Warning: spoilers ahead for Picard season 3 episode 2.
Picard season 3 was cloaked in secrecy before to its premiere, with Sir Patrick Stewart reprising the title character… But, one of the more perplexing issues prior to its publication concerns a different persona.
When it was initially reported that Eragon and Downton Abbey star Ed Speleers had joined the cast, it was unclear who he would be portraying.
But, it was revealed in episode 2 that he was Jack Crusher, the son of Doctor Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and Jean-Luc Picard, and Metro.co.uk spoke to the actor on what it was like acting out that shock and going ‘toe to toe’ with Sir Patrick Stewart.
The big disclosure occurs near the conclusion of the episode, when Jean-Luc is staring at Beverly and realises the truth about Jack’s identity, having never knowing he was a parent before.
Ed recounted how tough it was to keep the surprise a secret, telling people close to him that if they’spilled the beans,’ they would ‘no longer be his friend or family’.
‘It has been [hard to keep the secret], because I’ve been so excited as much as anything else, and it has been a long wait. I stopped shooting this this time last year, so it’s been a year and I’ve only just been announced, for good reason,’ he shared.
‘I feel I’ve been a kid in a toy shop, desperately wanting to talk about it, because I’m forever grateful for the opportunity that Paramount have given me.
‘I genuinely, I know I’ve said that a lot in our interview, but I loved every minute of playing this role. If nothing ever happens in the future or ever again, I can hold my head up knowing that I had the opportunity to play this and mix it with some iconic sci-fi heroes.’
One would think that playing beside a legendary like Sir Patrick Stewart, as well as numerous other Star Trek franchise luminaries, would be extremely intimidating for any actor.
The 34-year-old described how he and Sir Patrick, 82, grew to appreciate one another as they came to know one another.
‘The experience was incredible, genuinely. You grow up seeing people like Patrick and being aware of them and… not wanting to emulate them, but want to be in that world,’ he said.
‘To be a part of such a huge iconic franchise that’s been going almost feels like since the beginning of time, it’s that old, and still so revered and still so watched and loved, it’s been a complete honour.’
Ed claimed that while Sir Patrick didn’t give him any “particular nuggets of wisdom,” they would chat about the situations they were in together at long.
‘I think if anything we went toe to toe in a positive way, in respecting one another, and looked at the scenes and talked them through. Sometimes we’d be sitting around in between set-ups and we’d ask questions of what we thought this moment was about, and vice versa,’ he said.
‘I think we struck up a good respect and a good rapport with one another that allowed us to play the truth of the scenes. That was what we were striving for more than anything else.’
Some Star Trek fans expressed surprise at the news that Jean-Luc had a son, with one writing on Twitter, ‘This moment gave me goose bumps with anticipation eventually finding out that Picard has a son by Doctor Beverly Crusher WOW.’
Another wrote: ‘The silent conversation where Picard not so much realised, but rather came to terms with what we all already knew.
‘Such a perfect scene, not to mention the gutpunch of “because he’s my son”. And then the certified airpunch of ENGAGE!!!!’
Star Trek: Picard is available to watch on Paramount Plus on Amazon Prime Video, with new episodes released on Fridays.
Source My Celebrity Life.