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 EPISODE REVIEWS | ||
 | "Unity"
- Week of Feb. 10th - Feb. 14th File Photo
|| Airdate: Fenruary
12th, 1997 Written by:
Kenneth Biller Directed by:
Robert Duncan McNeill Brief Summary:
Chakotay is lured to a planet inhabited by numerous different
species including some from the Alpha Quadrant and later
discovers them to be formerly assimilated Borg who try to use him
to re-activate a dormant Borg cube in order to create a new Borg
collective on the planet. Review Definitely one of
Voyager's best this season, but I have some mixed feelings. Well Kenneth
Biller has certainly come a long way since "Tuvix,"
writing progressively better episodes like "False
Profits" and "The Chute," to now the debut of the
Borg in a most peculiar manner in "Unity." Biller's
"False Profits" was really the first episode to utilize
a concept from TNG fully, much like "Unity". Biller has
given us a unique perspective on the Borg that has never been
seen before. This episode comes
at the Borg from an entirely different angle showing us the
intricacies of the collective consciousness. "Unity"
presents us with a Borg who are not the powerful aggressors we
saw in First Contact. These Borg were severed from the collective
and began to regain his or her own identities that they had
before assimilation. Aside from "I, Borg," this is the
only episode to show this side of the Borg- the side that is
tortuous for the victims, the side that consumes entire
identities. Also like "I, Borg" this episode deals with
character development between a main and guest character.
However, we are also presented with the details involved with the
"collective," and ways the Borg used it. It was brilliant
continuity to know that Riley was assimilated at Wolf 359.
(However, that one ship was destroyed, so how did she get onto
another cube, eh?). Personally, I think it would've been better
to see a half-assimilated Admiral Hanson of the Melbourne
(B.O.B.W. pt. 2) in command, but hey, my idea of continuity fits
too well. During the
explanation of the medical uses of the link, it's learned how the
Collective Borg used the connection to heal themselves and their
ship. One of the most enthralling scenes of the episode was the
scene where Chakotay saw the images of Borg assimilation rampages
and the memories of the people. As the group spoke to him in his
mind, their voice continually grew more mechanical and
"Borg-like," thus raising the level of suspense
culminating in the flash of the Borg cube warping through space
right at you. The montage that followed was a combination of
re-used footage from TNG, DS9, STFC, and some new shots that
worked particularly well. The nearly
invisible "B" story, if you will, worked so well into
the story that as it progressed the two story-lines meshed
together perfectly. The shots of Voyager and the Borg cube were
visually exciting, especially considering we saw more of the new
cube here than in First Contact. When Tuvok discovered the dead
Borg early on the derelict cube, I really had the feeling of
left-over First Contact sets and props being used to their full
extent, if you know what I mean. The Doctor's "autopsy"
scene was entertaining, even if it didn't serve much purpose. But
it was an excellent contrast to the Borg-people we had just seen;
going from an individualized, passionate, and caring group to the
mechanical autonomy of the Borg drone, whose reaction in sickbay
emphasized how the Borg don't even need "life" to act
as long as their robotics still function. I will say that
the one boring part in this episode was where Riley pleaded her
case to Janeway. Obviously this scene in some form was needed,
but this was the second scene of it's type (the other being the
one where the Borg-Doc and Frazier explained in-depth the healing
powers of the Borg Collective), and it just didn't work for me.
Riley was too easily pleased by Janeway's mild offer to consider
the idea, almost giving away her plot to use Chakotay to
re-activate the Cube and giving the sense that the conference was
wasted footage because Riley had already decided her course of
action beforehand. Also, the conversation between Chakotay and
Janeway had no real impact on the story whatsoever, and I feel
this entire scene, had it been avoided, wouldn't have affected
the episode adversely and would have given more time for the
re-activation scene. In the scene where
the colonists used their connection to Chakotay to use him as a
drone, and re-activate their Borg cube to fortify their link with
the other ex-Borg and bring harmony to their settlement, I was
getting worried that it might turn into an 'alien possession'
story, but it turned out well. I guess tricorders no longer
detect human life-signs, because if they had Chakotay would've
been found on the Borg ship before he got very far- but why hark
on such things. (hehe) The re-activation of the cube was
definitely the second best scene in the episode. The erie
suspense of a Borg cube was familiar in this scene, but it
culminated when they woke up. I was having a First Contact
flashback when the Borg came woke up, and the
lights/colors/visual effects inside the cube were visually
pleasing indeed. The outside cube effects were brilliant, and I
was looking forward to a Voyager/Borg fire fight but this episode
really isn't about that aspect. Finally, I think
that this episode is really about how the former Borg colony ends
up. Throughout the episode they tell about how relieved they were
to be free of the collective, and that it was like waking up from
a long dream. But on the contrary, the truth is that to live in
harmony with each other they are unwilling to stick it out,
instead succumbing to the temptation of the instant tranquillity
which the Borg implants offer. What is to happen to them? Perhaps
the original Borg began like this; realizing the advantages of a
collective consciousness but as the Borg-Doc revealed to
Chakotay, they became desperate for fresh minds, and began to
assimilate others to satisfy that need. It'll be interesting to
see what happens with this group. Okay, a few
things to wrap up: - I found it
interesting that the new colony referred to their link as the
"Co-operative" only contrasted slightly to the
"Collective." - I would have
liked to see more of the traditional Borg as we love them, but
hey there's nothing wrong with this fresh angle. - The scene where
B'Leanna suggested that perhaps someone more powerful defeated
the Borg was VERY well done, even if brief. The music during this
scene was also new and effective. - Kudos to the
scene where Riley and Chakotay still had a residual link and
could sense each other! This is another great insight into the
Borg Collective! - The cooperative
claims that the link to Chakotay has been broken, but is it? They
certainly did leave the door open for future episodes. Overall
Verdict: The fresh angle on an old idea gives the Borg new
life, and by showing us new aspects of them the story illuminates
the reality that the Borg are ubiquitous and there will always be
a new way to tell their story. I did have some reserved feelings
mainly because of the small nits I mentioned here and there, and
because I wanted to see more of the "old Borg." Writing:
Kenneth Biller continues to redeem himself from episodes like
"Tuvix," and does it with style. Directing:
Robert Duncan McNeill made some excellent scenes such as the
"First Contact style" wake-up scene and the scene with
Chakotay linked to the Collective mind. He will surely be
directing many more episodes. Acting:
This episode relies on Lori Hallier as the former-Borg leader and
the acting of Robert Beltran; both give excellent performances.
Definitely a "Chakotay episode." Rating: 7.5
out of 10 Quote: "Nothing like
the vacuum of space to keep a good looking corpse." -The Doctor Next Week: "The Darkling," looks like we're going back to the
episodes that take place on the ship. Let's hope the writers
don't get ship-set happy again. I have worries about this one. Fan Comments &
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