Patrick Stewart Explains He Drew From His Traumatic Past For Jean-Luc's Story in STAR TREK: PICARD Season 2

I’m looking forward to seeing Jean-Luc Picard’s story continue in Star Trek: Picard Season 2. He’s an interesting character who is dealing with a lot of past trauma, and this is something that the upcoming season is going to explore. In fact, Sir Patrick Stewart recently explained that he drew from his own traumatic life experience to play his character this next season.

Season 2 of the series takes the legendary Jean-Luc Picard and his crew “on a bold and exciting new journey: into the past. Picard must enlist friends both old and new to confront the perils of 21st century Earth in a desperate race against time to save the galaxy's future – and face the ultimate trial from one of his greatest foes.”

It’s also been explained that the next season is going to explore and answer some of Jean-Luc Picard’s “personal mysteries,” which should prove to be interesting. Picard’s story will come to an end forever after the third season of this series.

In a recent interview with /Film, Stewart was asked if the Picard series is about aging gracefully, and this was the actor’s response:

"Yes, it was, very much. And in that respect, I could draw from my own life experiences. And also largely thanks to very high-class therapy, which has been very important in my adult life, for, I would say the last 30 years. And I've benefited enormously from it. But a lot of it was to do not with my adulthood, but my childhood, and how I could come to terms with what I have often looked on as being failures in my life, to not to have helped my parents more. In the same way, Jean-Luc is troubled, and it has been extraordinary and interesting to weave elements of my own experience into that of a fictional character."

In regards to his childhood, it’s explained that he’s referring to his father, who was a World War II veteran who suffered from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and because of that he subjected his wife to abuse in front of their son. Later in life, Stewart found empathy for his father and his condition, which led him to being involved with various charities that put a focus on helping those with PTSD.

Knowing that and what Stewart is drawing from, it sounds like Season 2 is going to take fans on quite an emotional journey for Picard as it will deal with inner pain and healing. During the interview, showrunner Akiva Goldsman was also asked about this subject, and if this is a show about finding a way to age gracefully, and this was his response:

"Well, I don't know about that, because I'm not sure any of us on this end have figured that [aging gracefully] out yet. Except Patrick. But this season definitely is about this view inward to the mind and the heart, and to where the obstacles in those uncharted territories are. And that's been fun because it's a more internal journey."

The seriesalso stars Alison Pill, Jeri Ryan, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Orla Brady, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera, and Brent Spiner. Then there’s Annie Wersching, who will appear as the Borg Queen.

Star Trek: Picard Season 2 premieres on Paramount+ on March 3, 2022.