A few quick items. I haven't read the rest of the thread since I watched, so forgive any repeats of what someone else might've said.
In "Balance of Terror" (TOS) and "The Enterprise Incident" (TOS), we never learned the names of the Romulan Commanders. In "The Enterprise Incident", she whispers her name to Spock and we in the audience never hear it. I love that this episode continues with that tradition. Narek's name isn't his real one. Romulans have code-names. And you only reveal your true name to lovers.
It didn't occur to me that Picard really hadn't been in a Borg Cube since "The Best of Both Worlds". The flashbacks, the PTSD, the overlap of the images between Picard and Locutus, and then Picard meeting Hugh were all just about as perfect as you can get. Picard was horrified at Borg who were trying to rescue him before Hugh showed up. Like Picard says, Hugh is doing good work. Humanoid-itarian (work with me here) work.
Soji finally has an idea of who she really is. The "flashbacks" were eerie. They were shot in a way that felt like a true nightmare. When Soji sees herself as a wooden doll being put together, it made me immediately think of Pinocchio, which is who Data used to be compared to.
When Soji is trying to escape from being killed and when she's escaping with Picard, I was on the edge of my seat both times. I was legitimately in suspense. Even though I knew they'd escape, I kept thinking "Go! GO!!!!!!"
I give the episode a 9.5 even though I voted a 10 in the poll (can't do halves). Why a 9.5? I have to take a little off for them overdoing Musiker drinking and vaping. We get it. They can take it down a notch while still getting the point across. But that's all I have.