"UNIMATRIX ZERO" Two-Parter...

[Farscape One]

I have always had issues with these episodes, mostly with the fact the Borg were used in it.

My biggest gripe was the plan of having Janeway, Tuvok, and Torres be assimilated to get the Borg resistance in better shape. They completely undermined the terror of being assimilated and the difficulty of coming back from it. I think it cheapened what happened to Picard and Seven in so many ways as to be unforgiveable.

And not only surviving but actively taking on a TACTICAL cube... this episode defanged the Borg in just too many ways.

I get that the Borg are the big villains of the series, and the writers and/or network wanted them to be used for a cliffhanger leading into the final season, but I firmly believe a different villain should have been used, and maybe still be able to keep a lot of the plot of the episodes in. Maybe use the Vaadwaur, or a new race instead.

What do you all think? Could everything else about these episodes work if you take the Borg out?

 

[F. King Daniel]

It definitely felt like it cheapened "Best of Both Worlds" and Seven's arc by casually assimilating most of the senior crew and having them all be a-ok afterwards. Yes they had something to prevent full assimilation but their bodies were ravaged with machinery just as Picard's, Ichab's and Seven's were.

And then they never spoke of it again.

 

[cosmic mouse]

As VOY two-parters go Unimatrix Zero is probably my least favorite and the one I found to be least memorable, despite the fact that it features the Borg (a villain I do like). There were too many 2 part eps during season 7 anyway imho...

I like the concept of the Unimatrix Zero (a twilight reality of sorts), but perhaps the material could have been handled differently or in a different context. For one thing: in this episode there is a hell of a lot going on, even aside from the novel environment of UZ, the assimilation of the crew and attempts made at giving Seven a "mate" (which I didn't care for, despite my affinity for Seven), plus the Borg recessive gene thing... the cheapening effect (which I agree is there) might come from too much being crammed into 90 minutes. The crew being assimilated in order to take advantage of their nemesis could have been one ep alone, as could the exploration of Seven and a love interest (and this was done later in the season anyway). Also, TPTB might just have gone to the well one too many times with the Borg though by series' end, though this endeavor predates that (but it comes on the heels of Collective, and some other Borg-centric eps).

 

[DonIago]

I still think it's hilarious that given how massively overpowered a normal Borg cube is relative to almost any other race we see on screen that they'd even have felt a need to develop "tactical" cubes.

...or terrifying, if you start to consider what would have led them to adapt in such a manner.

 

[Sophie74656]

Perhaps it was less traumatic because they weren't mentally assimilated. They had their neural suppressors and knew they would not join the collective. I also assume they had something to inhibit the physical pain of assimilation. I think this was a great episode and the first time i saw it i remember gasping when they were revealed as drones

 

[JirinPanthosa]

The most traumatic part for Picard was his loss of control, not the physical trauma. The three did not lose control. I agree it seemed a bit too easy how they removed all the implants, why didn't they keep nanites and ocular implants like Seven did? Where did their hair come from after?

 

[Farscape One]

I know that was the worst part for Picard, but it still cheapened what he went through. My take on it, anyway.

And Tuvok did lose control. The consequences were nowhere near as bad as what Picard went through, but still.

 

[Sophie74656]

The most traumatic part for Picard was his loss of control, not the physical trauma. The three did not lose control. I agree it seemed a bit too easy how they removed all the implants, why didn't they keep nanites and ocular implants like Seven did? Where did their hair come from after?

The hair came from the same place Seven's came from. The doctor stimulated the hair follicles

 

[DonIago]

I would think the physical trauma must have been substantial, if not equal to the mental trauma.

I still kind of wish they'd gone through with their plan to have Picard lose his arm, but I can see why they didn't.

 

[Sophie74656]

I would think the physical trauma must have been substantial, if not equal to the mental trauma.

I still kind of wish they'd gone through with their plan to have Picard lose his arm, but I can see why they didn't.

Real world reasons make that near impossible especially in the time that show was produced.

I think it could have been great to see the three voyager people sporting some implants for a couple of episodes. But for me it doesn't take anything away that they didnt.

 

[DonIago]

Well, if the replacement arm was made to look and function like his normal arm, then we'd never know unless it was plot-relevant.

After all, Picard had an artificial heart for the run of the series.

 

[Sophie74656]

Well, if the replacement arm was made to look and function like his normal arm, then we'd never know unless it was plot-relevant.

After all, Picard had an artificial heart for the run of the series.

Touche!

 

[Athena28]

It definitely felt like it cheapened "Best of Both Worlds" and Seven's arc by casually assimilating most of the senior crew and having them all be a-ok afterwards. Yes they had something to prevent full assimilation but their bodies were ravaged with machinery just as Picard's, Ichab's and Seven's were.

And then they never spoke of it again.

I always wondered what would've happened if they'd had an eye removed and replaced or something drastic like that. Torres' vocal subprocessor seemed to be the worst change.

 

[Farscape One]

Exactly. Their assimilation was basically just tacked on to their body, only slightly deeper than Picard's, physically speaking.

I suppose one could argue that given how relatively short a time they were assimilated, you can make a case for a quick recovery.

But why not find a smaller Borg ship, instead of a TACTICAL cube? Everything about the plan was so over the top as to make it ridiculous.

 

[Athena28]

Exactly. Their assimilation was basically just tacked on to their body, only slightly deeper than Picard's, physically speaking.

I suppose one could argue that given how relatively short a time they were assimilated, you can make a case for a quick recovery.

But why not find a smaller Borg ship, instead of a TACTICAL cube? Everything about the plan was so over the top as to make it ridiculous.

Didn't they have a time limit or something? That they had to get it done ASAP as the Queen was destroying cubes?

 

[Farscape One]

I don't think she started destroying cubes until part two, long after they were assimilated.

 

[Sophie74656]

The tactical cube was the only one they could find