Episode of the Week: 3x26 "The Best of Both Worlds"

[The Old Mixer]

I never could keep the names of the Q episodes straight....

 

[Jeyl]

Did you even bother to read what I wrote? I essentially said he was offering a brighter flame to a moth even if he didn't say the word "technology".

Just because Picard doesn't say the word "technology" doesn't mean he's not talking about technology. And it's not like it matters anyway since the Borg are after more than just technology. Even if Picard was to say something like "We don't need technology to beat you. We have our intellect!", they'll want that too.

As this episode demonstrates, anything you try to say whether it be a threat or imply that you can defend yourself against the Borg is not going to sway them. If there is something that can threaten them, not only will they want it, they've got the means to do it as was discussed in engineering,

DATA: Borg technology has given each member of their society the ability to interface and function collectively. It is likely they have constructed their ship with the same philosophy.
WESLEY: You knock out one generator and another takes over without interruption.
RIKER: What kind of damage would we have to do to shut them down?
SHELBY: Projections suggest that a Borg ship like this one could continue to function effectively even if seventy eight percent of it was inoperable.

That's a lot of cube to destroy, and they don't even mention the part where the Borg can adapt to weapons and repair any damage that's been sustained. Even if it can hurt them, they have the means to endure a lot of it.

Picard is not threatening a moth with a flame. He's threatening fire with gasoline.

 

[Maurice]

To simplify it even further, I was agreeing that his non-use of the actual word "technology" was still implying it.

 

[AgentCoop]

This episode really is one of the finest hours of television ever produced. Everything is just ON. It's got the action, the drama, the characterization. Everything just WORKS. Even characters that are usually not handled that well, like Troi and Wesley, are used very effectively here.

I also like how Riker's "should I stay or should I go" story is essentially Michael Piller speaking through the character about his own dilemma of not knowing if he wanted to return for another season as head writer. That personal angle isn't just neat trivia. It adds a lot of emotional weight to Riker's story.

 

[MikeS]

The Borg are here to capture and assimilate both our species and our technology, and Picard is threatening them with.... NEW TECHNOLOGY! It's like fighting off a bank robber with gold coins.

Never got onto that before!

I sometimes read this thread and wonder if people are just commenting without having done the rewatch. Sentences such as "It's been a while since I saw this, but didn't they..." really bother me. Rewatch it (the original intent was to watch the new HD transfer) and then comment.

Anyway - regarding the new HD transfer. I was a little disappointed to be honest. I can't put my finger on it but it seemed a little "hazy" compared to the early season three transfers, was this down to a different film speed or perhaps lighting? Also, was Jouret IV redone for the HD version because I don't remember there being so much detail there - the VHS transfers must have hidden alot if they are the same and CBS gets a huge "thumbs-up" for bringing all of that out!

I loved the over-the-top cheesy "episodic promo" for this. Three steps to Borg victorious - "1. The Enterprise", "2. Picard", "3. Earth!"