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Star Trek: The Next Generation
S3.E26
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
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IMDbPro

The Best of Both Worlds

  • Episode aired Jun 16, 1990
  • TV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
9.3/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Best Of Both Worlds
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
24 Photos
ActionAdventureDramaSci-Fi

Responding to a distress call on one of the Federation's outer-most colonies, the Enterprise arrives...only to find a big hole in the ground where the town used to be, and discovers the Borg... Read allResponding to a distress call on one of the Federation's outer-most colonies, the Enterprise arrives...only to find a big hole in the ground where the town used to be, and discovers the Borg are behind the attack.Responding to a distress call on one of the Federation's outer-most colonies, the Enterprise arrives...only to find a big hole in the ground where the town used to be, and discovers the Borg are behind the attack.

  • Director
    • Cliff Bole
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Michael Piller
    • Ronald D. Moore
  • Stars
    • Patrick Stewart
    • Jonathan Frakes
    • LeVar Burton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    9.3/10
    6.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Cliff Bole
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Michael Piller
      • Ronald D. Moore
    • Stars
      • Patrick Stewart
      • Jonathan Frakes
      • LeVar Burton
    • 29User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Best Of Both Worlds
    Trailer 0:31
    Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Best Of Both Worlds

    Photos24

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    Top cast24

    Edit
    Patrick Stewart
    Patrick Stewart
    • Captain Jean-Luc Picard
    Jonathan Frakes
    Jonathan Frakes
    • Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker
    LeVar Burton
    LeVar Burton
    • Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
    Michael Dorn
    Michael Dorn
    • Lieutenant Worf
    Gates McFadden
    Gates McFadden
    • Doctor Beverly Crusher
    Marina Sirtis
    Marina Sirtis
    • Counselor Deanna Troi
    Brent Spiner
    Brent Spiner
    • Lieutenant Commander Data
    Wil Wheaton
    Wil Wheaton
    • Wesley Crusher
    Elizabeth Dennehy
    Elizabeth Dennehy
    • Lt. Cmdr. Elizabeth Shelby
    George Murdock
    George Murdock
    • Adm. J. P. Hanson
    Colm Meaney
    Colm Meaney
    • Chief Miles O'Brien
    Whoopi Goldberg
    Whoopi Goldberg
    • Guinan
    Rachen Assapiomonwait
    • Crewman Nelson
    • (uncredited)
    Majel Barrett
    Majel Barrett
    • Enterprise Computer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Nyra Crenshaw
    • Ops Ensign
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Daniels
    Robert Daniels
    • Enterprise-D Ops Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Debbie David
    Debbie David
    • Ensign Russell
    • (uncredited)
    Christopher Doyle
    Christopher Doyle
    • Borg
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Cliff Bole
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Michael Piller
      • Ronald D. Moore
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews29

    9.36.3K
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    Featured reviews

    10Hitchcoc

    Super Segue into the Next Generation of Episodes

    The Borg are such a juggernaut. When one fights an enemy in war, one generally has an adversary that may be irrational, but that plays by some kind of rules. The Borg is a bee colony and it's a self sustaining entity. The entire colony has one purpose: to absorb everything in its path and make itself stronger. Intellect is of no use unless it helps the collective learn something. All sentient life is meaningless. They are the dead look in the shark's eye. As we will see later, they do speak and threaten. "Resistance is useless" is the response to all. In this episode we realize that the Federation has been anticipation this threat for a long time and decides to send its full arsenal at the Borg. The results of that and the future of Picard are the issues in the first half of this episode. At this point, the show kicked into a different gear, putting great stresses on all involved and confronting an entity that would haunt, not just the people in this series, but the Voyager crew as well.
    10Mr-Fusion

    This is the TNG you remember

    Talk about sending off your third season in a blaze of glory. The Borg is easily TNG's greatest enemy (to say nothing of its imaginative conception), and "The Best of Both Worlds' brings them to the forefront, wiping out colonies and attacking the Federation. But it opens with Riker's inner turmoil over accepting a captaincy and leaving the finest ship in the fleet. Meanwhile, Shelby's creating tension by assuming his role and subtly edging him out. This is great character drama.

    Once the Borg make their move, it's all action, and it lays the groundwork for this crew's best movie ("First Contact"). It takes nerve to throw your captain to the hands of the enemy and then scrawl "To Be Continued".

    Outstanding television.

    10/10
    10planktonrules

    A must-see for fans.

    The away team beams down--only to discover that the city they went to see is gone! And, by gone, I mean that there is a giant crater where the place USED to be...! The Federation thinks this is the work of the Borg--as who else could do this?!

    Soon, the ship is visited by a high muckity muck from the Federation as well as a young hot-shot, Commander Shelby--who is being assigned as #3 on the Enterprise. Well, she'll be needed, as when the Borg attack, they take Picard and now Riker is in charge. Can they reclaim the Captain and how will Shelby deal with the Borg when she and an away team beam aboard their vessel? Unfortunately, it looks like getting Picard back isn't gonna happen, as when they see him, he's all covered in mechanical crap, as he's been altered and is now one of the Borg.

    This is the first part (and a season cliffhanger) of a wonderful and incredibly exciting two-part series on the Borg. This is a sure sign that the series has FINALLY hit its stride and its a sign of better and better shows starting with season four. A must-see.
    10xzgdqbntxd

    The greatest two parter in television history

    This is it folks. The greatest part one of a two part cliffhanger in television history. Everything about this episode changed tv forever. The scope, the music, the acting, the menace, the special effects. It has it all. Not only that, but this episode spawned other great tng episodes (Family right after this one for example), plus the best TNG movie, and some of the best content on voyager (and mostly gave us Seven, the best part of voyager). Before BOBW, no one had ever seen a cliffhanger as crazy on tv as this one. I remember seeing this when o was 10 years old and my jaw was on the floor!!!!!
    10ChloeODonnellDublin

    Favourite 2 part episode of TNG

    I could write such a long review of this but after reading the others, I just echo the repeated sentiments that this is truly some great TV! I remember being gutted that it was the end of the series and we, here in Ireland, had to wait months to see the 2nd part - but it was so worth it.

    Patrick Stewart is fantastic and the story is gripping. I still remember the shock of what happens when I saw it that very first time....

    I feel if I write any more, I will only start to drop spoilers without realizing it. I always loved the episodes with the Borg, and if you haven't see this, watch it. Resistance is Futile!

    Related interests

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    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the first episode which established Earth as being in sector 001.
    • Goofs
      The Enterprise crew first learns that New Providence had been destroyed. But why have the ship's scanners not realized it much earlier?
    • Quotes

      [Capt. Picard has been assimilated by the Borg]

      Locutus: I am Locutus - of Borg. Resistance - is futile. Your life, as it has been - is over. From this time forward, you will service - us.

    • Alternate versions
      For timing purposes (to allow more ad time), BBC America cut part of Riker and Troi's conversation in Ten Forward (including the part about being "seasoned").
    • Connections
      Edited from TrekCulture: 10 Greatest Final Lines In Star Trek Episodes (2022)
    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
      Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 16, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 45m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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