicious; He needs support.

It’s too bad Shaw can’t return to Star Trek Without Legacy

We barely knew Liam Shaw before his tragic end

Unfortunately, captain Liam Shaw’s return to Star Trek is unlikely without Star Trek: Legacy. Observe a potential surprise as Todd Stashwick appeared in Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 as a younger version of Liam Shaw, or visit the 32nd century Star Trek: Starfleet Academy like a hologram, Star Trek: Legacy Is our best bet to see Captain Shaw again. unfortunately, Star Trek: Picard‘s proposed spinoff with Jeri Ryan as Captain Seven of Nine on the USS Enterprise-G is not in development at all, so Shaw’s return is on indefinite hold.

My opinion of Shaw quickly changed because his sensitive character development made him relatable and familiar. Star Trek Always taught me not to judge people for being differentAnd PicardThe narrator of the lesson took the lesson further by asking me to examine why I was so quick to hate Captain Shaw in the first place. I saw my changed opinion reflected in other fans’ reactions to Shaw’s story. Star Trek: Picard Quickly changing fans’ opinion of Shaw to positive by revealing Captain Shaw’s backstory, which became a reminder to approach real people with curiosity instead of judgment.