WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.709 --> 00:00:02.293 This week, I welcome two wonderful men 2 00:00:02.293 --> 00:00:04.462 who I've been lucky to know for more than half of my life, 3 00:00:04.462 --> 00:00:05.922 Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner, 4 00:00:05.922 --> 00:00:08.675 to discuss this week's episode of Star Trek: Picard. 5 00:00:08.675 --> 00:00:11.636 We look back on all the time Star Trek got out of uniform 6 00:00:11.636 --> 00:00:12.679 and dressed to the nines. 7 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:14.472 Plus, we have an exclusive sneak peek 8 00:00:14.472 --> 00:00:16.975 of next week's episode of Picard on deck. 9 00:00:16.975 --> 00:00:18.059 Report to The Ready Room 10 00:00:18.059 --> 00:00:21.521 because all of that and more is happening right now. 11 00:00:28.486 --> 00:00:29.320 Hey, nerds. 12 00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:31.698 I'm Wil Wheaton, and this is The Ready Room, 13 00:00:31.698 --> 00:00:33.533 your official behind-the-scenes hub 14 00:00:33.533 --> 00:00:35.326 for all things Star Trek Universe. 15 00:00:35.326 --> 00:00:36.745 Today, we're looking at the latest episode 16 00:00:36.745 --> 00:00:40.040 of Star Trek: Picard, Season 2, titled "Two of One." 17 00:00:40.040 --> 00:00:41.916 If you've watched the episode, 18 00:00:41.916 --> 00:00:43.251 it would be very easy for you to understand 19 00:00:43.251 --> 00:00:44.544 where that title came from. 20 00:00:44.544 --> 00:00:47.130 However, if you don't get that Borg reference, 21 00:00:47.130 --> 00:00:50.133 then I am begging you to go back and watch Episode 6 22 00:00:50.133 --> 00:00:52.302 of Season 2 first because-- 23 00:00:52.302 --> 00:00:53.386 red alert! 24 00:00:53.386 --> 00:00:56.765 We are going to be going into massive spoiler territory. 25 00:00:56.765 --> 00:00:58.725 We will be spoiling way more than two of one, 26 00:00:58.725 --> 00:01:01.144 or even seven of nine things about this episode 27 00:01:01.144 --> 00:01:02.395 going forward. 28 00:01:02.395 --> 00:01:06.608 Today, I am so thrilled to have two Star Trek legends 29 00:01:06.608 --> 00:01:08.860 and all around excellent human beings, 30 00:01:08.860 --> 00:01:10.612 Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner, 31 00:01:10.612 --> 00:01:13.740 beaming in to join me in The Ready Room once again. 32 00:01:13.740 --> 00:01:16.910 You've seen Brent as Adam Soong this season, 33 00:01:16.910 --> 00:01:19.662 and I'm sure you remember Frakes as William Riker 34 00:01:19.662 --> 00:01:22.207 from last season and another Star Trek show, 35 00:01:22.207 --> 00:01:25.001 but did you know that Frakes has also directed 36 00:01:25.001 --> 00:01:26.586 tons of episodes of Star Trek? 37 00:01:26.586 --> 00:01:29.089 Including this week's episode that we just watched? 38 00:01:29.089 --> 00:01:31.132 Yeah, of course you did. I just wanted to say it out loud 39 00:01:31.132 --> 00:01:32.967 because I think it is so cool, 40 00:01:32.967 --> 00:01:34.511 and I'm proud of my friend. 41 00:01:34.511 --> 00:01:37.514 After our chat, in honor of the motley Picard crew's 42 00:01:37.514 --> 00:01:39.307 classy gala ensembles, 43 00:01:39.307 --> 00:01:41.768 we will spotlight some of the times we've gotten to see 44 00:01:41.768 --> 00:01:43.812 Star Trek get all dressed up. 45 00:01:43.812 --> 00:01:47.357 Then, I will deliver that promised exclusive look 46 00:01:47.357 --> 00:01:48.691 at next week's episode. 47 00:01:48.691 --> 00:01:50.110 But before we get into any of that, 48 00:01:50.110 --> 00:01:51.945 remember Adam Soong, who I mentioned, like, I don't know, 49 00:01:51.945 --> 00:01:52.779 four seconds ago? 50 00:01:52.779 --> 00:01:56.658 He is just the latest, albeit earliest, 51 00:01:56.658 --> 00:01:59.244 in what is now a long line of Soongs, 52 00:01:59.244 --> 00:02:02.455 all portrayed brilliantly by Brent Spiner. 53 00:02:02.455 --> 00:02:04.374 This week, we wanted to peel back 54 00:02:04.374 --> 00:02:06.126 some of the layers of the family 55 00:02:06.126 --> 00:02:09.462 that has become delightfully ubiquitous in Star Trek. 56 00:02:09.462 --> 00:02:11.798 Control room, engage. 57 00:02:14.801 --> 00:02:17.137 Dr. Soong, I presume. 58 00:02:17.137 --> 00:02:19.681 You know, if you're going to be sort of, quote unquote, 59 00:02:19.681 --> 00:02:23.768 typecast--which I don't think I exactly am-- 60 00:02:23.768 --> 00:02:26.855 as a sci-fi actor, a Star Trek actor, whatever, 61 00:02:26.855 --> 00:02:28.606 it couldn't have been better for me. 62 00:02:28.606 --> 00:02:31.401 I've gotten to play so many different characters. 63 00:02:31.401 --> 00:02:34.195 It's what has given me such a strong sense of family. 64 00:02:38.741 --> 00:02:41.578 Do people watch this who've never seen Star Trek before? 65 00:02:41.578 --> 00:02:42.745 And who are you, sir? 66 00:02:44.956 --> 00:02:47.709 If you've never seen it before, you need to get on that. 67 00:02:47.709 --> 00:02:49.169 There's quite a few of them. 68 00:02:49.169 --> 00:02:52.422 Matter of fact, I did 176 of The Next Generation, 69 00:02:52.422 --> 00:02:54.841 where the first Soong appeared. 70 00:02:54.841 --> 00:02:56.801 That was Dr. Noonian Soong, 71 00:02:56.801 --> 00:02:59.179 who created Data. 72 00:02:59.179 --> 00:03:01.472 This is your lucky day, Data. 73 00:03:01.472 --> 00:03:05.852 You found your long-lost father, and he's alive. 74 00:03:05.852 --> 00:03:07.562 [Brent] I played Dr. Soong, actually, 75 00:03:07.562 --> 00:03:10.190 at three different ages on that series. 76 00:03:10.190 --> 00:03:13.443 And you do not believe she should know the truth? 77 00:03:13.443 --> 00:03:15.028 The truth? 78 00:03:15.028 --> 00:03:18.489 Truth is, in every way that matters, 79 00:03:20.408 --> 00:03:23.328 she is Juliana Soong. 80 00:03:23.328 --> 00:03:26.080 [Brent] And then I played his ancestor, Arik Soong, 81 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:28.625 on Star Trek: Enterprise. 82 00:03:28.625 --> 00:03:31.127 I admire your people very much. 83 00:03:31.127 --> 00:03:33.504 We share a similar view of humanity. 84 00:03:33.504 --> 00:03:34.881 What view is that? 85 00:03:34.881 --> 00:03:36.799 That it could stand some improvement. 86 00:03:36.799 --> 00:03:38.718 And then I played Altan Soong 87 00:03:38.718 --> 00:03:41.221 on the first season of Picard. 88 00:03:42.555 --> 00:03:44.933 I really missed butterflies... 89 00:03:46.059 --> 00:03:48.061 so I made my own. 90 00:03:48.061 --> 00:03:50.563 And of course I played Data and Lore and B-4, 91 00:03:50.563 --> 00:03:53.483 who were also part of the Soong family, really, 92 00:03:53.483 --> 00:03:55.818 in that they were all Noonian Soong's children. 93 00:03:56.778 --> 00:04:00.782 Do you believe that we are, in some way, alike, sir? 94 00:04:01.908 --> 00:04:05.995 In many ways, I'd like to believe. 95 00:04:05.995 --> 00:04:10.291 We postulated an earlier Soong, 96 00:04:10.291 --> 00:04:13.503 a Soong progenitor named Adam. 97 00:04:13.503 --> 00:04:18.508 We put him in place in order to keep our universe cohesive 98 00:04:18.549 --> 00:04:20.969 and also to work with Brent again. 99 00:04:20.969 --> 00:04:23.012 [Brent] Adam Soong is different than the other Soongs 100 00:04:23.012 --> 00:04:25.807 because he lives in the 21st century. 101 00:04:25.807 --> 00:04:29.519 Picture a world free of genetic defects. 102 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:33.940 If I had the power to nudge us in the right direction, 103 00:04:33.940 --> 00:04:35.525 isn't that my responsibility? 104 00:04:35.525 --> 00:04:36.943 [Brent] He is a scientist. 105 00:04:38.444 --> 00:04:41.656 He's basically into eugenics. He's a narcissist. 106 00:04:41.656 --> 00:04:46.661 He really operates primarily for himself, even though he, 107 00:04:46.744 --> 00:04:48.496 at times, kids himself 108 00:04:48.496 --> 00:04:50.707 that he's doing it for higher reasons. 109 00:04:50.707 --> 00:04:54.294 All of his darkness is based on his need to have a legacy 110 00:04:54.294 --> 00:04:59.299 and to be forever remembered as someone great. 111 00:04:59.716 --> 00:05:02.760 This genetic defect means the smallest speck of dust 112 00:05:02.760 --> 00:05:05.555 will ruin my daughter's respiratory system. 113 00:05:05.555 --> 00:05:08.099 UV light from the sun turns her blood to poison. 114 00:05:08.099 --> 00:05:10.852 She's confined to a room. She has no life. 115 00:05:10.852 --> 00:05:13.730 He, I think, tries to be 116 00:05:13.730 --> 00:05:17.984 what he thinks a father is supposed to be, 117 00:05:17.984 --> 00:05:20.862 but underneath it all, I think, really, 118 00:05:20.862 --> 00:05:22.739 she's a project to him. 119 00:05:22.739 --> 00:05:25.116 And I think that's where their relationship goes 120 00:05:25.116 --> 00:05:26.909 very, very wrong. 121 00:05:29.704 --> 00:05:30.955 Dad, what did you do? 122 00:05:34.876 --> 00:05:37.253 My absolute favorite part of my job 123 00:05:37.253 --> 00:05:39.172 is when I get to interview my friends and family 124 00:05:39.172 --> 00:05:41.716 who are currently living in the Star Trek Universe 125 00:05:41.716 --> 00:05:43.092 right here on The Ready Room. 126 00:05:43.092 --> 00:05:44.302 So, as you can imagine, 127 00:05:44.302 --> 00:05:46.304 this particular block of Ready Rooms 128 00:05:46.304 --> 00:05:48.222 is extra special to me. 129 00:05:48.222 --> 00:05:51.517 With that in mind, I am thrilled and so grateful 130 00:05:51.517 --> 00:05:53.770 to welcome Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner 131 00:05:53.770 --> 00:05:57.273 virtually into The Ready Room for today's interview. 132 00:05:57.273 --> 00:05:59.859 Brent, Johnny, thank you so much for being here. 133 00:05:59.859 --> 00:06:00.985 Wil, good to see you. 134 00:06:00.985 --> 00:06:02.945 [Wil] It's wonderful to see you both. 135 00:06:02.945 --> 00:06:04.197 Johnny, I wanna start with you. 136 00:06:04.197 --> 00:06:06.407 You directed the episode that we watched this week. 137 00:06:06.407 --> 00:06:08.076 It's called "Two of One." 138 00:06:08.076 --> 00:06:10.119 You also directed the previous episode, 139 00:06:10.119 --> 00:06:11.579 "Fly Me to the Moon." 140 00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:13.414 So, we have a ton to talk about, 141 00:06:13.414 --> 00:06:17.668 but I wanna start with the heist at the gala. 142 00:06:18.544 --> 00:06:20.213 In addition to Star Trek, 143 00:06:20.213 --> 00:06:22.673 you and I have both worked on Leverage. 144 00:06:22.673 --> 00:06:23.508 Yes. 145 00:06:23.508 --> 00:06:25.176 [Wil] Which was sort of like the ultimate heist show. 146 00:06:25.176 --> 00:06:26.219 Right. 147 00:06:26.219 --> 00:06:28.429 This came up in conversation backstage 148 00:06:28.429 --> 00:06:30.098 in the hallway here, 149 00:06:30.098 --> 00:06:33.142 and we realized "Stardust City Rag," 150 00:06:33.142 --> 00:06:35.853 which you also directed in Season 1 of Picard, 151 00:06:35.853 --> 00:06:37.688 is a little heisty. 152 00:06:37.688 --> 00:06:38.523 A little heisty. 153 00:06:38.523 --> 00:06:40.900 So, maybe you're like our go-to heist guy. 154 00:06:40.900 --> 00:06:43.277 All of this feels like it could not necessarily 155 00:06:43.277 --> 00:06:44.570 be a coincidence to me, 156 00:06:44.570 --> 00:06:46.572 and I was wondering if you had thoughts on that. 157 00:06:46.572 --> 00:06:49.617 I was told throughout the making of this episode, 158 00:06:49.617 --> 00:06:51.077 "Have you seen Ocean's 11?" 159 00:06:51.077 --> 00:06:53.538 I said, "Yes, I've seen it." 160 00:06:53.538 --> 00:06:54.372 And you were like, 161 00:06:54.372 --> 00:06:57.792 have you watched a single episode of Leverage? 162 00:06:57.792 --> 00:07:00.711 You know, Brent Spiner also appeared on Leverage. 163 00:07:00.711 --> 00:07:01.546 I did. 164 00:07:01.546 --> 00:07:04.257 That is true. I've forgotten about that. 165 00:07:04.257 --> 00:07:05.967 I deeply regret the error. 166 00:07:05.967 --> 00:07:07.844 No, it's quite all right. 167 00:07:07.844 --> 00:07:09.846 He played Jeff Bezos, as I recall. 168 00:07:10.721 --> 00:07:12.098 Something like that, yeah. 169 00:07:13.224 --> 00:07:14.475 Johnny, tell me, 170 00:07:14.475 --> 00:07:17.311 I imagine that you developed certain techniques 171 00:07:17.311 --> 00:07:20.189 doing all that heisty stuff on Leverage. 172 00:07:20.189 --> 00:07:22.525 I presume you brought it to these episodes, yeah? 173 00:07:22.525 --> 00:07:24.110 Don't you really bring the music 174 00:07:24.110 --> 00:07:25.403 when you're doing a heist? 175 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:27.905 Yeah, you do. 176 00:07:27.905 --> 00:07:30.783 You bring the percussion and the syncopation. 177 00:07:30.783 --> 00:07:32.243 It's not necessarily Star Trek-y. 178 00:07:32.243 --> 00:07:34.662 It's not a thing that we really do on Star Trek very often, 179 00:07:34.662 --> 00:07:38.291 these wonderful, complicated, high concept, 180 00:07:38.291 --> 00:07:42.920 multi character kind of capers. 181 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:47.925 Was that like, just--it's so, like, not Star Trek 182 00:07:47.925 --> 00:07:49.802 as we expect it. 183 00:07:49.802 --> 00:07:52.013 Did that, did you feel that at all on the set? 184 00:07:52.013 --> 00:07:52.930 I did. 185 00:07:52.930 --> 00:07:55.600 Fortunately, the coolest part of the caper, 186 00:07:55.600 --> 00:08:00.229 which was the, in my mind, Jurati distracting-- 187 00:08:00.229 --> 00:08:01.522 [Wil] Yeah, absolutely. 188 00:08:01.522 --> 00:08:02.982 [Jonathan] Hundreds of people by singing 189 00:08:02.982 --> 00:08:05.276 "In the Shadows of the Night." 190 00:08:05.276 --> 00:08:06.110 [Wil] Yeah. 191 00:08:07.445 --> 00:08:12.408 Sort of, we built to that spectacular moment. 192 00:08:12.700 --> 00:08:14.535 And that, I thought, made it all work. 193 00:08:14.535 --> 00:08:18.831 The rest was...Well, the rest was wonderful. 194 00:08:18.831 --> 00:08:20.458 Yeah. Yeah, it was. 195 00:08:20.458 --> 00:08:22.126 I wanna talk about that specific moment 196 00:08:22.126 --> 00:08:24.170 in a minute. 197 00:08:24.170 --> 00:08:27.924 Brent, you may have forgotten this, 198 00:08:27.924 --> 00:08:31.177 but you played Data last season on Star Trek: Picard, 199 00:08:31.177 --> 00:08:32.678 and you were terrific as him. 200 00:08:32.678 --> 00:08:35.056 You also played Data on Next Generation 201 00:08:35.056 --> 00:08:37.350 a very long time ago when we worked together, 202 00:08:37.350 --> 00:08:38.351 and you were great. 203 00:08:38.351 --> 00:08:39.185 Yes. 204 00:08:39.185 --> 00:08:40.937 This season, of course, you're playing Adam Soong. 205 00:08:40.937 --> 00:08:41.771 Correct. 206 00:08:41.771 --> 00:08:42.980 We did a little math here. 207 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:46.776 We figured out that this brings to the total count 208 00:08:46.776 --> 00:08:50.780 seven Soongs or Soong-type androids 209 00:08:50.780 --> 00:08:53.741 that you have played in the Star Trek Universe. 210 00:08:53.741 --> 00:08:56.661 We all kind of agree that Adam's Soong is, like, 211 00:08:56.661 --> 00:08:59.580 really the most evil since Lore. 212 00:08:59.580 --> 00:09:00.456 Yeah. 213 00:09:00.456 --> 00:09:05.419 Maybe even a little more evil than Lore, 214 00:09:05.419 --> 00:09:07.630 because at least Lore could have been like, "Look, dude, 215 00:09:07.630 --> 00:09:09.257 I was programmed this way." 216 00:09:09.257 --> 00:09:12.760 Like, Adam Soong, it's clearly a choice. 217 00:09:12.760 --> 00:09:16.806 Would you just talk about leaning into that particular side 218 00:09:16.806 --> 00:09:18.683 of the personality wheel? 219 00:09:18.683 --> 00:09:20.685 Well, I thought he was the good guy. 220 00:09:21.644 --> 00:09:23.396 From his perspective, he absolutely is, 221 00:09:23.396 --> 00:09:24.981 which is what makes him so interesting. 222 00:09:24.981 --> 00:09:25.815 Yeah, exactly. 223 00:09:25.815 --> 00:09:27.692 I mean, you know, this is a guy, 224 00:09:27.692 --> 00:09:29.610 well, I could tell you the whole backstory 225 00:09:29.610 --> 00:09:31.821 that's not in the show. 226 00:09:31.821 --> 00:09:34.448 I would love to hear that if you care to share it. 227 00:09:34.448 --> 00:09:37.660 Well, you know what, it seems to me, there's a moment, 228 00:09:37.660 --> 00:09:40.413 I think we might talk about that later, about the-- 229 00:09:40.413 --> 00:09:43.624 at the ball or the--you know, not the ball. 230 00:09:43.624 --> 00:09:44.458 What is that, Johnny? 231 00:09:44.458 --> 00:09:45.334 The gala. 232 00:09:45.334 --> 00:09:47.753 The gala, the pre-flight gala. 233 00:09:47.753 --> 00:09:48.588 Exactly. 234 00:09:48.588 --> 00:09:53.593 I believe Picard says something to Soong like, 235 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:56.846 "You're the first," or something like that. 236 00:09:56.846 --> 00:09:58.306 Yes. 237 00:09:58.306 --> 00:09:59.140 And I think he is. 238 00:09:59.140 --> 00:10:03.227 He's the first of this family, but I, 239 00:10:03.227 --> 00:10:08.232 I have this whole idea that this guy was abandoned as a baby 240 00:10:08.524 --> 00:10:12.653 and a Chinese family adopted him or found him or something. 241 00:10:12.653 --> 00:10:14.655 And that's how he got the name Soong, 242 00:10:14.655 --> 00:10:18.409 but he's, you know--he operates, as many of us do, 243 00:10:18.409 --> 00:10:20.453 from feelings of worthlessness, 244 00:10:20.453 --> 00:10:23.205 and some people rise to that occasion, 245 00:10:23.205 --> 00:10:26.792 and other people are driven to the dark side 246 00:10:26.792 --> 00:10:27.710 because of that. 247 00:10:27.710 --> 00:10:29.420 And I think he's one of those guys. 248 00:10:29.420 --> 00:10:30.671 What you're talking about is, like, 249 00:10:30.671 --> 00:10:32.757 my favorite part of being an actor 250 00:10:32.757 --> 00:10:35.176 is working on that part of the story, 251 00:10:35.176 --> 00:10:37.887 the part of the story that isn't necessarily on the page. 252 00:10:37.887 --> 00:10:38.721 Right. 253 00:10:38.721 --> 00:10:39.555 But is such an important part 254 00:10:39.555 --> 00:10:40.848 of bringing this character to life. 255 00:10:40.848 --> 00:10:43.309 And especially, I've had the privilege of playing villains. 256 00:10:43.309 --> 00:10:45.895 You gotta justify where they're coming from, 257 00:10:45.895 --> 00:10:48.230 'cause they're the good guy in their story. 258 00:10:48.230 --> 00:10:50.775 In their life, yeah, certainly, yeah. 259 00:10:50.775 --> 00:10:53.736 So, you're, what you are talking about is, like, 260 00:10:53.736 --> 00:10:56.030 it's also a thing that we fans love to do. 261 00:10:56.030 --> 00:10:57.698 We love to invent that story. 262 00:10:57.698 --> 00:11:00.409 And so, I really appreciate you sharing that with us. 263 00:11:00.409 --> 00:11:02.286 That's incredibly interesting 264 00:11:02.286 --> 00:11:04.955 and just fleshes him out a little more. 265 00:11:04.955 --> 00:11:05.790 Yeah. Thank you. 266 00:11:05.790 --> 00:11:08.584 Johnny, what is it like to direct Brent 267 00:11:08.584 --> 00:11:13.422 when he is wearing the Adam Soong personality? 268 00:11:13.422 --> 00:11:14.423 Directing Brent... 269 00:11:15.800 --> 00:11:19.178 I was gonna try to think of some wise guy response, 270 00:11:19.178 --> 00:11:23.140 but it is actually one of the great treats in my-- 271 00:11:23.140 --> 00:11:25.643 where I am in my career. 272 00:11:25.643 --> 00:11:28.312 We have shorthand. I can trust him. 273 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:31.899 And he does what-- 274 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:34.777 when he was describing what's going on with Soong, 275 00:11:34.777 --> 00:11:36.028 I was reminded, 276 00:11:36.028 --> 00:11:37.530 I think one of the most important things 277 00:11:37.530 --> 00:11:39.907 about being an actor, which I used to be, 278 00:11:39.907 --> 00:11:44.161 was that you can't judge the character you're playing. 279 00:11:44.161 --> 00:11:46.956 That, I think, is a sound approach. 280 00:11:46.956 --> 00:11:48.874 And Brent doesn't judge any of these characters. 281 00:11:48.874 --> 00:11:52.712 He makes them interesting and three-dimensional. 282 00:11:52.712 --> 00:11:56.048 I re-watched the show this morning 283 00:11:56.048 --> 00:11:58.134 before we were coming to do this. 284 00:11:58.134 --> 00:12:00.845 And I was reminded of 285 00:12:00.845 --> 00:12:04.390 how impressed I was, newly impressed, 286 00:12:04.390 --> 00:12:06.559 by Brent in the scene where he comes home, 287 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:10.479 sort of like Ray Milland in Lost Weekend, 288 00:12:10.479 --> 00:12:15.443 where he arrives back in his house, apartment, lab, 289 00:12:15.901 --> 00:12:19.613 and, really is very disturbing to Kore and... 290 00:12:20.489 --> 00:12:23.033 and he's so free physically 291 00:12:23.033 --> 00:12:26.912 and so emotionally detached and yet attached 292 00:12:26.912 --> 00:12:30.082 and confused and philosophical. 293 00:12:30.082 --> 00:12:32.042 It's a really, it's a great performance, 294 00:12:32.042 --> 00:12:36.255 and it's one of the most--and it was so exciting 295 00:12:36.255 --> 00:12:37.131 because it is new. 296 00:12:37.131 --> 00:12:37.965 It was new to me, 297 00:12:37.965 --> 00:12:40.926 and I've worked with Brent, as you know, for 35 years, so-- 298 00:12:40.926 --> 00:12:41.844 Yeah. 299 00:12:41.844 --> 00:12:43.763 It makes my job easy. 300 00:12:43.763 --> 00:12:46.182 It must be exciting to have that opportunity 301 00:12:46.182 --> 00:12:49.977 to discover new things when, like, you're like-- 302 00:12:49.977 --> 00:12:52.188 we're all the same people we've always been, 303 00:12:52.188 --> 00:12:54.106 but having this relationship 304 00:12:54.106 --> 00:12:57.401 with an entirely different character lets you explore 305 00:12:57.401 --> 00:13:00.237 all these new aspects that, I love that, 306 00:13:00.237 --> 00:13:02.531 like you say, kind of makes it brand new 307 00:13:02.531 --> 00:13:04.241 to discover all those new things. 308 00:13:04.241 --> 00:13:06.494 It happens, I think, as a result 309 00:13:06.494 --> 00:13:08.954 of our familiarity with each other 310 00:13:08.954 --> 00:13:11.290 and our comfort level with each other. 311 00:13:11.290 --> 00:13:14.752 I mean, I completely trust Johnny, and, as he says, 312 00:13:14.752 --> 00:13:19.757 there's a shorthand and a support that I feel 313 00:13:20.049 --> 00:13:23.844 that kind of allows me to go places 314 00:13:23.844 --> 00:13:27.181 I wouldn't ordinarily go or didn't know I could go, 315 00:13:28.265 --> 00:13:29.892 but Johnny's my favorite director. 316 00:13:29.892 --> 00:13:34.313 I mean it goes Johnny, Scorcese, uh... 317 00:13:35.898 --> 00:13:37.274 -Just Johnny. -That's it, right? 318 00:13:37.274 --> 00:13:38.108 Yeah, Johnny and Scorsese. 319 00:13:38.108 --> 00:13:40.152 You don't need anybody else on the list. 320 00:13:40.152 --> 00:13:42.905 You know, it occurs to me that another way to sort of 321 00:13:42.905 --> 00:13:44.240 codify all of this, 322 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:45.825 this relationship that we all have, 323 00:13:45.825 --> 00:13:48.828 is trust and respect. 324 00:13:50.329 --> 00:13:53.874 That kind of goes in every direction amongst all of us. 325 00:13:53.874 --> 00:13:55.334 And it's really clear. 326 00:13:55.334 --> 00:13:57.086 It's so clear in Picard, as well. 327 00:13:57.086 --> 00:13:59.797 It's one of the things I have really enjoyed about Picard 328 00:13:59.797 --> 00:14:04.301 is seeing you all, as actors 329 00:14:04.301 --> 00:14:05.344 who I know as people, 330 00:14:05.344 --> 00:14:07.930 who I enjoy as a fan, 331 00:14:08.931 --> 00:14:11.642 being these characters now in this very new world, 332 00:14:11.642 --> 00:14:13.060 especially this season, 333 00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:15.187 where we're not in the Star Trek universe 334 00:14:15.187 --> 00:14:16.814 we are so familiar with. 335 00:14:16.814 --> 00:14:19.066 These are characters that are very much out of water 336 00:14:19.066 --> 00:14:21.151 in a very different place. 337 00:14:21.151 --> 00:14:23.237 And you mentioned, Brent, 338 00:14:23.237 --> 00:14:25.114 you were talking a little bit about Kore, 339 00:14:25.114 --> 00:14:27.867 and that's kind of where I wanted to go next. 340 00:14:27.867 --> 00:14:30.911 There is this gorgeous montage sequence. 341 00:14:30.911 --> 00:14:33.455 Johnny, the montage is beautiful, 342 00:14:33.455 --> 00:14:34.874 toward the end of this episode 343 00:14:34.874 --> 00:14:36.542 where Kore finds out that, 344 00:14:36.542 --> 00:14:40.129 not only is she a science experiment, 345 00:14:40.129 --> 00:14:44.717 she is kind of the most recent in a line 346 00:14:44.717 --> 00:14:48.012 of failed science experiments. 347 00:14:48.012 --> 00:14:52.099 Oh my God, that is so much for a sentient creature 348 00:14:52.099 --> 00:14:55.561 to wrap their head around and experience, 349 00:14:55.561 --> 00:15:00.566 and Isa just crushed every second of that. 350 00:15:01.734 --> 00:15:05.279 She brought me to tears in that sequence, 351 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:07.323 and her discoveries, I thought-- 352 00:15:07.323 --> 00:15:09.992 we were talking about justifying Adam Soong-- 353 00:15:09.992 --> 00:15:12.077 completely justified his actions. 354 00:15:12.077 --> 00:15:16.332 He obviously loves her, and he wants to save her 355 00:15:16.332 --> 00:15:20.461 from the same fate as all the others that came before her. 356 00:15:20.461 --> 00:15:23.464 That's terrible, but it's also really great, 357 00:15:23.464 --> 00:15:25.716 like, at the same time. 358 00:15:25.716 --> 00:15:28.427 So, I have two questions for you, Brent. 359 00:15:28.427 --> 00:15:33.432 Did Adam Soong love the other clones 360 00:15:33.682 --> 00:15:38.228 the way he appears to very much love Kore? 361 00:15:38.228 --> 00:15:41.690 And can you talk about the demons that Adam 362 00:15:41.690 --> 00:15:44.693 is wrestling with through all of this? 363 00:15:44.693 --> 00:15:46.028 And if you do anything to get 364 00:15:46.028 --> 00:15:47.821 into that particular head space? 365 00:15:47.821 --> 00:15:50.574 It just allows me to play myself, you know, 366 00:15:50.574 --> 00:15:52.451 very like playing Lore. 367 00:15:52.451 --> 00:15:54.954 It just--I can finally be me. 368 00:15:58.082 --> 00:15:59.041 No, let me say this, Wil-- 369 00:15:59.041 --> 00:16:01.919 People who don't know you are gonna be so afraid 370 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:03.212 to meet you in public. 371 00:16:07.257 --> 00:16:12.096 You know what, Wil, in truth, you know, love is, 372 00:16:12.096 --> 00:16:15.057 as we all know, a very complicated thing. 373 00:16:15.057 --> 00:16:20.062 It's--there are all sorts of love and forms of love, 374 00:16:21.021 --> 00:16:25.025 and I think in this guy's case, 375 00:16:25.025 --> 00:16:28.946 his greatest love is himself. 376 00:16:28.946 --> 00:16:31.657 He is an absolute narcissist. 377 00:16:31.657 --> 00:16:32.491 Yeah. 378 00:16:32.491 --> 00:16:35.869 He... 379 00:16:35.869 --> 00:16:40.290 tries to--he puts on the cloak of love 380 00:16:40.290 --> 00:16:41.500 -to deal with work. -Yeah. 381 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:44.920 He does what he thinks--this must be what love is, 382 00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:47.631 how you behave when you love somebody. 383 00:16:47.631 --> 00:16:48.799 -Okay. -But, in fact... 384 00:16:50.801 --> 00:16:51.802 she is a project. 385 00:16:51.802 --> 00:16:53.637 He loves his project. 386 00:16:53.637 --> 00:16:55.889 -Yeah. -He loves his ticket to... 387 00:16:57.141 --> 00:17:00.728 everlasting fame and respect. 388 00:17:00.728 --> 00:17:01.562 Yeah. 389 00:17:01.562 --> 00:17:03.313 And that's what she is to him. 390 00:17:03.313 --> 00:17:07.026 And that's what all of the others were to him, as well. 391 00:17:07.026 --> 00:17:10.821 She's most important because she has survived, 392 00:17:10.821 --> 00:17:14.450 and he's gonna pour everything he can into her. 393 00:17:15.409 --> 00:17:20.414 But, you know, how much does he actually feel for her? 394 00:17:22.332 --> 00:17:23.167 I'm not sure. 395 00:17:23.167 --> 00:17:25.502 I mean, you know, this is a guy who-- 396 00:17:25.502 --> 00:17:28.130 I mean, she's obviously--she can't go out in the sun, 397 00:17:29.006 --> 00:17:30.215 and where does he live? 398 00:17:30.215 --> 00:17:34.136 He lives at the beach, you know, with a swimming pool. 399 00:17:34.136 --> 00:17:36.013 -Yeah. -I mean, how sensitive 400 00:17:36.013 --> 00:17:36.889 is this guy? 401 00:17:36.889 --> 00:17:38.766 -Yeah. -To his child? 402 00:17:38.766 --> 00:17:43.771 I just think that his--he operates from selfishness, 403 00:17:44.438 --> 00:17:48.025 and his own needs come first. 404 00:17:48.025 --> 00:17:50.778 And his love for her is-- 405 00:17:50.778 --> 00:17:55.783 although it's real on a certain level, it's complex. 406 00:17:56.033 --> 00:17:56.950 It really is. 407 00:17:56.950 --> 00:17:59.453 It's not exactly just, "This is my child. 408 00:17:59.453 --> 00:18:01.163 I would do anything for my child." 409 00:18:01.163 --> 00:18:02.331 Yeah. 410 00:18:02.331 --> 00:18:03.457 This is my ticket. 411 00:18:03.457 --> 00:18:04.958 She is my project, my, 412 00:18:04.958 --> 00:18:07.044 the most important thing in my life. 413 00:18:07.044 --> 00:18:08.921 And there's such a huge difference between, 414 00:18:08.921 --> 00:18:11.256 "I will do anything to protect my child," 415 00:18:11.256 --> 00:18:13.842 and "I will do anything to see my project to completion." 416 00:18:13.842 --> 00:18:14.885 -Correct. -Those are such 417 00:18:14.885 --> 00:18:18.138 different things, and super tragic, 418 00:18:18.138 --> 00:18:19.389 unbelievably tragic. 419 00:18:19.389 --> 00:18:21.683 Right, and they're all rolled into one 420 00:18:21.683 --> 00:18:26.480 with this guy's complicated, damaged mind. 421 00:18:28.524 --> 00:18:30.943 Let's just talk about Alison Pill for a minute. 422 00:18:30.943 --> 00:18:32.528 Let's talk about Jurati. 423 00:18:32.528 --> 00:18:35.948 Let's talk about Alison seamlessly 424 00:18:35.948 --> 00:18:40.661 keeping the Borg Queen and Jurati alive together 425 00:18:40.661 --> 00:18:41.870 through all these scenes. 426 00:18:41.870 --> 00:18:43.872 If I didn't know I was watching an actor, 427 00:18:43.872 --> 00:18:46.416 I would think this was all completely real, 428 00:18:46.416 --> 00:18:50.170 that there were two entities inside this one body, 429 00:18:50.170 --> 00:18:53.674 and the song, and all of it. 430 00:18:53.674 --> 00:18:56.260 Johnny, that must have been just 431 00:18:56.260 --> 00:18:59.138 such an incredible experience to shoot. 432 00:18:59.138 --> 00:19:01.890 She's spectacular. I think we all agree. 433 00:19:02.850 --> 00:19:04.226 She's wonderful. 434 00:19:04.226 --> 00:19:05.644 She's one of the best actresses in the world. 435 00:19:05.644 --> 00:19:06.478 She really is. 436 00:19:06.478 --> 00:19:07.312 [Wil] Yeah. 437 00:19:07.312 --> 00:19:10.482 The shooting of it is simple 438 00:19:10.482 --> 00:19:11.900 when the acting was that good, 439 00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:14.736 because, clearly, what she found was the rhythm 440 00:19:14.736 --> 00:19:16.738 of how the Borg Queen, 441 00:19:16.738 --> 00:19:18.365 how much of the Borg Queen affected her, 442 00:19:18.365 --> 00:19:21.201 how much the Borg Queen invaded her body. 443 00:19:21.201 --> 00:19:24.413 And then when she came down the stairs for-- 444 00:19:24.413 --> 00:19:26.748 here's a little tidbit. 445 00:19:26.748 --> 00:19:28.667 The song in the show, 446 00:19:28.667 --> 00:19:33.130 which is Pat Benatar's "Shadow of the Night," 447 00:19:33.130 --> 00:19:34.214 Mhmm. 448 00:19:34.214 --> 00:19:36.049 was formerly in the script, as you may remember, 449 00:19:36.049 --> 00:19:38.969 Brent, Nina Simone's "Feeling Good." 450 00:19:40.596 --> 00:19:44.516 And the wisdom of Alison Pill and the self-awareness 451 00:19:44.516 --> 00:19:47.436 and the political awareness that it wasn't so cool 452 00:19:47.436 --> 00:19:52.232 for a beautiful, young white actress to be singing this, 453 00:19:52.232 --> 00:19:56.528 sort of tone-deaf for someone in a--what, 454 00:19:56.528 --> 00:20:01.074 sort of a civil rights anthem that Nina Simone embraced. 455 00:20:01.074 --> 00:20:04.828 And, as soon as that flag went up, we changed the song, 456 00:20:04.828 --> 00:20:06.622 which you know, is even, you know, 457 00:20:06.622 --> 00:20:09.166 it reveals more about Alison. 458 00:20:09.166 --> 00:20:10.584 Yeah. 459 00:20:10.584 --> 00:20:13.295 But the--she's, and she can sing. 460 00:20:13.295 --> 00:20:14.171 She's like Brent. 461 00:20:15.547 --> 00:20:16.632 I know! 462 00:20:16.632 --> 00:20:17.716 [Jonathan] Right? 463 00:20:17.716 --> 00:20:19.051 Yeah. 464 00:20:19.051 --> 00:20:21.428 She, I mean, she can really sing. 465 00:20:21.428 --> 00:20:23.305 Yeah, Brent can really sing, and that's a-- 466 00:20:23.305 --> 00:20:24.139 Yeah. 467 00:20:25.265 --> 00:20:26.099 It's wonderful. 468 00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:28.185 She's just wonderful to watch, and it's a treat. 469 00:20:29.228 --> 00:20:30.395 [Brent] It really is. 470 00:20:30.395 --> 00:20:32.689 Did she and Annie do any coordination? 471 00:20:32.689 --> 00:20:34.524 Did she--like, it almost feels like 472 00:20:34.524 --> 00:20:36.652 there are things that I noticed, 473 00:20:36.652 --> 00:20:37.986 that there are head motions, 474 00:20:37.986 --> 00:20:40.322 and there are ways that they both move their eyes. 475 00:20:40.322 --> 00:20:41.156 Yeah. 476 00:20:41.156 --> 00:20:42.991 And just, it seems like they spent 477 00:20:42.991 --> 00:20:46.787 a lot of meaningful time developing the reality 478 00:20:46.787 --> 00:20:49.706 of the Borg Queen and Jurati and what they're doing. 479 00:20:49.706 --> 00:20:50.958 Yeah, well, we had a chance to rehearse 480 00:20:50.958 --> 00:20:52.876 the things that we did together, and that, 481 00:20:52.876 --> 00:20:57.256 and also figure out in prep 482 00:20:57.256 --> 00:20:58.840 which parts of which scenes 483 00:20:58.840 --> 00:21:02.177 we needed to shoot with and without Annie. 484 00:21:02.177 --> 00:21:04.304 And then we found three different ways 485 00:21:04.304 --> 00:21:07.641 to reveal that the Queen was actually in the scene. 486 00:21:07.641 --> 00:21:10.560 So, we could--and that was all in camera, 487 00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:11.770 which was kind of wonderful. 488 00:21:11.770 --> 00:21:13.021 [Wil] That's amazing. 489 00:21:13.021 --> 00:21:14.940 Yeah, it was old school and it, 490 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:17.442 I thought it worked very well. 491 00:21:17.442 --> 00:21:20.195 Annie is a great addition to the company, as well. 492 00:21:20.195 --> 00:21:24.658 But, what, Alison holding back and holding back 493 00:21:24.658 --> 00:21:25.492 and holding back. 494 00:21:25.492 --> 00:21:26.326 Yes. 495 00:21:26.326 --> 00:21:29.329 Until the Borg eye sort of fill her, 496 00:21:29.329 --> 00:21:31.957 and then we know she's gone off the f***ing deep end, 497 00:21:31.957 --> 00:21:35.627 and that's, you know, when we see her in that red dress, 498 00:21:35.627 --> 00:21:38.046 rolling through town at night. 499 00:21:38.046 --> 00:21:39.756 [Wil] Oh, it's just like, what is gonna come, 500 00:21:39.756 --> 00:21:40.716 what's happening next? 501 00:21:40.716 --> 00:21:42.676 [Jonathan] What's happening next week? 502 00:21:42.676 --> 00:21:45.012 [Wil] I'm very happy to watch this and very grateful 503 00:21:45.012 --> 00:21:46.555 I'm not experiencing it. 504 00:21:47.431 --> 00:21:49.057 Both of us. 505 00:21:49.057 --> 00:21:52.602 I don't know if a large portion of the audience 506 00:21:52.602 --> 00:21:55.981 appreciates what it means when we have time 507 00:21:55.981 --> 00:21:59.651 for an extensive rehearsal for a complicated sequence. 508 00:21:59.651 --> 00:22:01.028 Do you wanna talk about that a little bit? 509 00:22:01.028 --> 00:22:04.323 Just practically what it means when we get the gift 510 00:22:04.323 --> 00:22:06.033 of extra rehearsal time 511 00:22:06.033 --> 00:22:08.160 and how that affects the final product? 512 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:08.994 It's rare. 513 00:22:08.994 --> 00:22:11.079 It saves everybody's ass. 514 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.913 It is... 515 00:22:12.998 --> 00:22:13.999 Alison and I, 516 00:22:13.999 --> 00:22:16.710 and the cinematographer and Maria, 517 00:22:16.710 --> 00:22:21.089 our wonderful first, stayed and worked the song 518 00:22:21.089 --> 00:22:24.676 and the blocking of the song 519 00:22:24.676 --> 00:22:26.553 after a day of shooting 520 00:22:26.553 --> 00:22:28.221 for a few hours. 521 00:22:28.221 --> 00:22:29.306 -So that we could then -Wow. 522 00:22:29.306 --> 00:22:31.141 present it to the company 523 00:22:31.141 --> 00:22:32.309 as the first thing-- 524 00:22:32.309 --> 00:22:34.311 it was the first thing up the following day. 525 00:22:34.311 --> 00:22:37.105 And that--those two hours that we spent... 526 00:22:37.105 --> 00:22:38.440 you know, four or five of us, 527 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:40.108 saved the company the two hours 528 00:22:40.108 --> 00:22:41.943 that we would ordinarily have. 529 00:22:41.943 --> 00:22:43.278 -Wow. -And then, it was... 530 00:22:44.154 --> 00:22:45.197 It's like any-- 531 00:22:45.197 --> 00:22:48.825 it's like practicing a stunt, practicing a dance. 532 00:22:48.825 --> 00:22:49.951 Anytime you have a chance-- 533 00:22:49.951 --> 00:22:51.453 or working on a scene that's complicated, 534 00:22:51.453 --> 00:22:52.662 that's emotionally complicated. 535 00:22:52.662 --> 00:22:53.789 -If you can find -Yeah. 536 00:22:53.789 --> 00:22:56.166 time to do it before you do it, 537 00:22:56.166 --> 00:22:58.752 where the crew is sitting and waiting 538 00:22:58.752 --> 00:23:00.879 and looking at their watch and playing on their phones, 539 00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:03.965 and you can come in and present, "Here we go, guys. 540 00:23:03.965 --> 00:23:05.926 Here's what we're doing today." 541 00:23:05.926 --> 00:23:08.762 But it's, unfortunately, very rare in television, 542 00:23:08.762 --> 00:23:10.555 but very valuable. 543 00:23:10.555 --> 00:23:13.558 Brent, there is a moment in this episode 544 00:23:13.558 --> 00:23:18.563 where Picard and Adam come face to face, and it's so cool. 545 00:23:18.563 --> 00:23:21.108 Picard's like, "Oh, s***." 546 00:23:22.609 --> 00:23:26.071 I mean, it's just like such a cool moment. 547 00:23:26.071 --> 00:23:29.199 I just want you to talk about the experience 548 00:23:29.199 --> 00:23:33.161 of all these years where you have played 549 00:23:33.161 --> 00:23:35.705 all these different characters, 550 00:23:35.705 --> 00:23:40.085 where Patrick is always playing Picard, but you are, 551 00:23:40.085 --> 00:23:43.922 so you are interacting, you, Brent, as Data, as Soong, 552 00:23:43.922 --> 00:23:47.426 as Adam Soong, as Lore, as B, as, you know, 553 00:23:47.426 --> 00:23:49.094 as everybody. 554 00:23:49.094 --> 00:23:51.179 You are these different characters. 555 00:23:51.179 --> 00:23:54.766 He is always Picard. 556 00:23:54.766 --> 00:23:55.600 -Right. -Is there any difference 557 00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:56.435 at all? 558 00:23:56.435 --> 00:23:59.688 Does it matter, like, does it, does anything change 559 00:23:59.688 --> 00:24:04.109 when you are Data versus when you are somebody else? 560 00:24:04.109 --> 00:24:05.444 We're both professionals. 561 00:24:05.444 --> 00:24:06.278 -[Wil] Yeah. -We've been 562 00:24:06.278 --> 00:24:07.112 doing this a while. 563 00:24:07.112 --> 00:24:10.991 So you, you know, you basically are trying to illuminate 564 00:24:10.991 --> 00:24:13.285 the scene as best you can, you know? 565 00:24:13.285 --> 00:24:14.119 -Yeah. -And I think 566 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:15.287 that's where we're both coming from 567 00:24:15.287 --> 00:24:16.580 all the time. 568 00:24:18.331 --> 00:24:20.542 But, you know, it's one of the great joys 569 00:24:20.542 --> 00:24:23.795 to be able to be face to face with Patrick. 570 00:24:23.795 --> 00:24:24.671 I mean-- 571 00:24:24.671 --> 00:24:25.505 Yeah, I know. 572 00:24:25.505 --> 00:24:27.757 Over the years of... 573 00:24:29.217 --> 00:24:30.886 You know, it started, 574 00:24:30.886 --> 00:24:34.514 this whole particular journey with Picard, 575 00:24:34.514 --> 00:24:38.685 when we shot the first day of the Picard series, 576 00:24:40.228 --> 00:24:44.733 with Data across from Picard, you know, 577 00:24:44.733 --> 00:24:46.735 Patrick looked up and he said, 578 00:24:46.735 --> 00:24:51.323 "You know, this is both weird and not weird 579 00:24:51.323 --> 00:24:52.657 all at the same time." 580 00:24:52.657 --> 00:24:53.492 Yeah. 581 00:24:53.492 --> 00:24:55.243 It feels so natural, 582 00:24:57.454 --> 00:24:59.456 and that's the way it always has felt. 583 00:24:59.456 --> 00:25:02.501 It just feels good and comfortable, and-- 584 00:25:02.501 --> 00:25:03.335 Yeah. 585 00:25:03.335 --> 00:25:06.588 I know this guy standing across from me and he, 586 00:25:06.588 --> 00:25:08.089 you know, this question may be for him 587 00:25:08.089 --> 00:25:10.091 because I know who he is. 588 00:25:10.091 --> 00:25:10.926 Yeah. 589 00:25:10.926 --> 00:25:11.760 You know? 590 00:25:11.760 --> 00:25:12.594 Yeah. 591 00:25:12.594 --> 00:25:14.387 But wasn't that a-- 592 00:25:14.387 --> 00:25:15.805 wasn't that a brilliant beat, though, 593 00:25:15.805 --> 00:25:18.558 the cut to Patrick, where we all recognized 594 00:25:18.558 --> 00:25:22.979 that he recognizes that you remind him of Data or Soong, 595 00:25:22.979 --> 00:25:24.981 and your reaction has, 596 00:25:24.981 --> 00:25:27.692 this is, "I'm seeing you for the first time." 597 00:25:27.692 --> 00:25:28.568 Right. 598 00:25:28.568 --> 00:25:30.070 [Jonathan] It was very subtle on both sides 599 00:25:30.070 --> 00:25:31.613 and very effective, I thought. 600 00:25:31.613 --> 00:25:32.447 Yeah. 601 00:25:32.447 --> 00:25:35.200 But I was so looking forward to that moment in that scene, 602 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:38.245 not just 'cause I got to wear really neat clothes, 603 00:25:38.245 --> 00:25:41.623 but because Picard, I was gonna come face to face 604 00:25:41.623 --> 00:25:44.334 with Picard, and not be... 605 00:25:48.338 --> 00:25:49.506 in any way, 606 00:25:49.506 --> 00:25:52.842 this character is not intimidated by Picard, obviously. 607 00:25:52.842 --> 00:25:56.012 Yeah, which is like, that's--it makes him so scary. 608 00:25:56.012 --> 00:25:58.974 I have to say, by the way, 609 00:25:58.974 --> 00:26:01.184 that same kind of feeling 610 00:26:02.185 --> 00:26:05.897 permeated the set and us, 611 00:26:05.897 --> 00:26:08.900 when I was working with John de Lancie. 612 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:10.360 [Wil] Yeah. 613 00:26:10.360 --> 00:26:12.445 [Brent] It was an old friend, 614 00:26:12.445 --> 00:26:14.906 and yet he was my enemy, you know? 615 00:26:14.906 --> 00:26:15.740 [Wil] Yeah. 616 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:18.201 [Brent] So, it had this duality going on, you know? 617 00:26:18.201 --> 00:26:19.077 Yeah. 618 00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:24.082 And, very rewarding to be sitting, you know, 619 00:26:24.082 --> 00:26:27.127 across, you know, the set from him. 620 00:26:27.127 --> 00:26:29.629 Is it the kind of family reunion I think it is 621 00:26:29.629 --> 00:26:31.631 every time you guys go to the set? 622 00:26:31.631 --> 00:26:32.882 -Oh yeah. -Mhmm. 623 00:26:32.882 --> 00:26:33.758 Yeah. 624 00:26:33.758 --> 00:26:34.593 It is. 625 00:26:34.593 --> 00:26:35.635 That's awesome. 626 00:26:35.635 --> 00:26:38.263 I mean, you know, it's--there's love, there's respect. 627 00:26:38.263 --> 00:26:41.683 There's, you know, it's just, and so many years 628 00:26:41.683 --> 00:26:43.643 of all of that 629 00:26:43.643 --> 00:26:48.231 that just transcend time and space and there we are. 630 00:26:48.231 --> 00:26:49.316 It really comes through, 631 00:26:49.316 --> 00:26:51.318 and it's cool that we're able to sort of like 632 00:26:51.318 --> 00:26:55.071 build this season and the story of this season 633 00:26:55.071 --> 00:26:57.824 on the foundation of, what, 35 years 634 00:26:57.824 --> 00:27:00.118 of everybody knowing each other. 635 00:27:00.118 --> 00:27:01.786 It's just great. 636 00:27:01.786 --> 00:27:03.997 Which is not unlike 637 00:27:03.997 --> 00:27:06.875 what we are experiencing right now with you. 638 00:27:06.875 --> 00:27:08.668 That's cool. 639 00:27:08.668 --> 00:27:12.297 And I'm, I don't really know how to properly react to that. 640 00:27:12.297 --> 00:27:15.425 I'm doing my best to make you proud. That's my truth. 641 00:27:15.425 --> 00:27:16.843 Well, you certainly do. 642 00:27:16.843 --> 00:27:19.429 In all of this, I just want you to be proud of me, 643 00:27:19.429 --> 00:27:21.640 and I don't wanna let you down. 644 00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:23.975 That is my primary motivation through all of this. 645 00:27:23.975 --> 00:27:27.646 So, that is slightly awkward to admit to you 646 00:27:27.646 --> 00:27:29.606 and to the world, but it is my truth. 647 00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:32.442 Well, you're succeeding. 648 00:27:32.442 --> 00:27:33.902 You're succeeding. 649 00:27:33.902 --> 00:27:35.403 That means a lot to me. 650 00:27:35.403 --> 00:27:37.656 And I'm gonna need a minute to compose myself. 651 00:27:37.656 --> 00:27:39.616 So, we're, I'm gonna say thank you. 652 00:27:40.492 --> 00:27:41.910 And I love you both. 653 00:27:42.786 --> 00:27:45.121 And I love your work on Picard this season, 654 00:27:45.121 --> 00:27:47.374 and thank you for making some time to come in 655 00:27:47.374 --> 00:27:49.292 and chat with me today. 656 00:27:49.292 --> 00:27:51.836 I'm super bummed we can't be actually in the same room 657 00:27:51.836 --> 00:27:52.754 'cause this damn pandemic. 658 00:27:52.754 --> 00:27:55.173 Right. Aren't we all. 659 00:27:56.132 --> 00:27:58.510 Thanks, Wil, it's great to be with you, buddy. 660 00:28:20.407 --> 00:28:23.076 This week on Star Trek: Picard, we get to see Jean-Luc 661 00:28:23.076 --> 00:28:25.995 and Rios in some very spiffy tuxes while Seven of Nine, 662 00:28:25.995 --> 00:28:29.332 Raffi, Tallinn and Jurati don glamorous gowns 663 00:28:29.332 --> 00:28:30.458 to attend a gala. 664 00:28:30.458 --> 00:28:31.876 Now, I don't know about you, 665 00:28:31.876 --> 00:28:33.503 but to me, it's just a treat. 666 00:28:33.503 --> 00:28:35.880 There is something that feels so fun 667 00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:37.757 about seeing our favorite Star Trek characters 668 00:28:37.757 --> 00:28:39.926 in fancy ensembles that are not necessarily 669 00:28:39.926 --> 00:28:41.970 tied to the 24th century. 670 00:28:41.970 --> 00:28:45.765 And as someone who only got to do it one time 671 00:28:45.765 --> 00:28:48.685 in a Barclay holodeck fantasy, 672 00:28:48.685 --> 00:28:50.729 it is so much fun for us actors 673 00:28:50.729 --> 00:28:53.773 to get out of our space suits and into something different. 674 00:28:53.773 --> 00:28:56.860 So what do you say we extend that serotonin rush 675 00:28:56.860 --> 00:29:00.280 and take a dive into some other moments when Star Trek 676 00:29:00.280 --> 00:29:02.282 boldly went couture? 677 00:29:02.282 --> 00:29:03.116 Take a look. 678 00:29:04.325 --> 00:29:06.369 [Narrator] Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard 679 00:29:06.369 --> 00:29:08.747 brings with it many fashionable updates, 680 00:29:09.664 --> 00:29:13.126 including some all new Starfleet uniforms 681 00:29:13.126 --> 00:29:14.836 and the formidable outfits seen 682 00:29:14.836 --> 00:29:17.046 in Q's dark alternate timeline. 683 00:29:18.006 --> 00:29:20.717 Is anybody else hot with these collars? 684 00:29:21.843 --> 00:29:23.636 [Narrator] In their quest to save the future 685 00:29:23.636 --> 00:29:27.265 by guiding the events of the past, the La Sirena crew 686 00:29:27.265 --> 00:29:29.434 infiltrate an elegant event 687 00:29:29.434 --> 00:29:32.353 where they swap 24th-century garb 688 00:29:32.353 --> 00:29:35.148 for 21st-century red carpet finery. 689 00:29:36.524 --> 00:29:37.358 Whoa. 690 00:29:37.358 --> 00:29:38.485 [Narrator] It's a rare treat 691 00:29:38.485 --> 00:29:40.236 when Starfleet gets gussied up 692 00:29:40.236 --> 00:29:42.947 and steps out of their regimentals. 693 00:29:42.947 --> 00:29:46.117 Here's a look down the runway of the Star Trek universe 694 00:29:46.117 --> 00:29:47.744 at some other times 695 00:29:47.744 --> 00:29:51.289 our favorite crew members put the gala in galaxy. 696 00:29:52.290 --> 00:29:53.124 Well... 697 00:29:55.210 --> 00:29:56.294 Shall we? 698 00:30:01.549 --> 00:30:04.469 [Narrator] As any good Starfleet officer can attest, 699 00:30:04.469 --> 00:30:06.137 interplanetary diplomacy 700 00:30:06.137 --> 00:30:09.307 sometimes calls for a little extra pizazz. 701 00:30:09.307 --> 00:30:10.266 I don't know how much longer 702 00:30:10.266 --> 00:30:12.060 I'm gonna be able to stand this. 703 00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:14.395 [Narrator] In these cases, a dress uniform 704 00:30:14.395 --> 00:30:17.607 is the first contact of first impressions. 705 00:30:18.983 --> 00:30:20.985 Jean-Luc and his crew learn in their time in 706 00:30:20.985 --> 00:30:23.947 21st-century Los Angeles that fitting in 707 00:30:23.947 --> 00:30:25.532 is a fashionable affair. 708 00:30:26.616 --> 00:30:28.618 This isn't the first time a little time travel 709 00:30:28.618 --> 00:30:31.996 called for some decade-appropriate sprucing up. 710 00:30:31.996 --> 00:30:33.790 -Are you afraid of cars? -Not at all, Jim. 711 00:30:33.790 --> 00:30:35.291 It's your driving that alarms me. 712 00:30:35.291 --> 00:30:37.001 Spock, I've got the hang of it. Now, go on. 713 00:30:38.837 --> 00:30:40.672 [Narrator] And of course, time travel 714 00:30:40.672 --> 00:30:44.968 is only a computer program away with a holodeck, 715 00:30:44.968 --> 00:30:47.595 the source of many fabulous get ups 716 00:30:47.595 --> 00:30:49.806 in the Star Trek Universe. 717 00:30:49.806 --> 00:30:52.183 It's time to expand the business. 718 00:30:52.183 --> 00:30:54.561 Nog, this is a holosuite. 719 00:30:54.561 --> 00:30:57.313 Of course it's a holosuite. 720 00:30:57.313 --> 00:31:00.608 That doesn't mean we can't build a new casino. 721 00:31:00.608 --> 00:31:02.735 [Narrator] Perhaps Starfleet's secret weapon 722 00:31:02.735 --> 00:31:05.488 is knowing that no phaser can stun half as well 723 00:31:06.447 --> 00:31:09.367 as a perfectly put together outfit. 724 00:31:42.025 --> 00:31:44.569 Can I be real a second? Just a millisecond? 725 00:31:44.569 --> 00:31:47.572 Just put my guard down, tell the people how I feel a second? 726 00:31:48.656 --> 00:31:50.116 I hate waiting for stuff. 727 00:31:50.116 --> 00:31:52.118 I don't like making people wait for stuff. 728 00:31:52.118 --> 00:31:55.371 Which means your wait for the preview of next week's episode 729 00:31:55.371 --> 00:31:58.333 of Star Trek: Picard has come to an end. 730 00:31:58.333 --> 00:31:59.167 Enjoy. 731 00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.794 Kissing Rios? 732 00:32:01.794 --> 00:32:04.714 Ugh. Look, if that whole thing starts up again, 733 00:32:06.090 --> 00:32:07.258 I quit the gang. 734 00:32:07.258 --> 00:32:08.092 No, seriously. 735 00:32:08.092 --> 00:32:09.928 I don't think I have it in me. 736 00:32:11.971 --> 00:32:12.931 What? 737 00:32:12.931 --> 00:32:14.432 Oh, you and me. 738 00:32:14.432 --> 00:32:16.726 Now, see, we're, we're totally different. 739 00:32:16.726 --> 00:32:19.020 Now, our pain is beautiful and tragic 740 00:32:19.020 --> 00:32:21.189 and everyone loves hearing about it. 741 00:32:22.148 --> 00:32:23.650 Absolutely. 742 00:32:23.650 --> 00:32:25.860 Plus, we're the main event. 743 00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:28.738 Now, Jurati and Rios, they're like a side story. 744 00:32:28.738 --> 00:32:31.157 And, obviously, you know how the main story ends. 745 00:32:31.157 --> 00:32:33.159 What, you mean once we're through all this s***? 746 00:32:36.621 --> 00:32:41.542 Well, the premonition I'm having is us, old, 747 00:32:41.542 --> 00:32:44.212 and we sit on park benches, tripping teenagers 748 00:32:44.212 --> 00:32:45.838 on floaty things with our canes. 749 00:32:45.838 --> 00:32:47.507 -I'm better at it than you. -Of course. 750 00:32:47.507 --> 00:32:49.509 Initiating scan for Jurati's comm badge. 751 00:32:55.848 --> 00:32:58.351 Whoa, what did you do? 752 00:32:58.351 --> 00:32:59.143 Nothing. 753 00:32:59.143 --> 00:33:01.104 I tried to access the ship's optical data network, 754 00:33:01.104 --> 00:33:02.146 and it kicked me out. 755 00:33:03.231 --> 00:33:04.565 And now I'm locked out. 756 00:33:04.565 --> 00:33:05.400 By who? 757 00:33:06.401 --> 00:33:08.653 Not who. What. 758 00:33:08.653 --> 00:33:10.571 This encryption isn't human by design. 759 00:33:10.571 --> 00:33:11.656 It's Borg. 760 00:33:11.656 --> 00:33:13.324 The Queen? 761 00:33:13.324 --> 00:33:14.659 What the hell did she do to our ship? 762 00:33:14.659 --> 00:33:16.202 I don't know, but if we can't get access, 763 00:33:16.202 --> 00:33:17.078 and something's wrong with Jurati, 764 00:33:17.078 --> 00:33:17.996 we're never gonna find her. 765 00:33:17.996 --> 00:33:20.456 Not to mention this ship is our only way home. 766 00:33:21.457 --> 00:33:24.210 Nerds, we have come to the end of this week's episode 767 00:33:24.210 --> 00:33:25.044 of The Ready Room. 768 00:33:25.044 --> 00:33:27.922 And I just wanna say very sincerely from me to you, 769 00:33:27.922 --> 00:33:30.049 thank you so much for watching. 770 00:33:30.049 --> 00:33:31.509 It really does mean the world to me. 771 00:33:31.509 --> 00:33:33.136 As much as you love The Ready Room, 772 00:33:33.136 --> 00:33:36.681 I love making it, like, a thousand times more than that. 773 00:33:36.681 --> 00:33:40.226 Next week, I will be chatting with the phenomenal 774 00:33:40.226 --> 00:33:43.730 Ito Aghayere, who plays 21st-century Guinan 775 00:33:43.730 --> 00:33:45.398 on this season of Picard. 776 00:33:45.398 --> 00:33:47.442 I am so excited. I have so many questions. 777 00:33:47.442 --> 00:33:49.652 Until then, I'm Wil Wheaton. 778 00:33:49.652 --> 00:33:51.070 Live long and prosper.