Those watching Star Trek: The Next Generation back in June of 1990 will never forget the cliffhanger that had them on the edge of their seats until the second part aired in late September. The Best of Both Worlds brought The Next Generation out from behind the shadows of James T. Kirk and the original […] More...
In the UK, we didn't have much of a cliffhanger - it was 1992 and the BBC showed the second part the following week.
I seem to recall spending the summer making up a 25th and 26th century Starfleet with anti-Borg weaponry as standard along with inter-galactic warp drives. Using busted model kits.
I loved it but disappointed they never brought back Lt. Commander Shelby for any more episodes or movies.
Would it be such a daring cliff-hanger today? 1990 was before we really had the Internetso perhaps there was a bit more of buzz about it? Go back to the an even earlier big cliff-hanger from Dallas, Who shot JR? Could they get away with those today's when we know who will be in the next season, high chance of the plot being leaked and making it on to the web etc..?
Well, there was a slightly longer cliffhanger between the CIC Video release of part 1 and 2... both of which came out before BBC2 showed the episodes (season 3 VHS releases was when CIC finally overtook BBC2).
I remember it well! It was this episode that persuaded me to buy the videos rather than just tape them off the BBC on Wednesdays! JB
I always thought it would have been interesting that if instead of Captain Janeway, we got Captain Shelby. Or at least the same actress, like we got Tom Locarno.
The Best of Both Worlds is one of those 2 part episodes that lives up to its repuation as being some of The Very Best of TNG. And yes the cliffhanger was awesome ... and very memorable! But I seem to be in the minority as far as my not caring too much for Shelby. I was glad she was forgotten about, after her short stint ...