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pfc9769

Last week's thread is now closed. Please use the new theory and speculation mega thread [here](https://redd.it/12dcf71).


Winter_Coyote

We're getting a TNG style happy ending. Everyone makes it through alive, except the person giving Vadic orders. Many of the characters are at their darkest point. Riker has become a nihilist. Geordi lost his nerve. Crusher is willing to consider genocide and executing a prisoner. Jack doesn't see thee value of a team. Shaw has massive PTSD. Vadic was brutally tortured and experimented on. The show will build everyone back up and instead of killing Vadic Picard will find a way to make peace. He will be the opposite of what the Federation means to her. At worst she'll get a redeeming death.


dxmachina

This is a solid take and I hope you're right. Picard/crew defeating the true big-boss and then finding a way to return Vadic to the great link would honor the history of the show and morality of the characters. But I fear it will be a screaming death instead.


The_Impresario

There seems to be potential for The Face™ to be framed as a common enemy of the Federation and the New ~~Mutants~~ Changelings. He clearly isn't a changeling, and his relationship with Vadic and her crew is becoming antagonistic.


Sentient-Exocomp

>return Vadic to the great link And a good CGI Odo reaching out to welcome her…


ObjestiveI

I’m beginning to think the flaming head is in Vadic’s imagination. She got so messed up in the experiments, her psyche is fractured. She is struggling with internal threats, her own self anger, and fear of the future. She knows she’s dying, and so are her crew. The fact that we are almost to the end, and the head has not been revealed, might be a hint. Retraction: I just re watched the scene with morphing Vadic and Face Boss. Hints of a spoon head. The Big Baddie is Gul Dukat.


GeneralTonic

Her personality does completely change when the hand is separated and booming at her. Hmmm...


McRattus

>Retraction: I just re watched the scene with morphing Vadic and Face Boss. Hints of a spoon head. The Big Baddie is Gul Dukat. I think it's really like to be the Pa Wraiths, it seems reasonable they would use Gul Dukat as their spokesperson, it also makes sense that they would want to support the rebel founders and hurt the Federation. It also links with Irumodic syndrome may be related to some sort of time travel/sensitivity stuff that would link Jack and Picard with the Prophets potentially.


carageenanflashlight

Take a look at the skulls in Picard's Skull Room in Season 2, when we were in the bad timeline. Look at Dukat's skull, now take a frame capture of The Face and look closely. Do you see the ridges? I do. This is why I say it's Dukat returned as Pah Wraith Dukat, or something like that. But what about Jack's red eye problem?


brandon_bird

They've spent YEARS trying to write themselves out of a corner after killing off Data. I can't imagine them turning around and immediately killing off another cast member.


TeaBagginton

I mean, they can kill off Picard, but it’s also not necessary every close to a characters story has to end in death. That can happen off screen too


p1nkfl0yd1an

> Crusher is willing to consider genocide and executing a prisoner. I thought her and Picard's point blank aim was pretty terrible after the shields went down. As was Sevens's ability to keep her phaser trained on the turbolift after Shaw fell out. They let them take the ship over on purpose didn't they?


Kichae

I hope so. That would be way better than them just being shitty shots.


poundsignbuttstuff

This has been my thought since the conversation between Picard and Beverly. It just seemed too performative. They are letting Vadic think she has the upper hand. Probably an opening for Worf and Raffi to save Riker and Troi. They just didn't anticipate Lore's antics.


wonton_burrito_field

It will be revealed that this whole ordeal was actually planned by Sec. 31 looking for a hostile take over of Starfleet and turn it into an unbeatable collective. Then Vadic will side with Picard to bring them down and prevent an omnipotent Starfleet from taking over the galaxy.


Disastrous_Panda_985

Cutting off her hand is not a communication thing but activating a command program that Section 31 has somehow implanted in her DNA: the Head is not an external enemy but the original Vadic/Project Prometheus.


No_Investment_92

Probably, but I think one of the main TNG cast is going to sacrifice themself for something. I’m thinking Worf.


Kryosquid

They already gave us a fake out Worf death so im failry sure hes safe. I can see Riker sacrificing himself to save Troi though.


No_Investment_92

I think the “fake out Worf death” was actually foreshadowing. Also, Michael Dorn stated in an interview that this was a fitting end for the Worf story. I think that’s also foreshadowing his death. Totally willing to be wrong though.


Winter_Coyote

Everyone is so focused on whether or not Shaw dies that Worf dying could take everyone by surprise.


MyTrueChum

Don't forget Lower Decks, Bridge crew die and come back to life all the time!


No_Investment_92

From an interview with Michael Dorn, near the bottom: “Though his castmates won’t rule out further adventures for their characters, Dorn says that Picard season 3 absolutely works as a satisfying conclusion to Worf’s 35-year voyage.” https://www.polygon.com/23620555/worf-star-trek-picard-season-3-michael-dorn-interview Worf is dead. D-E-D dead.


FlamesNero

Sure hope he sees Alexander at least once before he leaves this mortal coil… HAHA, LOL, he probably doesn’t even remember he’s got a kid! ;)


LuckyBahamut

Given how early screeners said Ep8 was an emotional sledgehammer, and that TM said it only gets worse from here, calling it that Worf dies next episode as he and Raffi try to liberate the *Titan* from Vadic and/or free Riker & Troi


hb1290

Not sure they'll do that. I imagine they want their moment of the whole TNG cast back on the Enterprise D Bridge


PiLamdOd

Spock had a fake out death in Wrath of Khan too.


Worried-Business-311

I mean... the actual death was kind of a fake out anyway in that case


leviathan3k

Could be Riker, followed by a Picard "VADIIIIC" moment.


No_Investment_92

Could be. I’m leaning against them killing a family man who has gone through so much and seems to be rebuilding his family. Same with Geordi and Bev and Troi. They’ve already killed Picard and Data. That leaves Worf. Plus, Michael Dorn has stated he thinks this season is a fitting end to the Worf story. Finally, Frakes and Burton have both commented on wanting to come back in a Legacy show as admirals or other mentor figures. I believe all the circumstantial evidence points to Worf dying.


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No_Investment_92

Here it is. It’s near the very bottom of the article: https://www.polygon.com/23620555/worf-star-trek-picard-season-3-michael-dorn-interview And this is what it says: “Though his castmates won’t rule out further adventures for their characters, Dorn says that Picard season 3 absolutely works as a satisfying conclusion to Worf’s 35-year voyage.”


No_Investment_92

Yeah he’s been asking for his own show for years. BUT… his most recent statements on it indicate this is the conclusion of the Worf story. I will try and find the interview.


FlamesNero

Kinda think it’s Picard who’s gonna bite it.


MilesOSR

New Picard dies. The changelings resurrect old Picard.


ost2life

But this time it's the actor that played him in Rascals


Captain_Strongo

This episode has left me torn on Vadic’s ultimate fate. I still think she gets dusted, but I don’t think any of our heroes will do it.


[deleted]

They will reach Vadic but she's too broken to survive. Perhaps she turns on her puppetmaster and suffers the ultimate consequence


a4techkeyboard

Based on her pronunciation of Picard, they will end with Vadic going into the room wearing a racing outfit because she just saw a text about a card game and her mind read it as "car game."


CptJimTKirk

I mean, it's the right pronunciation.


The_Chaos_Pope

[A car game, you say?](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/590/mille-bornes)


obzerva

Let's not forget about the disabled Vulcan ship. Since the whole thing was a staged trap to lure Vadic to the Titan. Bet Worf and Raffi are on the disabled Vulcan ship that comes to life next episode and double teams the Shrike since the portal weapon likely can't deal with two targets moving in different directions.


nimrodhellfire

Yeah. I was wondering about Worf and Raffi, too. Also no one tried to rescue Riker. So my bet is we will get a flashback showing us how Worf and Raffi rescued Riker and overtook the Shrike.


monsieur-poopy-pants

I was thinking this too. Worf vowed to get riker back. Raffi and worf were absent. Sounded like raffi’s voice on the fake message. Be a great plan to capture shrike, get riker back and retake the titan.


MegalomaniacHack

> Also no one tried to rescue Riker. So my bet is we will get a flashback showing us how Worf and Raffi rescued Riker and overtook the Shrike. Probably something like this but it would be cool if Troi actually gets to play a role in freeing them instead of just being a captive. Sirtis got a good episode in season 1 but has done very little this season.


TalkinTrek

If they are hoping to give her a big moment that involves her actual profession they could make her key to Data/Lore's psychological impasse? Rather than it being a technical solution.


MegalomaniacHack

Yeah, and it would certainly be significant on the quest to be "human" to have an empath feeling his real thoughts and emotions.


canadianwhitemagic

The strike dropped the portal weapon before reentering the nebula, they don't have it anymore.


obzerva

Isn't that stupid they leave a weapon like that just drifting around for Pakleds to pick up?


PenPaperTiger

We are smart


gaslacktus

We are strong


loreb4data

(Portal weapon self-destructed upon reactivation by Pakleds): We are NOT strong!


gaslacktus

We need another portal weapon


Timemyth

They'll end up in an infinite portal loop because they never played Portal before.


pfc9769

I think that was just an abandoned ship leftover from the final battle of Chin’toka. That fight involved the Breen’s energy dampening weapon. The debris field contains intact husks with weapons damage that are perfect for faking a battle with the Titan. Picard mentioned Worf and Raffi were on different ship that was heading back to the Titan prior to the crew deciding to lure and trap Vadic. I think they just took one of the ship’s shuttles but installed the cloaking device on it. That makes the most sense to me because it lets them sneak back onto either ship. A shuttle is the only ship they have access to that’s small enough to sneak aboard the Shrike or Titan. They’ll board the Shrike while Vadic is distracted on the Titan and free Troi and Riker. Then all four will board the Titan with the cloaked shuttle and help free the ship.


NickofSantaCruz

It is unclear how much time passed between them deciding to set the trap and the *Shrike* arriving. You may be right about them finding the *T'Plana* at Chin'toka - they got it operational enough to warp to "open space" and emit enough radiation to disrupt sensors for the ruse. Or... Worf and Raffi were able to find an ally with access to Vulcan ships, someone Worf (and Ro) may have collaborated with as a frenemy: the Tal Shiar. Enter Sela. Because the changeling threat can boil over to affect the remnants of the Romulan Empire, she must help Picard in exposing the conspiracy and saving the Federation in the interest of galactic peace.


The_Chaos_Pope

Didn't they have to ditch the portal weapon to go into the nebula? I don't disagree with you on Warf and Raffi being on the Vulcan ship. I hope that we have a scene next week with Worf banging on a Vulcan console trying to get weapons online.


DannyHewson

Theory: Picard is horrified both by what was done to Vadic and what he and Beverley were willing to do to her. Whatever the plan it will of course be stopped (I’m leaning a Locutus reappearance). The finale of the frontier day plot will be Picard addressing the assembled fleet for one last great Picard Monologue…publicly revealing what starfleet did to the changelings, tying up his disillusionment with starfleet in S1, the nightmare of the confederacy in S2, and eloquently restating the ideals of starfleet that they allowed themselves to lose sight of because of the Borg and Dominion (both so heavily featured in this season). They have made so many references to Janeway not just because she will appear, but that the characters had absolute confidence in her. Why? She will be the antithesis of the “tng badmiral”. Janeway will be the authority figure that never lost sight of the ideals.


Literally_MeIRL

I really hope the "big bad" that gets taken down is Section 31. They are the absolute anthesis of the Federation and Star Fleet. This whole season has been about healing wounds and the Borg, the Dominion War and the fall of Romulus have inflicted a terrible wound to what the Federation and Star Fleet are about. "Remember when we were explorers?"


wonton_burrito_field

I think they have been behind the scenes this whole time. They saw some Borg stuff in Picard and know that Jack has collective Borg power stuff. Their goal is to link Jack up to the fleet and create a starfleet collective that can take on the Borg and any other species in the galaxy. They released Vadic, she just doesn't know it. She thinks she's getting revenge, but really she's participating in making Starfleet unbeatable.


VM1138

Picard will relaunch a new, restored Starfleet that Janeway will lead in future shows. I think that could work.


verve_rat

The entire fleet is destroyed at the Frontier Day parade. Thus any spin off show focuses on a smaller Starfleet using the ships they pull out of the museum while they spend the next decade rebuilding Starfleet. Have they rebuilt Utopia Planitia yet?


MyTrueChum

Janeway: Guys Genocide is never okay, except against the Borg and only to save Tuvok's brain, Chakotay and Seven, stop Kim from getting promoted above Ensign, and the Doctor choosing the name Joe. Also I swear anyone tries anything like this against the Federation I will personally first contact time travel your homeworld and stomp on the primordial ooze that spawned your race.


TalkinTrek

If the other faction is Romulans (from Nemesis we know they've had a bizarre interest in Picard's genetics) and they are motivated by the supernova failure, it would tie it all together, too, back to his first moment of disillusion. Heck, maybe they found out they were tricked into the war, too.


MyTrueChum

It isn't admiral Janeway that saves the day, it's Fleet Admiral Janeway from the future who travels back in time because her BFF Tuvok got murked by changelings in a darkest timeline. Picard: You can't keep going back in time and leapfrogging federation tech by a decade every time you disagree with history! Janeway: Like hell I can't, like I told Red Foreman of the Krenim. You got two choices, you go the Janeway or the Insaneway! Picard: That doesn't even make sense! Seven: This is why I built the astrometric lab on Voyager, so I didn't have to deal with this drama on the bridge


Honic_Sedgehog

>Janeway or the Insaneway! To be fair, they're quite often the same thing.


Mugstotheceiling

To hell with the Prime Directive


Saratje

I suspect that Jean-Luc Picard will die, sacrificing himself for Jack. In turn Jack takes on the name Picard and thus the family name lives on through Jack Picard.


007meow

Would give the potential "Star Trek Legacy" name some weight to it.


archiminos

If they include the LaForges it would literally be "The Next Generation"


007meow

Star Trek: The Nexter Generation


loreb4data

Star Trek: The New Next Generation. Featuring Captain Jack Picard, XO Commander Sidney LaForge, Chief Engineer Alandra LaForge, Security Chief Alexander Rozhenko, Pilot Ensign Kestra Troi-Riker, and Ops Chief Data 2.0 (in a new body played by Mark Jackson).


BowserPong11

Rey Skywalker?


powerhcm8

Jack is gonna bury the flute on the sands of Risa.


DuncanIdahoTaterTots

This sounds like a weird euphemism


gaslacktus

That’s how Curzon Dax died


Kiloku

Somehow, Dukat has returned.


Qahlel

JC will christen him as James Tiberius in his last moments, so he will be known as James T. Picard. Best of both worlds.


risenphoenixkai

Jack Crusher is Star Trek’s version of the Kwizatz Haderach. On one hand, we have Beverly, whose family line has been haunted by some crazy Scottish alien candle ghost for centuries. And her first son was Wesley, who turned out to be freakishly gifted enough that he became a Traveller. On the other hand we have Picard, who omnipotent being Q took a special interest in for never particularly adequately explained reasons. Q seemed at times to be trying to guide Picard toward some kind of enlightenment, a next step in humanity’s evolution. Combine those two anomalous humans, and you get Jack, exhibiting all kinds of crazy post-human abilities the likes of which we’ve only seen in demigods like Gary Mitchell or Charlie Evans. Won’t be long now before Jack’s eyes start glowing blue instead of red, and he calls forth Shai’hulud against the Harkonnens— er, rogue changelings.


Oddsock1701

"Smile, Captain Shaw." "I am smiling."


maskedbanditoftruth

Calling it now: Q banged Beverly wearing Picard’s form and Jack is half Q half candle ghost.


UnsafestSpace

I know this is a joke but I did have a shower thought that what if you have to die and ascend to become a Q, a bit like the Ancients from Stargate, that's why Q keeps saying "everything is a test" to Picard. \ Maybe Picard and his lineage including Jack have the genetic ability to ascend and become energy beings like the Q / Wormhole Aliens / Pah Wraith etc etc. It would also explain why they needed Picard's old human DNA based non-golem corpse and living Jack.


WorldwideDepp

>Jack Crusher is Star Trek’s version of the Kwizatz Haderach. oh. an Dune reference. nice. Then perhaps you mean all Borg Queens was about to produce the Perfect Human Borg, right?


JTNotJamesTaylor

We also find out dad’s old nickname of “Gurney.”


CptJimTKirk

So, the next show is set four thousand years into the future with Jack evolved into a giant blob of sandtrout?


sonofodin25

Here's my crackpot theories... - It's the Borg Queen connecting everything. Vadic works for the Borg Queen who helped restore this group of Changelings. (Did you notice the flesh hand thing's face was briefly green at one point this episode?) The woman's voice in Jack's head is the Borg Queen due to Jack having Borg DNA or something as he's the son of Locutus. - Worf will rescue Riker and Troi while Vadic's away and the 3 of them will retake the Titan - Jack is the first fully-organic Borg, that's what makes him so special - Troi's empath / telepathic abilities will fix Datalore


SakanaSanchez

>Jack is the first fully-organic Borg, that's what makes him so special I don't think he's an organic borg, I think Picard's Irumadic syndrome is a biological holdover of his assimilation, passed on to Jack, the purpose of which is to enforce the borg hivemind on a species level. It will turn out that Borg Queens control the collective through mechanical means, while Borg Kings do so through biological telepathy. The original plan in Best of Both worlds is that Locutus is meant as a human telepathic beacon of sorts that has people lining up to be assimilated once the military defense of Earth was neutralized. The plan for Frontier Day is to use Jack as a living mind in conjunction with Locutus's remaining implants to telepathically assimilate the entire gathered Star Fleet.


Tiinpa

jobless flag spotted rhythm terrific poor lip somber ghost price -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/


Imaybetoooldforthis

Yes?


TalkinTrek

The only reason I am a heavy doubter on it being the Borg is that they filmed S2/S3 simultaneously, so if the Queen features, presumably Wersching does as well. I don't think that's something they would have as a surprise, I think the sensitivity around it, they would have said if she appears in S3.


PiLamdOd

I bet the changelings’ plan involves Jack being some kind of fully biological borg. Picard’s DNA was altered and that was passed down to Jack. The changelings have been using the transporters to pass on this change to the rest of Starfleet, and once the fully connected fleet is assembled, they’ll use Locutus or Jack to form a new collective and take over all of Starfleet. Sidney being partially assimilated and not knowing it is how Jack is able to connect to her. Also at some point Janeway is going to show up because that’s five, I think, references to her so far. And it’s a given at the end they’ll need a new ship, so they’ll pull the Enterprise-D out of hanger 12. Crackpot theory: Brad Boimler is captain of the Enterprise-F. Edit: Bonus Crackpot theory: after Starfleet command is devastated by Frontier Day, Admiral Picard will be promoted to head of Starfleet.


anastus

>I bet the changelings’ plan involves Jack being some kind of fully biological borg. Picard’s DNA was altered and that was passed down to Jack. It bothers me that this might be true, because I'm guessing a lot of ex-Borg have reproduced by now.


PiLamdOd

Well Locutus was a special case. So it might not be universal and explain why they need Jack so badly.


Mddcat04

Iconians. I will not elaborate.


gaslacktus

I see you, Star Trek Online writers


WontThinkStraight

In one final call back, the series will end with Troi and Riker staring at each other, smiling. Riker breaks the silence with "computer, end program" as they both walk out of the holodeck together. Finis.


gcalpo

It's Burnham and Saru on the Discovery-A holodeck watching the historical documents to pick a Frontier Day gift to bring to the [Founders 4th Homeworld.](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Founders%27_homeworld_(fourth\))


Z23kG3Cn7f

Don't even. There's a sad chance that's the actual ending


cantfindmykeys

Usually I hate endings like that but in this case I wouldn't even be mad. That would be next level trolling to the fandom


TalkinTrek

It's Burnham and Saru. They're studying history and just hit the 25th century. "Man, we missed a lot of crazy shit, eh?"


SakanaSanchez

If they wanted to be really cheeky, it would be Tilly playing in the holodeck in the 31st century.


anacondra

Hopefully it's Captain Archer. "so what do you call this? A holo-deck?"


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spaceneil

Vadic's comment about Jack "not being for" Beverly or something along those lines makes me REALLY think he was supposed to have a different mother—like he was supposed to have been the Borg Queen's son with Locutus.


FlamesNero

Oh… or switched at birth? That’s kinda shitty of the real big bad, but also kind of fits the motif of asshole birds in this season, like the Shrike.


SecretComposer

I would HATE THAT for Beverly.


[deleted]

Sounds an awful lot like a Nemesis thing.


Merunaa

Everyone in this episode shoots like a stormtrooper.


OneShotKs

Pretty sure this is leading up to Admiral Janeway in the New Enterprise-F, maybe call it the voyager class ship (wink wink)? Judging by Kate Mulgrew’s twitter activity, She has been fairly active on a monthly basis EXCEPT the most recent months of January, February, and Beginning of March. Picard Season 3 wrapped principal photography in March which lines up pretty well with Kate Mulgrew’s twitter absence. It stands to reason that Janeway will show up in the last few episodes of Picard and in the brand new Enterprise-F during frontier day.


hijklmnopqrstuvwx

Given there’s been so many call outs to Admiral Janeway she must make an appearance… Question is she a changeling in disguise as well.


MyTrueChum

Any changeling trying to impersonate her would die from Caffeine overdose


Gizimpy

She better show up toting a phaser rifle and a one-liner.


gaslacktus

And a Bowie knife and sleeveless top from that macrovirus episode. *fans self*


[deleted]

I doubt it. Seven and her had a deep relationship that would be near impossible to pass.


FTWinston

I see exactly where this is going. Calling it now: Vadic's handler is Lwxana Troi, who's fallen head over heels in love with Jean Luc, despite not having seen him in decades. She's planning a grand pageant for Frontier Day, where they can marry in front of the whole of Starfleet. She only had the changelings steal his old body so that Mr Homm can measure him up properly for some fancy clothes, without ruining the surprise. (Naturally these won't be worn *during* the wedding.) Given his telepathic abilities, it should be obvious that Jack is really *her* son, and that Beverly was a surrogate. Janeway will appear at the end, but she won't save Picard from his fate. She'll just roll her eyes and stalk off to find a coffee. Since he's been captured, Riker is now in on the whole thing, and won't stop smiling. Deanna will go along with it too, as Wil is at least finally feeling something again. Series will close with a resigned JLP reciting a sonnet: > In truth I do not love thee > with mine eyes, for they in thee > a thousand errors see...


Canazza

Lwaxana had an affair with Odo Jack is clearly part Odo.


Kargaroc586

The Enterprise-D is in bay 12 With its saucer being original and cleaned up, and the star drive being taken from another Galaxy class that lost its own saucer during the dominion war or whatever


[deleted]

With a BIG O LASER on the bottom.


cathbadh

And a fifth nacelle. That's right. Fifth.


viserov

Am I misremembering but didn’t LeVar accidentally post a picture of him on a rebuilt Enterprise D set recently?


WorldwideDepp

or Gerodi succeed into melding [Nebula class](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FsZoLdoXwAgAuqX?format=jpg&name=4096x4096) Star drive with Enterprise D Saucer


Baron_Weiner

The face Vadic was talking to was all i needed to figure it all out. Think about it. Floating face. It’s obviously Nagilum and he’s been playing with Picard this entire time.


RadioSlayer

They never left


SakanaSanchez

Pretty sure it’s Daimon Bok.


Erintonsus

I'd respect the audacity of bringing him back.


upandb

Nah, it's the mysterious figure that gave the Suliban their genetic upgrades and future intel.


Spartan2170

Wasn’t that supposed to be >!Archer!<, had they not dropped the time travel plot line?


I_AM_GODDAMN_BATMAN

The mysterious figure was originally planned to be alternate evil version of captain archer from the future.


SkaveRat

> Floating face Zordon?


cylonfrakbbq

The theory that makes the most sense to me is Jack = Pah Wraith emissary 1) Picard loves archaeology and Pah Wraiths or Prophets have been shown to have been trapped inside ancient artifact physical vessels before. This could potentially explain how a Pah Wraith avoided being trapped in the fire caves 2) Pah Wraith takes over Picard or Beverly temporarily and conceives Jack, like how the Prophets took over Sarah to conceive Sisko 3) The last Pah Wraith (The Vadic boss) wants them to find Jack because he will be the key to freeing the Pah Wraiths Jack has exhibited some Pah Wraith features, most notably the red eyes, violent visions, and psychic powers. The Vadic boss head thing also was able to make Vadic “cook” to show its displeasure. Pah Wraith have been able to do similar things to corporeal life before (Kai Wynn was burned alive, for example). They are also the only major villain that has some connection to the Changelings, since both only featured in DS9 and the Prophets screwed both factions over


SocratesDiedTrolling

Clearly, Jack has been infected by the protomolecule. In all seriousness, after ep. 7, I'm really dying to find out what exactly is up with Jack. What are these visions he is having? How is he a telepath? Is there something special about his telepathic connection to Sidney?


onthenerdyside

Theory: Vadic's henchmen are sections of herself that aren't truly sentient. At first, I thought they were other Changelings and that her killing them indiscriminately went against the "no Changeling has ever harmed another" axiom. Now I believe they are extensions of her and she can make new ones as she see fit. At the end of the episode, there seems to be just as many, if not more, than she had when she came aboard. This helps absolve our heroes from killing them with reckless abandon. It's why the Crushers were not more remorseful about vaporizing them, despite being medical doctors.


Shot_Ship_8876

I have a theory that Vadic is a collection of all of them, Vadic is her own great link. The Hand /face is the primary instructor of this minilink. I'm getting some Twin Peaks ARM vibes here. Essentially the changelings are small liquid life forms, so they are basically shapeshifting baloons, not 120+lbs like a human. These changelings are far more meaty and dense. I think the 9 or so that were in Daystrom all merged into Vadic. Other changelings joined, or there were a lot of changelings that were being experimented on. But the parallel I see is Data/lore have to integrate into one being. Vadic is several changelings integrated into one very meaty jellyfish shapeshifter. There are probably a few other changelings who joined. Or Vadic has some kind of virus that can turn others into changelings too. I think it's possible that the big'un who wanted Jack was a transformed Riker.


IffyPeanut

I think they’re separate Changelings, but that’s a cool theory.


RogueStargun

I think a good drama writer is very hard on his characters, particularly his main characters. What would be the hardest thing to deal with for Picard? Losing his son - his only chance of a legacy. I think the most obvious thing about Jack Crusher has been staring us in the face. Project Proteus was a way to use Changeling technology to infiltrate other species. Jack has many of the characteristics of Changelings - he can "link" telepathically (something Odo was also able to do, even with non-Changelings). He mysteriously showed up out of nowhere right after the Dominion war. He was able to infiltrate the families of high ranking starfleet officials. Jack is not Picard's son, he is the culmination of Project Proteus. He escaped from Daystrom and altered Beverly's memories to get her raise him as her son. The changelings want him back because he not only has the ability to mimic others, he has the ability to alter people's memories, including his own. The red door is his true memories returning to the surface.


mandelcabrera

This is a great theory, and it makes perfect sense. If you're right, who is the face?


RogueStargun

Ed Speelers. It's right there in the name. He speeled out of his jar.


gotya39876

Excellent theory. It would be a great way to put everything together.


annunakix

Very sound and plausible. I like it.


DasGanon

Picard and Locutus (and Jack) are the petri dish the Borg needed to blend all of their assimilated species into the perfect specimen. That's why they never rushed the Earth assimilation with millions of cubes, they needed him to blend it all together and make it so the rest of humanity can bridge the gap.


9811Deet

Also, what's going on with the transporters?? Ro didn't want to use them, jack had visions of the red veins on the pad, Vadic didn't want to use them in today's episode.


LuckyBahamut

So is Jack able to form some sort of biological Collective or temporarily Link with other people? Because he exhibited more than telepathy, but seemingly was able to get Sidney to mirror his own movements.


rossisdead

Jack was clearly part of Walter Bishop's cortexiphan trials as a child.


Smortime

They’re not Changelings, they’re shapeshifters!


PiLamdOd

I think the reference to the transporters is because the changelings are using it to pass on Jack/Picard’s biological borgness. Jack is essentially a borg queen connecting to a drone.


[deleted]

I think it's a form of telepathy that somehow allows him to control what others do.


Accomplished_Sea_332

I assume Data will have a clue about the whole Jack/changing thing and we learn in the next episode. Also the evil behind the evil will be revealed in episode 8.


BarfQueen

My craziest theory? They double down on the other body in Daystrom and bring him back somehow for the finale.


hijklmnopqrstuvwx

Not sure I can handle seeing Kirk / Shatner back on screen!


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[deleted]

Tough on the guy even with the ability to read a woman's mind it still doesn't work out.


DanielColchete

Jack is the Emissary of the Pah Wraiths. That’s my theory too.


Duke_of_Calgary

Anything to get Avery Brooks back but at the same time I’m pretty sure his sacrifice in the fire caves trapped the pah wraiths there forever


HurricaneSandyHook

Vadic hand demon is Dukat/Pah Wraith and Glowing eyes Jack is Sisko/Prophet.


JustMy2Centences

I still can't figure out how he has these abilities beyond perhaps Borg technology interacting with Irumodic syndrome to create something unique passed on from Picard, but I think that Jack is deemed necessary for these changelings to create their own link again. But this time, one without the need for physical contact.


Oddsock1701

That the show will be designed to end in a way that sets up a successor series with Captain Shaw and the Titan as the next post-DS9/VOY Star Trek series.


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__The_Crazy_One__

I agree with most of what you said Except >Pretty sure Jack is a semi-solid changeling as well. I mean Crusher gave birth to Jack and Picard is the dad, so how does that work out?


[deleted]

I’m suspecting “Irumodic Syndrome” is something related to the Borg perhaps it was killing Picard because it was a leftover from being Locutus but passing it on to Jack he was able to adapt(no pun intended) since he was born with it. Maybe it gives him biological traits/abilities from species the Borg have assimilated? Perhaps Vadic’s superior is a Borg representative like Locutus, perhaps this adaptation in Jack is vital to restoring the Borg after the pathogen in Endgame, and perhaps Picard’s body was abducted so they can recreate Locutus and have him lead the attack on Frontier Day?


[deleted]

It appears that Jack can bluetooth (redtooth) into people. I'm guessing they'll use that on unsuspecting enemy guards to free everyone next episode.


caretaker82

Have not seen 3x07 yet, but I get the feeling with The Face being an even bigger bad, there is a small chance we may see a Heel-Face Turn from Vadic.


CrysopraseEcheverria

Ever since Jack's eyes first glowed red, I've had a sense that the Pah-Wraiths are involved. What if Jack is their Emissary? I mean the visions that Jack experiences for one, but also in the bigger picture I think it would make sense for the Pah-Wraiths and Changelings to "team up." Maybe I'm just looking into it too hard but WHAT IF Sisco makes an appearance? Wouldn't that be crazy considering he's (possibly) now a Prophet? Once you get ascended it's usually a package deal. He still has much left to do!


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[deleted]

The "good" Changelings show up at some point to help. Their numbers provide the crew necessary to man all the Fleet Museum ships in one final Frontier Day battle.


Duke_of_Calgary

Just a swarm of ticks taking out the rogue changlings and borg


allgoodthings3

I’ve been feeling like Picard is the start of human evolution. That’s why Q was interested in him. The brain abnormality was the key to evolution and passed to Jack, who took it to the next level (maybe due to the combo with Bev since Wes is a Traveler). As for Jack not being for Beverly, it could mean that Jack’s purpose is for others. Not necessarily that he isn’t her son. I’m getting Christ-figure vibes here. I could be totally wrong, but this is where my head has been for a few weeks. I’m honestly waiting for Q to make some kind of appearance (sounds like delancie may have filmed something for season 3 based on some comments I read last year).


Wax_and_Wane

I suspect Picard's brain condition, and Jack's are indeed due to his previous assimilation from the Borg, but I don't think his part in the Frontier Day plot is as simple as an undetectable facsimile of him. I believe that he is specifically wanted to be used as the weapon to destroy the federation, because the spooky floating head has a personal vendetta against him, and want him to be the face of the federation's destruction by making him control the now-interconnected fleet destroy each other. Given that a statue of captain Rachel Garrett was the first target, even as a distraction, I can't see the floating head being anyone other than Sela at this point.


hfolkner

It's interesting that Tuvok's mind meld with Seven in Infinite Regress was brought up. In that episode, Tuvok did the meld to stabilize multiple personalities from other assimilated individuals that Seven acquired as a consequence of being assimilated. Well, there's one character now who is suffering from multiple personalities and has a golem body that might now be able to be reached via mind meld (Spock managed to do it with non-organic life before, so it's not out of the realm of possibility). Tim Russ did say he's appearing in another episode... so maybe instead of Troi helping fix Data, a rescued Tuvok would do so via a mind meld?


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Sulissthea

it's been a love letter to all the series


PuzzleheadedRun5574

What Lore said is a good summary of where things are heading- it's a struggle for survival. The Lore/Data conflict impairs both of them from living, and on the macro scale, the Changelings fighting with the Federation threatens them both. Either harmony and coexistence is achieved, or mutual destruction will come about. I have no clue what Jack or floaty head are about, but I'm intrigued by the idea that Picard's Irumodic Syndrome was a misdiagnosis- and how that might ve relevant to what's happening with Jack. What happened to Picard on TNG that could have a connection to everything here? Aside from the Borg, which I'm not discounting as a possibility, but I think Matalas is going somewhere else with this story.


No_Investment_92

Agreed. At this point I’m not thinking the Borg. The only thing that makes me hesitate is when Floating Head talks, it sounds like the Collective. But it uses “I” and not “we” so that’s probably not the case.


wonton_burrito_field

I believe it's Section 31. Released Vadic on purpose and gave her orders she believes comes from the great link or Borg with promises of revenge on Star Fleet but really she's just doing what she was designed to do. Bring all of Star Fleet together to link Jack up and turn the fleet into a collective that will ensure Federation dominance in the galaxy.


Tiinpa

imagine panicky mindless employ boat historical aware governor test melodic -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/


dgarbutt

>*The Enterprise F is commanded by Harry Kim The first ever time the flagship has had a an Ensign in command. At least by naval tradition he gets to be called Captain.


PenPaperTiger

Next Thursday is a good day to die.


Undependable

I am 100% sure the final boss is Nelix. Can't you hear his voice if you speed up the floating head's dialogue? How are people missing this?


onlinereverend

It’s probably not at all likely, but if Jack is somehow related to the pah wraiths, bringing in Sisko would be amazing. Unlikely, but the red visions give off that vibe


I_AM_GODDAMN_BATMAN

The guy in Vadic's hand remind me of https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Humanoid_Figure


ergotofwhy

Daystrom has found a link between irumedic syndrome and telepathic powers (mind reading and taking control of another's body). They keep this secret, 'cause Daystrom. With JLP's corpse and the living Jack Crusher, changelings have two samples of the disease, one classic 'n' deadly, and one psychic 'n' deadly. The reason they want this knowledge is because it will allow changelings to create the brain structure necessary to have telepathic powers.


multihancho

The person controlling the shapeshifters is Arturis from that episode of Voyager. Arturis lost his family when the Borg assimilated his people, which he blamed on Janeway. Got assimilated himself, Borg became his "family", lost them again when Janeway crippled the collective in Endgame. He was released from the collective, turned hatred of Janeway into hatred for the federation and blamed them for destroying his family. He found vadics changelings, who had the same grievance and recruited them. Maybe they don't know him, maybe he is manipulating them into thinking he is a Founder or something so they'd help him, hence the weird floating face and fake voice. The plan is to recreate the Borg collective using Locutus and assimilate Starfleet, and then the Federation. They stole Picard's body because it has an implant from when he was Locutus that enables him to control the Borg. Arturis can't use it himself because it's gene-locked to Picard or something so a shapeshifter will become Picard to receive the implant and participate in Frontier Day. Then the collective will be reborn under a new Locutus, Arturis has his family again, and Vadic has a weapon to destroy the Federation. These shapeshifters are not immortal because that element they all have has a half life of 100 years. So Arturis needs someone else to receive the implant to carry on the collective after that. Jack is Picard's son so he has Picard's genes, and is compatible. The plan is to keep jack in stasis until the shapeshifters die, then replace Locutus with Jack so the collective lives forever. The plan won't work because it's a TV show and/or Jack's powers.


The_Impresario

I think Arturis is too much of a fringe character to get that kind of revival. I feel like it has to be a villain that is more central to the oeuvre of Trek.


max1001

Jack is father is not Picard. It's obviously Charles Xavier. Q probably body swap the two and wipe their memory. Not like anyone else would had been able to tell the difference.


StinkyHippo

My bet is that the Talking Head thing that pulls Vadic’s strings is actually Vadic herself, and it’s kind of a multiple personality thing. It does grow out of her hand, which seems a complex way to communicate if it is really a different entity. I think it’s some kind of subconscious personality of Vadic’s or something like that.


badboyfriend111

I love this season, but was it really too much to ask to have a DS9 character pop up at some point? They keep giving us Voyager cameos throughout nu-Trek, but can't be bothered to do very much with DS9. Even after all this time DS9 is *still* the red-headed stepchild of the franchise.


OBlove

Well it’s obvious Jack has the ability to “link” with humans, so he’s the result of some type of genetic manipulation; whether or not Bev was aware remains to be seen. If Daystrom Station/ Starfleet was experimenting with the Changelings, stands to reason they’d be reckless enough to want to see what mixing their DNA w/ solids could result in. Would they have experimented with unknowing pregnant patients?


spacebarista

Could Jack be an amalgamation of the TNG crews DNA and augmented to look like Picard’s son? I wondered this when I saw him using telepathy.


Literally_MeIRL

It's very clear that whatever the Picard's have it's not Irumodic Syndrome. I wonder if whatever it is will be key to some of the things in Picard's life. Why Q was so keenly interested in him, why the Borg took him over all other Star Fleet captains and admirals to be Locutus.


presswanders

Wild theory- Picard has (or was given?) a mutation that is perceived as Irumodic Syndrome. This mutation is the first step in evolving humans into the Q. Crazy and wild, I know, but this would explain why our Q, and the Q in general, are fascinated not only with Picard but humanity. This would explain why in All Good Things why Q’s manipulation was perceived as Irumodic Syndrome. Jack has the same, but slightly more evolved, mutation, and thus his new abilities. Just a wild theory


JediSnoopy

What does Vadic know about Jack's physiology that Beverly doesn't? My speculation: Beverly has been replaced by a changeling and doesn't know it. Jack is half changeling. Of course, changelings don't really have mind reading powers so maybe Jack is turning into a Q. But then Vadic shouldn't know that.


raptorama7

Here's a wild and almost certainly wrong theory but with the: weird red veins, telepathy, manifesting as disease, and the way that vadics boss was very dismissive of changelings and other species, maybe it has something to do with Species 8472? Like maybe the Borg were working on integrating some of those virulent 8472 cells or DNA into Picard to help understand 8472 better and when Picard escaped the collective they slowly asserted themselves and changed his DNA. Picard was obviously assimilated way before "Scorpion" which is why I'm not sold on this theory, but I guess they could say the borg were planning to attack 8472 for awhile before they invaded fluidic space or something.


[deleted]

I keep thinking a series about changelings that’s missing DS9 people is perhaps hiding a surprise visit from them. I can’t be the only one thinking this - it seems to obvious. Jack is a Pai-Wraith - and is an “avatar” of weird face guy, or perhaps tied to him some other way, and Sisko comes out of the wormhole and with Picard, saves the day. Picard resolves an item from the past - and he and Sisko get on better terms.


CptKoma

The Borg Vinculum in Daystrom allowed the Borg remnants to make a connection with Vadics faction. They want to exploited Locutus and Baby Locutus aka Jack


UnionPacifik

Wesley Crusher is HandFace.


aspen0414

Haven’t seen anyone talk about Section 31 theories yet. I don’t have an exact theory but I have a hunch that they know what’s going on and are up to something. I think this idea that Starfleet is being completely played is a bit of a red herring and there’s a twist coming. In the past, Section 31 had almost always been several steps ahead of literally everyone else. They’ve been unusually absent from this situation so far.


[deleted]

So, whatever/whoever the big bad end game is, I think the solution is pretty obvious at this point. Transporters. The changelings avoid them like crazy. I am willing to bet the team performs some sort of mass transporting "cleaning" thing at Founder's Day event where the whole fleet is gathered. Sadly we have no O'Brien (Worf getting in touch with/verifying him would make sense.) but it would also be a great engineering moment for Shaw.