The Best of Both Worlds: Part II 

Having absorbed Captain Picard and his knowledge, the Borg head for Earth, leaving Riker and the Enterprise desperate for an unanticipated way to defeat them.

Director:

Cliff Bole

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Michael Piller

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Patrick Stewart	...	Capt. Jean-Luc Picard / Locutus of Borg
Jonathan Frakes	...	Cmdr. William Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Wil Wheaton	...	Ensign Wesley Crusher
Elizabeth Dennehy	...	Lt. Cmdr. Shelby
George Murdock	...	Admiral J. P. Hanson
Colm Meaney	...	Chief Miles O'Brien
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Guinan
Todd Merrill	...	Gleason

Storyline

As acting captain, and despite Picard being aboard the Borg ship (absorbed into the Collective and rechristened "Locutus"), Commander Riker has no choice but to fire full force on the vessel. No effect. Subsequent emergency repairs keep the Enterprise from joining a united stand with Admiral J. P. Hanson (along with Klingon aid). With Picard deemed lost forever, Riker is granted full command. He orders technology to be rendered unpredictable, such as randomizing phaser settings. Hanson's communication cuts out: the war must be going badly. To avoid musical chairs, Riker names Borg expert Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Paula Shelby his XO. At a renewed confrontation, Locutus refuses to come to terms, the saucer separates, and gunfire engages, including an anti-matter spread. Data and Worf beam into the Borg ship, overpower them and get Locutus into their shuttle and beam away before it's shot down. If Crusher can awaken Picard, he may now have decisive Borg info, but Locutus maintains ...

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Plot Keywords:

evasive manoeuvre | continued from previous episode | scene continued from previous episode | first officer's log | borg starship | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1990 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo DTS (5.1 surround)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

This episode marks the first appearance of Mars in the "Star Trek" franchise.

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Goofs

In the first scene that is a direct continuation of the previous season finale's cliffhanger, Dr. Crusher's hairstyle changes significantly from the scene in the previous season -- it is a much fuller and thicker wig that is also less bright red in color.

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Quotes

Locutus: Worf - Klingon species. A warrior race. You, too, will be assimilated.
Lieutenant Worf: The Klingon Empire will never yield!
Locutus: Why do you resist? We only wish to raise quality of life, for all species.
Lieutenant Worf: I like my species the way it is!

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Connections

Referenced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Prophecy Girl (1997)

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Soundtracks

Star Trek: The Next Generation End Credits
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User Reviews

Locutus of Borg

The last episode and the previous season ended on a real cliffhanger with the Enterprise making a strategic retreat from the Borg and the Borg abducting Captain Picard. When we next meet Patrick Stewart he's now wired into the Borg collective and become Locutus of Borg.

Continuing on from the previous episode, Commander Riker gets what they used to call a brevet promotion to captain. His executive officer is Elizabeth Dennehy and they've sort of worked out an arrangement to put their dislike of each other like on hold.

With the Borg capturing Patrick Stewart they now know all he knows about the collective. Time to throw away the book as Whoopi Goldberg tells Jonathan Frakes.

Of course the Borg are stopped and the series goes on. It's a close run thing however, the tension is heavy.

Here's a hint the fact that they wired Patrick Stewart into the Borg collective proves their undoing.

Tune in, see what I mean.