New Picard Story - Where to for Star Trek TNG fans?

So much awesome

I'm one of the many, many unashamed Star Trek: The Next Generation fans who were blown away by the recent news that Jean Luc Picard would be making a return to the Star Trek universe. Even better: Sir Patrick Stewart came out and said the character may be a little different than we remember. Character evolution and quirky surprises are what will make his return interesting and, hopefully, exciting. But what will his new story look like? And what could be the reason for his return? These are the questions fans will be asking until the new series premieres.

What will the show look like?
Hopefully not some turgid political drama involving the internal machinations of Starfleet, as some seem to be suggesting. WTF people? Name one thing that would be good about that. Just one. I dare you!

Some have suggested an Indiana Jones-style show focusing on Picard's interest in archeology. This could be interesting but there isn't much scope for high-stakes intrigue.  This could be a sub-plot. i.e. the first ep. begins like this, until Picard gets the call to return home because something much bigger has come up.

I'd like to see a show that delves deeper than that. Something that digs into Picard's past, unearthing his greatest fears and weaknesses. A show that depicts a man coming to the final phase of his life who is strong and vital but at the same time is dogged by his past. He has loose ends that need resolving.

What we think we know...
Based on various glimpses into the future in Star Trek TNG we think we know that:

• At some point Picard married Dr Beverly Crusher (nice one!);
• At some later point they divorced (dang!);
• At some point (presumably in between the above two points) they had a child;
• Dr Crusher becomes captain of a medical ship;
• Picard develops an incurable neurological disorder known as Irumodic Syndrome, the symptoms of which can be suppressed, but not cured.
• Wesley Crusher (Beverley's son) left Starfleet and it is presumed he began a life traveling across various planes of existence under the tutelage of the Traveller.

The above elements alone could form the basis for an incredible show, regardless of what other ideas are thrown into the mix but...

If it were up to me?
I'd love to see a show that brought Crusher and Picard back together. Imagine the awkward friction, the unspoken tension. But how to do it? The child they had together? Possibly. For me it would be the return of Wesley Crusher to the Primeline with dire news of impending catastrophe.

Something is coming. Something that has lain waste to numerous parallel universes and planes of existence. Wesley has seen it in his journeys with the Traveler and is terrified. But what is it?

Who are the Bad Guys?

Wesley Crusher is now a powerful trans-
dimensional being.

The Borg - having been defeated by the Federation time and again - have a new strategy. They've tried to assimilate humanity into their collective but their attempts have failed. After stewing on this for several decades they've decided: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Instead of the Borg assimilating humanity into the collective, the collective have, almost imperceptibly, begun to assimilate themselves into humanity - and all other life they encounter - a strategy that proves far more effective and devastating than anyone could have imagined. Their aim? to dismantle the Federation from within. And it works. Humanity breaks ties with the other members of the UFP , because who is Borg? Who is Federation? No one can tell. The lines become blurred. Chaos reigns. Bwuuuhahahaha!

Jean-Luc

Picard is fighting a losing battle with Irumodic Syndrome (a la Netfix series River). He sees things. Hears voices that aren't there. People appear and speak to him. People he knows are long dead. People like Will Riker, dead in some battle or other with the Romulans, but who keeps showing up - offering advice just as he did when he was Picard's first officer back in the day. Picard won't admit the toll the disease is taking but the effects are becoming more noticeable, even with medication.

Then he gets the call - Wesley Crusher has been discovered in the midst of a devastated outer colony. It looks as though Wesley is responsible for the colony's destruction but he won't talk to anyone but Picard (because he can see that across all space and time, Picard is the only one with the knowledge and the connection to the Borg, who can get the job done). Wesley Crusher is now quite a powerful individual, but he can't defeat the re-born Borg on his own. Not even close. He needs Picard, and he needs Beverly Crusher and a few more as well.

The story is one of dealing with inner demons. Picard is battling Irumodic Syndrome, a disease which is tearing him down from the inside (something he's seen first-hand with Spock's father Sarek and which terrifies him) - while at the same time the Federation is being eaten away by a new and seemingly unstoppable Borg threat.

Eventually Beverly discovers a way to adapt the new, invasive Borg technology to keep the symptoms of Picard's Irumodic Syndrome at bay. Picard must face a choice between going slowly mad like Sarek, or living with Borg technology inside him for the rest of his days.

Wesley Crusher uses his immense tansformative power to nullify the Borg and probably dies in the process.

Other Returning Characters
Some have suggested Data could return as ship's computer. Awesome idea, after writers (including actor Brent Spiner) butchered his character arc in ST Nemesis. (Unforgivable. Please just forget that ever happened. Seriously.)

Dr Crusher - obvs.

Will Riker - Dead but returns at odd intervals as a symptom of Picard's dementia.

Worf - Just because hell why not?

Let's face it, you can come up with reasons to bring all of them back if you really want to. Some of them might even get Borg-ed.

This would be totally awesome and I can't wait to see the show, even if it looks nothing like the above. But if it did even a little bit ... Wow. That would be worth watching...