On Star Trek the Next Generation, Why is Capt. Picard, arguably the least archetypal twentieth century character, cast as the most interested in that now bygone century?

Capt. Picard shows his interest in the 1900’s by role playing as a private investigator of the 1940’s. No other character, of which all were in real life born into the twentieth century, seems as much inclined to its study.

What are the writers subconsciously or maybe overtly attempting by casting an actor of the Shakespearean school…

What is that, Irony?

here’s looking at you Seazen