Star Trek: Picard’s Todd Stashwick Discusses the Viewers’ Love-Hate Relationship With Captain Shaw

Prior to the Star Trek: Picard’s latest episode, the audience has had a love-hate relationship with Todd Stashwick’s Captain Liam Shaw. The fourth episode of the third season saw Captain Shaw interrupting a heartwarming moment between father and son Picard and Jack. He went on to reveal that he had previously met Picard before, back when the celebrated Starfleet officer was still the treacherous Locutus of Borg. Shaw’s tragic experiences made the audience understand his character better.

On Stashwick’s interview with Collider, he shares the reasoning behind his character’s being. The actor gives a reasonable explanation why the audience has a love-hate relationship with Shaw, he said, “Specifically with Shaw, he’s not wrong. When you hear his logic, and you hear his reasoning, even in Episode 1, you’re like, “The guy’s got a point.” Even if it’s delivered caustically, sarcastically, dripping with sarcasm, or passive-aggression, he’s not wrong. “

He continued, “Even though we’re rooting for Riker and Picard, because we want to get on with the adventure, you still go, “The guy’s got a point,” and I think he always has a point. His motivations are justified. Plus, I try to put enough of a swagger and twinkle into the guy’s eye that he’s at least fun to watch, hopefully. To watch him pinching the nose and poking the eye of these legends, that’s a good time.”

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Todd Stashwick’s Favorite Moments With Co-stars

Aside from shedding some light on his character, Stashwick also shared his favorite moment on the series. Discussing the satisfying moments of Shaw moments in the series, he shares, “That one, obviously, is the Machu Picchu of his story, it’s his defining moment in the season. There’s how you see him before, then that scene, and then how you view the man after that scene because I think it changes the audience’s perspective and how they receive him. So, definitely that.”

He added, “I loved the fact that this guy is not impressed with the legends. He does not see them as having high status over him, except for one character he does. I don’t know if you got to that scene yet, but there’s one character from [The Next Generation] that makes his heart go pitter-patter. There’s a lovely little moment to the point where Seven and Picard have to look at each other because I am just fangirling over one of the other characters. I loved it, and we got to improvise in that scene as well.”

The actor further revealed that he’s had tons of favorite moments on the series behind the scenes. In terms of moments with his co-stars, the actor shares, “I worked with Jeri [Ryan] a lot on this season. She is my first officer, she’s my number one. She and I just had such fun playing… Jonathan [Frakes] and I, we had a history because he was my director on Burn Notice.

He added, “So we spent some time in Florida together, then I’d see him just periodically throughout, and I think our paths crossed on Leverage at one point. I’ve known him, so it was very warm, but to get to act across from him was a different wonderful experience as well.”

Of course, he wouldn’t forget to mention one of the icons of the series, Patrick Stewart. The actor shared a touching interaction with Steward. He shared, “Sir Patrick [Stewart], of course. Sir Patrick, he’s the titular character of the show, the eponymous Picard. There was one moment, and I’ve shared this, where I was sitting in the captain’s chair in between takes—my captain’s chair on my ship.”

He continued, “Patrick was sitting next to me, we were just waiting for setups, and Brent Spiner comes over, and he is sort of playfully roughhousing with Patrick. He was there doing some makeup tests. Patrick looks, and he goes, “Have you met Todd Stashwick?” Then he leans in conspiratorially, and he goes, “He’s one of us.” My heart popped. Then I got up and walked into the scene.”