Episode #75: The Best of Both Worlds,part 2
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Episode #75: The Best of Both Worlds,part 2
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Part Two episode #1 of 4th season
written by Michael Piller; Directed by Cliff Bole / Air Date: 9/24/90
There is an early scene here when admiral Hanson recalls how he met the heroic Picard, when Picard was just a cadet. Hanson finishes, however, by pronouncing Picard "a casualty of war." It's a sobering moment, a moment of foreboding and a chilling underscoring of the seriousness of the situation. I should also mention that I consider Hanson, as played by George Murdock, to be one of the better-depicted admirals on TNG.
Back in 1990, it really seemed to many viewers that Picard was designated as a casualty midway through this 2-parter; the possibility existed that Riker would take over as captain in the 4th season. The thriller aspects of a Trek adventure were taken to the ultimate level here. And, the Borg threat built on their previously-established relentlessness - the difference here was that there was no Q to bail out the Enterprise and the Federation - Starfleet and the heroes were on their own. The real strength of this 2-parter was how they magnified the threat in the 2nd part: the fleet of Federation ships was decimated by the Borg and things looked even more hopeless. Talk about being on pins-and-needles.
It probably goes without saying that the special FX for this 2-part episode, especially in this 2nd part, elevated this above most other episodes; there was almost a movie-styled quality to some scenes and the devastation we witness in the aftermath of the big battle at Wolf 359 was unexpected back then and startling.
Even more, this episode demonstrated how the Trekmakers tried to install that little bit of extra realism at the end of episodes by this time: rather than everything ending on a happy note, we see that Picard will be haunted by the events here for some time. Picard's trauma would be followed-up on in subsequent episodes, such as in Family. Indeed, the repercussions of this episode would be felt in the film Star Trek First Contact (1996).
Borg-speak such as the use of the term 'irrelevant' would gain prominence in our culture since this episode and the Borg were also potently presented as the rapists of outer space in the 24th century. I'll mention that, in my opinion, all further episodes with these terrors of the 24th century devolved the concept of the Borg into 'Lost Boys' territory and other silly nonsense - a shame. So, this 2-part epic was also, in many ways, the last word on The Borg. BoG's Score: 9.5
TNG Trivia: Riker declines a captain's chair for the 3rd time during this episode, electing to remain on the Enterprise as First Officer; he would finally make captain in the film Star Trek Nemesis (2002). 11,000 personnel and 39 ships were lost in the battle of Wolf 359; some of this was depicted in the pilot episode of Deep Space Nine. I wonder which ship survived?
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