Star Trek: Picard season 1 introduced one of the most controversial love stories in the Star Trek franchise, but thankfully, it concluded quickly. This season marked the triumphant return of Patrick Stewart as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, though it did not feature most of the beloved cast from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Instead, Admiral Picard enlisted a diverse new team of characters in a high-stakes mission to save the galaxy from impending doom. Among these new faces was Soji, portrayed by Isa Briones, who found herself ensnared in a deeply troubling relationship with the Romulan spy, Narek, played by Harry Treadaway.
Before the intricate narratives and character arcs of Star Trek: Picard season 1 intertwined, Soji was stationed aboard the Artifact, which is a former Borg Cube repurposed for the Romulan Reclamation Project. At this time, Soji remained oblivious to her true nature as a synthetic being. She fully embraced her constructed identity as Dr. Soji Asha, a dedicated researcher studying the Borg. However, Narek was fully aware of Soji’s identity and mission. Tasked with extracting the location of Coppelius, the home world of Soji and her synthetic kin, Narek infiltrated the Artifact with sinister intent.
Explore the Unfolding of Star Trek?s Most Controversial Love Story in Picard Season 1
Understand Why a Relationship Like Soji & Narek Is a Rare Phenomenon in Star Trek
The toxic dynamic between Soji and Narek in Star Trek: Picard season 1 pushed the boundaries of what fans had come to expect from Star Trek relationships. Narek, a member of the Zhat Vash?a Romulan faction vehemently opposed to synthetic life?was directed by his sister, Narissa (played by Peyton List), to extract vital information from Soji regarding the location of Coppelius. Utilizing Soji’s vulnerability as a beautiful young woman, Narek employed manipulation and deceit to seduce the unsuspecting synth. Throughout their relationship, Narek gaslighted Soji into a romantic entanglement, all while harboring a deadly agenda to ultimately kill her.
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Worse yet, Narek developed a fixation on Soji while simultaneously manipulating her for his own selfish desires. As Narissa grew frustrated with Narek’s delays and ordered him to finalize his mission, Soji’s true synthetic nature was revealed in Star Trek: Picard season 1, episode 6, “The Impossible Box.” Following her daring escape from the Artifact alongside Admiral Picard, Narek pursued Soji, clinging to the misguided hope that he could still win her affections back. However, Soji had undergone a transformative awakening and would never again fall prey to Narek’s deceitful charms.
Soji was victimized by Narek.
While the Star Trek series has featured its share of contentious character relationships, a connection as toxic as that of Soji and Narek was notably rare. Narek possessed no redeeming qualities; even his sister, a staunch Romulan loyalist, regarded him as weak. Soji endured significant victimization at Narek’s hands until she reclaimed her authentic synthetic identity. Nonetheless, the cunning Romulan relentlessly pursued Soji across the galaxy, driven by his dual motives: to fulfill his mission of locating Coppelius and, more troublingly, to possess Soji once more. Fortunately, Narek’s endeavors ultimately culminated in failure by the end of Star Trek: Picard season 1.
Discover the Fate of Soji & Narek Following the Events of Star Trek: Picard Season 1
Unravel the Mystery of Why Both Soji & Narek Vanished from Star Trek’s Narrative
After the conclusion of Star Trek: Picard season 1, both Soji and Narek seemingly disappeared from the narrative. Soji made a solitary, brief appearance in Star Trek: Picard season 2’s premiere episode, “The Star Gazer.” Now serving as an ambassador for the synthetics of Coppelius, she was depicted enjoying dinner with a group of Deltans on the planet Raritan IV. However, Star Trek: Picard never delved into the psychological aftermath that Soji experienced following her toxic relationship with Narek, nor did she ever acknowledge the impact of that relationship. Isa Briones later returned in season 2, portraying Kore Soong, the human prototype for synthetic sisters Soji and Dahj.
Isa Briones was among the cast members of Star Trek: Picard’s ensemble, including Allison Pill, Evan Evagora, and Santiago Cabrera, who were not retained for the series as it progressed toward Star Trek: Picard season 3.
Narek’s last appearance was on Coppelius during the finale of Star Trek: Picard season 1, leaving his fate uncertain. According to Michael Chabon, the showrunner of season 1, a deleted scene was intended to depict Narek being captured by the United Federation of Planets. However, Narek was not referenced again in the following seasons of Star Trek: Picard, and it remains unlikely that the franchise will revisit the toxic relationship between Soji and Narek in future storylines.
Explore the World of Star Trek: Picard
6/10
- Release Date
- 2020 – 2022
- Showrunner
- Michael Chabon
- Writers
- Terry Matalas
