Star Trek: Picardseason 1 introduced one of the most toxic love stories inStar Trek, but, thankfully, it quickly ended.Star Trek: Picardseason 1 was Patrick Stewart’s comeback as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, but without most of thecast ofStar Trek: The Next Generation. Instead, Admiral Picard teamed up with a new motley crew of characters to save the galaxy. One ofStar Trek: Picard’s new characters, Soji (Isa Briones), found herself in a disturbing relationship with a Romulan spy named Narek (Harry Treadaway).
BeforeStar Trek: Picardseason 1’s characters and storylinesconverged, Soji was stationed on theArtifact, a derelict Borg Cubeturned into the Romulan Reclamation Project. At that point, Soji wasn’t aware she was synthetic and believed her programmed cover identity as Dr. Soji Asha, a Borg researcher. However, Narek knew exactly who and what Soji was.The Romulan operative was sent to the Artifact to target Sojiand glean the location of Coppelius, Soji and her synthetic race’s home world.
Picard Season 1 Introduced Star Trek’s Most Toxic Love Story
A Relationship Like Soji & Narek Is Thankfully Rare In Star Trek
Soji and Narek’s toxic relationship inStar Trek: Picardseason 1 was new ground forStar Trek.A member of the Zhat Vash, the synthetic-hating sect of the Romulan Tal Shiar, Narek was assigned by his sister,Narissa (Peyton List), to extract the location of Coppelius from Soji. Because Soji was an attractive young woman,Narek decided to seduce the unsuspecting synth. The Romulan gaslighted Soji into a sexual relationship. All the while, Narek knew he was under orders to kill Soji, and he always intended to.
Star Trek Picard Cast & Character Guide: All 3 Seasons
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Worse, Narek became obsessed with Soji while toying with her for his own gratification. When Narissa grew impatient with Narek’s games and forced her brother to complete his mission, Soji’s true nature as a synthetic was activated inStar Trek: Picardseason 1, episode 6, “The Impossible Box.” After Soji escaped the Artifact with Admiral Picard,Narek chased after her with the deluded belief he could still somehow win Soji back. However, Soji would never again fall for the odious charms of her Romulan paramour.
Soji was victimized by Narek.
WhileStar Trekhas had its share of questionable character relationships, a tryst as toxic as Soji and Narek was rare. Narek had no redeeming qualities, and even his own sister, a Romulan hardliner, considered him weak. Soji was victimized by Narek until she reverted to her true synthetic identity. Yet the devious Romulan chased Soji around the galaxy, partly to fulfill his mission to locate Copellius, butmainly to regain possession of Soji.Thankfully, Narek utterly fails at theend ofStar Trek: Picardseason 1.
What Happened To Soji & Narek After Star Trek: Picard Season 1
Both Soji & Narek Disappeared From Star Trek
Both Soji and Narek vanished afterStar Trek: Picardseason 1. Soji only made a lone, brief appearance inStar Trek: Picardseason 2’s premiere, “The Star Gazer.” Now an ambassador for the synthetics of Coppelius, Soji had dinner with a group of Deltans on the planet Raritan IV.Star Trek: Picardnever explored the trauma Soji was left with after her toxic affair with Narek, nor did Soji acknowledge that relationship. Isa Briones later returned inStar Trek: Picardseason 2 as Kore Soong, the human basis for synthetic twin sisters Soji and Dahj.
Isa Briones was one ofStar Trek: Picard’s cast members, along with Allison Pill, Evan Evagora, and Santiago Cabrera, who were dropped from the series beforeStar Trek: Picardseason 3.
Narek was last seen on Coppelius inStar Trek: Picardseason 1’s finale, but his fate was left an open question.Star Trek: Picardseason 1 showrunner Michael Chabon said that a deleted scene would have shown Narek taken into custody by the United Federation of Planets. Narek was not mentioned again inStar Trek: Picard’s subsequent seasons, and it’s doubtfulStar Trekwill touch upon the toxic relationship between Soji and Narek in the future.
