Star Trek Star Advocates Being Mean to Picard as Justified

In the third season of Star Trek: Picard, many familiar faces from The Next Generation returned, but one actor quickly sparked debate among fans: Todd Stashwick, who portrayed the irritable Captain Shaw. Early in the season, Shaw is openly rude to iconic characters such as Picard and Riker, yet later makes a selfless sacrifice to protect them and others. While viewers often label this as a classic redemption story, Stashwick recently clarified in an interview with TrekMovie that his character was never truly wrong, arguing that Shaw was always a good person and his criticism of Picard was justified.

Shaws Confrontation With the Legends

The tension begins when Shaw interacts with Picard and Riker. During a dinner invitation, he mocks Picards wine choice, ridicules Rikers love for jazz, and critiques their past decisions as Starfleet officers. These confrontations made Shaw immediately unlikable to long-time fans. Further context emerges when its revealed that Shaw survived the Wolf 359 disaster and holds resentment toward Picard, who, as Locutus, commanded the Borg attack that destroyed many ships, including Shaws.

Shaws arc culminates in a heroic act: he sacrifices himself to save those he previously criticized. He also leaves a glowing recommendation for Seven of Nine, supporting her promotion to captain. To many, this fits the familiar redemption formula, evoking emotional reactions as Shaw praises a beloved character.

Reconsidering the Redemption Label

However, Stashwick disputes the idea of Shaw undergoing a redemption arc. He explains that Shaw experienced character growth rather than redemption, noting that redemption implies he was bad and then became good. According to the actor, Shaw was consistently a good man, protective of his crew, and only appeared disrespectful, especially toward Picard, whom Shaw had reason to criticize.

Stashwick contrasts Shaw with other Trek redemption stories, such as Damars transformation from oppressive Cardassian officer to revolutionary or Mirror Universe Philippa Georgious shift from tyrant to savior. Unlike these arcs, Shaws evolution was not about making amends but recognizing and appreciating the humanity in others, like Seven of Nine, without needing to redeem himself.

Shaws Heroism and Human Complexity

The actor emphasizes that Shaw was ready to sacrifice himself from the start, consistently doing the right thing for his crew. His actions, such as immediately responding to threats and protecting others, reinforce that his character was fundamentally honorable. His rough edges, including his grudge against Picard, make him relatable and grounded, much like Captain Sisko, who also harbored resentment over Picards past actions.

Fans have come to appreciate Shaw for his multifaceted personality: a principled, if abrasive, Starfleet officer capable of humor, grit, and deep loyalty. Stashwicks portrayal in just 10 episodes crafted one of the most memorable and nuanced characters in the Star Trek universe, setting a high bar for future performances in the franchise.

Author: Logan Reeves