For Patrick Stewart, Star Trek will always be a kind of home. The actor has spent an important part of his career with the well-known franchise, which he recently revived with Star Trek: Picard. His passion for the sci-fi series is also reflected in his involvement on set. For example, He fought for six years to get rid of Picard’s petbecause es contradicts the Star Trek ethos.
Picard’s ornamental fish violates the principles of Patrick Stewart and Star Trek
Main character Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) has in Star Trek: The Next Generation an aquarium that has a Lionfish named Livingston This was probably a big problem for Patrick Stewart.
The reason lies in its Animal loveIn 2017 and 2018, Stewart was the face of an ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) campaign against dog fighting. In 2021, he was awarded the Pit Bull Advocate & Protector Award. And dogs aren’t the only species the actor has a heart for.
He also transferred his love of animals to Star Trek and to the principles of the series universe. The aquarium and the fish in Picard’s room were an affront to the idea of the series for Stewart. In Star Trek, the dignity of all species is highly valued. It would therefore make no sense to lock a fish in an aquarium. In an interview with Trekmovie, fellow actor Ronny Cox explained Stewart’s attitude: Patrick Stewart always hated the fish in the ready room. He said: ‘We’re doing a series about the dignity of all living beings in the universe and we have caught fish in the ready room?’
It wasn’t until the sixth season, the episode “Chain of Command,” that the aquarium was removed. Stewart had to fight for six years to have his wish finally respected.