The Best of Both Worlds, Part II

DVD, TNG S4 (The Best of Both Worlds, Part II)

The simplest solutions work best. If viewers had been told after watching part one of this story that it would all end with Data telling the Borg to take a nap they might have been a bit disappointed, but as things play out this is an admirable conclusion to the series' best episode. When added to the mental images of 'DS9' pilot 'Emissary' the horror of the Borg attack is even more real. Without that, it is still a terrible sight to see so many husks of former starships floating and sparking in the dark ocean of space. Guinan proves her worth again with her straightforward advice, speaking what may be obvious, but needs to be said. Her words and presence continue to be electrifying. O'Brien gets to be part of it, the saucer separates, even the battle bridge has its time in the sun and the episode successfully steers Riker and the Enterprise through their impossible problem and finds time to use all these elements that have made up the series, so it works well as a conclusion to a story and the opening of a new season.

Data's strength is seen again when he single-handedly pulls Locutus' Borg appendage away from doing anything dangerous and his mission to rescue the Captain with Worf provides some physical action and jeopardy amid the less visual fate of millions. Perhaps the Borg seem sanitised compared to later appearances - we don't see much body horror when Picard gets an arm extension added or any time when the Borg assimilate others, but the threat to Earth is enough to provoke a reaction.

There's something very special about seeing the Enterprise orbiting her home planet, with the Moon in the background, and it gives the impression of things being happy ever after. Shelby and Riker have kind words for each other, Picard's back in his rightful place and all the main characters are intact... The final moment when Picard is alone in his ready room, no longer having to put on a front for his officers reveals his pain and you see he's not back to his normal self, but is in fact very much affected by his experiences. It's a sign of the series growing into middle-age. Picard would never be quite the same again and neither would Star Trek.

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