4x01 The Best of Both Worlds (2)

[8.1/10] “The Best of Both Worlds pt. 2” is kind of a cheat. It’s not the first Star Trek story to put its characters in a supposedly hopeless situation, only to have them miraculously problem-solve their way out of it, and it wouldn’t be the last. But there’s a unity of purpose to the first part of the duology -- centered on Riker’s personal choices and internal struggle amid the Borg threat -- that’s missing as the show’s forced to undo the status quo-shifting changes in set in motion at the end of season 3.

It’s still a damn good hour of television, though -- just not as good as the one that preceded it. But that’s no crime. While part one was more firmly about Riker, this one is half about Riker, and half about the latest blockbusting threat that our heroes must use every ounce of their wits and their guile to overcome. The character development almost stops mattering at the halfway mark, as the show turns almost entirely to a “how do we stop the Borg?” showdown.

Still, both halves work well. Just as part one focused on Riker having to reevaluate himself due to pressure from below, the opening half of part two focuses on him feeling the pressure of replacing the man he so admires. There’s honestly not that much Patrick Stewart in the episode, particularly in the early portions, to the point that I wonder how much of the original script was written without knowing whether he would return to the series. But that’s a good thing, as it allows TNG to firmly grapple with what it would like for the Enterprise to lose its captain, if only for half an episode.

That sees Riker taking command, facing the challenge of filling such big shoes, and trying to keep his ship and his colleagues holding fast together amid the most serious of challenges. While the episode gilds the lily a bit, it does a good job of showing Riker trying to stay resolute and professional, while also feeling out of sorts at having to succeed so great a man and mentor on such short notice. His scene with Guinan (where she implies that she and Picard had some kind of thing?!) does a nice job of dramatizing Riker’s push to be his own sort of captain in this crucial moment.

And he does! The thing that bridges the two halves of this episode is Riker’s need to not only succeed his old boss, but to defeat him. The Borg were already a near-insurmountable challenge. Adding Picard’s knowledge of Starfleet history and strategy to the mix only makes them that much more formidable for Riker and the Enterprise to overcome. Picard knows their every move, not to mention Riker’s temperament, making the challenge one that not only has the stakes that come from the Earth itself being at risk, but from the personal challenge it presents for Riker.

Thankfully, the former number one is up to the task. It’s poignantly unnerving when Locutus uses that little sobriquet, but Riker is undeterred when fighting the Borg. Part two is a little more lax than part one when it comes to letting the treknobabble solve the problem. But the writing is sharp in having Riker outsmart Locutus by using a plan that Picard’s already familiar with, but with an added twist and misdirect that makes it possible for the good guys to save the day.

That, naturally, involves separating the saucer section (shades of Riker’s first challenge in “Encounter at Farpoint”!), and uses the two-pronged attack to sneak a shuttle within transporter range and kidnap Picard back to the Enterprise. For however much the latter half of this episode devolves into life-threatening challenge after life-threatening challenge, the show makes the most important part of those theatrics its best. The heist that Riker and company pull, replete with distractions and delays, is a thrill from the first moment to the last.

That’s a good thing, considering that “The Best of Both Worlds pt. 2” can be a surprisingly languid episode. There’s always been a certain tone of professionalism on TNG, where no matter the threat, our heroes are trained to take it all in stride. But everyone seems almost preternaturally calm despite the fact that an enemy vessel has decimated their fleet, taken their Captain, and is about to destroy the Earth. Hell, Dr. Crusher sounds like she’s reading the back of a cereal box when she confirms they’ve given up all hope of a rescue in the board meeting. Some well-timed reaction shots help, but for however much this threat is not just business as usual, with Guinan saying crewmembers expect to die, a lot of the individual reactions seem more restrained.

Despite that, the episode does a good job of gesturing toward a threat and a level of combat that just wasn’t possible on a T.V. budget. We see the ship graveyard of Wolf 369 (including the ship that Riker could have commanded) rather than the battle itself. We hear more about the Borg cube heading toward Earth and what could happen than anything we actually see. Hell, even on the Enterprise, there’s only a minimum of camera-shaking, just enough to convey the ticking clock they need.

Thankfully, the show has a “reverse the polarity” solution to the Borg threat. With Picard semi-safely on the Enterprise (replete with some amusing Borg banter between Locutus and Worf), they can use his connection to the Borg to shut down the cube. It takes the combination of the mechanical (Data’s connection), the medical (Crusher’s supervision), and the emotional (Troi’s empathic abilities actually coming in handy!) to achieve that, which is a nice touch.

It also takes Picard himself breaking through the brainwashing and reasserting himself. The visual representation of the difference between his efforts to attack his captors with his robot arm, and his making physical contact with Data using his human one, is an outstanding way to communicate the man inside the machine breaking free. Part two heightens the tension at the right moment, with Picard’s “sleep” command coming through just as Riker’s about to pull off the Holdo maneuver. Sure, it’s a little convenient that the regeneration command results in a self-destruction, but hey, why not. The explosion that ensues is cool.

It even gives Riker one more big decision to make, as he has to choose whether to stop and examine the Borg, or get the hell out, even if it could mean harming his once-and-future captain by breaking his link to the collective. Once again, he makes the bold choice, and by the end of the episode, everything has been set right again (i.e. to the status quo).

Shelby is set to lead a Starfleet task force and now admires rather than looks down upon Riker. The man himself brushes off the prospect for promotion, ensuring that he could be Picard’s right hand man for years to come. And Captain Picard himself is free of his Borg implants and back in his ready room (with some incredible physical acting from Stewart conveying that all is not well with the good captain).

With that, the finale of “The Best of Both Worlds” duology is not as focused or direct as its predecessor. The answers are a little easier, the character work a little looser, and the ending a little too much of a reset. But it’s still a great hour of Star Trek, closing the loop on Riker’s character arc, coming up with wrinkle after wrinkle that complicates the challenge before our heroes, and giving almost everyone a moment to shine.

The Borg are defeated (for now). Riker’s confidence in himself is restored (for now). And Picard is the unshakable captain of the Enterprise once more (for now). The high drama, the blockbuster thrills, and the greatest challenge Riker and Picard could face against one another still proves to be one of the series’s high water marks.

This season opener certainly delivers on the premise of its first part.

Picard's assimilated - and in a crushing sequence tells Riker that the Borg now know everything Picard knows. And apparently, the Borg no longer consider the Enterprise any threat since they don't attack but quickly proceed to Earth (via Wolf 359 where they destroy 40 ships, including the Melbourne that had been offered to Riker). Riker's field-promoted to captain, and he appoints Shelby as first officer. Guinan instructs him to let go of Picard, and Riker comes up with a new strategy to rescue Picard. Data can form a connection with the Borg network - and Picard is able to point him to a way to get the Borg to stand down. The Borg ship self-destructs, meaning Picard's safe and ready to resume command.

I love this part just as much as the first one. First of all, it showcases that Riker's ready to assume command, that he isn't just the rash first officer who's going on away missions, but able to actually devise and execute strategies, even if it means killing PIcard. Honestly, it's only because the Federation loses dozens of ships at Wolf 359 that it makes sense for him to remain on Enterprise after BOBW. However, I really liked the way captain Riker gelled with first officer Shelby. If Stewart had decided to leave the show at any point, that would have been it and it would have worked.

Of course, there are a few things that don't exactly hold up to closer inspection: First of all, the Borg collective only consists of one ship? Or is Picard only networked into this one ship? I mean, it never made sense that the Borg only attacked with one ship. And that the collective doesn't only comprise one ship is evidenced later on with the VOY episodes (although they also quite famously manage to ruin the Borg's appeal and threat level, mind you). But even if Data only addresses the one ship with the order to regenerate... and that order somehow leads to self-destruction... why is Picard rid of the collective?

I think my only real issue with this two-parter is that it's just a two-parter, with "Family" as some sort of coda. But otherwise, Picard comes out of this experience pretty much unscathed (save for I, Borg and of course First Contact)... I'd have wished for more repercussions, ongoing psychological treatment, popping up of some PTSD (except for the mentionned occurences)... This is such a fundamental violation of what makes him Picard, and he practically simply resumes command, has a breakdown in Family, but that's it.

I realize that's due to the story-telling back in the late 80's/early 90's. Stand-alone episodes were par for the course, two parters the exceptions... but imagine this story told in a modern way: A shorter season, real doubts if the crew'll ever get back Picard, the threat of the Borg expanded on, not dealt with in 2 episodes... I'd love to see that, to be honest. And that goes for quite a few plots in TNG which are neatly wrapped up in 45 minutes but could have been expanded on without difficulty. Alas, it wasn't the time. But then again, what we have here is a gem in ST-history, no matter what.