Summary
- The USS Enterprise-G should have its own bar or lounge, similar to the Enterprise-D and the Port Galley on Captain Pike's Enterprise in Strange New Worlds. It would provide a space for the crew to relax, mingle, and seek advice from a wise bartender.
- The Enterprise-G could introduce a holographic Liam Shaw as its bartender, offering a fresh and unique character to interact with the crew. Shaw's sarcastic wit and abrasive personality would make him a hilarious but lovable addition to the ship.
- Bringing back Shaw in holographic form would be a logical way to "resurrect" him, following his tragic end in Picard season
- As a bartender, he would interact with every member of the crew and help them work through their problems, adding depth to his own journey of reconciling with Captain Seven.
A new USS Enterprise-G upgrade could bring back a fan-favorite character from Star Trek: Picard in a cool way. After the crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation reunited to save the galaxy again in Picard season 3, the USS Titan-A was renamed Enterprise in honor of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). If the proposed Picard spin-off Star Trek: Legacy gets the green light, it would likely follow Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) and her crew aboard the USS Enterprise-G, including Picard's son, Ensign Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers). While the Enterprise-G is already an incredibly advanced ship, there's one notable feature it should borrow from the Enterprise-D.
When the Titan was nearly lost in the dangerous Ryton Nebula in Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 4, "No Win Scenario," with no apparent solution forthcoming, many of the crew resigned themselves to their fate. A host of the Titan's officers then gather together on the holodeck which has been programmed to look like Guinan's (Whoopi Goldberg) Ten Forward bar in Los Angeles. This setting leads to one of Picard season 3's best scenes as Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick) describes his harrowing survival of the Battle of Wolf 359. It belied the fact that the Enterprise-G, following its refit from the Titan-A, should have its own bar.
Enterprise-G Needs Its Own Bar Like TNG’s Enterprise-D & Strange New Worlds
The USS Enterprise-G should get upgraded with a real bar or lounge. Even better, a holographic Liam Shaw should be its bartender. On TNG, the crew of the Enterprise-D often spent their downtime in Ten Forward, the bar usually run by Guinan. They would meet one another for drinks, go on dates, and mingle with their follow crew members. Guinan would often serve as a listening ear, dispensing sage advice gained from her long life as an El-Aurian. The Enterprise of Strange New Worlds also has a lavish recreational bar space, the Port Galley. Unlike Captain Picard, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) sometimes has his crew members over for dinner, but it's still nice for them to have a common space to meet with each other and relax.
The Port Galley bar on Captain Pike's Enterprise is most prominently featured in the fantastic musical episode of Strange New Worlds as the backdrop for Nurse Christine Chapel's (Jess Bush) showstopping musical number. Whether or not the crew of the new Enterprise-G perform any dance routines in their bar, they should have a similar space to spend their downtime. A holodeck lounge is not ideal for many reasons, namely that the holodeck has been known to dangerously malfunction in strange ways on numerous occasions. A designated lounge area would give the Enterprise-G crew somewhere to unwind and potentially seek out advice from a wise bartender.
Shaw Should Come Back As Enterprise-G’s Bartender
The USS Enterprise-G could introduce an entirely new kind of bartender with a holographic Liam Shaw. After becoming a breakout fan-favorite character in Star Trek: Picard season 3, Captain Shaw met his tragic end in the penultimate episode of the season. Despite this, Picard season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas and Shaw actor Todd Stashwick have both confirmed plans for Shaw to return in Star Trek: Legacy if the show gets made. Although they have not revealed any details about how this would be possible, a hologram would be a logical way to "resurrect" Shaw, and Liam becoming a bartender who steers patrons away from drinking Château Picard wine would be incredibly funny.
While Shaw could serve as an Emergency Engineering Hologram, this would limit him to Engineering and likely be a redundant position on the ship. As a bartender, Liam would get to interact with every member of the crew, and he could help them work through their problems. Considering Shaw lacks the patience of someone like Guinan, he would likely be a very different kind of advice-giver. Shaw would undoubtedly bring his sarcastic wit and somewhat abrasive personality into his holographic form, which would make him a hilarious but lovable bartender. Plus, he could continue the journey he began in Star Trek: Picard of working through his own traumatic past and reconciling with the new Captain Seven.