Episode Spotlight: The Best of Both Worlds, Parts 1 and 2
Episode SpotlightThe Best of Both Worlds Parts 1 and 2
Stardate 43989.1. Responding to a distress call the USS Enterprise orbits Jouret IV, one of the Federations most distant colonies. An away team consisting of Riker, Data, Geordi and Worf beam down to find the colony completely gone, only a giant crater remaining. The Enterprise is joined by a ship carrying Admiral J.P. Hansen and Lt. Commander Shelby from Starfleet tactical. Starfleet believes that the Borg are responsible for the disappearance of the colony. Shelby points out the crater is almost identical to what the Enterprise detected on the planets in system J-25 (see Q Who?) Shelbys job is to find any kind of defenses against the Borg. Riker shows Shelby to her guest quarters. Admiral Hansen tells Picard that the captaincy of the USS Melbourne is available and is being offered to Riker. In Shelby's quarters Shelby tells Riker what she's looking for to confirm the Borg are responsible for destroying the colony. She also tells Riker that she wants to prove to Captain Picard that she's the right person to take over his position as first officer. Riker is surprised as he has no intention of leaving the Enterprise. Later that evening Shelby Joins Riker, Data, Geordi, Troi and Wesley in a poker game. The round ends with Shelby winning after calling Rikers bluff. The next morning Riker and Geordi enter the transporter room to find that Shelby and Data have already beamed down to the surface. Beaming down Riker expresses his displeasure at her beaming down early without consulting him. After a dressing down from Riker Shelby reports that they have confirmed that the Borg are responsible. Admiral Hansen returns to Starfleet to plan for a Borg attack, while Shelby stays on the Enterprise to make tactical preparations. Picard asks Riker why he hasn't taken the Melbourne command, Riker says he would rather stay on the Enterprise. Later he discusses his desire to stay with Troi. In engineering Shelby, Riker, Data, Geordi and Wesley discuss what they know aboard the Borg and look for possible weaknesses. Although some of the officers are becoming fatigued, Shelby wants to continue but Riker shuts her down and ends the meeting. In the conference room the officers communicate with Admiral Hansen who reports that the USS Lalo disappeared the previous night after sending a distress signal saying that they have encountered a "cube shaped" vessel. The Enterprise being the closest ship, they go to investigate. A short time later they detect and encounter the Borg cube. The Borg cure hails the Enterprise, specifically Captain Picard. They demand that Picard beam aboard the Borg Cube. The Borg Cube tries to lock a tractor beam onto the Enterprise. Geordi recalibrates shield but it has no effect. A battle ensues, engineering has to be evacuated due to a hull breach. After breaking the Borg tractor beam the Enterprise flees and hides in the Paulson Nebula. While the Borg Cube waits for the Enterprise to come out of the Nebula the crew review the data from the battle, determining that the Borg are vulnerable to certain phaser frequencies. They come up with a plan to use the deflector dish as a weapon. Shelby also recommends separating the saucer section and assigning a skeleton crew to create a diversion. Riker is not fond of the plan. Later he finds Shelby in the ready room talking to Captain Picard about her idea. In the turbolift Riker dresses Shelby down about going around him to the captain. Shelby says that Riker is "in her way" and that all he knows how to do is "play it safe" which is why he keeps passing up command opportunities. Riker counters that "when it comes to this ship and this crew, you're damn right I play it safe". While the Enterprise hides in the nebula and makes preparation for the next encounter Picard talks to Guinan about the inevitable battle to come. The Borg fire a series of charges into the nebula to drive the Enterprise out. The Enterprise flees, the Borg cube pursues them. A battle ensues, the Borg lock on a tractor beam. Several Borg drones beam on to the bridge. Worf shoots one, another adapts its energy shields, rendering the phaser useless. A third beams in and incapacitates and abducts Captain Picard. Riker takes command and they pursue the Borg cube, which is now on a direct course for Sector 001: Earth. On the Borg ship thew collective addresses Picard: to facilitate the assimilation of humanity it has been decided that a single voice will speak for the Borg in all communications: Picard. On the Enterprise Geordi reports that the deflector weapon is ready, but they need the power from the warp drive to make it work. To get the Borg ship down to impulse and try to retrieve Picard Riker wants to lead an away team. Troi correctly points out that as Riker is currently in command his place is on the bridge. He assigns Shelby to lead the away team. On the Borg Cube the away team discovers that their tricorders don't function. On the Enterprise Riker communicates with Admiral Hansen, who says that Starfleet is moving to intercept the Borg ship at Wolf 359. On the Borg cube the away team find Picard's uniform and combadge. They destroy several power distribution nodes, causing the Borg ship to drop out of warp. The Borg respond to the intruders, the away team quickly finds themselves overwhelmed by Borg drones who have adapted to the phasers. Then they see him: Picard-borgified. Unable to retrieve him they beam back to the Enterprise. On the bridge they report to Riker about Picard. Geordi reports that the defector weapon is ready. The Enterprise is then hailed by the Borg ship. Picard speaks "I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life as it has been is over. From this time forward you will service us". Riker gives the order: "Mister Worf...Fire."
TO BE CONTINUED...
Part 2
The Enterprise fires its deflector dish superweapon. The beam hits the Borg ship but has no impact-the Borg knew about it through Locutus and had already adapted. "The Knowledge and experience of the Human 'Picard' is part of us now." The Enterprise's deflector dish is burnt out, leaving in disabled and unable to pursue the Borg ship, which has resumed its course towards Earth. Riker communicates with Admiral Hansen, the Admiral says that an armada of 40 ships is mobilized at Wolf 359 and that the Klingons are sending ships. Shelby points out that with Picard's knowledge the Borg will be prepared for the Federation fleet. The admiral tells the story of how he met Picard and says that there is "no way in hell" that Picard would assist the Borg. Hansen gives Riker a field promotion to Captain. On the Borg ship Locutus lays on a table while he is fitted with a cybernetic arm. As a drone inserts a probe into the side of Locutus' head the color drains from his skin and a single tear rolls down the side of his face. On the way to engineering Riker and Worf discuss retuning the phasers to counter the Borg's energy shields. Arriving in engineering Worf assist with repairs while Shelby briefs Riker on their status. Riker tells her that she did a good job on the Borg Cube. He says that he wants to keep working with her. Data reports from the bridge that Starfleet has engaged the Borg at Wolf 359. As Riker returns to the bridge the Enterprise is hailed by Admiral Hansen. The admirals ship is under heavy attack "the fight does not go well Enterprise. Attempting to withdraw and regroup. Rendezvous with the fleet-" the message is abruptly cut off. Repairs completed the Enterprise warps to Wolf 359. In the conference room Riker announces his choice for first officer: Lt. Commander Shelby. The crew discuss additional tactics to use against the Borg. After the meeting Riker enters the ready room and asks Picards empty chair "what would you do?" The door chime sounds, it's Guinan. Sitting in Picard's chair she tells Riker about the low crew morale. She tells him that to defeat the Borg he will have to give up Picard. She reminds him that he is now the captain, and that there can only be one captain. From the bridge Wesley reports that they have reached the Wolf 359 system. They detect what's left of the fleet: wreckage. No lifesigns. Shelby recognizes some of the ships "The Tolstoy, the Kyushu, the Melbourne". They follow the Borg Cube's course and Riker tells Shelby to prepare her plan to separate the saucer section. From the battle bridge Riker Hails Locutus on the Borg ship. He tells Locutus that they are prepared to meet to discuss terms. He appeals to Picard's knowledge and experience. Locust says there are no terms. Tracing the signal the crew get Locutus coordinates. The ship separates and both parts open fire on the Borg ship. The saucer fires an antimatter spread. Worf and Data take a shuttlecraft inside the Borg subspace field and beam onto the cube. After shooting several drones they incapacitate and retrieve Locutus. They head back to the Enterprise, but the shuttlecraft is targeted and destroyed by the Borg. Just before it's destruction Worf, Data and Locutus are beamed to the Enterprise. The Borg ship resumes its course for Earth. After reconnecting the saucer the Enterprise pursues it. In sickbay Riker and Dr. Crusher discuss using Locutus to get information on the Borg. Beverly wakes Locutus. He says his abduction from the Borg is of no consequence, that the Borg will continue to Earth where they will force the Federations surrender and begin assimilating humanity. On the bridge Data reports that he has detected a series of subspace signals between Locutus and the Borg Cube. After some discussion Data devises a plan to use himself to access the Borg through Locutus. In sickbay Locutus says that the Klingons will also be assimilated and calls Data a "primitive artificial organism". Dr. Crusher sedates him and Data takes him to the cybernetics lab. Shelby reports that the Borg have entered Sector 001. As Riker arrives on the bridge Shelby reports that Jupiter outpost 92 has reported contact with the Borg. In the lab Data has connected his positronic matrix to Locutus. He begins attempting to establish a link to the Borg collective consciousness. Meanwhile the Borg Cube easily dispatches the Mars defense perimeter drones. Data makes a connection to the Borg subspace signals. He ultimately manages to access the root command to control the Borg, but Locutus becomes conscious and tries to attack. Data grabs the cybernetic arm and breaks it. Dr. Crusher detects increased Brain activity from Locutus, Troi senses that it's not Locutus but Picard himself trying to make contact. Picard holds Data's arm to prove it. The Borg Cube halts its approach to Earth. Riker orders Data to implant a command into the Borg consciousness. The Enterprise engages the Borg Cube. Data is unable to implant a command to effect defense or power systems. Riker order a collision course with the Cube. Picard -not Locutus- tells Data "Sleep." Data realizes that this is the command to implant. Data sends the command and all Borg drones on the ship go into regeneration mode. The Borg ship shuts down. Riker sends an away team led by Shelby to the Borg ship to confirm its status. Shelby reports that the Borg are in fact "asleep" and that the Borg ships power system is about to feed back on itself. Riker orders the away team to beam back and orders Wesley to move the Enterprise to a safe distance. The Borg ship explodes from the power feedback and Picard is freed from the Borg. Later, Riker reports to Picard (now de-borgified) that Earth Station McKinley is ready to repair and refit the Enterprise, which will take 5-6 weeks. Shelby enters and requests permission to disembark, Picard grants it. Shelby will be leading the efforts to rebuild Starfleet. After Shelby and Riker leaves Picard turns and looks out the window, into space, thinking, wondering...
WOW! Wow Wow Wow Wow! It's not for naught that The Best of Both Worlds two parter is widely considered the best Trek episode ever. Especially at the time, having an episode with such heavy stakes (possibly killing off the captain), plus the threat of the Borg, a very real existential threat to Earth and Humanity was a major new direction for the franchise. Guest stars Elizabeth Dennehy (Shelby), George Murdock (Hansen) and Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan) all shine in the episode as do all of the TNG regulars, notably Johnathan Frakes and Patrick Stewart (the later as both Picard and Locutus. This episode and its sequel Family (as well as many future Treks) also exemplify something that Trek has come to embrace-that actions have consequences. As we see in future TNG episodes, Star Trek First Contact and Star Trek Picard, the mental/emotional scars of Locutus are something that Jean-Luc Picard will have to live with for the rest of his life. The reactions on the crews faces upon seeing the devastation at the site of the battle, 39 starships destroyed, no lifesigns, only served to underscore the gravity of what they're facing (in a later episode it's said that the loss of life was nearly 11000 people. Let's also talk about that cliffhanger-possibly one of the best cliffhanger endings EVER. In hindsight even moreso since the writers had not written part 2 when the season wrapped and so had no idea how the story would end (or even if Picard would die or not).
Trivia
Out of worries that the script for part 2 could be leaked, the scripts were originally printed and given to the cast members with a secret code in each script: the Jupiter outpost number was different in each copy and a list was kept of who had each number for tracking in case of a leak. The finals scripts, given to the cast on shooting day all had Jupiter Outpost 92.
Quotes
Picard: Mister Worf, dispatch a subspace message to Admiral Hanson. We have engaged the Borg.
Picard: I have nothing to say to you! And I will resist you with my last ounce of strength!
The Borg: Strength is irrelevant. Resistance is futile. We wish to improve ourselves. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service ours.
Picard: Impossible! My culture is based on freedom and self-determination!
The Borg: Freedom is irrelevant. Self-determination is irrelevant. You must comply.
Picard: We would rather die!
The Borg: Death is irrelevant. Your archaic cultures are authority-driven. To facilitate our introduction into your societies, it has been decided that a Human voice will speak for us in all communications. You have been chosen to be that voice.
Locutus: I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life as it has been is over. From this time forward you will service us
Riker: Mister Worf...Fire.
Locutus: The knowledge and experience of the Human 'Picard' is part of us now. It has prepared us for all possible courses of action. Your resistance is hopeless... Number One.
Hansen: I never met anyone with more drive, determination or more courage than Jean-Luc Picard and there is no way in hell that he would assist the Borg. I want that clear!
Picard: Almost Human...with just a bit of a headache.
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