Star Trek: Picard continues the journey of the iconic Enterprise captain. Sadly, it also suffers from many issues plaguing modern Star Trek. The writing is less intelligent and doesn't respect the franchise's legacy.
As a result, Picard himself has undergone a slew of impromptu changes. Granted, people naturally grow and change as they get older, but this show directly goes against previous information. It contradicts ingrained traits that are part of who Picard is. Alternatively, it boasts a number of cosmetic quirks, but even these will doubtless spark the ire and analysis of countless Trekkies. In some circles, these artistic liberties are equally offensive.
7 His Uniform
The Starfleet uniform seems to change with every generation. In flashbacks, Picard still sports the black and red. However, the latter color is less pronounced. The design is more akin to Deep Space Nine than The Next Generation. Don't get used to it, though.
Picard spends most of the show in street clothes. He's not in Starfleet anymore. That said, he still commands a ragtag crew of misfits, so he often dons a black coat. That's probably because it looks the slickest and most official without actually being a Starfleet uniform.
6 His Stance On Starfleet
The show begins with an interview. The journalist asks Picard about his Starfleet career before the topic shifts to the destruction of Romulus seen in the 2009 Star Trek film. Questions deal with Picard's role in the Romulan evacuation, Starfleet retracting its aid, and the banning of androids due to another incident. These events led Picard to grow disillusioned with the service.
That's a far cry from his past self, who believed in Starfleet's mission to explore new cultures and promote peace between them. Like most of modern Trek, the change comes from how the showrunners perceived the political climate in the United States. They wanted to reflect that bleak outlook by dismantling the utopian vision of Starfleet. Unfortunately, this causes the character and organization to be completely unrecognizable.
5 His Diplomatic Skills
In The Next Generation, part of Picard's duty was acting as a bridge between cultures. As such, he was a practiced diplomat, acting as a neutral party in a given conflict. He respected the rules of each opposing party. Further, he listened to everyone's opinions and worked to de-escalate any hostilities. That's not the case anymore.
The Picard of this show asserts his own worldview on others. Worse, he denigrates them for not recognizing it. This inevitably starts a few fights, such as when he tears down a Romulan-only sign. Anyone could predict this would only inflame the situation. The former captain's flagrant disregard for peaceful solutions is most illogical.
4 His Opinion Of The Crew
While serving as captain, Picard kept his crew at arm's length. He never got too personal with anyone except for Beverly Crusher. This makes him somewhat distant, but it also means he's impartial. Such professionalism is what people admire about him as a leader. Granted, the TNG finale implies those barriers start to come down when he joins the crew for a game of cards, but that's nothing compared to here.
Picard now looks back on the Enterprise crew like family. He's openly sentimental to Riker and Troi while visiting their cabin. What's more is that when he sees Data in a vision, he professes his love for the late android. Maybe living alone in a vineyard has fueled this desire for companionship. Alternatively, perhaps the showrunners are once again projecting the audiences' love for these characters onto Picard. The latter is probably more plausible.
3 His Borg PTSD
Picard endured many trials during his tenure, but the most impactful were the Borg. This cybernetic collective attempted to assimilate the captain. Even when free from their clutches, he suffered a profound psychological impact. That's why a later episode tackled his lingering PTSD. After this, the problem seemed to be solved. True, it had a brief bout in the movies, but all indications pointed to Picard moving past his trauma.
Sadly, the fear still plagues him decades later. When in proximity to the Borg or even reminded of them, Picard practically has a panic attack. Granted, it has a basis in real life. War veterans and other trauma survivors still deal with emotional issues into their senior years. Nevertheless, this runs counter to what fans saw prior.
2 His Acting
Complementing Picard's reserved quality was his unwillingness to risk his dignity or hide who he is. He admits that he's not much of an actor, which is ironic given the Shakespearean thespian playing him. He retains his composure except in extreme distress. In the same way, he never performed at ship functions or went for the cliché of posing as someone else to deceive enemies.
The new show throws in one of those very moments. Donning a hat, eye patch, and a silly accent, Picard tries to throw off the guards of the Freecloud planet. The routine is flamboyant and ridiculous, and no one in their right mind would buy it for a second. Apparently, Picard wasn't lying about his acting skills.
1 His Body
In his twilight years, Picard is obviously lacking in physical capability. He struggles with running and other aspects of action scenes. It's no surprise that--like other stories about old characters--he dies in the Season One finale. Despite that, the showrunners want to continue the tale.
Thus, he wakes up in an android body. He looks identical and has the same number of years left as a healthy man his age. Sure, it's implausible, but it ensures that Picard can gallivant across the galaxy for a little longer. He probably wishes for a newer vessel, though.