'Star Trek: Picard': The story of Icheb, the Fenris Rangers, and what they have to do with Seven of Nine
Spoiler Alert for 'Stardust City Rag' - Episode 5
Fans have spoken, and they love Jeri Ryan's return as Seven of Nine to 'Star Trek: Picard.' This episode dove deep into her story, bringing up a lot of moments and bits from her long history on 'Star Trek: Voyager' in addition to revealing what she's been up to in more recent years. This was definitely her episode, despite it being Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) show.
As a former Borg, Seven of Nine is very relevant to the story of the Borg that 'Star Trek: Picard' seems to be telling. This episode furthers on the idea that former Borg drones as seen by the rest of the galaxy as people are exploited in the name of science. We have already seen it with the Romulans, at the Romulan Reclamation site, and this episode we see it as returning 'Star Trek' character Icheb (Manu Intiraymi) is captured and more or less stripped for parts. Seven of Nine is forced to put him out of his misery, in a tearful scene whose context you might miss out on if you haven't seen 'Star Trek: Voyager'.
Icheb was one of the many former Borg drones rescued by the Voyager. His intelligence and dedication soon made him a vital member of the Voyager crew, and he developed a strong relationship with Seven of Nine. Seven, who is not used to express emotion, nonetheless grew to care for him like her own child. She even learned how to accept help from other people, in one episode where Icheb risked his life to save hers.
In the years since, Seven left Starfleet herself to become a member of an organization known as the Fenris Rangers - a group of so-called vigilantes who try to maintain peace in the more lawless parts of the galaxy. The role has apparently given Seven license to let her hair down - both literally and figuratively - embodying a certain badassery that Jeri Ryan exemplifies. Both she and Picard are a long way from the rigid, structured Starfleet officers that they once were, but both of them still have the connection of being former Borgs. The name 'Annika' is also brought up in this episode, notable for being Seven's human name, before she was assimilated by the Borg.
She is a strong presence in this episode, and though she parted ways with Picard and his crew at the end of it, we hopefully haven't seen the last of her this season. She's a valuable addition to the cast, and with any luck, she will play a bigger role in the episodes to come.
The next episode of 'Star Trek: Picard' airs on February 27, on CBS.