Most critics welcome the series as a considered return rather than a nostalgia exercise, and the praise clusters almost entirely around Patrick Stewart. Review after review singles out his older, more uncertain Picard, remorseful and less remote than the captain of old, as the reason to watch. Several also credit the writing for keeping his empathy intact and for balancing familiar faces with new stories.
The reservations are about pace. Several find the opening episodes slow and heavy with exposition, and Consequence adds that convoluted plotting and clunky dialogue hold the show back. Vulture goes further, arguing the series lacks the curiosity and chemistry that make Star Trek work, while Radio Times wants more optimism and less Borg torture. The spread is wide, from the low forties to ninety, and the warmest reviews are for the third season, which Collider and /Film treat as a marked improvement.
I
IndieWire
27 February 2020 · B+ · Christian Blauvelt
83
The critic says the episode is exceptionally well written and directed, with its character-driven turns making familiar revelations powerful. They praise Picard’s return to the Borg cube and the empathy shown toward former Borg, while faulting the scant follow-up to Jurati’s shocking actions.
Read the full review →E
Empire
31 January 2020 · Dan Jolin
80*
Jolin finds the series a welcome, forward-looking return for Star Trek and its beloved captain. He praises Picard’s enduring empathy and the show’s character-focused approach.
Read the full review →i
The i Paper
24 January 2020 · ★★★★ · Jeff Robson
80
Robson calls the premiere an impressive, emotionally engaging start and says it could become a worthy addition to the canon. He praises the action, special effects and Stewart’s quietly intelligent performance.
Read the full review →A
The AV Club
23 January 2020 · B · Danette Chavez
77
Chavez finds the series a rousing, forward-looking return that balances nostalgia with new stories, though its packed plotting and action sometimes struggle to find their footing. She singles out Patrick Stewart’s vulnerable, soulful performance as Picard for praise.
Read the full review →T
The Telegraph
24 January 2020 · Ed Power
70*
The review finds the series hokey and short of prestige-TV polish, but says it comes close to balancing nostalgia with a modern story. It singles out Patrick Stewart’s performance as sensational.
Read the full review →E
Evening Standard
24 January 2020 · Alastair McKay
65*
The review is cautiously positive about the series, despite finding its approach less adventurous and more weary than earlier Star Trek. It praises Patrick Stewart’s reassuring presence and Shakespearean diction in the allegorical future.
Read the full review →G
The Guardian
24 January 2020 · Jack Seale
65*
Seale finds the comeback solid, though not exceptional, and is cautiously hopeful about where it goes next. He praises Picard’s moral conviction and the series’ thoughtful ethical questions, while noting the opener’s heavy exposition.
Read the full review →H
The Hollywood Reporter
23 January 2020 · Daniel Fienberg
65*
Fienberg mostly likes the series’ methodical world-building but finds its opening episodes overly slow and exposition-heavy. He singles out Patrick Stewart’s effortless authority as the strongest reason to watch.
Read the full review →V
Variety
23 January 2020 · Daniel D'Addario
65*
The critic finds the series initially hesitant and slow-moving, but ultimately promising enough to keep watching. Patrick Stewart’s performance as a retired, uncertain Picard is singled out as a major strength.
Read the full review →V
Vulture
30 January 2020 · Angelica Jade Bastién
45*
The critic finds the series intriguing but uneven, saying it lacks the curiosity and chemistry that make Star Trek work. Patrick Stewart’s tender, regretful performance is singled out as a compelling strength.
Read the full review →R
Radio Times
6 March 2020 · Huw Fullerton
40*
The critic finds the series needs more optimism to work at its best. They call for more Jonathan Frakes and less Borg torture.
Read the full review →C
Collider
10 February 2023 · 9/10 · Maggie Lovitt
90
Lovitt calls the final season an exceptional return to The Next Generation and a fitting send-off. She praises how its clever storytelling makes the reunion feel natural while balancing franchise lore with fresh adventure.
Read the full review →D
Den of Geek
23 January 2020 · ★★★★ · Kayti Burt
80
The reviewer finds the premiere a thoughtful, successful return that updates Picard for a changed world while preserving his essential character. She praises its handling of Picard’s history and empathy, while criticizing Dahj’s thin characterization.
Read the full review →/
/Film
10 February 2023 · Witney Seibold
80*
The critic finds season three a major improvement and calls it the best Next Generation movie they never got. They praise its familiar relationships and starship setting, while faulting one episode’s heavy-handed nostalgia.
Read the full review →P
Paste
10 February 2023 · 7.5 · Kenneth Lowe
77*
Lowe finds the third season finally delivers an engaging reunion adventure for The Next Generation crew, though it does not reach the original series’ heights. He praises the crew’s clever teamwork and the awe-inspiring deep-space phenomenon in one episode.
Read the full review →D
Digital Spy
23 January 2020 · David Opie
75*
The critic finds the series balances its familiar roots with a fresh direction and recommends it warmly. They single out Number One the dog as a meaningful symbol of Picard’s trauma and attachment to his past.
Read the full review →R
The Ringer
23 January 2020 · Ben Lindbergh
75*
Lindbergh finds the series a worthwhile, quiet departure from the familiar Star Trek template. He singles out Patrick Stewart’s return as a remorseful, less remote Picard for praise.
Read the full review →C
Consequence
23 January 2020 · Clint Worthington
60*
The critic finds the series promising but not yet engaging, and says it needs to tighten its pacing. Patrick Stewart’s return is a standout, while convoluted plotting and clunky dialogue hold the show back.
Read the full review →Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate