Summary
- Altan Soong's act of giving Jean-Luc Picard a synthetic golem body is surprisingly generous for a member of the Soong family known for their questionable morals.
- Altan Soong's lineage of scientists with mixed morals is redeemed by his willingness to atone for his mistakes and help Picard, as well as provide him with a new synthetic body.
- With Altan Soong's death, Data becomes the last bearer of the Soong family legacy, embodying the best parts of their lineage and carrying their legacy forward.
Dr. Altan Inigo Soong (Brent Spiner) provides the dying Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) with a synthetic golem body in Star Trek: Picard, which is an uncharacteristically kind act for a Soong. In Star Trek: Picard season 1, Jean-Luc begins suffering ill effects from what, at the time, was believed to be Irumodic Syndrome, an incurable neurological disorder. Picard knew this disease would eventually kill him, and he finally succumbs to his illness in the Picard season 1 finale. However, Picard is soon resurrected thanks to one of Altan Soong's creations.
With help from Dr. Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill), Dr. Soong is able to transfer Jean-Luc's consciousness into a new synthetic body he called his golem at the end of Star Trek: Picard season 1. Although this does not make Picard immortal, it does give him the opportunity to live out the life he would have had if not for his terminal brain disease. Throughout their history in several Star Trek series, many of the Soongs have become passionate scientists with questionable morals. Although Data (Brent Spiner) remains the greatest and best accomplishment of any Soong, Picard's golem body marks another positive contribution to the world.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 revealed Jean-Luc's season 1 death was caused by residual organic Borg DNA left in his brain from his time as Locutus of Borg, not Irumodic Syndrome.
