Narek (Harry Treadaway) and Narissa (Peyton List) were Star Trek: Picard season 1’s most interesting villains, but their potential was wasted by season 1. Star Trek: Picard season 1 centered on a Romulan conspiracy to wipe out synthetic life in the universe. Narek’s mission was specifically to glean the location of Coppelius, the homeworld of androids, from Soji (Isa Briones), who initially wasn’t aware she was synthetic. Unfortunately, Narek and Narissa’s outcomes turned out to be disappointing.
Narek and Narissa were the first brother-sister Romulan Tal Shiar agents in Star Trek. The siblings served the Zhat Vash, a secretive sect within the Tal Shiar dedicated to wiping out synthetic life. Narissa was also a mole in Starfleet like her superior officer, General Nedar (Tamlyn Tomita). Nedar posed as Commodore Oh, who rose to become Starfleet’s Chief of Security, while Narissa disguised herself as Lt. Rizzo. Narek and Narissa had an intimately antagonistic relationship with a sexually-charged undercurrent. Star Trek had never seen Romulans like Narek and Narissa before. It’s a shame that by the time Star Trek: Picard season 1 was over, the Tal Shiar siblings’ fates were sealed so that it’s unlikely they will return.
What Happened To Narek & Narissa In Picard Season 1
Narissa, who was a Colonel in the Tal Shiar, was killed in a battle with Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) in Star Trek: Picard season 1’s finale. After Seven, Elnor (Evan Evagora), and Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) came aboard the Borg Cube Artifact, Narissa committed heinous crime, including ejecting thousands of Borg Drones into the vacuum of space. But Narissa’s most despicable act was murdering Hugh (Jonathan Del Arco). Narissa faced off with Elnor in a battle between the Zhat Vash and their ancient enemies, the Qowat Milat, but Seven ultimately killed Narissa as revenge for Hugh’s death.
Narek’s fate was left more ambiguous. The Romulan spy chased after Soji and followed La Sirena to Coppelius. But Narek had a change of heart, and he helped Cristobal Rios (Santiago Cabrera) and Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) take on Soji’s synthetic siblings, who were led by Sutra (Isa Briones). However, Narek was forgotten, and he wasn’t seen in Star Trek: Picard season 1 finale’s closing moments. In an interview with TrekMovie, Star Trek: Picard season 1 showrunner Michael Chabon revealed the intention was to show Narek taken into custody by the Federation, but he was a casualty of the editing process.
Why Narek Lusted After Soji When He Supposedly Hates Androids
Narek’s twisted relationship with Soji was Star Trek: Picard’s spin on an abusive relationship. Narek came aboard the Artifact with a mission to acquire Coppelius’ location from Soji, but he ended up seducing and sleeping with the android. Narek developed actual feelings for Soji, but he was forced by Narissa to fulfill his mission and murder her, although Soji escaped thanks to Picard. This was the fascinating contrast between Narek and Narissa because the sister was much more fanatical about hating androids and more dedicated to the Zhat Vash’s cause. Narek, in his own grotesque way, actually fell for Data’s daughter.
None of this excuses Narek’s deceitful and despicable actions in Star Trek: Picard season 1. If anything, it’s all the more frustrating that Narek never received a proper comeuppance for his crimes, especially against Soji. Narek was simply forgotten and Soji seemingly moved on in her lone appearance in Star Trek: Picard season 2. There was definitely more mileage that could have been explored from Narek and Narissa, but Star Trek: Picard just wasn’t interested. Instead, one Romulan sibling is dead while the other simply vanished without explanation, and it’s such a waste of two compelling villains.
Star Trek: Picard Season 3 premieres February 16, 2023, on Paramount+.
