Children made Jean-Luc Picard visibly uncomfortable in Star Trek: The Next Generation, but he came to feel differently by Star Trek: Picard.

Throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) made it very clear that he did not care for children, but he had softened a bit by the time of Star Trek: Picard. As Captain of the USS Enterprise-D, Picard could hold his own against god-like aliens, devious Romulans, and the Borg, but he became visibly uncomfortable around children. In the series premiere of TNG, Picard even specifically asks his new First Officer Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) to “keep [him] from making an a** of [himself] with children.” Jean-Luc fully acknowledges that he is not a family man, and while he would hold on to this view for a long time, it wouldn’t last forever.

The Enterprise-D had families and children aboard, which set it apart from the Starship Enterprise of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) in Star Trek: The Original Series. Though only a handful of episodes featured the children of the Enterprise-D, Patrick Stewart brilliantly portrayed Picard’s unease whenever he had to interact with young children. Picard had clearly prioritized his Starfleet career, and he considered the crew of his ship to be the only family he needed. Star Trek: Picard revisits Jean-Luc’s past, exploring why he made the choices he made and how his views on family and children have shifted over the years.

Star Trek: TNG Made It Clear Picard Hated Children

After establishing in the pilot that children make Captain Picard uncomfortable, Star Trek: The Next Generation revisited this idea several times over the course of the series. In TNG season 1, episode 17, “When the Bough Breaks,” several children are stolen from the Enterprise by a desperate group of people who cannot have kids of their own. Picard fights to get the children back, refusing to give up until they are safe on the Enterprise. But when the young Alexandra (Jessica & Vanessa Bova) visits the bridge to thank Picard, he awkwardly stoops to her level for an even more awkward (but still incredibly sweet) hug.

Later, in TNG season 5, episode 5, “Disaster,” Captain Picard gets trapped in a turbolift with three children. With an injured ankle, Picard works to calm the kids and encourage them, eventually helping them to climb out of the turbolift. Despite his initial discomfort, Picard ends up being great with the kids, and he develops a newfound respect for them. Later, in TNG season 5, episode 25, “The Inner Light,” Picard experiences an entire alternate life, complete with a wife and children. Because of these experiences, Picard’s attitude about children begins to soften even before Star Trek: Picard.

Elnor In Star Trek: Picard Season 1 Forced A Big Change In Jean-Luc

Although TNG showed glimpses of Jean-Luc’s later softening toward children, Star Trek: Picard season 1 saw him temporarily embrace the role of father figure with young Elnor (Ian Nunney). While visiting Vashti, a planet home to many relocated Romulans, Elnor develops a certain fondness for Admiral Picard. When Elnor greets Picard with a hug, Elnor’s caretaker remarks, with the absolute candor of the Qowat Milat: “You’re making the Admiral uncomfortable, Elnor. He dislikes displays of emotion. And he’s not overly fond of children.” Although this remark hurts Elnor’s feelings, Picard is quick to reply that he does, in fact, like Elnor.

While Picard still claims to dislike children, he clearly cares for Elnor. Picard visits several times to check up on the young Romulan, often bringing him gifts and helping him practice his reading and fencing. During his last visit, Picard receives news that synths have attacked Mars and he leaves abruptly. Despite promising Elnor that he would return soon, Picard does not make it back to Vashti for another fourteen years. Still, Picard’s feelings toward children softened because of Elnor, and he clearly felt guilt that he did not return to visit the boy sooner.

Jean-Luc Is Softer Towards Children in Star Trek: Picard

Over the course of Star Trek: Picard’s three seasons, Jean-Luc’s feelings about family and children go through a significant shift. After getting a glimpse of what life as a father would be like with Elnor in Picard season 1, Jean-Luc confronts his own troubled childhood in Picard season 2. Through a series of flashbacks, Picard season 2 reveals that Jean-Luc’s mother suffered from severe mental illness that led her to eventually take her own life. The young Jean-Luc did not fully understand his mother’s illness or the ways his father tried to help, and he blamed himself for his mother’s death for much of his life. Picard’s views of family and children were irrevocably shaped by his difficult childhood and the loss of his mother at such a young age.

After working through much of his childhood trauma in Star Trek: Picard season 2, Jean-Luc slowly became more open to the idea of romance and family. Picard season 3 beautifully completes Jean-Luc’s story arc by reconnecting him with Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and introducing him to a son he didn’t know he had. Although Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) is an adult when he and Jean-Luc first meet, Picard expresses regret that he was not present for Jack’s childhood. Beverly had her own valid reasons for keeping Jack from Picard, but Jean-Luc wishes he would have had the chance to help raise him. While the Captain Picard of early Star Trek: The Next Generation did not care much for children, his journey from then to Star Trek: Picard season 3 saw him change his views.