Picard season 2 has been finished and is available on request. Like all of my edits, it contains nine episodes, ranging in time from just under 30 minutes to just under 60.

While the edit changes less in plot than season 1, season 2 contains a ton of tiny adjustments to increase cohesion, remove tiny dialogue inconsistencies, and smooth the building of momentum.

In the vanilla season, I found the biggest issue to be one of pacing. There was a constant feeling of urgency but it was interrupted in nearly every episode by slow monologues and side adventures. Even the climactic battle in episode 9 had Picard stopping multiple times while running from bad guys to reflect on and explain things to another character. In this edit, I have made considerable effort to reduce or remove such interruptions, while also pulling each side adventure into a single episode so that it feels more tight. The result is a more cohesive viewing experience where the characters come across as more professional and more deliberate.

The second biggest issue was a sense that Q’s plan didn’t make sense and depended upon too many wild-card factors (for example, the idea that Picard going back in time was his own choice and not part of the plan all along). In this edit, I have removed lines that imply that things are happening outside of Q’s control. I have also added a few Q sound effects and flashes to imply that he is directly involved in elements of the story that were previously thought to be incidental. The result is that Q appears more deliberate, his plans more methodical, and the season as a whole less random.

While I have yet to compile the full change list (easily over five hundred edits), the major highlights are as follows:

The plot builds at a more even pace, with fewer and shorter interruptions.
Q is implied to be, or directly is, responsible for more of the coincidental story elements.
The search for Jurati happens in a single episode to convey more urgency.
There are no stretches where important characters randomly disappear in the midst of their stories.
There is no last-minute drama surrounding the launch.
The FBI side-plot is repurposed.
Q’s interventions are clearly tied to his TNG appearances with white light and the “Q Flash” sound effect.
Hints of the First Contact soundtrack are sprinkled throughout to amplify the Borg vibe.

Please note that the edit, while entirely watchable, is not fully HD. Sometime in the next year or two, when I have upgraded my equipment and software, I intend to redo my edits at a higher quality level. The imperfections are most obvious in the background of darker scenes, like those aboard the unpowered La Sirena.