TNG and the Borg collective

[JesterFace]

I've always thought that after 'I Borg' when Hugh rejoined the collective and spread his sense of individuality to the collective, at that time individuality spread through the entire collective, not just one ship he was on, after all, Borg is essentially one being, so basically there shouldn't even be a collective after Hugh went back.

That's why I've always thought of Voyager Borg episodes to kind of pooping on the TNG legacy... Like Picard said in 'I Borg', "a sense of individuality spread through the collective", and he should know what he is talking about, he has been a Borg.

Naturally, there are theories spread around of blocking Hugh's mind and memories before really joining the collective... but he did transmorph at least a group on Borg into individuals, so why not all of them?

I like to think 'I Borg' as the episode that basically "destroys" Borg collective and sets free everyone who is a part of it.

 

[BillJ]

Star Trek: First Contact came before Voyager started messing with the Borg.

 

[Terok Nor]

It was never really stated one way or the other whether the entire collective became individuals or not. When the movie came around the writers wanted to use the collective and I'm glad they did. Zombie drones are scarier than those who appeared in Descent.

 

[Marsden]

Also, it's quite a ridiculous thing to say. So "hugh" is feeling a little individual, big deal. All of those other people, including Picard were individuals, too, with their own sense of "individuality" and the Collective assimilated them just fine.

They all didn't start drinking hot Earl Grey tea, did they?

 

[Mojochi]

Also, it's quite a ridiculous thing to say. So "hugh" is feeling a little individual, big deal. All of those other people, including Picard were individuals, too, with their own sense of "individuality" and the Collective assimilated them just fine.

People who make this claim completely neglect the fact that Hugh is already a fully integrated Borg, not a convert. It's perfectly sensible to suggest that the systems & processes in action for assimilation no longer are or need to be with drones currently in the collective. There's nothing ever shown that suggests a drone must be continually subjected to ongoing identity suppression.

If anything, it appears that the longer a drone is part of the collective, the less identity there is within them to suppress. It appeared to me as if over time the identity is wiped. Picard still had some in there to reach, but Hugh & Seven, not really. They begin to forge a new identity once severed

So no, it's not ridiculous to say that a drone's newly acquired sense of personal identity might have detrimental effects on the collective, if reintegrated without the filters that may exist during assimilation, nor is it unreasonable to write it such that the effect be quarantined to one vessel. You can assume they might have fail-safes for such anomalies, that play out this way.

 

[Unimatrix Q]

Also, it's quite a ridiculous thing to say. So "hugh" is feeling a little individual, big deal. All of those other people, including Picard were individuals, too, with their own sense of "individuality" and the Collective assimilated them just fine.

People who make this claim completely neglect the fact that Hugh is already a fully integrated Borg, not a convert. It's perfectly sensible to suggest that the systems & processes in action for assimilation no longer are or need to be with drones currently in the collective. There's nothing ever shown that suggests a drone must be continually subjected to ongoing identity suppression.

If anything, it appears that the longer a drone is part of the collective, the less identity there is within them to suppress. It appeared to me as if over time the identity is wiped. Picard still had some in there to reach, but Hugh & Seven, not really. They begin to forge a new identity once severed

So no, it's not ridiculous to say that a drone's newly acquired sense of personal identity might have detrimental effects on the collective, if reintegrated without the filters that may exist during assimilation, nor is it unreasonable to write it such that the effect be quarantined to one vessel. You can assume they might have fail-safes for such anomalies, that play out this way.

That's a great explanation! I just wish the script writers for First Contact and Voyager were so thoughtful. The Thing i hate the most about Voyager was that they retconned the Borg into having been always like in First Contact (Not so much the Costumes but their behavior).

 

[Ember]

It's the curse of follow-up shows and spin-offs. Some themes will always remain popular and fans will long for more of the same. As a producer, you have to sell a product and including iconic content helps sell your product. Almost always, the double episode of a TV series features an old nemesis or an enemy previously thought gone, having returned only to cause yet more upheaval.

Perhaps we can say that Hugh's efforts are the underlying cause for the existence of the Unimatrix Zero glitch.

 

[BillJ]

Perhaps we can say that Hugh's efforts are the underlying cause for the existence of the Unimatrix Zero glitch.

I thought they said in the episode that it had existed for a really long time?

 

[Ember]

Perhaps we can say that Hugh's efforts are the underlying cause for the existence of the Unimatrix Zero glitch.

I thought they said in the episode that it had existed for a really long time?

If so, then I missed that bit, I didn't watch Voyager again for a few years now, safe for a few of the key episodes on a rainy day.

Still, I feel they retconned some meaningful conclusions for more Borg centred episodes.