Star Trek: Picard will be debuting on CBS All Access sometime in early 2020, much to the cautious delight of Trekkies the world over. Star Trek: The Next Generation was for many (myself included) the idealized version of Gene Roddenberry’s idyllic future of multicultural triumph, and a revisit to that show’s iconic starship captain, Jean-Luc Picard (played by the excellent Patrick Stewart), may prove to be a welcome return to a beloved character. Stern authority figure that he is, Picard also appears approachable. He’s like the professor you had in college that you feared disappointing.
To help you prepare for Star Trek: Picard, we’ve put together the following essential viewing guide to the general arc of Jean-Luc’s character — these are the episodes of Star Trek: TNG (and a movie) that exemplify the character at his finest, or depict him encountering scenarios that put his talents and moxie most sharply on display. These stories also help illustrate the path his life has taken since joining Starfleet.
Source: IGN.com Star Trek Picard: Essential Viewing Guide Before the Show