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The Best of Both Worlds (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Best of Both Worlds" is a two-part storyline (comprising the third season finale
and the fourth season premiere
) from the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
s 43989.1 - 44001.4 (December 2366/January 2367 by the Okuda timeline
). The Enterprise responds to a distress call from a Federation colony, but arrives to discover the colony gone, with only a crater remaining. Based on past knowledge of what happened to colonies along the Romulan Neutral Zone and on a deserted planet in System J-25, the Federation suspect Borg
activity.
Admiral Hanson arrives with Lt. Commander Shelby, an expert on the Borg, who assists the crew in determining the cause of the colony's disappearance. Hanson advises Captain Picard
that Commander Riker
has been offered the command of a starship for the third time, and advises that Riker take the position. Although there is tension between Riker and Shelby, who has designs on his position at first officer of the Enterprise, they confirm the colony was assimilated by the Borg. Hanson advises Picard that another Federation vessel encountered a strange "cube-like" vessel before sending a distress call that ended abruptly. The Enterprise moves to intercept and confronts a Borg Cube.
The Borg demand that Picard surrender himself, although he refuses. Although initially confused by the Enterprises shield modulation, the Borg lock the vessel in a tractor beam
and begin cutting open the hull. Shelby suggests randomly changing the frequency of the ship's phasers to prevent the Borg from adapting to the attack, which frees the vessel. The Enterprise escapes to a nearby nebula
, with Geordi LaForge and Wesley Crusher
adapting a technique suggested by Shelby to modify the deflector dish to fire a massive energy discharge capable of destroying the Borg cube. The Borg flushes the Enterprise from the nebula with magnetometric-guided charges, and then board the ship and abduct Picard. The Borg Cube moves off at high warp speed
towards Earth, with the Enterprise in pursuit.
Riker, now in command of the ship, prepares to join an away team to transport to the Cube to rescue Picard, but Counselor Troi reminds him his place is now on the bridge. Shelby leads the away team onto the Borg cube, where they discover they are ignored. The team locate Picard's uniform and communicator and then destroy power nodes inside the cube, forcing it out of warp. As the team prepare to transport to the Enterprise, they see an assimilated Picard. The Borg contact the Enterprise, with Picard stating he is now "Locutus of Borg", and to prepare for assimilation. Riker orders the crew to fire the deflector dish.
to stop the Borg. Learning via subspace communications that the battle is going badly, the Enterprise eventually arrives at Wolf 359 to find the fleet has been destroyed (including the Melbourne, which Riker was offered to command).
The Enterprise follows the cube's warp trail, and offer to enter into negotiations with Locutus. The request is denied, but the communication reveals Locutus' exact location on the Cube. The Enterprise locates the Borg cube, and as per a plan suggested by Shelby to Picard, separates into saucer and stardrive section respectively. Although Shelby suggested attacking with the stardrive section, Riker does the reverse and orders the saucer section to fire an anti-matter spread near the Cube, disrupting its sensors and allowing a shuttlecraft piloted by Data
and Worf
to pass the Borg shields and beam aboard the Borg cube. They successfully kidnap Locutus, although the Borg ignore this and continue to Earth, destroying all resistance.
Data and Dr. Crusher
create a neural link
with Locutus to gain access to the Borg's collective consciousness. Data attempts to use the link to disable the Borg's weapons and defensive systems, but discovers they are protected from external influence. With the Borg on the verge of invading Earth, Riker orders the Enterprise to ram the Borg cube, speed but Data asks him to wait. Picard breaks free from the Borg control and tells Data to "sleep." Data issues a low-level, unprotected command to the Borg to enter sleep mode, causing their weapons and shields to deactivate. A feedback loop builds in the Borg cube which destroys the vessel. Dr. Crusher and Data are then able to successfully remove all Borg implants from Picard.
The Enterprise moves to an orbital shipyard for extensive repairs, and Riker, although offered command of his own ship, insists on remaining as the first officer. Shelby is reassigned to a task force dedicated to rebuilding the fleet. Picard recovers slowly but is still disturbed by his ordeal.
s for "Outstanding Art Direction for a Series" and
"Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series".
The storyline appeared in TV Guide
's "100 Most Memorable Moments in TV History" (July 1, 1995) and ranked #70 on the 100 Greatest TV Episodes of All Time.
In 2008, Empire
magazine rated Star Trek: The Next Generation 37th on their list of "The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time" and cited "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II" as the show's best episode. The episode was ranked #36 on TV Guide
s list of "TV's Top 100 Episodes of All Time".
was conducted by Ron Jones
, with a synthetic chorus used as a Borg leitmotif
. The score was eventually was released as an album.
Season finale
A season finale is the final episode of a season of a television program...
and the fourth season premiere
Season premiere
In North America, a season premiere is the first episode of a new season of a given television show. It often airs in September or October, after several months of reruns.-Evaluating the changes:...
) from the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
.
Part 1
The story occurs across stardateStardate
A stardate is a date in the fictional system of time measurement developed for Star Trek, commonly heard at the beginning of a voiceover log entry such as "Captain's log, stardate 41153.7...
s 43989.1 - 44001.4 (December 2366/January 2367 by the Okuda timeline
Timeline of Star Trek
Below is an abridged timeline of events established in the group of television shows and feature films set in the Star Trek universe. Many dates are estimates as the various shows and films are not consistent in their use of dates...
). The Enterprise responds to a distress call from a Federation colony, but arrives to discover the colony gone, with only a crater remaining. Based on past knowledge of what happened to colonies along the Romulan Neutral Zone and on a deserted planet in System J-25, the Federation suspect Borg
Borg (Star Trek)
The Borg are a fictional pseudo-race of cybernetic organisms depicted in the Star Trek universe associated with Star Trek.Whereas cybernetics are used by other races in the science fiction world to repair bodily damage and birth defects, the Borg use enforced cybernetic enhancement as a means of...
activity.
Admiral Hanson arrives with Lt. Commander Shelby, an expert on the Borg, who assists the crew in determining the cause of the colony's disappearance. Hanson advises Captain Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
that Commander Riker
William Riker
William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe primarily appearing as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
has been offered the command of a starship for the third time, and advises that Riker take the position. Although there is tension between Riker and Shelby, who has designs on his position at first officer of the Enterprise, they confirm the colony was assimilated by the Borg. Hanson advises Picard that another Federation vessel encountered a strange "cube-like" vessel before sending a distress call that ended abruptly. The Enterprise moves to intercept and confronts a Borg Cube.
The Borg demand that Picard surrender himself, although he refuses. Although initially confused by the Enterprises shield modulation, the Borg lock the vessel in a tractor beam
Tractor beam
A tractor beam is a device with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance. Since the 1990s, technology and research has labored to make it a reality, mostly at microscopic level. Less commonly, a similar beam that repels is called a pressor beam or repulsor beam...
and begin cutting open the hull. Shelby suggests randomly changing the frequency of the ship's phasers to prevent the Borg from adapting to the attack, which frees the vessel. The Enterprise escapes to a nearby nebula
Nebula
A nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas, helium gas and other ionized gases...
, with Geordi LaForge and Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher
Wesley Crusher is a character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is Beverly Crusher's son and is portrayed by actor Wil Wheaton, the character was a regular for the first four seasons. Afterwards, the character appeared sporadically. The character also appeared briefly in...
adapting a technique suggested by Shelby to modify the deflector dish to fire a massive energy discharge capable of destroying the Borg cube. The Borg flushes the Enterprise from the nebula with magnetometric-guided charges, and then board the ship and abduct Picard. The Borg Cube moves off at high warp speed
Warp drive (Star Trek)
Warp drive is a faster-than-light propulsion system in the setting of many science fiction works, most notably Star Trek. A spacecraft equipped with a warp drive may travel at velocities greater than that of light by many orders of magnitude, while circumventing the relativistic problem of time...
towards Earth, with the Enterprise in pursuit.
Riker, now in command of the ship, prepares to join an away team to transport to the Cube to rescue Picard, but Counselor Troi reminds him his place is now on the bridge. Shelby leads the away team onto the Borg cube, where they discover they are ignored. The team locate Picard's uniform and communicator and then destroy power nodes inside the cube, forcing it out of warp. As the team prepare to transport to the Enterprise, they see an assimilated Picard. The Borg contact the Enterprise, with Picard stating he is now "Locutus of Borg", and to prepare for assimilation. Riker orders the crew to fire the deflector dish.
Part 2
The deflector dish has no effect, with Locutus revealing that as he is in possession of Picard's knowledge the Borg prepared for the attack. The Borg Cube continues at warp speed towards Earth, with the crippled Enterprise unable to follow. Upon reporting their failure to Hansom, Riker is promoted to Captain and advised a large fleet of starships is massing at Wolf 359Battle of Wolf 359
The Battle of Wolf 359 is a fictional space battle in the Star Trek universe between the United Federation of Planets and the Borg Collective in the year 2367...
to stop the Borg. Learning via subspace communications that the battle is going badly, the Enterprise eventually arrives at Wolf 359 to find the fleet has been destroyed (including the Melbourne, which Riker was offered to command).
The Enterprise follows the cube's warp trail, and offer to enter into negotiations with Locutus. The request is denied, but the communication reveals Locutus' exact location on the Cube. The Enterprise locates the Borg cube, and as per a plan suggested by Shelby to Picard, separates into saucer and stardrive section respectively. Although Shelby suggested attacking with the stardrive section, Riker does the reverse and orders the saucer section to fire an anti-matter spread near the Cube, disrupting its sensors and allowing a shuttlecraft piloted by Data
Data (Star Trek)
Lieutenant Commander Data is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe portrayed by actor Brent Spiner. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek...
and Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
to pass the Borg shields and beam aboard the Borg cube. They successfully kidnap Locutus, although the Borg ignore this and continue to Earth, destroying all resistance.
Data and Dr. Crusher
Beverly Crusher
Commander Beverly Crusher, M.D. , played by actress Gates McFadden, is a fictional character on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its subsequent spinoff films...
create a neural link
Brain-computer interface
A brain–computer interface , sometimes called a direct neural interface or a brain–machine interface , is a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device...
with Locutus to gain access to the Borg's collective consciousness. Data attempts to use the link to disable the Borg's weapons and defensive systems, but discovers they are protected from external influence. With the Borg on the verge of invading Earth, Riker orders the Enterprise to ram the Borg cube, speed but Data asks him to wait. Picard breaks free from the Borg control and tells Data to "sleep." Data issues a low-level, unprotected command to the Borg to enter sleep mode, causing their weapons and shields to deactivate. A feedback loop builds in the Borg cube which destroys the vessel. Dr. Crusher and Data are then able to successfully remove all Borg implants from Picard.
The Enterprise moves to an orbital shipyard for extensive repairs, and Riker, although offered command of his own ship, insists on remaining as the first officer. Shelby is reassigned to a task force dedicated to rebuilding the fleet. Picard recovers slowly but is still disturbed by his ordeal.
Reception
The first episode won Emmy AwardEmmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s for "Outstanding Art Direction for a Series" and
"Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series".
The storyline appeared in TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
's "100 Most Memorable Moments in TV History" (July 1, 1995) and ranked #70 on the 100 Greatest TV Episodes of All Time.
In 2008, Empire
Empire (magazine)
Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
magazine rated Star Trek: The Next Generation 37th on their list of "The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time" and cited "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II" as the show's best episode. The episode was ranked #36 on TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
s list of "TV's Top 100 Episodes of All Time".
Music
The musical scoreFilm score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
was conducted by Ron Jones
Ron Jones (composer)
Ron Jones is an American composer who has written music for TV shows, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, Duck Tales, American Dad!, and Family Guy...
, with a synthetic chorus used as a Borg leitmotif
Leitmotif
A leitmotif , sometimes written leit-motif, is a musical term , referring to a recurring theme, associated with a particular person, place, or idea. It is closely related to the musical idea of idée fixe...
. The score was eventually was released as an album.