Star Trek Picard: A Selected History

Amazon Prime's new hit series Star Trek Picard draws heavily from the previous episodes of previous series.  You don't need to have seen the earlier episodes to make sense of Picard or to enjoy the shows, but they help round out the story and pull some loose threads together.

Here are some of the key events in Picard's life, as told in episodes of The Next Generation, Voyager and two of the movies.

Background on robotics scientist Bruce Maddox and Data
The Measure Of A Man
TNG Season 2, Episode 9

First time the Enterprise meets the Borg
Q Who,
TNG Season 2, Episode 16

The Enterprise-D, Picard's ship during The Next Generation

Picard is assimilated by the Borg
The Best Of Both Worlds,
Part 1:  Season 3, Episode 26
Part 2:  Season 4, Episode 1

Introduction of Hugh
I, Borg
Season 5, Episode 23

More useful information on the Borg, and a good film. Not required viewing, but one of the best Star Trek films.
Star Trek First Contact - not available on Netflix or Amazon Prime (I can lend you the DVD).

First meeting with Seven of Nine (and more Borg)
Scorpion
Part 1: Star Trek Voyager, Season 3 Episode 26
Part 2: Star Trek Voyager, Season 4 Episode 1

Introduction of Icheb
Collective
Star Trek Voyager, Season 6, Episode 16

Icheb (far right) with a group of Borg Children, Collective

Icheb's feature episode
Child's Play
Star Trek Voyager, Season 6, Episode 19

The last time we saw Picard in uniform; Troi and Riker's wedding; the death of Data.
Star Trek Nemesis - also not available on Netflix or Amazon Prime (I can lend you the DVD)

Once you've watched some - or all - of these episodes from the archive, you'll understand more of the background behind Picard, and hopefully enjoy the new series even more.