TNG’s classic Borg 2-parter is even better if you know its secret

Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s iconic “best of both worlds” two-parter remains a highlight of the Star Trek franchise, but it’s even better when you know the behind-the-scenes details. TNG Season 3 ended with Star Trek First major cliffhanger, the words “to be continued” Appearing on screen for the first of what would become many times. even today, “The Best of Both Worlds, Part I” is one of the best cliffhangers on television And it works for several reasons. But the context of what went on behind the scenes makes the success of the two-parter even more impressive.

When the USS Enterprise-D goes to investigate a potential Borg attack, they find themselves up against a Borg cube. Proclaim “Resistance is futile,” The Borg captures Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and assimilates him. As the new mouthpiece for the Borg, Picard as Locust leads a devastating attack against the Federation In The Battle of Wolf 359. As “The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1” ends, Commander William Ricker (Jonathan Frakes) orders the Enterprise to fire on the Borg Cube, with Captain Picard aboard.

Star Trek: TNG’s “Best of Both Worlds” is even better if you know its secret

Even the writers and actors didn’t know how the cliffhanger would end.

When the Star Trek: The Next Generation Writers were working on “The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1,” having no idea how the story would end. Executive producer Michael Piller wanted TNG Season 3 to end on a cliffhanger, that was Something Star Trek Has never done before. Piller himself considered leaving the writing staff and contract negotiations are still ongoing with several of the cast members, including Patrick Stewart. With so much up in the air, neither the writers nor the actors knew how the second half of the story would play out.

The cliffhanger made the wait over the summer of 1990 for the resolution even more tense Star Trek Fans. at the time, Rumors swirled that Patrick Stewart was leaving the cast, And the episode left room for that possibility. Thankfully, Stewart stuck around, as did Michael Piller, although much of the writing staff was new. While “The Best of Both Worlds, Part II” may not be quite as spectacular as Part I, it brings the story to a satisfying conclusion, an impressive feat in and of itself considering the uncertainty behind the scenes.

Why Star Trek Fans Love TNG’s “Best of Both Worlds”

The TNG two-parter embodies everything great about Star Trek.

With a strong narrative and cool sci-fi vibes, The Best of Both Worlds mostly works on its own, even for those who haven’t seen every previous episode of Star Trek: The next generation. The cliffhanger ending of Part I and the wait for the story’s conclusion are also a big part of the draw. Modern TV shows end seasons with cliffhangers all the time, however This was not so common in the early 1990s. And the uncertainty behind the scenes meant that the story’s resolution was anything but a formal conclusion.

“The Best of Both Worlds” incorporates horror elements into its sci-fi drama, presenting Star Treks Borg at their most terrifying and give every main cast member a moment to shine. For fans both new and old, the story was a compelling one, made even more so by the fact that Captain Picard’s life was in real danger for the first time in the series. While Picard has been in danger before, he always has the plot armor to be the lead of the show, but with Riker set up as the new captain of the Enterprise-D, Picard’s life is left hanging in the balance.

Star Trek: “The Best of Both Worlds” from TNG has 3 sequels

TNG’s “Family,” Star Trek: First Contact, and Star Trek: Picard Season 3

Over most of Star Trek: The Next Generation Run, each episode (or two-parter) tells a self-contained story that wraps up by the end of the hour. Captain Picard and his crew members have gone through many potentially traumatic experiences, but the episode following “The Best of Both Worlds, Part II” was the first time the show addressed this trauma. in TNG Season 4, Episode 2, “Family,” Jean-Luc visits his brother Robert (Jeremy Kemp) on Earth And consider leaving Starfleet. He breaks down, revealing how much the Borg assimilation truly affected him.

A few years later, Star Trek: First Contact Picking up on this thread, as Picard continues to deal with his experience with the Borg. At the time of Star Trek: Picard season 3, Jean-Luc finally confronts his past trauma with the Borg, Helping his son Jack escape the clutches of the dying Borg Queen (Alice Krieg). Not only “the best of both worlds” continue to impact Star Trek Stories today, but it also helps cement Star Trek: The Next Generation As one of the greatest science fiction shows of all time.