3x09 Võx

So, of course Jack's essentially a Borg transmitter, he inherited some sort of Borg code that lies dormant in Picard. And the Borg used the changelings in order to infect every SF-officer with a dormant Borg DNA-strain that only needs activation - but activation only works in those whose brain isn't done developing yet, essentially kids and young adults who then take over the ships. And all the SF-ships are now interconnected which makes a crew useless anyway, so why bother with crews. Finally, Shelby as admiral on the Enterprise-F is rolling out that borglike collective interconnection while the old crew returns to the Enterprise D (not connected) to fight the massive Borg ship that's pulling the strings.

The plot is just stupid, sorry. First of all, they all didn't watch BSG, I guess, regarding the networked ships. And Shelby's implementing the Borg-like technology on the ships and doesn't find anything strange about that? Where do the replaced high ranking officers come into play? I mean, why replace Tuvok with a changeling when their job was to rewrite the transporters and introduce Picard's latent Borg DNA? That doesn't make much sense plotwise.

Of course, the realization what Jack is is harrowing but let's be honest, we spent 8 episodes with Vadic, and now the main enemy is to be solved in 2 episodes? That's unbalanced and rushed. And we know that Jack's not going to end up as Borg forever, the only question is if everyone of the old crew's going to survive or if Picard's supposed to sacrifice himself for his son etc.

Again, there were great moments such as the return to the Enterprise D - again, huge smile on my face. But contrasting the previous episode, that smile couldn't alleviate my disappointment at the plot holes.

It makes sense. It all doesn't make perfect sense. And i have some problems like supposedly most or all the older officers on most of the Starfleet ships are now killed? WOT? That would massively impact the future of Starfleet. But i guess it's acceptable, because i guess a lot of other officers will get promotedor come out of retirement to lead, rather than Starfleet having mostly young captains.

With two episodes left, i think they explained the reasoning behind EVERYTHING very very well here with the borg. I love the borg, but i do miss the old, scary, cybernetic borg. But eh, this is a pretty good plot though, and mystery as well. I like most of what's happened. I'm not sure about Jack being assimilated though JUST like his father, and he may be in charge of a massacre JUST like his father.

Plus, like i said, i have some problems, like all this hunting for Jack, and how exactly did this rogue faction of changelings make an alliance with the borg? Or this rogue faction of the borg? What are these borg like? Why did Jack go right to them? And the borg just appeared out of nowhere due to a transwarp conduit, the technology of which i was always kind of iffy or confused on. Like can the borg just appear anywhere due to it? How does any of it work or make sense in the context of what's happened in the past.

A lot of little things don't make sense or i feel mixed about. And the biological technology from the borg and assimilation doesn't make a lot of sense. But there's enough overall sense for me to accept and for me to keep being entertained. To keep me immersed and believing in the scenario, and that affects my enjoyment a lot, even as someone who is a stickler for things needing to make sense! And be consistent! And in this episode i feel there was enough things making sense, combined with the entertainment, that this was a good episode.

And god, the fanservice is just incredible. Holy jesus they are making up for the previous two seasons and how Star Trek has been as a whole for the past 20 years, which has not been my Star Trek. But this season is reminiscent of my Star Trek, and i am getting so much fanservice, it just feels incredible. Holy shit. FINALLY i am catered too. I didn't even think this was possible. But it's happened. This has been a good season, and will forever be so in my view. It's not a great one. I would have loved the borg to be much more explored in the season, and for them to be more of their old selves as i talked about before. And i would have liked more exploration of the politics or paranoia about the changelings, or just better overall storylines and villain characters in the season (though i liked Amanda Plummer, even if i think she was overused), or more character development for the main characters (i guess), but it's still a good story and mystery that we have already been given in the season, and i can't wait for the finale.

Just a few noteworthy things:

1) Well damn, speculation confirmed.

2) Ooh, Jack really said, "resistance is futile", baby boy should have a word with his aunties Seven and Anges, for some clarity.

3) ALICE KRIGE!!!!!!! I'd recognise THE OG Borg queen's voice anywhere! I also reckon Vadic's cadaver was assimilated into this alt borg queen, and Agnes will make an appeareance in the finale to claim her rightful throne.

4) Well, shit, Starfleet totally fucked up.

5) Seven of Nine calling Data a "robot", oh the irony! (pun very much intended)

6) I loved hating Shaw, but oh man, it hit me in the gut to watch him go, and then he said her name, OOF!

7) Everyone, standing there at their old posts on the Enterprise D... look, as someone else said, just rename the show "The Nostalgia Generation" because they're killing me with these feels, man!

8) I have been deceased (until the finale).

I rate this an 8/10 - because as enjoyable as it was, it really was mostly nostalgic moments, and a lacklustre reveal of the origin of Jack's powers. It's understandable that they want to drag it out, but the episode would have benefitted from more action and a bit less exposition.

[4.8/10] Stupid stupid stupid. Why does it always have to be the Borg? Why does it always have to be some random, shocking twist instead of just sticking to what you’ve built to through the prior eight episodes? Why must it be chock full of credulity-straining retcons and cheesy coincidences?

The plot twists here are dumb as hell. The whole biological Borg “seed” being implanted in Picard’s never-before-seen son retcon absolutely breaks my willing suspension of disbelief for how convenient it is. The Borg getting a biological assimilation upgrade that basically lets them flip a switch and assimilate everybody is a cheap bit. And god, the fact that it only affects people under 25 is such a convenient dodge to get the old crew in the driver’s seat.

If that weren’t enough, the nostalgia-pushing here is so blunt and obvious. Yes, it’s very cool to see the Enterprise-D again, to hear Majel Barrett’s voice as the computer again, and to see that set recreated with familiar faces standing on it, ready to go defend none other than the now-Admiral Shelby. But the method to get there is so unearned, so full of psychological and narrative gymnastics to arrive at this destination, that the warm feelings built from seven seasons of the old show are muted by this new one’s transparent attempt to invoke them to cover for its dumb twists and reheated conflicts.

This one’s not without its pleasures. Shaw sacrificing himself and calling Seven by her real name is a nice and well-earned moment. Data’s “I hope we die quickly!” declaration is a solid laugh. I’m glad to see Shelby in live action again and to get a reference to the USS Pulaski.

But this episode all but squanders the goodwill and good work the show’s managed to pull off over the course of season 3. After finding ways to channel high points and fond memories for the old show to tell new stories and move things forward, why are we back to Star Trek: Picard’s mind-numbing plot twists and threadbare nostalgia? What a waste of a fairly good build to this point.