Today the Flags of the United Kingdom and the French Republic fly at half staff in memory of Sir Patrick Stewart, who died yesterday after a brief and poignant Journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lew Body Dementia.
My first expose to Sir Patrick was, as it was for many people of my age, in his role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek The Next Generation. At first, I knew noting of his upbringing, his amazing acting experience, his humanity, and many other things about him. I did know he was my Captain and I would follow him anywhere. I like many folks, thought it was strange that a Captain from France spoke with such a deep British accent, but I didn’t question it, because he was my Captain.
My journey to being a fan of TNG and Captain Picard stared with my mother. One day, she requested that I watch a TV show with her. I asked her which one and she told me. I told her many reasons why I didn’t want to watch the show, “I didn’t really want to…”, I won’t like it…”, “I’m not a sci-fi fan”, and many others. Even after giving all the excuses I could muster, Mom told me to watch an episode with her and so I did. I was hooked. I don’t remember what episode it was, but I was hooked. From that day, I was a religious watcher of the TNG and fell more deeply into the fandom with every episode. These were the appointment television days, you couldn’t just pop a show on your TV and binge it, you had to be in front of your TV when the new episodes were broadcast or record them on your VCR for later watching.
Captain Picard, as played by Sir Patrick, was a gentle leader who listened to his crew and knew how to rally them. He was a leader, who held himself apart from those he led by perceived necessity, which he realized was his own imposition in the last episode of the show. He was a man who had vast knowledge, but didn’t hang it over those he commanded, but brought it out in clever and important ways. Was he perfect as a leader? Not by any means, but he led as a human and put his humanity and duty first. He was an action her and a thinker at the same time and knew when to strategically deploy the many facets of his personality and skill.
Sir Patrick’s depiction of Captain Picard was nuanced, deep, funny, clear, and confusing. He brought out the humanity in a character that could have easily not shown it. He brought out the best of the characters he played whether it was a Shakespearian character, a starship captain, Ebenezer Scrooge, Professor Charles Xavier, or a misguided love interest for Frasier Crane. Sir Patrick was a master of his craft and endeared himself to the world.
I fly the Union Jack In honor of Sir Patrick’s homeland. I fly the Tricolore in honor of Captain Picard’s homeland.
I hope that Sir Patrick has set the course originated in Peter Pan and taken by the Enterprise A in the final scene of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, “Second star to the right and straight on till morning…”
Engage…
