Captain Liam Shaw played a larger role in Star Trek: Picard season 3 than Todd Stashwick initially assumed, but Jeri Ryan knew Shaw would be popular.
Summary
- Captain Liam Shaw became a breakout fan-favorite character in Star Trek: Picard season 3.
- Todd Stashwick initially underestimated the significance of his role as Captain Shaw, but co-star Jeri Ryan knew Shaw would become popular.
- Captain Shaw died but could return if Picard’s story continues.
Todd Stashwick’s Captain Liam Shaw became a breakout fan-favorite character in Star Trek: Picard season 3, but Stashwick initially didn’t realize how big of a role his character would play. Picard season 3 saw the crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation reunite to save the galaxy yet again, with help from both familiar and new faces. One of those new faces was Captain Liam Shaw, whose sarcastic quips and unbothered attitude made him a fan favorite. As captain of the USS Titan, Shaw initially dismissed Starfleet legends Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), which did not exactly endear him to fans.
Despite his introduction, Shaw proved to be a compassionate and no-nonsense captain who played an integral role in stopping the Borg/Changeling plot to destroy the Federation. During TrekTalks 3‘s Star Trek: Picard season 3 panel, Todd Stashwick joined showrunner, Terry Matalas, along with Jeri Ryan, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, and Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut to discuss Picard season 3. When asked about what he found most surprising about his role as Captain Shaw, Stashwick (and Jeri Ryan) commented below. Check out their quotes and watch the Star Trek: Picard TrekTalks 3 panel at the 5:04:40 time stamp below:
Todd Stashwick: “Part of me thought I was gonna be a lot of, like, ‘Here’s your coffee, Mr. Picard.’ Like Terry was doing me a favor and including me in the process but I didn’t really understand the breadth of how much Shaw was really gonna be figured into the plot.”
Jeri Ryan: “I called it. I said he is my favorite Star Trek character. You have no idea how big he’s gonna be. I called it. Todd is brilliant. Brilliant!”
As of January 15, 2024, TrekTalks 3 has raised over $109,000 for the Hollywood Food Coalition. Watch all of the panels below.
10 Reasons Star Trek: Legacy Needs Captain Shaw Back
Todd Stashwick’s Captain Shaw became a fan-favorite character during Star Trek: Picard season 3. Here are 10 reasons why Star Trek: Legacy needs him.
Will Captain Liam Shaw Make A Star Trek Return?
Many fans are still hoping for Star Trek: Legacy.
In Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 9, “Vox,” Captain Shaw heroically sacrifices himself to give Admiral Picard and his allies more time to escape the recently-assimilated Borg. However, despite the character’s death, both showrunner Terry Matalas and Stashwick himself have suggested that they had a plan to bring Shaw back. Although nothing has been heard about the long-rumored Picard spin-off, Star Trek: Legacy, many fans are still hoping that Captain Shaw can return in some capacity. Throughout its long history, Star Trek has proven many times over that death isn’t always the end, so Shaw’s return remains very much on the table.
Todd Stashwick landed the part of Captain Shaw largely because of his work as Deacon on Syfy’s 12 Monkeys, an excellent time travel saga co-created by Terry Matalas.
Captain Shaw has a rich backstory with the Borg and the Battle of Wolf 359 that could be tapped into, especially if the character’s return had something to do with Borg technology. Throughout Star Trek: Picard season 3, Shaw came to respect Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine despite her past as a Borg drone, eventually suggesting that she be promoted to captain. Shaw was an important player in Seven’s journey, and it would be interesting to see more of their complex relationship. It remains to be seen whether Seven will ever see her former captain again, but here’s hoping Captain Liam Shaw’s Star Trek story continues beyond Star Trek: Picard season 3.
