Santiago Cabrera talks what’s next for his Star Trek: Picard character, Ríos, and the long journey ahead, in this exclusive interview.
Star Trek Picard season two is finally here, we have been reunited with the beloved crew as we see them off in their new adventure. In the middle of this adventure is Cristóbal Ríos, the former captain of La Sirena who now commands the USS Stargazer. We had a chance to speak with Santiago Cabrera, who plays Captain Ríos, about the challenges that he will face this season, to the songs that shaped our upbringing.
Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 3
When asked about the end of episode 3, where we see Ríos being taken by immigration in Los Angeles 2024, and how his character will change, Cabrera comments that for Ríos, the situation is very jarring due to him being “thrust into a world where, you know they come from a world where there’s more inclusion, and respect for fellow humans and races, diversity and used to a world of peace and much more evolved in that respect and he comes back and is thrust upon this world of hate and animosity and segregation.
It’s discovering that that creates in him this huge disappointment in humanity and that they’re capable of these things, but at the same time there’s something on a human level, without giving anything away, that he also discovers that he connects to and that it’s very pleasing to him that he connects to.” while also clarifying that the moment signifies a “clear arc for him in the season”.
With that being just one of the many challenges that Ríos is facing in the season, Cabrera does insist that we will see a “lighter side of Ríos, even though the stakes are very high and the story is full of surprises and things get serious in many aspects, but you will get to see his softer and lighter side of him, which was nice and refreshing to be able to play.”
Ríos is a very complex character, who is very reserved, and is afraid of opening up to people, which is why he his crew in La Sirena is just holograms of himself, when inquired about that, Cabrera says that “we get to explore that a little bit more, and see him come out of his shell.”
Season one of Star Trek Picard saw the return of Data, William Riker, and Deanna Troi, and now in season two, we will see the return of Q and Guinan, an exciting addition for Star Trek fans, but which other Star Trek character would he have liked Ríos to meet, Cabrera mentions the Ferengi, because “a little battle or an argument with the Ferengi would have been fun for Ríos.”
However, his excitement over having Q return was more, “We get asked a lot which character we would have loved to play as well, and I always say Q because he’s so unpredictable and fun and goes in all kinds of directions, so it was great.” while also noting that working with John De Lancie, “he is such a phenomenal actor and such a great person and it was great to get to spend some time with him and meet him. He brings so much gravitas and weight to the character and really elevates this season. I know the fans are so excited to see him.”
In season one, there was a moment that impacted me, and that was seeing Ríos sing the song, “Arroz con Leche”, a staple song in the Latinx community. The version he sang in the show was different than the one I had grown up with, and it caused a debate with my friends about which version of “Arroz con leche” is the correct one.
Cabrera, laughed at the question, said “That song is actually not a variation that I knew, it was the one that was on the script and I stuck with it because I liked it.” He then proceeded to sing the version he grew up with, which was unfamiliar to me as well, he then explained that he “didn’t sing that one because I know that it’s going to have that effect. Also why does he talk about wanting to marry a woman from
Portugal? I like the one that was on the page, I’d never heard it before, but I stuck with it.” he then asked what my version was, when I shared mine, he also remarked how it was also unfamiliar to him. Cabrera then concludes that “there’s no right version, the fact is that “Arroz con leche” is universal for all Latinos, there’s no right version for it.”
Make sure to watch the new season of Star Trek Picard with new episodes streaming exclusively on Paramount+ every Thursday!
About Star Trek: Picard Season 2
The second season of the American television series Star Trek: Picard features the character Jean-Luc Picard as he and his companions are trapped in the 21st century when reality is broken by Q as part of the ultimate trial for Picard. They must race against time to save the future of the galaxy.
The new season of Star Trek: Picard premieres March 3, 2022 exclusively on Paramount+.
