Warning: The Following Article Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 4 - "No Win Scenario"Star Trek: Picard's Jack Crusher (Ed Speelers) implied his name was meant as an insult to his father in season 3, episode 4, "No Win Scenario", but Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) isn't offended by Beverly Crusher's (Gates McFadden) choice to name Jack after her first husband. Star Trek: Picard season 3 has already dropped some major bombshells on its audience in the first four episodes, including the return of the Changelings from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. However, one of the biggest so far is that Beverly Crusher's newly revealed son, Jack, is also Picard's son, who Beverly kept a secret for over twenty years.
The reveal and subsequent fallout of Jack's parentage in Star Trek: Picard season 3 has been one of the main focal points of the first four episodes. Jack's existence has also set up a lot of unanswered questions, some bigger questions regarding his role in the fight against the Changelings, and some smaller ones about his life before meeting Picard. Luckily, one of these questions, specifically about Jack's name and its meaning, was answered in Star Trek: Picard episode 4.
Even Jack Crusher Thinks His Name Is An Insult To Picard
Season 3, episode 4 of Star Trek: Picard features a scene where Picard and Jack awkwardly attempt to have a heart-to-heart in a recreation of 10 Forward on the holodeck. During this discussion, Jack states that he always wondered why his mother chose to name him after her first husband, Lt. Commander Jack Crusher (Doug Wert), who was killed on an away mission while serving with Picard on the USS Stargazer. The tone of Jack's question makes it clear that he thinks his name was meant as an insult to Picard.
Jack is aware that Picard and Beverly Crusher parted on less-than-amicable , and likely thought that Beverly choosing to honor her previous husband with Jack's name was a slap in the face to Picard, since Jack Crusher Sr. has no real connection to his namesake. If given the choice, Picard might have instead wanted a name to honor a deceased relative from his side of the family, such as his brother Robert (Jeremy Kemp) or nephew René (David Tristan Birkin).
Why Picard Would Have Named His Son After Jack Crusher
However, Jean-Luc Picard reveals to Jack in the same conversation that he would have given Jack the same name. This is because Picard and Jack Crusher Sr. were best friends, beginning from their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and extending right up until Jack's death. From previous storylines in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and how Picard talks about Jack in Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 4, it is clear that Picard still considers the late Jack Crusher as a very important person in his life. Given their friendship, it makes sense why Picard is not offended by his son being named after Jack. If Picard and Beverly Crusher had chosen their son's name together, naming him after Jack would have been a good way to honor someone who was important to them both.
Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 4 effectively put the question of any insult implied in Jack Crusher's name to bed, and provided further insight and backstory for Jean-Luc Picard in the process. However, there are still numerous unanswered questions about Jack, such as what the Changelings want with him and why Jack is having confusing visions that seem to be causing him pain. These questions and more will hopefully be answered as Star Trek: Picard season 3 continues.
Star Trek: Picard Season 3 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.