| Review : |
Quite simply the best that TNG ever produced. The Borg are coming, then they're here, then they're going for Earth. We don't even see them for half-an-hour, which helps build up the tension very well. There's something unworldly about the Borg: they don't threaten, they just announce their intentions; they don't shoot, they just grab; they don't kill, they assimilate. Lt-Cdr Shelby is a very good introduction. I'm not sure if the writers did this as a double-bluff or not. Is she here to replace Riker? Is Riker leaving to take up a new command? Then when Picard disappears, that adds a series of new questions. Can they save him? Is Riker going to be the new captain? Is Shelby the new XO? It's only a sub-plot, but it adds a lot to the main one. You can tell it's all winding up to something big. The main plot runs faster and faster, with the first clash half-way through, depth-charging the nebula, kidnapping Picard and the sequence inside the cube itself (always very a disturbing sight). As for the end, the assimilated Picard standing there, announcing the Borg's intentions, perfect. Then there is the best cliffhanger I have ever seen. "Mister Worf, fire..." |
| Review : |
Despite some silly dialogue from Locutus and stilted acting during the physical action sequences, I cannot give this less than five stars. Similar to Voyager's "Scorpion", The Best of Both Worlds is a two-part Borg epic which pushes the characters to their limits and gives most of the cast something interesting to do. TNG's slower pace allows more thought and introspection, and at this point we are still learning about the Borg. Personally, I believe confronting the Borg would require the kind of urgency and instant decisions Janeway and Chakotay make in Voyager, due to the Borg's ability to adapt and the sheer physical power of their cubes. TBOBW introduces the brilliant Commander Shelby who should have become a recurring guest. She actively challenges Riker, bringing a rare conflict which allows for character development and a better, livelier Riker. It's always good to see TNG characters exploring and investigating a Borg cube. To me, the legendary cliffhanger seems a bit moot, you know something is going to go wrong with Riker's weapon. I prefer the visceral impact of ENT's "Azati Prime" (despite also knowing the NX-01 would survive) for an episode cliffhanger and the sight of the massive Starfleet armada as a DS9 season finale was more shocking. That said, TBOBW remains a hugely impressive episode and is rightly regarded as TNG's finest hour. (And a half.) |
