The much-desiredStar Trek: Legacystill hasn’t been announced to be happening, but if it were to materialize, it’d be missing one ofStar Trek: Picard’s best original characters, as they’ve already made an exit that would be very difficult to come back from. TheStar Trek: Picardcastchanged to varying degrees each season, although the third and final run was very different. Although thetimeline of Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Ninecontinued to be fleshed out, another character who had been involved from the start was sadly dropped just before the show ended.
I might be in the minority when I say I actually enjoyedall three seasons ofStar Trek: Picard. It wasn’t perfect, but the show got gradually better as it progressed, and the reunion of theStar Trek: The Next Generationcastin the show’s final run was brilliant. That being said, I enjoyed more than just the fan service.Picardintroduced an array of new characters, and may could return to be part of theStar Trek: Legacycast if the follow-up show happens. Sadly, one ofPicard’s standout introductions can’t really be among that group.
Star Trek: Legacy Can’t Bring Back Cristobal Rios If Picard’s Spinoff Happens
Captain Rios already left the 25th century by heading back in time (& dying there)
Star Trek: Picard’s endingtakes place deeper into the 25th century than ever before, which means there are further opportunities for theStar Trektimelineto be added to in exciting new ways. Presumably,Star Trek: Legacywould pick up shortly after thePicardfinale, which means there is a surprisingly long list of characters introduced specifically for thePicardwho would be eligible to return.One of my favorite figures exclusive toStar Trek: Picardwas Santiago Cabrera’s Cristóbal Rios, but he’s essentially gone for good.
If Star Trek: Legacy Happens, Jeri Ryan Can Tie An Impressive Michael Dorn Record
Jeri Ryan would likely return as Seven of Nine if Star Trek: Legacy were to happen, which would mean her sharing an interesting franchise record.
Rios was instrumental inStar Trek: Picardseasons 1 and 2, but his exit at the end of the second run was executed in such a way that it wouldn’t make sense for him to come back inStar Trek: Legacy. Of course, I’m aware thatStar Trekis a sci-fi franchise, but this is one of those instances where I strongly believe trying to fix this decision with a trope-led retcon would be one of the least suitable decisions possible. So, I just have to live with the sad reality thatwe’ve probably seen the last of Captain Rios.
Why Rios Was Written Out Of Star Trek: Picard Season 3
The incoming members of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast were too expensive to also keep Cabrera
Star Trek: Picardseason 3 saw the biggest shakeup in the show’s history when it came to its casting changes. Unsurprisingly, Patrick Stewart remained in his titular role, butCabrera was among a group of four key stars dropped ahead of the final season. There’s a very simple explanation for this, and it all comes down to the show’s incoming cast members. However, they’re known better by a different name - the cast ofStar Trek: The Next Generation. The show’s budget was set to balloon because of the star-studded cast, so Cabrera and the others had to go.
Evan Evagora
Elnor
Thankfully, Cabrera was at least given a proper farewell inStar Trek: Picardseason 2. It would have annoyed me if he was still among the cast at the end of season 2, only for season 3 to open with an explanation of where Rios had gone. He deserved an onscreen exit, and he got one. Besides, with the landmark plans in place forStar Trek: Picard’s final season,I doubt there would have been enough time to give Rios any kind of respectable storyline. It was essentiallyStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 8, making a casting overhaul necessary.
Why Rios Is A Great Star Trek Character Who Deserved More Than His Fate In Picard
Captain Rios could have been explored further in Star Trek: Legacy
Star Trek: Picardseason 2 seemed to be clearing house in preparation for the arrival of Picard’s former crew. As such, Rios was among a group destined to leave the show, and so the writers gave him a proper goodbye.I’m not annoyed by Rios' choice to remain in 2024with Sol Rodriguez’s Dr. Teresa Rodriguez. I’m also not saying it didn’t feel a bit sudden and rushed, but it at least gave him a happy and somewhat authentic-feeling ending.
Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) informs Stewart’s character in theStar Trek: Picardseason 2 finale that Rios died in a bar fight over medical supplies, decades after arriving in 2024.
Rios survived into old age and went out in a blaze of what made him who he was, so it’s tough to argue that his departure from the show wasn’t actually quite fitting. Then again, I can’t help but feel like the character had far more potential than what he was able to fulfill.Star Trek: Legacywould be the perfect kind of project to explore a character like Rios even further, but the end of his arc inStar Trek: Picardhas taken that possibility away.
