If Picard was killed off in "The Best of Both Worlds"

[Ar-Pharazon]

The very first time I saw that scene as a teenager, I actually thought for a second that Picard still might be working for the Borg. In a way, it would have been a brilliantly daring move. But you're right, it wouldn't have fitted in with the spirit of TNG. (I think it would even have gone way too far for a show like DS9).

Not working for them, but they certainly pointed to a connection in First Contact, "I can hear them".

 

[Scotchy]

@ at Quark's
While that's true I still think (given the multiverse notion) that the probability of Riker both saving Picard and defeating the Borg would be in the minority. Even when he pulls it off it's only at the last minute. I guess I should've said that I found the Rikerverses more believable.

 

[Lance]

I've always liked the idea that was hinted at for a moment in the episode with Hugh, that maybe picard wasn't totally deassimilated, but the idea of that is probably way, way too dark for TNG which needs to have everyone smiling at the end of the episode.

The very first time I saw that scene as a teenager, I actually thought for a second that Picard still might be working for the Borg. In a way, it would have been a brilliantly daring move. But you're right, it wouldn't have fitted in with the spirit of TNG. (I think it would even have gone way too far for a show like DS9

Not working for them, but they certainly pointed to a connection in First Contact, "I can hear them".

The idea that Picard still carries the scars with him is a potent idea, and is not denied by anything specifically seen on screen. It's hard to suggest that he might still be partially Borg, as he does seem to recover almost all of his humanity (unlike, say, the similarly 'recovered' Seven of Nine, who seems much more inclined towards her 'Borg' rather than human side). But on the other hand, he already had a synthetic heart to begin with, and if the Borg implants left something else 'in him' after he came back, then chances are good that the man they got back at the end of "Best of Both Worlds" wasn't 100% the man they had before. Hence Starfleet's caution in having him around during the Borg incursion into Sector 001 (First Contact).

The other reason the idea has wings is because we like consequences. Picard simply hitting the ol' reset button and coming back normal after the two-parter feels wrong, as it's the kind of event that would change a person's life. So the suggestion that he was altered somehow, and that he carried that turmoil within him for the rest of his days, is an interesting one.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Seven spent, what, 10-15 years as a Borg? Vs. Picard spending days. And Seven had obvious Borg tech leftover, but Picard must have had some nano-tech somewhere.

It seems a stretch he could hear the Borg via some "echo" from his time with the Borg when he was only connected to them for a matter of days.

Can I assume a novel delved into this aspect?

 

[Noname Given]

I thought it was a missed opportunity not having Beverly Crusher marry Picard (In real time) in the last episode "All Good Things..." or in 1 of TNG movies. It was a subplot which was never resolved.

How was it not resolved - In AGT it was fairly apparent:
- Picard and Crusher DID marry
and later
- Picard and Crusher got divorced

What more did you want? A Family Law courtroom scene where they finalize the divorce?

 

[Lance]

Seven spent, what, 10-15 years as a Borg? Vs. Picard spending days. And Seven had obvious Borg tech leftover, but Picard must have had some nano-tech somewhere.

And of course age could play a part. Seven was assimilated as a child, before even hitting adolescence, whereas Picard was obviously 'taken' at a (much) later stage of emotional maturity. Different stages of cranial development. Picard was seemingly much more self-conscious during his experiences as Locutus, whereas Seven essentially "became" wholely Borg after her assimilation, wiping the human designation 'Annika Hansen' from existence. As the Borg themselves might phrase it. Even following her recovery and rehabilitation back into a human enviroment aboard Voyager, it was evident to nearly everyone that Annika did not really exist any more. Except as an echo.

 

[woodstock]

In "Parallels", the last universe Worf jumped to showed Riker as Captain and Picard having died. This would be the most likely universe we are talking about here. So, who was the first officer? Was it mentioned or shown? I haven't seen that episode in a while.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Worf was first officer.

 

[STEPhon IT]

How was it not resolved - In AGT it was fairly apparent:
- Picard and Crusher DID marry
and later
- Picard and Crusher got divorced

What more did you want? A Family Law courtroom scene where they finalize the divorce?

That was anti-time, but I hoped he would pursue Beverly or show signs he would do it after he saved the universe once again. I didn't like his love interest in Insurrection, also I hated the movie in general.

 

[at Quark's]

@ at Quark's
While that's true I still think (given the multiverse notion) that the probability of Riker both saving Picard and defeating the Borg would be in the minority. Even when he pulls it off it's only at the last minute. I guess I should've said that I found the Rikerverses more believable.

You could still very well be right, in that the Rikerverses might actually be in the majority. In Parallels, Worf doesn't seem to make random jumps, as the changes are very minute at first and become gradually more severe later on. Whatever the explanation for that (Worf's jumps are 'spiralling out', or the branching points are further in the past each time, take your pick), the selection we see doesn't seem to be completely random, but heavily biased towards the 'starting' reality.

In "Parallels", the last universe Worf jumped to showed Riker as Captain and Picard having died. This would be the most likely universe we are talking about here. So, who was the first officer? Was it mentioned or shown? I haven't seen that episode in a while.

Worf is first officer there. (after the jump into the last universe, he suddenly wears a red uniform and sees that his rank insignia have changed, so he inquires immedately what his rank and position are).

 

[woodstock]

That was anti-time, but I hoped he would pursue Beverly or show signs he would do it after he saved the universe once again. I didn't like his love interest in Insurrection, also I hated the movie in general.

In the books they're married, and even have a child.

 

[woodstock]

You could still very well be right, in that the Rikerverses might actually be in the majority. In Parallels, Worf doesn't seem to make random jumps, as the changes are very minute at first and become gradually more severe later on. Whatever the explanation for that (Worf's jumps are 'spiralling out', or the branching points are further in the past each time, take your pick), the selection we see doesn't seem to be completely random, but heavily biased towards the 'starting' reality.

I started a new thread for this episode based on Worf's jumps to certain universes and whether he should have been able to.

 

[Commander Salad]

I liked Shelby, and wish she was added to the cast, but there was no way I would want Picard out, Stewart is too good an actor.