History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E16QWho

** This is the only episode in which the Borg seem completely '''un'''interested in assimilating humanoid lifeforms - in any other episode, especially starting with ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact'', that security officer would've probe-injected on the spot. In this take on the Borg, they are exclusively interested in acquiring technology.

** While the idea of "Borg children" comes up in later works (one of ''Voyager'''s stronger narrative thrusts involved exploring this concept), this episode implies that the Borg ''breed'' children to be drones. While it's not impossible that they do this, later works don't reference this idea at all and generally suggest that the Borg are simply indiscriminate in who they assimilate, and this includes children, who are then "matured" to the point where they are useful. This one is at least explainable with the characters making wild assumptions off of their immediate impressions of the "nursery" without actually doing much investigation.

** Borg use of nanotechnology isn't referenced at all in this episode; at the time the episode was written, nanotech wasn't even widely known about as a concept. Their regeneration and whatnot simply "happens" somehow (including in a rather infamous effects shot).
** Finally, the Borg's famous catchphrase "Resistance is futile" is not used in this episode, and would show up in their next appearance.

* OhCrap: Sonia Gomez's reaction to spilling hot chocolate on Picard.

* AbortedArc: Geordi's relationship with Gomez, whether professional or persona, never developed, and she appeared only briefly in one other episode.

Overeager young Ensign Sonya Gomez, a recent Academy graduate just assigned to the ''Enterprise,'' is carrying on a [[MotorMouth rambling conversation]] with Lt. La Forge in Engineering. When La Forge tells her that she ought to take her mug of hot chocolate out of Engineering, Gomez turns and around and smacks [[RightBehindMe right into Captain Picard himself]], mortifying her.

Picard goes to change his uniform, exits a turbolift without looking, and finds himself aboard a shuttlecraft piloted by Q. Picard angrily reminds Q his promise after their [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E9HideAndQ last encounter]] to never trouble the ''Enterprise'' again, and Q says he always keeps his word: The shuttlecraft is in [[ExactWords the middle of nowhere]]. Picard tries to wait Q out, but Q has all the time in the universe, so Picard relents and agrees to hear his proposal.

Q and Picard teleport to Ten-Forward, where Q immediately reacts with shock that Guinan is aboard. The pair have a history, and they square off, but Picard talks them down as Picard and Worf arrive. Q admits that he's been kicked out of the Q collective. He's bored and wants to join the crew of the ''Enterprise''. Picard balks at the idea, but Q warns him that the Federation has no idea what lies in store for them. Picard confidently states that the Federation can handle any issues that may arise.

The Borg ship begins tractoring the ''Enterprise'' in. Picard orders a volley with everything they've got, targeting the tractor beam. The Borg slice a chunk out of the ''Enterprise'', killing 18 crew, but its transport beam gets destroyed. In a conference, Q warns Picard that the Borg are an existential threat to the Federation itself, interesting in nothing beyond consuming their technology and lives.

But the Borg are hot on their heels. Picard orders another salvo, but the battle is [[CurbStompBattle entirely lopsided]] this time, and the ''Enterprise'' quickly finds itself at the Borg's mercy. Riker prepares to give the order to fire a photon torpedo at close range, likely annihilating the ''Enterprise''. Q appears just in time to remind Picard of his claim that he could handle any threat.

* BewareTheSillyOnes: Q, after instantly flashing the ''Enterprise'' halfway across the galaxy on a whim and bringing them into a confrontation with The Borg, reinforces this with two words:
-->'''Q:''' [[ShutUpKirk Oh]] ''[[AMillionIsAStatistic please.]]''
* BittersweetEnding: The ''Enterprise'' escapes and is safe, for now. But the Borg now know the Federation exists (in fact, they likely knew of them already), and they ''will'' be coming. 18 crewmen are dead from this incident. And the once confident crew, especially Picard, are shaken to their core.

* ChairReveal: Q for his first and last meetings.

* CruelToBeKind: Q's actions could be considered this; he isn't responsible for the Borg coming after the Federation later, because the attacks in "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E25TheNeutralZone The Neutral Zone]]" are implied to be the result of the Borg, so they were on their way anyway. His actions actually give the Federation an advance warning about who the Borg are, even if people die as a result. This canon is later reinforced in ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', where it is revealed that Seven of Nine's parents were Federation scientists investigating the then-unknown Borg almost a decade before this episode. The whole family and their small ship were captured and assimilated. Which means that the Borg already possessed knowledge of the existence of humans and the Federation. What is new to them is the ''Galaxy''-class starship ''Enterprise'', hence their interest in assimilating it.

* TheDeadHaveNames: Averted; when Worf asks if he can put a casualty list on screen, Picard curtly refuses because they have to deal with the crisis at hand.

* DoNotTauntCthulhu: Picard learns the harsh lesson that Q really isn't someone to try and [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu flip off]].

** Ensign Gomez gets an InUniverse version when she spills coffee on Picard, then flusters her subsequent apology while Geordi grimaces in the background. As he points out, that's one introduction TheCaptain won't forget in a hurry.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Picard questions if Q's lesson could have been learned without the death of 18 members of his crew. Q responds that the galaxy isn't a safe place, if Picard can't accept that people will die from the dangers, then he should go back home.

* ResistanceIsFutile: That particular catchphrase won't appear until "The Best of Both Worlds", but in this episode, they tell the ''Enterprise'' "If you defend yourselves, you will be punished.".

* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: Averted. Trying to find a small shuttlecraft that Q could literally have put ''anywhere in the universe'' is just as impossible as it should be.

* ShutUpKirk: When Riker chews Q out for exposing them to the Borg and costing the lives of a dozen shipmates, all Q responds with is ''"Oh, please..."'' This was an ad-lib by de Lancie, and a considerable improvement on the LargeHam line in the script. Then there's Q's parting words.
-->'''Q:''' If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross. But it's not for the timid.

* WhamLine: "Oh, ''please''." With those two words the audience knows Q isn't fucking around anymore. All the more impressive as the line was an ad-lib by John de Lancie, who thought it fit Q's ruthless, devil-may-care attitude.

* WhosLaughingNow: Or, rather, [[IncrediblyLamePun "Q's Laughing Now"]]. As the Borg cube is closing in on the ''Enterprise'', Q returns to mock Picard.

* TheWorfEffect: Oddly subverted. When Picard orders Worf to stop the Borg drone in Engineering, Worf orders an Ensign to try to stop him. The Borg drone forcefully pushes the Ensign away. Worf wouldn't go one-on-one against the Borg until "The Best of Both Worlds: Part I", with predictable results.

The third appearance of the mischevious Q Entity, and the debut of the Borg, arguably the most famous adversarial race introduced post-Original Series.

Overeager young Ensign Sonya Gomez, a recent Academy graduate just assigned to the ''Enterprise,'' is carrying on a rambling conversation with Lt. La Forge in engineering, while carrying a mug of hot chocolate in her hands. WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong When Geordi politely remonstrates her that it's not a good idea to be carrying that mug around sensitive electronic equipment, Gomez turns to leave Engineering and [[RightBehindMe plows right into Captain Picard]].

Picard leaves Engineering to get a change of uniform and exits the turbolift without looking--and suddenly he's on a shuttlecraft piloted by Q. Picard angrily reminds Q that after their [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E9HideAndQ last encounter]], he'd promised never to trouble the ''Enterprise'' again, and [[ExactWords Q says he always keeps his word: The shuttlecraft is in the middle of nowhere]].

Back on the ''Enterprise,'' La Forge and Gomez are [[WalkAndTalk pedeconferencing]], with Geordi assuring her that he wouldn't have requested her if she wasn't the best at what she does. (It probably doesn't hurt that she's kinda cute.) He says they'll go to Ten-Forward to sit and relax, and help teach her how to slow down. When Gomez demurs, La Forge says she's awfully young to be so driven.

->'''Gomez:''' Whatever is out here, we're gonna be the first humans to see it, and I wanna be part of that, I wanna ''understand'' it.\\
'''La Forge:''' Sonya, relax... you're here, you've made it, but you won't last long ''banging'' into ''walls.'' It'll be there for you, believe me.

In Ten-Forward, Guinan realizes something is terribly wrong, and she contacts the bridge, asking Riker if there's anything unusual happening. Worf checks his station quickly, and shakes his head; Riker replies there's nothing out of the ordinary. "Why do you ask?" "I'm not sure... just a feeling."

Back on the shuttlecraft, Picard tries a locator beam and subspace communication to reach the ''Enterprise,'' to no avail. Q tells him to save his energy--he and Picard have things to discuss.

->'''Picard:''' Keeping me a prisoner here will not compel me to discuss anything with you.\\
'''Q:''' ''[leaning right into Picard's ear]'' It will in time.

In Ten-Forward, Geordi realizes something's bothering Guinan, and he and Sonya decide to go check out Engineering just in case.

Picard's absence doesn't go unnoticed for long: Troi comes onto the bridge asking where the captain is. An attempt to reach him in his quarters fails, and the computer confirms he's not on the ship. Worf realizes a shuttlecraft is missing and Riker immediately calls for an all-stop, setting the ''Enterprise'' to the task of looking for Picard. Six hours of intensive searching pass with no success.

Back in the shuttle, Q taunts the uncommunicative Picard that he can stay out here forever: "I'm ageless, Picard--''you'' are not." Picard is firm that he won't discuss anything with Q while being held hostage, but agrees that he'll give Q's request a fair hearing if he returns him to the ''Enterprise.'' They immediately appear in Ten-Forward, and Q's maniacal chuckling causes Guinan to pop out from behind the bar. Worf's station immediately shows the shuttle back in its bay, and the computer gives Picard's location. Riker gives a somewhat amused HereWeGoAgain smile as he leaves the bridge.

Guinan angrily confronts Q, and it turns out they had "some dealings" [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld 200 years ago]]. "This creature is not what she appears to be. She's an imp, and where she goes, trouble always follows." Picard retorts, "You're speaking of yourself, Q, not Guinan," and insists that Q state his business.

->'''Q:''' I agree, Captain. Enough about this creature. She's diverting us from the purpose of my being here.\\
'''Riker:''' ''[as he and Worf enter]'' Which is?\\
'''Q:''' Oh, the redoubtable Commander Riker! And micro-brain! Growl for me, let me know you still care.

Q says that he wishes to join the ''Enterprise'' as a member of the crew, admitting that he was kicked out of the Q Continuum. Picard says that to learn about Q would be provocative, "but you're next-of-kin to chaos." Q insists that he doesn't want or need special treatment, and if necessary, he'd even renounce his powers, "and become as weak and as incompetent as all of you."

"No," Picard replies. When it comes down to it, the crew doesn't trust Q. Q counters that they may not trust him, but they ''do need'' him. The Federation's moving farther out than expected, faster than they should, and is about to enter some wondrous, but dangerous, areas of the galaxy. The "pitiful adversaries" the Federation has already encountered, like the Romulans and the Klingons, are nothing compared to what's waiting.

->'''Riker:''' We'll just have to do the best we can without you.\\
'''Q:''' What justifies that smugness?\\
'''Picard:''' Not smugness. Not arrogance. But we are resolute, we are determined... and your help is not required.\\
'''Q:''' We'll just have to see how ready you are!\\
'''Guinan:''' '''''Q!'''''

With a snap and a flash, the ''Enterprise'' is propelled 7,000 light years in a matter of seconds, ending up near System J-25, putting them 2 1/2 years (at maximum warp) from the nearest starbase.

->'''Riker:''' ''Why?''\\
'''Q:''' "Why?" Why, to give you a taste of your future. A preview of things to come. ''Con permiso, Capitan.'' The hall is rented, the orchestra engaged. It's now time to [[LetsDance see if you can dance]].

Picard and Riker ask Guinan for advice on this area of space, because her people have been here before. "If I were you, I'd start back ''now,"'' she portentously recommends.

But Picard [[IgnoredExpert decides to go exploring first]], and they come across an M-class planet that's now completely lifeless, with great rends in the surface where the cities should be. It's exactly what happened to the outposts in [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E25TheNeutralZone the Neutral Zone]] in the Season 1 finale. Worf detects that the ''Enterprise'' is being probed, and locates the source as an approaching ship. Picard puts the ship on yellow alert.

The ship in question is a massive cube-shaped hunk of metal, oddly genericized in its design. There's no bridge, engineering section, living quarters, or even life signs. Picard wisely calls down to Guinan for identification.

->'''Picard:''' You're familiar with this life form?\\
'''Guinan:''' Yes. My people encountered them a century ago. They destroyed our cities; scattered my people throughout the galaxy. They're called the Borg. Protect yourself, Captain, or they'll destroy you.

Riker orders the shields raised, but a Borg scout almost immediately beams through the shields, into Main Engineering. Completely ignoring La Forge and the other engineers, the scout commences an examination of the warp drive and control surfaces. Geordi calls an intruder alert, and is soon joined by Picard, Worf and two security guards. Q appears to comment on the situation, suggesting that the Borg may attempt to take control of the ship. When the scout tries to do exactly that, Picard orders him stopped. The Borg throws a [[RedShirt security officer]] across the room, but is felled with the second shot of Worf's phaser. A replacement beams in, protected by a force field; after continuing the scout's work for a few moments, he peels some equipment off the fallen Borg and disappears, while the dead Borg turns to ash.

In the conference room, the senior staff and Guinan have a meeting. Guinan says that the first encounter was reconnaissance only, and when they decide to come, they're gonna [[ZergRush come in force]]. And they won't be reasoned with. The Borg hail the ''Enterprise:''

->'''Borg:''' [[AC: We have analyzed your defensive capabilities as being unable to withstand us. If you defend yourselves, you will be punished.]]

Troi realizes that the Borg are acting together as a single mind; there's no one leader who can make mistakes. Q appears on the viewscreen and portentously asks Picard if he's ''sure'' he doesn't want him as a member of the crew. Almost instantly, the Borg lock a tractor beam on the ''Enterprise.''

The senior staff returns to the bridge, and Picard orders the ship to warp out of there, but the tractor beam's holding them in place--and draining their shields. Picard orders Worf to locate the tractor beam's source and fire phasers. Worf fires and misses, hitting another portion of the Borg cube with little visible effect.

That horrible shooting costs them: The Borg uses a cutting beam to slice into the saucer and "carve them up like a roast," forcibly removing nine sections worth of the ship, killing 18 people. Picard again orders the tractor beam terminated with whatever force is necessary. Increasing power, Worf hits the target on the [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy fourth overall shot]].

Three large chunks have been taken out of the Borg ship, and it's been immobilized. Rather than take the opportunity to destroy them ''or'' get the hell out of there, Picard orders a conference, which Q barges in on to reiterate how lethal the Borg really are.

->'''Q:''' The Borg is the ultimate user. They're unlike ''any'' threat your Federation has ever faced. They're not interested in political conquest, wealth or power as you know it. They're simply interested in your ship, its technology. They've identified it as something they can consume.
->'''Riker:''' You brought us here, you exposed us to them, and you cost us the ''lives'' of our ''shipmates!''
->'''Q:''' (''coldly'') Oh, ''please.''

''Again'' ignoring Guinan's advice, Picard has Riker assemble an Away Team (himself, Data and Worf) to visit the Borg ship.

Despite the ''Enterprise's'' sensors not detecting any life signs, there are thousands--possibly hundreds of thousands--of Borg drones aboard, most of them plugged into slots on the wall. Data surmises that the Borg don't register as individuals while they're in their slots. Data tries to get in one of the slots to access the Borg computer, but realizes that only another Borg drone can enter it. One of them approaches the crew and Worf raises his phaser, but Riker holds him off; the drone walks [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight right in between the Away Team]], fiddles with something, and returns to her previous position.

The Away Team finds a Borg nursery, in which newborn humanoids are given their first cybernetic implants. The team's explorations are cut short when they realize the Borg are rapidly repairing the ship.

The Away Team's transported directly to the bridge, and ''finally'' Picard gives the order to get the hell out of there. The Borg pursue, while continuing to regenerate their ship. Picard orders maximum speed and another attack; two photon torpedoes are completely ineffective. Even at warp 9.65, the ''Enterprise'' is losing ground.

->'''Q:''' They will follow this ship until you exhaust your fuel. They will wear down your defenses. Then you will be ''theirs.'' Admit it, Picard, you're out of your league. You should have stayed where you belong.

The Borg fire an energy-draining weapon twice, draining the ''Enterprise's'' shields. Another spread of photon torpedoes does nothing. Two subsequent shots of the energy-draining weapon knock out first the shields and then the warp drive, and the Borg re-establish their tractor beam. Picard orders another torpedo volley, but Data warns that a torpedo detonation at this range with no shields will likely destroy the ship. Nevertheless, Riker prepares to give the order.

->'''Q:''' ''[swapping places with Data in a flash]'' I'll be leaving now. You thought you could handle it. So ''handle'' it.\\
'''Picard:''' Q. End this.\\
'''Q:''' ''Moi?'' What makes you think I'm either inclined or capable to terminate this encounter?\\
'''Picard:''' If we all die... here, now... you will not be able to gloat! You wanted to frighten us. We're frightened. You wanted to show us that we are inadequate. For the moment... I grant that. You wanted me to say I need you? '''''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis I! NEED! YOU!]]'''''

With a smirk, Q flashes the ''Enterprise'' back to where they started, and tells Picard he was impressed--a lesser man would have been humiliated to say those words, and would rather have died than ask for help. Picard points out that giving the ''Enterprise'' a healthy dose of humility could have been accomplished without 18 people dying, but Q likens it to a [[AMillionIsAStatistic little bloody nose]]; if Picard can't deal with it, he should go home and crawl under his bed. The galaxy is not safe. It's wondrous and dangerous, and it's not for the timid. With that lesson, Q leaves and the ''Enterprise'' heads for the nearest starbase for repairs.

In Ten-Forward, over chess with Guinan, Picard muses that Q may have done the right thing for the wrong reason. Now that the Federation knows about the Borg, they can prepare for their next encounter. But you can bet the Borg will be coming for them now.

* DarkerAndEdgier: the very nature of the Borg is meant to be disturbing at the very least. Unlike other episodes, which were more diplomatic in nature, the Enterprise is faced with a foe that can't be reasoned with and are absolutely without mercy. They steal technology. It can be said the seeds of the more violent interspecies conflicts which marked the later seasons were started here, although it wasn't until season 3, that the show got darker in its subject matter.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Unsurprisingly, there's quite a bit concerning the Borg, given that they were still brand new in this episode, the writing team was sussing out how both to make them threatening.

*** It's never explicitly mentioned but it's possible they use it in "Best of Both Worlds" as the shields of the Enterprise quickly give way to the Borg's tractor.

* ToughLove: the whole point of the episode was Q trying to get the Federation to stop being so comfortable and always look for ways to improve their defenses, showing them that there are bigger more powerful groups who can't reasoned with. This forever changed the show. Picard notes this:
** Picard: “Well, perhaps what we most needed was a kick in our complacency to prepare us for what lies ahead.”

* BrooklynRage: At least a little bit. Although they are cyborgs, when the Borg say their first line, in the form of the Collective, the line saying, [[spoiler: "If you defend yourselves, you will be punished"]], it's done in a very New York way. Like the white Cuban (and Colombian too, with Hector the Toad) Spaniard -ez-surnamed characters and Mel Bernstein in the movie ''{{Film/Scarface}}'', the Borg are supposed to be non-Anglo Frank Lopez English accented Allied Germanic groups (in this case Scandinavians) when they engaged in imperialism (Denmark and Sweden, during their "bro"-hating era, were very sadistic to their subjects, in one case Danish authorities cut off the fingers of indigenous peoples who dared to fight Dane rule to make an example out of them), although unlike ''{{Film/Scarface}}'', obviously based on, as the Borg are a fictional alien race. One scene later, [[spoiler: after the first Borg who intrudes onto the ship is killed, a second Borg takes his place and gives them a very chilling stare which can only be described as hotshot non-Anglo white possibly mixed with BrooklynRage.]] This kinda contradicts their inhuman nature. This only lasts in this episode though as the later episodes ditch that altogether, and has a more General American (which again tends to be non-Anglo white in origin) English accent, although still menacing.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Unsurprisingly, there's quite a bit concerning the Borg, given that they were still brand new in this episode, the writing team was sussing out how both to make them threatening and how exactly their "assimilation" worked.
** The Borg's shield-draining weapon is never used again after this episode, though Borg tractor beams would pick up similar properties.

* PlotDevice: Borderline. As many on Youtube videos of this episode have pointed, the episode is somewhat guilty of setting the Borg up in such way that it appears like a device for Q to make his point. Although the Borg are very real, in this universe, it's Guinan's accounts of her people's experiences of the Borg that help shake off the appearance of being a plot device.

* PlotDevice: Borderline. As many on Youtube videos of this episode have pointed, the episode is somewhat guilty of setting the Borg up in such way that it appears like a device for Q to make his point. Although the Borg are very real, it's Guinan's recounts of her people's experiences of the Borg that help shake off the appearance of being a plot device.

* BrooklynRage: At least a little bit. Although they are cyborgs, when the Borg say their first line, in the form of the Collective, the line saying, [[spoiler: "If you defend yourselves, you will be punished"]], it's done in a very New York way. Like the white Cuban (and Colombian too, with Hector the Toad) Spaniard -ez-surnamed characters and Mel Bernstein in the movie ''{{Film/Scarface}}'', the Borg are supposed to be non-Anglo Frank Lopez English accented Allied Germanic groups (in this case Scandinavians) when they engaged in imperialism (Denmark and Sweden, during their "bro"-hating era, were very sadistic to their subjects, in one case Danish authorities cut off the fingers of indigenous peoples who dared to fight Dane rule to make an example out of them), although unlike ''{{Film/Scarface}}'', obviously based on, as the Borg are a fictional alien race. One scene later, [[spoiler: after the first Borg who intrudes onto the ship is killed, a second Borg takes his place and gives them a very chilling stare which can only be described as hotshot non-Anglo white possibly mixed with BrooklynRage.]] This kinda contradicts their inhuman nature. This only lasts in this episode though as the later episodes ditch that altogether, and has a more General American (which again tends to be non-Anglo white in origin) English accent, although still menacing.

* ToughLove: the whole point of the episode was Q trying to get the Federation to stop being so comfortable and always look for ways to defend themselves, and to show them that there are bigger more powerful groups who can't reasoned with. This forever changed the show.

* BrooklynRage: At least a little bit. Although they are cyborgs, when the Borg say their first line, in the form of the Collective, the line saying, [[spoiler: "If you defend yourselves, you will be punished"]], it's done in a very New York way. Like the white Cuban Spaniard -ez-surnamed characters and Mel Bernstein in the movie ''{{Film/Scarface}}'', the Borg are supposed to be non-Anglo Frank Lopez English accented Allied Germanic groups (in this case Scandinavians) when they engaged in imperialism (Denmark and Sweden, during their "bro"-hating era, were very sadistic to their subjects, in one case Danish authorities cut off the fingers of indigenous peoples who dared to fight Dane rule to make an example out of them), although unlike ''{{Film/Scarface}}'', obviously based on, as the Borg are a fictional alien race. One scene later, [[spoiler: after the first Borg who intrudes onto the ship is killed, a second Borg takes his place and gives them a very chilling stare which can only be described as hotshot non-Anglo white possibly mixed with BrooklynRage.]] This kinda contradicts their inhuman nature. This only lasts in this episode though as the later episodes ditch that altogether, and has a more General American (which again tends to be non-Anglo white in origin) English accent, although still menacing.

* BrooklynRage: At least a little bit. Although they are cyborgs, when the Borg say their first line, in the form of the Collective, the line saying, [[spoiler: "If you defend yourselves, you will be punished"]], it's done in a very New York way. Like the white Cuban Spaniard -ez-surnamed characters and Mel Bernstein in the movie ''{{Film/Scarface}}'', the Borg are supposed to be non-Anglo Frank Lopez English accented Allied Germanic groups (in this case Scandinavians) when they engaged in imperialism (Denmark and Sweden, during their "bro"-hating era, were very sadistic to their subjects, in one case Danish authorities cut off the fingers of indigenous peoples who dared to fight Dane rule to make an example out of them), although unlike ''{{Film/Scarface}}'', obviously based on, as the Borg are a fictional alien race. One scene later, [[spoiler: after the first Borg who intrudes onto the ship is killed, a second Borg takes his place and gives them a very chilling stare which can only be described as non-Anglo white possibly mixed with hotshot BrooklynRage.]] This kinda contradicts their inhuman nature. This only lasts in this episode though as the later episodes ditch that altogether, and has a more General American (which again tends to be non-Anglo white in origin) English accent, although still menacing.

* BrooklynRage: At least a little bit. Although they are cyborgs, when the Borg say their first line, in the form of the Collective, the line saying, [[spoiler: "If you defend yourselves, you will be punished"]], it's done in a very New York way. Like the white Cuban Spaniard -ez-surnamed characters and Mel Bernstein, ''{{Film/Scarface}}'' the Borg are supposed to be non-Anglo Frank Lopez English accented Allied Germanic groups (in this case Scandinavians) when they engaged in imperialism (Denmark and Sweden, during their "bro"-hating era, were very sadistic to their subjects, in one case Danish authorities cut off the fingers of indigenous peoples who dared to fight Dane rule to make an example out of them), although unlike ''{{Film/Scarface}}'', obviously based on, as the Borg are a fictional alien race. One scene later, [[spoiler: after the first Borg who intrudes onto the ship is killed, a second Borg takes his place and gives them a very chilling stare which can only be described as non-Anglo white possibly mixed with hotshot BrooklynRage.]] This kinda contradicts their inhuman nature. This only lasts in this episode though as the later episodes ditch that altogether, and has a more General American (which again tends to be non-Anglo white in origin) English accent, although still menacing.

* BrooklynRage: At least a littlbe bit. Although they are cyborgs, when the Borg say their first line, in the form of the Collective, the line saying, [[spoiler: "If you defend yourselves, you will be punished"]], it's done in a very New York way. Like the white Cuban Spaniard -ez-surnamed characters and Mel Bernstein, "Scarface" the Borg are supposed to be non-Anglo Frank Lopez English accented Allied Germanic groups (in this case Scandinavians) when they engaged in imperialism (Denmark and Sweden, during their "bro"-hating era, were very sadistic to their subjects, in one case Danish authorities cut off the fingers of indigenous peoples who dared to fight Dane rule to make an example out of them). One scene later, [[spoiler: after the first Borg who intrudes onto the ship is killed, a second Borg takes his place and gives them a very chilling stare which can only be described as non-Anglo white possibly mixed with hotshot BrooklynRage.]] This kinda contradicts their inhuman nature. This only lasts in this episode though as the later episodes ditch that altogether, and has a more General American (which again tends to be non-Anglo white in origin) English accent, although still menacing.

* AdaptiveAbility: A Borg drone is shot dead by Worf. The one that comes to retrieve it has a personal shield to absorb phaser fire. Similarly, the Cube takes quite a lot of damage from the ''Enterprise's'' weapons during their first engagement. In the rematch, a volley of torpedoes does aboslutely nothing.

** The title is a shout out to ''Series/DoctorWho'' -- particularly fitting as this is the episode that introduces the Borg, which are also somewhat influenced by the Cybermen from that show. The title of this episode in French is even « Docteur Who ».

** The title is a shout out to ''Series/DoctorWho'' -- particularly fitting as this is the episode that introduces the Borg, which are also somewhat influenced by the Cybermen from that show.

That horrible shooting costs them: The Borg uses a cutting beam to slice into the saucer and "carve them up like a roast," forcibly removing nine sections worth of the ship, killing 18 people. Picard again orders the tractor beam terminated with whatever force is necessary. Increasing power, Worf hits the target on the fourth overall shot.