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The Best of Borg worlds: The 7 essential Borg episodes to watch before Star Trek: Picard

Credit: CBS

In 1989, in the episode “Q, Who?” Star Trek: The Next Generation took the word "cyborg" and clipped it down to its cold essentials, gifting the world with a new terror: the Borg. Though Doctor Who purists might tell you the Borg are a knock-off of the Cybermen, the black leather aesthetic combined with laser-pointer eyepieces and that chilling catchphrase — "You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile" — all cemented the Borg as one the most iconic sci-fi concepts of all time.

The Borg is essentially internet addiction writ large, an enemy that makes you part of its server. In Star Trek: Picard , the Borg are back and several of the main characters (Picard, Hugh, Seven of Nine) were all previously assimilated by the Borg Collective. This means that revisiting some of the more pivotal Borg moments is essential for your Picard homework.

The Borg appear in six episodes of The Next Generation , one episode of Deep Space Nine , one episode of Enterprise , the film Star Trek: First Contact , and 23 episodes of Voyager . And, if you count every single episode of Voyager in which former-Borg Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) appears, that’s 100 episodes right there. So that’s possibly a total of 32 episodes or 108 Borg episodes and 1 feature film, depending on how you look at it. That’s a lot of Borg to binge! So, in honor of Borg efficiency, here are the 7 essential Borg stories to quickly assimilate and help make watching Star Trek: Picard even more ... engaging.

Note: There are ZERO spoilers for Star Trek: Picard ahead. Episode numbers use the Netflix and CBS All-Access watch order for ease of bingeing.

01 . The Next Generation: Season 3 Episode 26 and Season 4, Episode 1, “The Best of Both Worlds Parts 1 and 2”

Although the first canonical appearance of the Borg happens in the TNG Season 2 episode "Q, Who?" whispers of the Borg are hinted at as early as the Season 1 finale, "The Neutral Zone." That said, you don't really need to start getting your Borg on until the Season 3 finale, "The Best of Both Worlds."

That's the famous episode where Picard is singled-out to be assimilated by the Collective, and the Borg make a bee-line to conquer Earth. The conclusion of this two-parter was the Season 4 premiere of TNG , and the repercussions of that episode changed Jean-Luc Picard forever.

02 . The Next Generation: Season 5, Episode 23, "I, Borg"

In Star Trek: Picard , the former-Borg know as Hugh (Johnathan Del Arco) has a semi-regular role, and in the trailers , we've seen a more human-looking Hugh in a few quick shots. What's happened to Hugh since The Next Generation hasn't been revealed yet, but Hugh's origin story is this classic episode, "I, Borg."

The Enterprise finds an injured Borg, Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) and La Forge (Levar Burton) decide to nurse the Borg back to health to learn more about the Collective. Without spoiling anything, this changes the way Picard and everyone else starts to think about the Borg in a big way. Hugh returns in the two-parter "Descent," in Season 6 and season 7, but you can probably skip those ones if you're pressed for time. This is the essential Hugh episode, and, probably defines the possibilities for what can happen to former Borg drones.

03 . Voyager: Season 5, Episode 15, “Dark Frontier”

Arguably, to fully prepare for Seven of Nine's (Jeri Ryan) return in Star Trek: Picard , you might want to rewatch the entirety of Star Trek: Voyager starting with Seven's first appearance in the season 3 finale "Scorpion Part 1." But, that's also little like saying you should rewatch every episode of TNG to make sure you know everything about Jean-Luc Picard. Seven of Nine is one of the greatest Star Trek characters of all time, and creating a list of the very best Seven episodes is its own thing entirely.

But, if you're only trying to download the most essential Borg lore into your brain, rewatching the epic "Dark Frontier" won't disappoint. This episode reveals how Seven was first assimilated into the Borg collective, and why. Plus, it suggests that all former Borg drones have a complicated relationship with the Collective and the Borg Queen in specific.

When it originally aired in 1999, "Dark Frontier" was presented as an extra-long two-hour episode. Netflix preserves it this way, but sometimes, you'll see reference to "Dark Frontier Part 1 and Part 2." Don't be confused; it's all the same thing.

04 . Voyager: Season 6, Episode 16, "Collective"

This episode introduced yet another variation on what it was like for former Borg drones to suddenly live outside of the interconnected hivemind of the collective. The difference this time was that the liberated Borg were all kids. Sure, Hugh was young , but he wasn't a little kid. In this episode, Seven becomes a de facto mother figure/teacher to a group of children, who, just like her, had been assimilated when they were super young. This episode also introduces the character of Icheb, a reoccurring ex-Borg who would later develop an obsession with Starfleet history, with a special interest in Captain Kirk.

05 . Voyager: Season 6, Episode 26 and Season 7, Episode 1 “Unimatrix Zero Parts 1 and 2”

As its title suggests, "Unimatrix Zero," is kind of like the Matrix in The Matrix . But, in this version, the idyllic cyberspace world is a good thing, because it's literally the only place Borg drones can "go" to be themselves. In the virtual sanctuary of Unimatrix Zero, Borg can meet, and converse, and imagine how they may have been or looked before they'd been assimilated. They can also meet and speak with drones whose bodies are plugged into Borg ships millions of light years apart.

So, basically, it's a secret virtual reality chatroom for people who are enslaved by an AI hivemind, which, if you think about it objectively — even outside of the context of Star Trek — is a freaking awesome idea for a story. As a two-part episode of Voyager , "Unimatrix Zero," is one of the best. And as a Borg episode to prep you for Picard , the essential thing about "Unimatrix Zero" is that it basically proves that even when we think we know everything about the Borg, we totally don't.

Credit: Paramount Pictures

06 . Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

It's Picard and Data versus the Borg!

Hailed as perhaps the greatest Star Trek film of all time (or at least in a dead heat with The Wrath of Khan ), First Contact mostly focuses on Picard's deep-rooted hatred for the Borg, and his desire to enact his revenge, no matter what. It also is the first introduction of the Borg Queen (Alice Krige), a character who adds a layer to the Borg that makes them seem both much scarier, and weirdly a little more explicable. The Borg Queen is deranged, to be sure, but it's not clear she's evil , per se.

If you haven't seen the movie, I won't tell you what happens between her and Data (or her and Picard) but let's just say, this: the Borg Queen might be the most interesting villain in all of Star Trek . And, based on everything we learned in Star Trek: Voyager , she also might be indestructible.

07 . Voyager Season 7, Episode 24: "Endgame"

Before there was Avengers: Endgame , there was Voyager: Endgame ! In the series finale of Star Trek: Voyager , Admiral Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) , travels back in time from the year 2404, to help get the USS Voyager home to Earth about 23-years sooner than they did the first time around. Future Janeway's workaround is all about hijacking a transwarp hub used by the Borg to pop-around the galaxy with relative ease, much quicker than the Starfleet warp drives. But, Admiral Janeway's plan involves slightly more than just stealing some propulsion tech.

Without spoiling anything, the ending of this episode will make you wonder what state the Borg Collective could possibly be in during the time of Picard . "Endgame" took place in 2378, and the events of Picard happen in 2399. Whatever happened to the Borg in those 21 years might not be 100 percent answered in Picard . But, in terms of the Star Trek timeline, "Endgame" is where we left the Borg. So, when we see them again, the events of this episode will almost certainly have impacted the Collective. Even if they're too shy to mention it.

Star Trek: Picard debuts Thursday, January 23 on CBS All Access.

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A Complete Timeline of the Borg in Star Trek

The Borg are among Star Trek's most terrifying villains, having assimilated Captain Picard and Seven of Nine, but what is their timeline of events?

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The creation of the borg through star trek: enterprise, star trek: the next generation is when starfleet engaged the borg, star trek: voyager traveled through borg space and almost destroyed them, the borg returned in star trek: picard for one last battle.

Throughout the six-decade history of Star Trek , there have been many iconic villains, but perhaps none more so than the Borg. Created by Maurice Hurley, the head writer for Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, the Borg began as an organic species looking attain perfection. They achieved this by merging their organic bodies with cybernetic components. Individuality was erased, creating a hivemind culture of beings that sought only to assimilate more species and their technology in the search for perfection. They are led by a queen, a singular consciousness that can occupy multiple bodies.

The Borg are incredibly powerful and are known to travel via transwarp. They are even capable of time travel, though they don't do it very often. Given all that the Borg have going for them, it's no surprise that they were meant to be the ultimate villains Starfleet could never reason with. Over time, these villains became more complex and some even became Federation allies. Yet, the Borg have a long history in the Star Trek timeline, predating the earliest human space travel.

How Did Star Trek: Enterprise Become a TV Series?

The Borg have existed in their modern form since at least the time of the 15th Century on Earth. During the USS Voyager's travels in the Delta Quadrant, they met members of the Vaduwaur species who had been in stasis for more than 900 years. They had "many encounters" with the Borg who, by this time, had assimilated a few star systems in the Delta Quadrant. However, given the Vaduwaur didn't see them as their worst nemesis, they weren't as advanced as the Borg in the 24th Century.

In 2063, a Borg Sphere emerged from a temporal rift to prevent the Humans from making first contact with the Vulcans. The USS Enterprise-E followed them and destroyed the sphere, though a number of drones beamed aboard their vessel. Captain Picard defeated them, and Zefram Cochrane made his first warp flight . Some 90 years later, in Star Trek: Enterprise , remnants of the sphere were found in the North Pole. A handful of drones were revived and escaped in a space vessel. They were pursued and destroyed by the NX-01 Enterprise, but not before sending a message about Earth's location to the collective in the Delta Quadrant.

10 Star Trek Time Travel Stories That Changed Canon

The El-Aurian Guinan was saved by the USS Enterprise-B in 2293, along with fellow survivors of her people. Her planet had been assimilated by the Borg, and this was when Starfleet learned the species' name. Erin and Magnus Hansen, tried to study them in the late 2340s before they and their daughter Annika, Seven of Nine, were assimilated. In The Next Generation Season 2's "Q Who," the omnipotent being sent the USS Enterprise-D thousands of lightyears away from Federation space where it encountered a Borg Cube. They were only concerned about technology at the time, but this meeting led them to Federation space.

One year later, in 2366, the Borg sent a single cube to assimilate Earth. They captured Captain Jean-Luc Picard and assimilated him, giving him the name "Locutus." He was meant to demoralized Starfleet to prevent humans and the rest of the Federation from fighting back. He was freed of their control, but not before the Battle of Wolf 359 which destroyed 39 ships and killed 11,000 people. Among those were the wife of Commander Benjamin Sisko and the crew of the USS Constance of which Captain Liam Shaw was one of ten survivors. Commander Data briefly connected himself to the collective, ordering the Borg drones to enter regeneration and initiating the self-destruct sequence.

In 2368, the USS Enterprise-D encountered the Borg again, discovering a crashed scout ship. The drone Third of Five survived . Picard wanted to use the drone to implant a deadly virus into the collective. However, separated from the collective, the drone became an individual named "Hugh." He was returned unchanged to the collective, though Hugh's individuality caused a meltdown in the collective. A year later, Data's brother Lore found the cube and became their leader. He tried to replace their organic minds with positronic brains like his. The rogue Borg eventually overthrew him with help from the Enterprise. Five years later, another Borg cube was sent to Earth and was eventually destroyed, but not before sending the Sphere holding the Queen back to 2063.

How Did Star Trek: Voyager Become a TV Series?

In 2373, the USS Voyager entered Borg space on their journey home from the Delta Quadrant. At the same time, the Borg tried to assimilate Species 8472, which hailed from a dimension of "fluidic space." The assimilation didn't work and war broke out. Because 8472 was so hostile, Captain Janeway was able to enter into an alliance with the Borg to help defeat them, specifically with the help of the ship's holographic Doctor. The Borg betrayed them, which Janeway anticipated. The drone Seven of Nine was freed from the collective and became a member of the crew. Though she wished to rejoin the collective and tried to do so twice, she eventually chose to stay with Voyager .

In 2375, a transporter accident involving the Doctor's mobile emitter (based on 29th Century technology) and Seven of Nine's Borg nanoprobes. A drone was "grown" in the tank and designated One. The Borg tried to assimilate him and he willingly ended his own life. Later that year, the USS Voyager salvaged a transwarp coil from a destroyed Borg vessel. This led the Borg to enact a trap meant to bring Seven of Nine back into the collective as a replacement for Locutus. Janeway and the crew rescued her. A year later, while trading with the Brunali, Voyager was attacked by Borg vessel. However, they hid a photon torpedo in a captured Brunali vessel that destroyed the Borg ship, allowing Voyager to escape.

In 2377, Seven of Nine was reunited with other Borg in "Unimatrix Zero," a digital plane where drones retained their individuality. Captain Janeway used this opportunity to plan an attack on the collective and start a resistance movement. Captured by the Borg, many of Voyager's crew were assimilated. Thanks to the Doctor, they retained their individuality freeing thousands of drones and starting a Borg civil war. In 2378, a time-traveling Admiral Janeway showed up on Voyager with a plan to get the ship home. The plan succeeded, but the Admiral was assimilated. She carried a virus that decimated the collective to nearly the point of destruction. Five years after the return of the USS Voyager, the rag-tag crew of the USS Protostar found a Borg Cube, but they let sleeping Borg lie .

The Picard Blu-ray Underscores Why Each Season Needed the Borg

A Borg Cube that assimilated a Romulan vessel suffered a submatrix collapse, and it was captured by the Romulan Star Empire. In 2399, the ex-Borg Hugh led the Borg Reclamation Project on a ship dubbed "the Artifact." To stop a plan by a cult of anti-synthetic Romulans in the Tal Shiar, Seven of Nine created her own mini-collective and led the Artifact to crash on a planet populated by synthetics. It's presumed the surviving xBs (as they were called) joined the society on that planet. Hugh, however, was killed in the attempt.

In 2401, a Borg vessel of unknown origin appeared and asked to speak with Admiral Jen-Luc Picard. The Queen of this collective was Agnes Jurati, who was assimilated by the Borg Queen of an alternate timeline who took Picard and his allies into the past to save the future they knew. Jurati convinced the Queen to create a new kind of collective in which individuality was maintained and assimilation was voluntary. This new collective applied for provisional Federation membership to stand guard at a rift in space through which a still-unknown threat would emerge.

Also that year, the near-dying Borg Queen allied with Changeling terrorists angry with the Federation after the Dominion War. They infiltrated Starfleet, adding a DNA sequence to Starfleet transporters that would assimilate anyone under the age of 25 once they received a coded message. That message was sent by Jack Crusher , the son of Picard and Dr. Beverly Crusher. He was assimilated by the dying Borg Queen and named Võx. New technology added to modern Starfleet vessels allowed these new Borg to assimilate the ships in moments. Using a rebuilt USS Enterprise-D, the command crew of that vessel saved Jack and destroyed the remaining Borg, seemingly defeating them once and for all.

The Star Trek universe encompasses multiple series, each offering a unique lens through which to experience the wonders and perils of space travel. Join Captain Kirk and his crew on the Original Series' voyages of discovery, encounter the utopian vision of the Federation in The Next Generation, or delve into the darker corners of galactic politics in Deep Space Nine. No matter your preference, there's a Star Trek adventure waiting to ignite your imagination.

Star Trek: 6 Best Episodes Featuring The Borg, Ranked

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Some of the best Star Trek stories involve the Borg, one of the deadliest enemies that Starfleet ever faced. The Borg is an entity that was outside of Federation space for some time, and it wasn't until The Next Generation that this dangerous race even appeared. RELATED: Underappreciated Space Western TV Shows The Borg was introduced to the Star Trek universe on The Next Generation timeline, so most of the best Borg episodes are either TNG or Voyager episodes from roughly the same era. The series Picard , which is currently in circulation, includes several Borg characters from the TNG series along with Seven of Nine from Voyager .There's some speculation that early versions of the Borg, or maybe even an origin story , might appear as part of the plot in the more recent TV shows like Discovery. These are based in the Trek universe but pre-date TNG on the timeline.

6 Endgame (Voyager)

The final episode of Voyager carried the burden of seven years worth of expectations. After this many seasons, much of it spent dodging the Borg in the far reaches of space, it took a total of 27 years for Janeway and her crew to get home.

The main thing is that they made it, but for the Captain, that's not good enough. Tuvok was suffering from a debilitating cerebral disorder that couldn't be treated in time, which is one of the reasons Janeway takes the risk of going back in time and making a deal with the Borg to get them back twenty years sooner. This isn't the first time that Janeway outsmarted the Borg, and with the aid of her younger counterpart , they were able to get it done a second time.

5 Q Who? (The Next Generation)

This memorable episode isn't just recognized as one of the greatest TNG episodes, featuring one of the most popular and endearing supporting characters, but it was also the very first time the Borg appeared in the Star Trek universe. The Enterprise-D had to find some way to get that far across the galaxy, and it was Q that got them there.

RELATED: Actors You Forgot Were In Star Trek

This was one of the life lessons or tests that Q would often throw at Picard when he thought the captain was getting too arrogant, or when Q himself was simply bored. Picard is excited at the prospect of exploring a new part of the galaxy at first, even though Gainan warns him that they need to get back to Federation space as soon as possible. Once they encounter the Borg, it seems that the omnipotent Q is all that can save them.

4 I, Borg (The Next Generation)

As it is with Star Trek , there's more nuance to every villain than simply "ugly alien bad" and the Borg is no exception. Plenty of debate took place among the officers of the Enterprise regarding what kind of considerations the Borg should be given as a sentient, independent race, and "I, Borg" was part of that discussion. In this episode, the Enterprise responds to a distress call as they would, but it's from a Borg drone that crashed while on a scouting mission.

The debate rages as to whether or not they should help the Borg or use him to destroy the local Collective. They decide that any principled Starfleet officers would, especially as the drone in question even starts to show signs of sentience and individuality - they help him and send him on his way with no strings attached. Hugh, which is the name the drone eventually took for himself, would return again in later episodes of TNG and Picard .

3 Descent (The Next Generation)

What could be worse than being attacked by the Borg? Well, how about getting attacked by a group of Borg in league with a powerful and amoral android? This is actually a two-part episode, and also a great choice for Data fans. This character takes a central part in the plot, and questions about the android's humanity are also brought into question.

RELATED: Sci-Fi Shows With The Best Opening Episodes

The episode starts with a now-famous scene of Data on the holodeck, playing cards with Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein. A few scenes later, the crew is attacked by Borg who seems to be acting strangely. Part of the tension is finding out why, and it turns out that Lore, essentially Data's evil twin, is behind it all.

2 Scorpion (Voyager)

One of the best episodes of Voyager and memorable for several reasons, the main one being the introduction of Seven of Nine to the crew. This was also the first time that Janeway showed how humans could defeat the Borg - by outsmarting them.

The Federation protocols for a ship and crew that find themselves on the other side of the galaxy, with thousands of light-years filled with Borg between them and earth, might not be so clear. That might mean making a few deals focused on defeating a common enemy. The Borg thought it could take the earthlings for a ride, but Janeway turned the tables on them at the last minute by separating Seven of Nine from the collective. She eventually became one of the most valuable members of the crew.

1 The Best Of Both Worlds (The Next Generation)

Another two-parter, this time part one was the last episode of the third season and the first episode of the fourth, which is a pretty clever marketing ploy. This storyline is a daring one , and beloved by fans and critics alike. This time the Borg was at the Federation's doorstep, ready to conquer earth. Their plan was to use Jean-Luc Picard, now as the Borg drone Locutus, as their emissary to do so.

This wasn't just a chilling story about the implications of a Borg takeover, both as individuals and also on a global scale, but there was a crucial glimmer of hope here. The possibility that Borg drones could be rescued and recovered was what raised the stakes in this episode as viewers wondered if their beloved Captain Picard would be lost forever.

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The Star Trek Next Generation Story That Connects the Borg to The Original Series Crew

The Borg may be villains from Star Trek: The Next Generation, but a 1991 novel posits a surprising connection between the assimilating aliens and The Original Series.

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“Con permiso, Capitan,” the godlike being Q tells Captain Picard. “The hall is rented, the orchestra engaged. It’s now time to see if you can dance.” 

Part warning and part explanation, Q’s statement tests Picard’s insistence that the Enterprise does not need his help, that humanity is fully prepared for whatever difficulties they encounter while exploring deep space. Yes, they can deal with Romulans, Klingons, and even that fishhead alien that Mick Fleetwood played in “Manhunt.” But were they prepared for the new enemy that Q sent them to meet? Were they prepared for the Borg ?

The excellent season two episode “Q Who?” effectively introduces the Borg as the defining villain of Star Trek: The Next Generation , whose influence continues in later series, especially Voyager and Picard . The conquering hivemind represents everything that Starfleet is not, a demand for sameness and no respect for other cultures or variety. They’re all about safety and domination through homogenization. With their zombie-esque attacks and their resistance to Starfleet weapons, the Borg become a major threat to the entire universe. 

But despite Q’s taunts in The Next Generation , Starfleet may have actually been more prepared for the Borg than he, or even the crew of the Enterprise-D, first thought. In fact, according to one TNG novel, the Federation unknowingly encountered a deterrent to the race back in the days of James T. Kirk and the original Enterprise. 

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In the sixth episode of The Original Series ’s second season “The Doomsday Machine,” Kirk and his crew discover the remains of several star systems that have been mysteriously destroyed. Finding the Enterprise’s sister ship the USS Constellation abandoned in one of these systems, save for its delirious Commodore Matthew Decker, Kirk fears the worst. When Decker comes to, he confirms Kirk’s suspicions, describing the source of the attacks as a weapon “right out of hell,” a planet killer with an unimaginable proton beam.

Throughout the episode, the Enterprise learns that the machine derives its fuel from the remains of the planets it destroys, which allows it to operate in perpetuity. Only through the actions of the desperate, suicidal Decker, and the brilliance of the Enterprise crew, is Kirk able to destroy the doomsday machine, stopping it from continuing its march across the quadrant.

After its destruction in “The Doomsday Machine,” no other versions of the planet-killer have been rebuilt and reused in later canon Star Trek stories (this isn’t Star Wars , after all). However, the machine did return in a non-canonical Trek story one that ties the planet-killer to the Borg.

In “The Doomsday Machine,” Kirk speculates that no one would create the planet-killer with the intention of actually using it. Instead, he believes that the machine must have been a deterrent, thus turning the episode into a commentary on the Mutually Assured Destruction theory of nuclear armament. And in his 1991 TNG novel Vendetta , writer Peter David builds on Kirk’s theory.

Vendetta introduces Delcara, a powerful telepath who has been contacting Picard through visions since his days as a cadet. Delcara has control of a new Planet Killer, more advanced than the one Kirk destroyed in “The Doomsday Machine,” and plans to use it in revenge against the Borg for assimilating the rest of her race, the Shgin.

Published less than a year after “ The Best of Both Worlds ,” Vendetta leans heavily into the threat posed by the Borg. After all, this was long before we met kindly Hugh, the more human Borg Queen, and the heroic Seven of Nine. The Borg were still enigmatic, incomprehensible threats to the entire universe.

That perspective is essential for understanding the genesis (pun intended) of the Planet Killer, as posited in Vendetta . David explains that the Planet Killer was created by the Preservers, the ancient and wise race first introduced in the TOS season three episode “ The Paradise Syndrome ,” as a deterrent against the Borg. While the threatening to destroy any planet the Borg assimilate should be deterrent enough, Delcara proves that it certainly can be used as an active weapon against the race.

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Since Vendetta , the Borg have been made significantly less frightening, and Picard has not once, but twice, declared that the race has been destroyed. Furthermore, novels and comic books are not technically considered canon in Star Trek (again, this isn’t Star Wars ). However, should Trek ever want to revisit the subject, the Planet Killer is an excellent way to remind viewers that the Borg are terrifying, but the weapons we employ for our safety may be even worse.

Joe George | @jageorgeii

Joe George’s writing has appeared at Slate, Polygon, Tor.com, and elsewhere!

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Recap / Star Trek: The Next Generation S5E23 "I Borg"

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Original air date: May 11, 1992

Answering what they think to be a distress signal, the Enterprise comes across a crashed Borg scout ship. All its crew are dead, save one. Clearly against his better judgment, Picard allows the injured Borg ( Jonathan Del Arco ) to be brought to the ship for medical treatment, though it is placed inside a force field which interrupts its connection to the Collective . Despite Counsellor Troi's misgivings, Picard insists he's fine with the situation.

As part of its medical treatment, La Forge prepares to repair/replace certain of the Borg's cybernetic implants, but Picard takes the suggestion one step further: why not reprogram an implant to introduce a Logic Bomb through this drone into the entire Borg Collective, causing them all to shut down? At a meeting to discuss this plan, Dr. Crusher alone objects, pointing out that this would be tantamount to genocide . Unfortunately for her, everyone else is fine with it, having accepted the non-declared, unofficial state of war between the Borg and, well, anyone they want to assimilate. Unfortunately for them, Crusher's apparent sympathy for the Borg drone only grows as his physical condition improves; she notes that he seems to be frightened and lonely, severed from contact with the other Borg. Meanwhile, Guinan hands Picard a sort of Dark Side version of her usual Whoopi Epiphany Speech , when she fakes an injury during a fencing duel and then defeats Picard as he moves to help.

Guinan: You felt sorry for me; look what it got you .

The Borg boy continues to improve, and Crusher and La Forge work on testing him out to see how best to implement the Logic Bomb plot. They converse with him and introduce themselves, to which the Borg wonders if he has a name (he only knows the Borg designation "Third of Five"). Trying to sound out a pet name for him, they settle upon "Hugh", sort of a pun on "you...". Now that Hugh has an actual name, La Forge too begins to develop an attachment to him and is having second thoughts about the whole plan. He talks to Guinan about this, but she is uncharacteristically unsympathetic. La Forge challenges her to go visit Hugh for herself. Complicating matters, another Borg scout ship is approaching, presumably to retrieve survivors/scavenge the wrecked ship.

Guinan does eventually go visit Hugh, and she maintains her harsh facade until she lets it slip that her people had been very nearly obliterated by the Borg. Hugh notes that she is lonely, being so far away from any of her kind, and that he is also lonely. Guinan is, to say the least, speechless at this unexpected acknowledgment of emotion from the Borg. Guinan goes to Picard with her new misgivings, only to find him as fiercely defiant as she herself had been. Guinan is having none of it, though and insists that Picard too must at least look Hugh in the eye before turning him into a Tyke Bomb .

Finally Picard agrees and has Hugh beamed into his Captain's Office. Hugh, for his part, recognizes Locutus of Borg , and Picard takes advantage and speaks to him as Locutus. After forcing Hugh to renounce his human name and reiterate his Borg designation, he announces that the Enterprise and her crew will be assimilated , even against their will, or they will die. Hugh doesn't cotton to this idea, having grown attached to his human friends (especially La Forge) but "Locutus" is adamant, culminating in this exchange:

Picard: They will be assimilated. You will assist us. Hugh: I will not. Picard: What did you say? [...] You said "I"; but you are Borg! Hugh: No... I am Hugh.

Now Picard realizes that, with Hugh's newfound individuality, it really would be morally wrong to use him as a Tyke Bomb , and the option is floated that Hugh could be offered asylum from reintegration with the Borg. When told this, though, Hugh realizes that the Borg would simply hunt him down and harm the people he now sees as friends, and he voluntarily returns to the crash site where the other Borg will re-assimilate him. As a final note, it is suggested that the Borg will probably erase Hugh's memory of these events but, in the brief time before they do so, they will be subject to Hugh's experiences as an individual... "and that may be the most pernicious program of all!"

So they beam Hugh back to the crash site. Shortly thereafter, the other Borg arrive and quickly reintegrate Hugh as a drone. But, just before they depart, Hugh gives a clandestine nod to Geordi, indicating his yet-intact individuality.

Notable Tropes in this episode:

• Ambiguously Human : Hugh's race is never specified but he appears physically human, which makes the crew's impulse to dehumanize him especially harsh.
• When Geordi first explains the concept of friendship to Hugh, the latter immediately declares "Like Hugh and Geordi!", proving that he's formed a genuine bond with LaForge and complicating the engineer's feelings about the genocidal plan.
• Guinan talks to Hugh and vents her anger at the Borg to him, remarking that they assimilated her people and left the few survivors who resisted scattered around the galaxy. Hugh ponders a moment and remarks "What you are saying is that you are lonely." Guinan is visibly stunned by that reaction, as she can't believe that her sworn enemy can understand how she's feeling.
• When Picard pretends to be Locutus of Borg and tells Hugh that he must help him forcibly assimilate the Enterprise crew, Hugh vehemently protests " I will not assist you," asserting his individuality for the first time and convincing Picard that Hugh is more than just a drone.
• Believing Their Own Lies : It's implied in this episode that the Borg simply ignore any defeats or failures they suffer; Hugh initially believes that "resistance is futile", only to be informed of Guinan's people successfully (if only barely) resisting assimilation, and he still sees Picard as Locutus despite Picard being removed from the Borg's Hive Mind , both facts that the Borg should be well aware of. He also voices a belief that "no Borg leaves the Collective" while speaking with Picard, who has done exactly that (likely a holdover from earlier ideas for the Borg, when they were an individual race (such as with the "baby Borg" in their first appearance), and assimilating Picard was a special case, rather than Standard Operating Procedure).
• Both Sides Have a Point : At the meeting to discuss the Logic Bomb , everyone brings up valid points opposing and supporting its use. Crusher hammers the point that using it would tantamount to genocide, while Riker responds that the Borg are such a huge, existential threat that it would be justifiable . Picard also notes that "genocide" is a rather meaningless term when applied to the Borg, which is essentially a single organism.
• The Bus Came Back : The Borg return to TNG after a nearly two year hiatus following "The Best of Both Worlds".
• The things that Troi says to Picard regarding the after-effects of his assimilation further drive home the rape metaphor .
• Hugh is basically a kid separated from the totalitarian cult that raised him, and is pretty unclear on the mere concept of thinking for himself or deciding who he is or what he wants to do beyond what he's been told.
• Hugh forms an extremely close bond with Geordi: he cites him as someone he cares about, initially protests Picard-as-Locutus by fearfully asking "Geordi must be assimilated?", and, when given the choice between remaining on the Enterprise and returning to the Collective, remarks "I would choose to stay with Geordi." It's easy to read his attachment as queer love (as noted under the Trivia tab, there's also a healthy dose of real-world subtext involved, as Jonathan Del Arco, Hugh's actor, is openly gay and had lost his long-term partner to AIDS just a year before).
• A very late example regarding the Borg. This is the first time Borg drones are given numerical designations, and use ordinal numbers (Third of Five). Later appearances would use cardinal numbers (Seven of Nine).
• Hugh states that the Borg assimilate civilizations, not individuals (which is apparently why they ignored away teams on their ships in prior episodes, and why the two who come to retrieve him at the end ignore Geordi). Starting from Star Trek: First Contact , this would be abandoned altogether, with the Borg regularly opportunistically assimilating anyone they could get their tubules on. The Collective would frequently be shown to include members of still very-much-extant races, including humans, Klingons, Romulans and Cardassians.
• Eye Scream : When Dr. Crusher asks to examine Hugh's eyepiece, he simply removes it and hands it to her — exposing the circuitry where his eye should be. Crusher and La Forge are visibly unnerved by this.
• Failed a Spot Check : Hugh instantly recognizes Picard as Locutus of Borg and believes that Picard is still Locutus despite the very obvious lack of any Borg attire or implants on the Captain. After their meeting, however, Hugh comes to accept Picard as himself, rather than Locutus.
• Fantastic Racism : In this case, even our heroes see lumping an entire group into a single category as perfectly reasonable. After " The Best of Both Worlds " it seems only logical to see all Borg as malicious and dangerous, particularly for Picard. Once they get to know Hugh, however, the crew start to question their own assumptions.
• The Farmer and the Viper : Although never referenced by name, the episode hinges on this trope, with Crusher arguing to provide mercy for a wounded Borg, while the rest of the crew consider kindness to an inherently evil creature to be self-destructive. It turns out that the "viper" in this case can actually change when given the opportunity.
• Fate Worse than Death : Geordi explains to Hugh how being assimilated, losing his sense of individuality in the process, in many ways seems worse than death.
• Final Solution / Genocide Dilemma : Given the unique threat presented by the Borg and apparent lack of other options, most of the crew is fully in favor of destroying them completely, with only Dr. Crusher opposing the plan. As the rest of the crew comes to see Hugh as an individual, they begin to develop doubts, and ultimately abandon the idea.
• Happiness in Mind Control : Hugh, thanks to Borg indoctrination, sees assimilation as both normal and positive, and is genuinely unable to understand why the Enterprise crew is so opposed to it. Gradually, he comes to understand their point of view.
• Hugh realizing that the Borg basically wiped out Guinan's people.
• After speaking with Hugh and hearing him assert his individuality, Picard reconsiders his plan to use Hugh to destroy the Borg, seeing that doing so would make him no better than the Borg themselves .
• Heroic Sacrifice : Hugh volunteers to rejoin the Collective to save the ship.
• Hoist by His Own Petard : The Enterprise crew originally plans to use Hugh as a living Logic Bomb to destroy the Borg. However, as each member of the team meets and talks to him, they are challenged by Hugh's paradoxical nature and gradually become "infected" with compassion and understanding for him.
• Hyde Plays Jekyll : Inverted. When Picard first meets with Hugh, the latter identifies him as Locutus (despite the very obvious fact that Picard is no longer Borg). Picard plays along with this, claiming he is there to facilitate humanity's assimilation, and ordering Hugh to assist in assimilating the Enterprise . He's utterly thrown when Hugh insists " I will not! "
• I, Noun : A particularly striking episode title considering this is The Borg we're talking about.
• Innocuously Important Episode : This is the first episode in the franchise which humanizes the Borg (or more precisely, the drones who have been severed from the Collective). Hugh's introduction would eventually to lead to the characters of Seven of Nine and Icheb on Star Trek: Voyager . Hugh, Seven of Nine and Icheb would later also guest star in Star Trek: Picard .
• "It" Is Dehumanizing : Everyone in the crew shows their sympathy for Hugh or lack thereof by referring to him as either "he" or "it." Picard is the last holdout. Picard: It's not a person, damn it, it's a Borg!
• Line-of-Sight Name : A purely verbal version, when Crusher and La Forge go from "you" to "Hugh".
• Little "No" : When " Locutus " informs Hugh that Geordi will die if he is not assimilated, Hugh utters a horrified "no". Hugh: He would rather die than be assimilated. "Locutus" : Then he will die. Hugh: No... Geordi must not die. Geordi is a friend.
• Logic Bomb : Picard's plan is to introduce an unsolvable math problem (an anomalous geometric figure, which every attempt to analyze produces further contradictory anomalous figures) into the Borg Hive Mind by letting Hugh look at it and returning him to the Collective. Data and La Forge calculate that it will shut down the entire Collective in a matter of months.
• The McCoy : Doctor Crusher first begins treating a fatally injured Borg, and objects to the Logic Bomb plan as soon as it's proposed.
• The Needs of the Many : Hugh, still grappling with his individuality, struggles to wrap his mind around this not being the case, being offered the choice of staying aboard the Enterprise even with the certainty of Borg pursuit. However, he ultimately plays it straight, choosing to return to the Borg to protect his new friends and the rest of the Enterprise crew.
• When Geordi is analyzing Hugh to learn more about him, Hugh helpfully points out that the Borg do the exact same thing with the species they assimilate, and so expects Geordi to like the idea. It's subverted when Geordi explains how the Borg's tactic of forcible absorption differs from consensual curiosity.
• Played straighter when Guinan visits Hugh in his cell and talks to him, angrily remarking that the Borg assimilated most of her people and left the few remnants scattered across the galaxy: Hugh : What you are saying...is that you are lonely. Guinan : ...what? Hugh : You have no others. You have no home. (Guinan stares at Hugh in shock) Hugh : We are also lonely...
• Oblivious Guilt Slinging : Hugh's innocent questions about Crusher and La Forge's tests make both officers feel very guilty about their ulterior motives.
• Obliviously Evil : It's a complete surprise to Hugh that most consider assimilation by the Borg to be a Fate Worse than Death and that contrary to the Collective's oft-heard refrain, resistance is not futile.
• Oh, Crap! : Pretty much everyone's reaction to discovering that the wreckage they're investigating is that of a Borg ship... and there's a survivor.
• When the away team discovers the surviving Borg drone, the honor-obsessed, Proud Warrior Race Guy Worf recommends killing it, making it look like an accident, and running like hell. The compassionate, unflappable Captain Picard seriously considers doing so before reluctantly deciding to show the drone mercy.
• Guinan is uncharacteristically hostile and close-minded when faced with the question of Hugh, owing to the fact that the Borg wiped out nearly all of her species. It's one of the few episodes where she actually has an arc.
• In the initial conference, Deanna is the most militant she's ever been by far, rejecting Beverly's claim that they're not "formally" at war by pointing out the Borg have attacked the Federation at every encounter.
• Resistance Is Futile : Discussed; Hugh starts out parroting the Borg's typical refrain, but when he meets Guinan, he learns that she and some of her people survived and escaped from the Borg's destruction of her homeworld. Guinan: My people resisted when the Borg came to assimilate us. Some of us survived. Hugh: Resistance... is not futile?
• Rogue Drone : Hugh is separated from the Borg Hive Mind , is given a name, and slowly develops a sense of identity and individuality, finally culminating in use of the singular pronoun "I".
• Sarcasm-Blind : While confronting Hugh, Guinan is initially snarky and dismissive, only to find that the childlike Hugh can neither understand nor appreciate her attitude. Guinan: Aren't you going to tell me you have to assimilate me? Hugh: You wish to be assimilated? Guinan: No, but that's what you... things do, isn't it?
• Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right! : Dr. Crusher remarks that, war or no war, Hugh is an injured sentient being, and thus she's going to treat him regardless of whether or not it's allowed.
• Shout-Out : The title is a play on the classic science fiction story I, Robot .
• Sure, Let's Go with That : A dark version when Hugh recognizes Picard as Locutus. After a moment of shock, Picard decides to roll with it.
• Teeth-Clenched Teamwork : Dr. Crusher ends up doing this when she's outvoted among the Enterprise officers and forced to help with their genocidal plan. She throws up protests the whole way, at one point outright saying "I'm here to help, but I don't have to like it."
• Two Roads Before You : Hugh has the choice of staying with the Enterprise crew or returning to the Borg Collective. He chooses the latter to protect our heroes .
• Vocal Evolution : When Hugh first awakens on the Enterprise as Third of Five, his voice is cold and robotic, barely rising above a monotone. Throughout the episode, as the crew members teach him about individuality, his tone changes in kind, gradually filling with inflections, emotions, and humanity.
• What Is This Thing You Call "Love"? : It's revealed that the Borg have no words for or even concept of emotion beyond the desire to assimilate. As such, Hugh has to learn all about the ideas of loneliness, friendship, kindness, and love; each member of the crew that teaches him about them comes to recognize his humanity.
• What the Hell, Hero? : Crusher calls out Picard for considering genocide.
• Wham Line : One of the most memorable of the series. Picard: You are Borg. You will assist us. Hugh: I will not. Picard: ...What did you say? Hugh: I will not assist you. Picard: "I...?" Hugh: Geordi must not be assimilated. Picard: But you are Borg. Hugh: No... I am Hugh.
• First, a subversion, when Picard and Guinan are fencing one another. The normally wise and introspective Guinan is surprisingly ruthless, combined with a Wounded Gazelle Gambit in their fencing match, to highlight the dangers of keeping a Borg drone, even one seemingly disconnected from the Collective, on board. Guinan: You felt sorry for me. Look what it got you.
• A series of inversions come in the middle of the episode. Guinan is actually on the receiving end of such a speech, from Geordi. Guinan: Let me tell you something, when this kid's big brothers come looking for him, they're not gonna stop until they find him. And they'll come looking for us, and they will destroy us. And they will not do any of the soul-searching that you're doing now. Geordi: So why don't you go and talk to him? It might not be so clear-cut then. Guinan: Because I wouldn't have anything to say. Geordi: Then why don't you just listen? That is what you do best, isn't it?
• Guinan does indeed talk to Hugh after this, leading to her own change of heart on this situation. Guinan: Thanks to you, there are very few of us left. We're scattered throughout the galaxy. We don't even have a home anymore. Hugh: What you are saying, is that you are lonely. Guinan: What? Hugh: You have no others, you have no home. We are also lonely.
• This leads to Guinan reversing her previous stance with Picard in a more Played Straight example of the trope: Guinan: If you're going to use this person- Picard: IT'S NOT A PERSON, DAMMIT, IT'S A BORG! Guinan: If you're going to use this person to destroy his entire species, you should at least look him in the eye. Otherwise, you might find that decision much harder to live with than you realize.
• Wounded Gazelle Gambit : Guinan pulls one while fencing with Picard to teach him a lesson about sympathy for the Borg.
• You Will Be Assimilated : Well, not if Hugh has anything to say about it...
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What Star Trek: Voyager's Borg Queen Looks Like Today

As prominent "Star Trek: Voyager" antagonists go, it's hard to top the Borg Queen, the entity controlling the fearsome Borg. The Borg are responsible for some of the most pause-worthy moments on "Star Trek: The Next Generation,"  and the cyborg collective continued to antagonize the Federation long after their debut on that show. 

She made her debut in one of the best "Star Trek" movies , "Star Trek: First Contact," and "Star Trek: Picard" marks The Borg Queen's final hurrah. Nevertheless, she's arguably at her most prominent during the events of "Star Trek: Voyager." While numerous actors have played the character over time, the Borg Queen's prevalence on "Voyager" quite likely makes the two actors portraying her — Alice Krige and Susanna Thompson — the definitive versions of the cyborg villain, especially since Krige also played the character in "Star Trek: First Contact." Let's see what the actors look like today.

Alice Krige and Susanna Thompson have a long history in genre shows and films

The first Borg Queen to grace the screens was Alice Krige, who played the role in 1996's "Star Trek: First Contact" and returned in the "Star Trek: Voyager" Season 7 episode "Endgame." Due to her significant role in "First Contact," she's likely the first person people think when it comes to the Borg Queen. She's also voiced the character in various other "Star Trek"-adjacent projects, including "Star Trek: Picard," where she provides the voice of the Borg Queen in two episodes while others physically portray her. 

Apart from her "Star Trek" work, Krige has amassed a wealth of acting credits. Eagle-eyed fans may have spotted her as Eyr in "Thor: The Dark World," Christabella in 2006's "Silent Hill," and Karen Abercromby in the 2002 Christian Bale-Matthew McConaughey fantasy film "Kingdom of Fire." On the small screen, you may have seen her as Maddie on "Deadwood," Nancy Johnson on "The OA," and Haruspex Tsimani on "Carnival Row."

The second and more prominent Borg Queen of "Star Trek: Voyager" is Susanna Thompson, who portrayed the character in her other three appearances on the show. The Borg Queen marks Thompson's third appearance in the franchise, seeing as she already had two one-episode "Star Trek: The Next Generation" parts under her belt before joining "Voyager." Thompson is a familiar face for fans of "Arrow" as Moira Queen,  the mother of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell). She also played Jeanne in the 2021 horror movie "Malignant," and starred opposite Aidan Quinn on NBC's "The Book of Daniel." Outside genre fare, fans may also have seen her as Karen Sammler on ABC's "Once and Again" and Hollis Mann on "NCIS." 

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Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before. Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before. Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.

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• Trivia Almost everyone in the cast became life-long friends. At LeVar Burton 's 1992 wedding, Brent Spiner served as best man, and Sir Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , and Michael Dorn all served as ushers. Man of the People (1992) (#6.3) aired on that day.
• Goofs It is claimed that Data can't use contractions (Can't, Isn't, Don't, etc) yet there are several instances throughout the series where he does. One of the first such examples is heard in Encounter at Farpoint (1987) , where Data uses the word "Can't" while the Enterprise is being chased by Q's "ship".

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• Crazy credits The model of the Enterprise used in the opening credits is so detailed, a tiny figure can be seen walking past a window just before the vessel jumps to warp speed.
• Alternate versions The first and last episodes were originally broadcast as two-hour TV movies, and were later re-edited into two one-hour episodes each. Both edits involved removing some scenes from each episode.
• Connections Edited into Reading Rainbow: The Bionic Bunny Show (1988)

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Doctor Who: Every Doctor & Who Played Them (In Chronological Order)

11 canon appearances the doctor has made outside of doctor who, doctor who season 14 episode guide.

Warning: Very minor spoilers ahead for Doctor Who season 14, episode 1, "Space Babies."

• Doctor Who 's vast universe expands beyond the TV show to include novels, games, and comics, contributing to a complex timeline.
• Doctor Who season 14, episode 1 references a past crossover with Star Trek , teasing more potential future interactions between the two iconic franchises.
• Assimilation² , a comic integrating Doctor Who and Star Trek: The Next Generation , is hinted to be part of Doctor Who 's main continuity in "Space Babies."

Doctor Who season 14, episode 1, "Space Babies," includes Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor referencing an Eleventh Doctor story that involved a crossover with another huge sci-fi franchise - and his comment essentially confirms the event is now canon. Doctor Who isn't a saga that's limited to the TV show . There are countless audio dramas, novels, video games, and comics that all contribute to the Doctor Who continuity. The sheer amount of media available within the franchise creates a sprawling timeline of the Doctor's life that can be difficult to track. However, one arc from Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor sticks out.

Some of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time happen off-screen, and they can be enjoyed in isolation from the main show. While the Doctor Who season 14 cast is unlikely to include any characters from outside the franchise, that doesn't mean certain events can't be referenced - as proven in "Space Babies." The tease from Gatwa's Doctor may seem like a fun comment to those unaware of Doctor Who 's huge sci-fi crossover, but those familiar with the event will appreciate the coy nod.

Doctor Who has been played by a crop of fantastic actors going back several decades, and each version has been both unique and memorable.

Doctor Who's Star Trek Crossover Explained

Assimilation² saw the cybermen join forces with the borg.

The world of Doctor Who collided with Star Trek: The Next Generation in a run of comic books by IDW Publishing in 2012. The pages of the crossover saga, titled Assimilation² (pronounced " Assimilated Squared "), focused on the Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond, and Rory Williams interacting with the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast . The story follows Doctor Who 's Cybermen teaming up with the Borg from the Star Trek universe - a collaboration that inspired the story's title.

Assimilation² is set between the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation , season 5, episodes 17 & 18.

The comic run creatively integrated the two franchises and even explored different eras of each show. While Eleven is the main Doctor featured in the story, the comic's flashback sequences also show Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor interacting with the cast of Star Trek: The Original Series . The comics were illustrated by artist JK Woodward, who had previously worked on other Star Trek projects. Assimilation² was written by the trio of Scott Tipton, David Tipton, and Tony Lee, the latter of whom worked on Doctor Who comics before and after the Star Trek: The Next Generation crossover.

Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 1 Hints Eleven's Star Trek Crossover Is Fully Canon

"we'll have to visit them one day" implies fifteen knows how to return to the star trek universe.

Assimilation² has long been considered a standalone adventure with no bearing on the respective canons of either Doctor Who or Star Trek: The Next Generation . In other words, it can exist whether or not the story is considered to have "actually" happened within a shared continuity. However, Ruby mentions Star Trek in "Space Babies," when mentioning the concept of a "Matter Transporter". Fifteen smiles knowingly and replies, " We'll have to visit them one day ." Assimilation² may seem like a bizarre story to be integrated into the show's main continuity, but Doctor Who 's new "everything is canon" approach supports the addition.

Captain Jack Harkness addresses the Ninth Doctor as " Mr. Spock " during Doctor Who season 1's "Empty Child" two-parter. So, Star Trek clearly exists as a fictional property within the Doctor Who universe.

References have been made to the Star Trek franchise before in Doctor Who . For example, Captain Jack Harkness addresses the Ninth Doctor as " Mr. Spock " during Doctor Who season 1's "Empty Child" two-parter. So, Star Trek clearly exists as a fictional property within the Doctor Who universe. However, Assimilation² is set in the world of Star Trek rather than within the Doctor Who timeline . So, while Fifteen's on-screen acknowledgment of the events of Assimilation² makes the canon a little messy, it still does make sense.

Could Star Trek Actually Cross Over With Doctor Who On TV?

Rights issues could prevent a doctor who on-screen crossover of this magnitude.

Assimilation² likely had some legal issues to hammer out before the two franchises could cross over , and the same roadblocks would need to be overcome a second time if Doctor Who were to collide with Star Trek in live-action. Doctor Who is owned by the BBC, with Disney also now being part of the equation as of late 2022. Star Trek is the property of Paramount/CBS, so all parties would need to be on board with an on-screen Doctor Who / Star Trek crossover taking place.

The Doctor is the main character in Doctor Who, but the Time Lord has appeared in other shows on more than one occasion and for various reasons.

If said crossover were to happen, the current success of both franchises means the coming together of the sci-fi giants probably wouldn't happen anytime soon. There are several Star Trek projects ongoing and more coming up , and Doctor Who 's recent soft reboot means the new era is receiving much more attention than it has in recent years. So, neither property specifically needs a crossover event to boost its profile, meaning that Doctor Who will probably remain isolated from the Star Trek universe for now.

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Originally premiered in 1963, Doctor Who is a sci-fi series that follows a powerful being known as a Time Lord, referred to as the Doctor. Using an interdimensional time-traveling ship known as the TARDIS, the Doctor travels time and space with various companions as they solve multiple problems and help avert catastrophe as much as they almost cause it. Though the Doctor is always the same character, they experience regenerations, allowing them to be recast every few seasons as a unique immortal being with new personality traits.

Star Trek: Worst Things Done By The Borg

• Starfleet encountered the Borg in various regions of the universe, leading to significant confrontations and dangerous encounters spanning different Star Trek series.
• The Borg's destructive capabilities were highlighted by events such as the loss of outposts, colony destruction, and the unfortunate fate of the El-Aurian star system.
• The Borg's interference in Earth's history in First Contact showcases a pivotal moment where humanity had to prevent assimilation and protect the future of the galaxy.

Exploring the universe in Star Trek was always a dangerous endeavor. Even with the efforts of Starfleet and the Federation to explore and map every corner, the relative peace of the 24th century was shattered by the appearance of the Borg.

Star Trek: 5 Important Moments In The Borg's History

The Borg is a frightening alien race from Star Trek, and these are just a few of the most important moments in their history

Captain Janeway and Voyager encountered the Borg closer to their own territory in the Delta Quadrant, and the crew of the Enterprise in The Next Generation met the Borg as they drew closer to our galaxy. Even Captain Archer and his pre-Federation Enterprise had some contact with this dangerous species. Given that the Borg's whole philosophy is to either destroy or recruit every sentient race they meet, there's an entire list of horrible events that have defined their existence.

The Loss Of Several Neutral Zone Outposts

A veritable trail of destruction.

• Appeared In : Star Trek: The Next Generation, S1E26 "The Neutral Zone."

Before the Federation even saw or made contact with any Borg ships or outposts, the Borg destroyed several of their outposts and space stations along the Neutral Zone. The Romulans also lost several on their side, and it was unclear what had happened until the Enterprise started investigating the destruction of human colonies on Jouret 4.

The discovery of this debris path indicated that a new power was in the quadrant, something more dangerous than the Romulans and Federation combined. Thankfully, by the time the Federation did confront the Borg, they had some rudimentary knowledge of how to defend themselves because of the investigations into this event.

The Destruction Of The New Providence Colony

Starfleet finally engages the borg.

• Appeared In : Star Trek: The Next Generation , S3E26, "The Best Of Both Worlds."

This episode begins with the Enterprise investigating the planet of Jouret 4 where the New Providence Colony was located. Starfleet has lost contact with the colony, and when the Enterprise arrives, their worst fears are realized. The colony had been destroyed and the settlers assimilated.

Star Trek: A Tale Of Two Borg

Star Trek: Picard season 2 set up a brilliant story and season 3 established the existence of two types of Borg.

A brief investigation revealed that the weapon and energy readings were the same as the ones that had destroyed the Neutral Zone outposts. It wasn't the first time that Captain Picard had confronted the Borg, but this was the first time he planned to engage and attack, with Starfleet now determined to confront the Borg as an enemy.

The Abduction Of Jean-Luc Picard

To add his biological and technological distinctiveness to their own.

• Appeared In : Star Trek: The Next Generation, S3E26, "The Best Of Both Worlds."

During the pursuit of the Borg cube that had destroyed New Providence, Picard is abducted by Borg agents and brought to the Cube . He refuses to cooperate with the Borg's demands, but the Collective want him to act as their envoy to the Federation.

It's unclear exactly why the Borg decided that Jean-Luc Picard would make an ideal Locutus. The name means "one who speaks" and perhaps because any previous encounters would have been less suspicious and more diplomatic, they already knew he was a good communicator.

On the other hand, the Borg doesn't negotiate , so any skills Picard has in this regard are useless. Picard's knowledge of Starfleet's defensive plan, along with his more personal knowledge of his ship and crew, might have been the real motivation behind his abduction.

The End Of The El-Aurian Star System

Which resulted in a generational saga.

• Appeared In : Star Trek: Generations (1994)

Although the Borg were directly involved in the plot of Star Trek: Generations , it was one of their assimilation and conquest missions that sets the story in motion. When the Borg attacked and destroyed most of the El-Aurian star system, they displaced and tore apart many families, and Soren's wife and children were among them.

6 Coolest Weapons From Star Trek: The Next Generation, Ranked

Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced plenty of sci-fi weapons that kept audiences fascinated and kept the action high.

Soren, who first encountered the Enterprise when it took him on as a refugee, was a scientist who wanted to return to a place called the Nexus. This mysterious energy ribbon stretched across the whole galaxy and the rules of time and space didn't apply to any living beings inside of it, so if Soren could return to it, he could also reach his lost family.

If the Borg hadn't taken his family from him in the first place, Soren would have lived his life in peace on El-Aluria instead of stealing a missile and using it to destroy a whole star system.

Interfering With First Contact

A future that was almost lost.

• Appeared In : Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

This is one time that the Borg did manage to find and assimilate Earth. A Borg cube had infiltrated the galaxy's defense systems and was threatening Earth. Before they could be destroyed, they went back in time and assimilated Earth before humanity could have evolved far enough technologically to defend itself.

The USS Enterprise was able to follow the Borg back in time and prevent the changes they had made to history by helping Zefram Cochrane finish constructing a warp drive - the first of its kind - and launch its first test flight. Star Trek: First Contact isn't just the story of humans discovering warp speed and meeting the Vulcans, but also of how easily the Prime Directive went out the window when humanity had to undo one of the worst things the Borg had ever done.

Created by Gene Roddenberry

First Film Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Latest Film Star Trek Beyond

First TV Show Star Trek: The Original Series

Latest TV Show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Creation Year 1966