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Alright, let’s get assimilated! The Borg are one of the most iconic and formidable adversaries in the Star Trek universe, and they’ve been featured in some truly memorable episodes. Compiling a Top 10 list across all series is a challenge, but here’s my take on the best Borg episodes in Star Trek:
Top 10 Borg Episodes Across the Star Trek Universe
- “The Best of Both Worlds, Parts 1 & 2” (TNG, Season 3, Episode 26 & Season 4, Episode 1): This is the quintessential Borg story, a thrilling and suspenseful two-parter that changed Star Trek forever. The cliffhanger at the end of Part 1, with Picard assimilated as Locutus, is one of the most shocking moments in television history. The episode is a masterclass in building tension, and it features some of the best action sequences of the series. It firmly established the Borg as a terrifying threat, and had lasting consequences for the TNG crew, especially Picard.
- “Q Who” (TNG, Season 2, Episode 16): The episode that introduced the Borg to the Star Trek universe. Q throws the Enterprise-D into the path of a Borg cube, and the crew gets a terrifying glimpse of their future enemy. The episode is a chilling and effective introduction to the Borg, showcasing their power, their relentlessness, and their utter alienness. It’s a landmark episode that changed the course of TNG.
- “Scorpion, Parts 1 & 2” (VOY, Season 3, Episode 26 & Season 4, Episode 1): This two-parter features an uneasy alliance between the Voyager crew and the Borg to fight a common enemy, Species 8472. The episode is full of action, suspense, and moral ambiguity, as Janeway makes a deal with the devil to save her crew. It also marks the introduction of Seven of Nine, a character who would become one of the most popular in Voyager‘s run.
- “I, Borg” (TNG, Season 5, Episode 23): This episode features the Enterprise-D crew encountering a lone, disconnected Borg drone, whom they name “Hugh.” The episode is a powerful exploration of individuality, compassion, and the nature of humanity. It raises important ethical questions about how to deal with a seemingly implacable enemy, and it features a memorable performance by Jonathan Del Arco as Hugh. It’s a great example of how TNG could take a seemingly one-dimensional villain and add layers of complexity to them.
- “Descent, Parts 1 & 2” (TNG, Season 6, Episode 26 & Season 7, Episode 1): This two-parter features the return of Hugh and the introduction of Lore, Data’s evil brother. Lore has taken control of a group of Borg drones who have embraced individuality, and he plans to use them to conquer the Federation. The episode is a bit uneven, but it features some exciting action sequences and further explores the themes of individuality and free will. It’s also significant for being the last appearance of Lore in the TNG era.
- “Dark Frontier, Parts 1 & 2” (VOY, Season 5, Episodes 15 & 16): This two-parter features Seven of Nine being forcibly taken back by the Borg Queen, and the Voyager crew launching a daring mission to rescue her. It’s an action-packed and emotional story that delves deeper into the Borg Collective and Seven’s connection to it. It also features some great character moments for Janeway, who is determined to save Seven at any cost.
- “Unimatrix Zero, Parts 1 & 2” (VOY, Season 6, Episode 26 & Season 7, Episode 1): This two-parter introduces a virtual world within the Borg Collective where drones can exist as individuals. It’s a fascinating concept that explores the nature of identity and the desire for freedom, even within the Collective. The episode also features some great moments for Seven of Nine, as she becomes involved in a rebellion against the Borg Queen.
- “Regeneration” (ENT, Season 2, Episode 23): This controversial episode features the Borg making an appearance in the Enterprise era, long before their “official” first contact in TNG. While it bends canon a bit, the episode is a tense and exciting thriller that features the Enterprise crew battling a group of assimilated scientists who are attempting to send a message to the Borg Collective. It’s a great example of how Enterprise could take risks and try new things.
- “Drone” (VOY, Season 5, Episode 2): This episode features the creation of a 29th-century Borg drone using Seven of Nine’s nanoprobes and the Doctor’s mobile emitter. One, as the drone is called, is more advanced than any Borg the crew has ever encountered. The episode explores the nature of individuality, and the potential for even the most advanced technology to be used for both good and evil. One has a short, but impactful story.
- “Võx” (PIC, Season 3, Episode 9): The Borg play a major, and shocking, role in the final season of Picard, and this episode is where their full plan is revealed. It features devastating losses for the crew of the Titan, the return of familiar characters, and the horrifying realization of just how far the Borg have infiltrated Starfleet.
Honorable Mentions: “The Drumhead” (TNG), “Collective” (VOY), “Child’s Play” (VOY), and “Endgame” (VOY).
The Borg are a truly unique and terrifying creation, and they’ve been featured in some of the most memorable and thought-provoking episodes in Star Trek history. They represent the ultimate loss of individuality, the dangers of unchecked technological advancement, and the importance of fighting for freedom and self-determination. These episodes showcase the Borg at their best (or worst, depending on your perspective), and they’re a testament to the enduring power of this iconic Star Trek villain. They are also present in every live action Star Trek series, except the original, showcasing just how much they have captured the imagination of writers, and terrified audiences for decades.
10 Best Selling Books About Star Trek
The Fifty-Year Mission: The First 25 Years by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman
This Star Trek history book uses an oral-history format to document how the franchise was conceived, produced, and sustained through its first quarter-century, with attention to creative decisions, studio dynamics, and shifting audience expectations. It is often selected by adult readers looking for a Star Trek behind-the-scenes book that focuses on the people who built the original era of the franchise rather than on episode recaps alone.
The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman
This follow-on volume continues the Star Trek production history into the period dominated by The Next Generation and the later screen era, capturing how the franchise expanded in scale, tone, and business structure. It serves adult, nontechnical readers who want a detailed Star Trek book that connects creative choices to the realities of television production, film development, and brand management over time.
The Star Trek Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded Edition by Michael Okuda
This Star Trek reference book compiles in-universe entries that organize characters, places, species, technologies, and organizations into a single navigable guide designed for fast lookup and cross-referencing. It is frequently used as a Star Trek companion book by readers who want consistent terminology and continuity cues across multiple series without needing a technical background.
Star Trek Chronology: The History of the Future by Michael Okuda
This Star Trek chronology organizes major events into a timeline-style narrative, helping readers place missions, political changes, and cultural milestones into a coherent sequence across eras. It is commonly used by readers who want a Star Trek timeline book that clarifies when key developments occur and how separate storylines relate without requiring deep prior knowledge of every series.
Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual by Rick Sternbach and Michael Okuda
This Star Trek technical manual presents a structured, readable model of how the Enterprise-D and its systems are portrayed to function, using diagrams, subsystem descriptions, and operational concepts that remain accessible to non-engineers. It is often chosen as a Star Trek design and technology book by adult readers who enjoy the “how it works” side of the franchise while still wanting a narrative-friendly presentation rather than dense engineering text.
The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion: Revised Edition by Larry Nemecek
This Star Trek guidebook provides a structured way to revisit The Next Generation through episode-focused entries that prioritize clear summaries and context for how the series was made and received. It is often used as a Star Trek episode companion by readers who want a practical, quick-reference format that supports rewatching while still supplying production-facing details in plain language.
The Star Trek Book New Edition by Paul J. Ruditis
This illustrated Star Trek overview surveys the franchise across multiple eras, using short topical sections to explain major themes, settings, ships, and recurring ideas in a way that supports browsing rather than linear reading. It is often selected by adult readers who want a single Star Trek book that orients them across series and films while still offering enough detail to be useful between viewings or while sampling new parts of the canon.
Imzadi by Peter David
This Star Trek novel centers on character-driven consequences and personal history within the Next Generation cast, using a plot that balances relationship dynamics with a broader sci-fi mystery structure. It is regularly recommended as a Star Trek Kindle book for readers who prefer Star Trek fiction that prioritizes voice, emotional stakes, and continuity-aware storytelling over purely episodic adventure.
Spock’s World by Diane Duane
This Star Trek Original Series novel uses the political and cultural history of Vulcan to frame a larger story about identity, governance, and the long-term pressures of federation membership. It is frequently picked up by readers seeking Star Trek books that develop worldbuilding through society-level detail while still keeping the narrative focused on recognizable characters and accessible themes.
The Physics of Star Trek by Lawrence M. Krauss
This nonfiction Star Trek science book uses well-known concepts from physics to discuss which elements of Star Trek align with real-world scientific understanding and which remain speculative, while staying readable for general audiences. It is commonly chosen by adult readers who want a Star Trek-themed way to think about space, energy, and constraints on technology without needing advanced math or a specialist background.
