
Summary
- Patrick Stewart admits to being emotionally overwhelmed while filming a farewell scene in Star Trek: Nemesis.
- Stewart broke down and collapsed in the arms of Jonathan Frakes during the emotional moment.
- Saying goodbye to his co-stars was terrifying and agonizing for him, as he felt a deep connection with them over the years.
Star Trek: Nemesis was unexpectedly emotional for Patrick Stewart, and he says he “broke down” while filming a climactic moment of the film. The eponymous ‘Nemesis’ of the fourth and final Star Trek: The Next Generation film was Shinzon (Tom Hardy), the diabolical clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. While Picard vs. Shinzon for the fate of the United Federation of Planets was the main action, Star Trek: Nemesis marked a pivotal transition and change for the TNG crew as Commander Data (Brent Spiner) died at the end, and Captain Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) married Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) and they left the USS Enterprise-E for their own ship, the USS Titan.
In the Star Trek oral history The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross, Patrick Stewart recounts being overwhelmed by his emotions while filming Captain Picard’s farewell to Will Riker, his former Number One, in Star Trek: Nemesis. Read his quote below:
I will say that at the end of the film I’m saying good-bye to Riker and I found myself completely caught up in the moment. I broke down. Out of the clear blue sky, my emotions overwhelmed me. I collapsed in Jonathan’s arms and felt such a fool. The entire crew watched me cry and then started muttering, “What’s going on? Has he been drinking or something?” But in that moment, absolutely everything coalesced—the feelings that I had for these people over the years. Saying good-bye was absolutely terrifying and agonizing for me.

All The Good Things In Star Trek Nemesis
Star Trek Nemesis is generally considered one of the worst films in the franchise, but it does feature some memorable moments for the TNG crew.
Star Trek: Picard Has Undone Star Trek: Nemesis
The last TNG movie no longer matters.
Star Trek: Nemesis was made with the best of intentions, but it bombed at the box office and fared no better with critics and fans. While Star Trek: Nemesis has its supporters, it’s hard to argue the film wasn’t a proper farewell to the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. By the end of Star Trek: Picard’s 3 seasons, however, most of Star Trek: Nemesis‘ changes have been undone or outright reversed.
Star Trek: Picard season 1 addressed Data’s Nemesis death and gave Jean-Luc and Data a poignant goodbye, but Star Trek: Picard season 3 reversed Data’s death and resurrected him as a human-like synthetic. Captain Will Riker and Deanna Troi’s marriage was tested in Picard season 3, but they emerged stronger than ever. Even the USS Enterprise-E was written off, and the mighty USS Enterprise-D made its triumphant return. Whatever damage Star Trek: Nemesis did to the Star Trek: The Next Generation franchise was wiped clean by Star Trek: Picard.