RESISTANCE IS FUTILE

WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BORG TO STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION IN 1989, THE SCENE WAS SET FOR A GAMECHANGING TWO-PART STORY, AND A COMING OF AGE CLIFFHANGER. THIRTY YEARS ON, WE LOOK BACK AT “THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS”

- MARK SMITH

A RED LASER SLICES THROUGH THE mist as the familiar silhouette of Patrick Stewart walks towards the screen. But it’s not Captain Picard who addresses the assembled Enterprise bridge crew, it’s something altogether different. “I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance… is futile.”

It’s 30 years since arguably the most iconic moment of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s entire run was aired. “The Best Of Both Worlds” broke new ground with the scope of its storytelling, effects and score, as well as the fact that it was Trek’s first season-spanning two-parter. All combined to ensure it has left a legacy not just in the Star Trek universe, but wider pop culture.

Although The Next Generation was now three years into its run, it hadn’t all been plain sailing, with many fans of the original series still resistant to the new incarnation. But season three is where most fans and critics alike agree the show started to fulfil its potential. “There was, for me, a sense that the show had found its footing,” says Michael Okuda, who headed up Star Trek’s Scenic Art Department at the time. “When we saw the fan reaction to Part I [of “Best Of Both Worlds”], we realised it had become its own entity and people liked the show for itself, not because it was a follow-on to something that was also very special.”