6.26 Descent (Part 1)

Rating: 3.5

The Enterprise encounters a new breed of emotional, bloodthirsty Borg, intent on killing, defending their comrades, and attacking outposts. While killing a Bord in hand-to-hand combat, Data experiences anger, and then pleasure. When a Borg is captured alive, he is able to manipulate Data to help him escape. The Enterprise follows, and Picard, Troi, and Geordi are captured by Data and Lore, who have joined together to lead these new Borg into battle.

Comments

Teleplay by Ronald D. Moore, from a story by Jeri Taylor.

This episode follows the arc started inI, Borg, where the Enterprise implanted the idea of individuality into a captured Borg drone.

This is a part one end-of-season cliffhanger episode.

Nits

When Data is fighting the Borg, the stunt double sequences are easy to see.

Picard says, "Well it may turn out that the moral thing to do, but not the right thing to do." I believe that line should have been, "Well it may turn out that the moral thing to do, was not the right thing to do."

It must be something with this episode, because after that, I could swear I hear Geordi say, "Dato, what exactly is it that you’re doing here?"

I don’t understand why Picard would send down almost everyone to the surface of the planet to conduct a search when he has no idea what danger may be down there.

Memorable Moments

•    The episode opens with Data having a card game on the holodeck with holograms of Sir Issac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. In a nice touch, the real Stephen Hawking guest cameos as a hologram of himself!

•    The matte painting of Ohniaka 3 is not exceptional, but it is augmented by animated clouds effects over the top just to keep you guessing. However, it has been used quite a number of times before in previous episodes to represent other, unrelated places.

•    Captain Crusher being placed in command of the Enterprise.

Quotable Quotes

Riker: It was more like fighting Klingons than Borg…no offense.
Worf: None taken.

Data: If was just after I had killed the Borg. I looked down at his body…I felt something!
Troi: If you had to give this feeling a name, what would you call it?
Data: I believe…it was…pleasure!

"Mr Worf, acknowledge the signal from New Berlin, and transmit another copy of Starfleet’s Ship Recognition Protocols, and tell them to read it this time!"
- Picard

"Klingon! Shatter cranial exoskeleton at the tricipital lobe! Death is immediate…Human! Sever spinal cord at third vertebrae, death is immediate."
- Borg Kronis

Kronis: If it meant that you could feel emotions again, the way you did on Onioca 3, would you kill your friend? Would you kill Geordi?
Data: Yes! I would!

"The sons of Soong have joined together! And together, we will destroy the Federation!"
- Data