I Borg

Of all the characters on this series, the one I find the most tiresome is Beverly Crusher. She has this thing about the sacredness of life, which is fine, but she is also willing to allow something that has killed billions of life forms and wiped out whole civilizations, including a close encounter with earth, to come on board. The syrupy way this whole thing unfolds, with characters whose families and friends have been assimilated by these things falling lovingly for this menace, drove me crazy. Disagree with the idea of destroying the collective, but don't embrace this horror. On numerous occasions, Beverly has used her own prejudices and views to push people around, including Picard (who really disappoints me when she is around). Anyway, I'm getting all upset (I guess this is only a fictional series) so I shouldn't get so passionate, but it does portend to speak for a compassionate world, putting aside the foibles of previous civilizations. I'm waiting for Beverly to come on board and say, "Oh, I think the Romulans are really a good hearted people" as they fire on the enterprise. This Borg is bringing with it a huge threat to all living things, where they will continue, bee-like, at the center of the galaxy, with nothing left around them.

Do your enemies have the same morals as you? Do the generic kill them all borg, too have feelings, and a person beneath them?

These are all questions this episode created in my mind. This episode excellently tackles borg and that they only misunderstand their victims, thinking that their "assimilation" is all they want. The perfect progression of the borg gaining a human personality puts the superb talent of the writers at show here.

Very rarely have I connected with a character this much in only one episode, his(their?) growth and character showing that infact, the borg that has been spinned to be the generic bad guys, turn out not to be as I thought they were.

The moral dilemma alone, that basically everyone goes through in this episode, is worth the watch. Also great acting from everyone, as usual. And the biggest thing is that you find yourself in the same moral dilemma as well. "Hugh" is sweet, innocent and likable and it doesn't take me long to jump on the "please don't hurt him" train.

Brilliant, by the way, working in what happens here in a letter episode, but I won't spoil that for anyone.

What made me love this even more, was learning of Jonathan Del Arco's portrayal of the Borg, where he channeled the recent loss of a partner into his performance. That made this even more heartbreaking.

Great story, great dilemma and so many moral, ethical and even human emotions and lessons to be learned from this episode.

The Enterprise comes upon a wounded individual from the Borg collective. They are able to dampen his ability to communicate and they bring it aboard the ship to treat it. However, there is a big divide as to what to do--Picard wants to implant the Borg with a virus so that it will infect the others when it's returned but the Doctor just wants to treat it and give it a big hug! Well, not exactly...but close. She, and later, others, worry about the morality of infecting it---though they seem to forget that he is a BORG member!!! I thought this was stupid and they should use the virus. However, as they get to know this new individual, the rightness or at least the effectiveness of this plan becomes questionable.

All the Borg episodes are good--and this one is no exception. Well written and worth seeing.

A great moral dilemma comes upon Captain Picard when the Enterorise nswers a dstress call from a Borg scout ship. 4 of the 5 crewman are dead abd Jonthan Del Arco designated 3 of 5 is injured.

Del Arco is given a name Hugh which takes to and finds other aspects of individuality pleasing, the two who want to see Del Arco turned into a weapon against the collective are Patrick Stewart and Whoopi Goldberg both have bitter memories of the Borg. Gates M cFadden argues for a humane approach and LeVar Burton b becomes a convert

A most thought provoking story.