Damn... So much possibilities with "One"
I have mixed feelings about this episode. There is a great story here with depth and a philosophical angle. It would have been great to keep One around for a couple of episodes to go a bit deeper especially what his presence would have meant for Seven. But in a nutshell it's just another attempt of showing a Borg dealing with individuality.
And I just can't look past the fact that the whole problem stems yet again from Janeway's thick headedness and her refusal to heed Seven's warnings. And this after we saw her pondering with past decisions in the last episode.
I am not a fan of "the end justifies the means" and her waying risk vs reward is always unpredictable. I really wonder why she was written that way so many times.
I was initially worried that this would be a rehash of the TNG episode 'I, Borg', but it goes in a different direction and has its own identity. The crew of Voyager have a very different relationship to the Borg than the crew of the Enterprise, and there's far less hate involved. Again we are given a showcase for Jeri Ryan's talents and proves that she really has become essential to this show, and has improved it considerably.
It's mostly a low-key affair that explores Seven's ability to become a parent (more or less) and her acceptance of her own emotions. The Borg, One, manages to become quite charming as the story progresses. But it's the ending which really makes the episode something special. There's a genuine sense of loss, despite the fact that we all knew One wasn't going to be hanging around. Jeri Ryan really sells the pain and fear of her loss.
I have to admit, I half expected the Doctor to come over to Seven and say, "if it's any consolation, at least we can retrieve my mobile emitter now."
One of Voyager's best, reminiscent of TNG's "The Offspring". Definitely should be on Voyager's MustWatch list.
It's so sad qaq qaq qaq
"Drone" is a major pivotal moment for Seven. We have seen her struggle with being "one", from the moment she was severed from the Borg cult, and not so long ago in the episode also called "one".
It is no coincidence that the aforementioned number, is reused here as a valued title, having been previously used to convey fear and disdain.
The "mirroring" is metaphor - One's existence and individuality reminds Seven that her own uniqueness cannot be replicated, it is beautiful and to be treasured. He reflects her humanity, (a humanity she constantly questions) in his desire to learn, his compassion and ultimate self sacrifice. The literal mirror at the introduction and conclusion of the episode further solidifies all this. She realises that she does not need to pretend to be someone she is not (the fake smiling in the intro an exaggerated attempt at humanity) and that she is fine just as is (the unsmiling, contemplative, albeit grieving face by the end).
Of course he's still got some of his dna from the human ensign who unwittingly fathered him, so we could speculate that his human nature might have been significantly influenced by his father's genes, but we cannot rule out his nurturing by Seven and the crew (the villlage). That won in the end.
sigh Knowing what's going to happen doesn't soften the blow. You think you'll be fine and then you end up with tears streaming down your face even though it's the third time you've seen the episode.
Yep, this one resonates deep within my soul. I too am "one" (just like everyone else lol), and some days that feeling pushes me heavily into the negative, other days it's a banner I proudly wave in celebration of my victory at having survived this callous world that often doesn't take too kindly to individual differences.
Great episode - 9.5/10
Great episode with less action than you might expect initially. It's about a Borg drone exploring individuality. This also sheds some light on Seven's ongoing struggle with adapting to her new-found individuality and her separation from her Borg family aka the collective. It's witty and philosophical. Seven proves again why she has single-handedly saved this show. And it's about motherhood, I guess? Only the Doctor briefly mentions this Interpret about his "inception" but there's definitely some motherly feelings towards him.
It's basically the Voyager version of TNG's I, Borg which perhaps makes this episode not to be perceived as very innovative. It's not the first time the show explores the idea of individuality vs. the collective. Think about the mini-collective stranded in Unity and think about Seven's ongoing pursuit to become a valuable member of the society.
Shout by mookieBlockedParent2020-06-28T07:17:10Z
Finally Voyager has a near perfect episode. This is the best episode of all the episodes I have seen so far and it can be directly credited to Jeri Ryan’s performance in the episode. J Paul Boehmer is equally great in the episode as the Borg drone One.