7.01 Descent (Part 2)

Rating: 3.5

As Data and Lore prepare to use Geordi as a test subject in perfecting their race of all-conquering androids, Riker and Worf are captured by a clandestine group of Borg, led by Hugh (refer to the season 5 episode, I Borg), hiding from Lore’s control. When Geordi figures out a way to reboot Data’s ethical subroutine, Data is able to break free from Lore’s brainwashing. Faced with another attack by Lore, and realizing he is too evil, Data deactivates him.

Comments

This episode was written by Rene Echevarria. This follows an unusual trend where part two of episodes are not necessarily written by the same person or people as part one.

This is a great concept – that the introduction of individuality into the Borg collective caused wholesale anarchy and a legion of servants looking for someone to serve. It’s very much like the situations in Central Europe and the Middle East, where attempts to dispose of dominant rulers have left a vaccuum of leadership easily filled by the next despot.

In the final scene, Data prepares to destroy the emotion chip used by Lore; when granted with emotions, he almost permanently damaged his best friend Geordi. But Geordi saves the chip.

Nits

According to Lore, the Borg named Hugh, implanted with the idea of individuality, returned to his ship and ‘infected’ the other Borg, causing the crew of that one ship to wander aimlessly with no purpose. Why didn’t this problem also spread to the entire collective? I thought the point of sending Hugh back with the concept of his own individuality was to change the entire Borg hive, which is interconnected.

When trying to escape, Picard yanks a Borg’s facial tube out and the Borg collapses on the ground in pain, unable to move. Too bad they didn’t try this technique a few episodes back, when they would just fire a phaser at appraching Borg with no effect, then run away.

It’s contrived that Picard could rip a little piece of equipment off a Borg, then reconfigure it to send the exact type of pulse they need to reboot Data’s ethical program. I’m surprised Picard can even see the inner workings of this thing, which is only about 1 inch by 2 inches, and manipulate the inner workings using a finger. And why would Data be programmed to boot with a pulse anyway?

Memorable Moments

•    When Lore dies, his pupils disappear slowly, the way the picture used to fade slowly to a dot, and then to nothingness, on televisions.

Quotable Quotes

"The reign of biological life forms is coming to an end. You Picard, and those like you, are obsolete!"
- Lore

Geordi: (to Picard) See if you can locate the phase modulation circuitry.
Troi: I’ll watch the door.
(Troi gets all the hard jobs ;))

"I need to know I can count on you. As proof, I want you to kill Picard."
- Lore to Data