I vaguely recall reading years ago that they were intended to be the initial infiltrator wave of what eventually became the Borg forces. I could be mistaken, since it was around the pre-AOL days.
That info is out there for sure, but I've always found it pretty shaky. Here's what Memory Alpha has to say on the subject:
The Star Trek Chronology, 2nd ed., p. 290 noted: "Although Picard and company were successful in eradicating them, the parasites did send a mysterious radio signal, presumably to others of their kind. At the time the episode was written, this was apparently intended to lead to the introduction of the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation's second season. The Borg connection was dropped before "Q Who" (TNG) was written, and the truth about the parasites remains a mystery."
The "apparently" always trips me up, but maybe there's a more definitive statement or there that I haven't seen.
I'm pretty sure I saw something on the blu-ray special features about this? It was gonna be too expensive to have the creepy worm alien things as a recurring enemy so they made the Borg as a cheaper alternative.
So fun fact for anyone that doesn't know, the original concept for the Borg was an insectoid race and this episode was supposed to be the initial lead in to a larger arc introducing them. Several factors, budget and the writers strike in 1988 chief among them, led to the original story being abandoned and eventually the Borg were reworked into what they are today.
I see it used on species that don't have individial identities, where one controls the brood, and for those it makes sense and I don't mind.
Didn't see this ep so not sure it applies.
Starship troopers is a good example perhaps, not many others I can think of.
Star craft 2 did this well IMO, where the brood without mother splits into chaotic disordered groups who are aggressive to everyone.
47 Comments
deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz · 84 pts · 92d
That episode was wild. Setting up the big bad monster for the federation to be fighting... then just forgetting all about them.
RustyShackleford@piefed.social · 50 pts · 92d
I vaguely recall reading years ago that they were intended to be the initial infiltrator wave of what eventually became the Borg forces. I could be mistaken, since it was around the pre-AOL days.
ValueSubtracted@startrek.website · 38 pts · 92d
That info is out there for sure, but I've always found it pretty shaky. Here's what Memory Alpha has to say on the subject:
The "apparently" always trips me up, but maybe there's a more definitive statement or there that I haven't seen.
It certainly could be true.
Cethin@lemmy.zip · 14 pts · 92d
It sounds like a post hoc connection to explain it away, rather than that being that actual intention. I assume we'll probably never know though.
ValueSubtracted@startrek.website · 14 pts · 92d
The truth could be somewhere in the middle - no real intent, but instead just reworking an idea from the Discarded Ideas Drawer into something new.
kieron115@startrek.website · 5 pts · 91d
I'll pop in my blu-rays after I get home from some appointments, see if I can verify anything from the special features.
Kirk@startrek.website · 7 pts · 91d
I'll pop in my blu-rays too. See if they have any Star Trek on them that I can watch.
kieron115@startrek.website · 5 pts · 91d
you know what they just might.
kieron115@startrek.website · 15 pts · 92d
I'm pretty sure I saw something on the blu-ray special features about this? It was gonna be too expensive to have the creepy worm alien things as a recurring enemy so they made the Borg as a cheaper alternative.
christopher@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 91d
Too expensive to put one little mark on someone's neck but building Borg suites wasn't eh
kieron115@startrek.website · 5 pts · 91d
lol the borg suits are just spandex with a bunch of random hoses and shit glued to them. no need to animate little worm parasites.
Duamerthrax@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 91d
On screen, the Borg are exclusively human in appearance underneath. Yeah, pretty cheap production values.
Stanley_Pain@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 20 pts · 92d
Yeah what a way to end a crazy "one off" episode.
fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net · 8 pts · 92d
I'm surprising never brought that back as a villain. It would have been perfect and they left the door open to that many years ago
homes@piefed.world · 42 pts · 92d
they very much kerploded the 'bug queen"
Remmik got phasered!
Rhaedas@fedia.io · 22 pts · 92d
Yes, the problem was solved.
listens to the last scene
Oh no.
homes@piefed.world · 1 pts · 92d
K...?
usernamefactory@lemmy.ca · 20 pts · 92d
I can kill all the ants in my house today, but if they’ve laid down a scent for the colony outside to follow I’m just going to find new ants tomorrow.
homes@piefed.world · -10 pts · 92d
usernamefactory@lemmy.ca · 23 pts · 92d
Kirk@startrek.website · 3 pts · 91d
I can't see what he previous guy wrote but I'm absolutely saving this reaction gif for every interaction I have on Lemmy.
homes@piefed.world · 0 pts · 92d
Damage@feddit.it · 1 pts · 92d
Be well, friend.
boonhet@sopuli.xyz · 18 pts · 92d
Did you suffer an aneurysm? You may want to call an ambulance.
homes@piefed.world · -2 pts · 92d
kieron115@startrek.website · 18 pts · 92d
This has to be among the best body horror scenes in the entire franchise, if not THE best.
panda_abyss@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 92d
This looks like how I cook a turkey
homes@piefed.world · 6 pts · 92d
mmm... turkey
_NetNomad@fedia.io · 33 pts · 92d
yeah it's fine we told starfleet command
RiceMunk@sopuli.xyz · 21 pts · 92d
Everyone after this: Why are all the admirals jerks and/or evil? So weird.
Spock1240@startrek.website · 20 pts · 92d
Yeah, I dont think they discussed that to anyone after that incident at all. It was a very weird episode. It's like it disappeared from Trek lore.
Hasherm0n@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 91d
So fun fact for anyone that doesn't know, the original concept for the Borg was an insectoid race and this episode was supposed to be the initial lead in to a larger arc introducing them. Several factors, budget and the writers strike in 1988 chief among them, led to the original story being abandoned and eventually the Borg were reworked into what they are today.
Spock1240@startrek.website · 3 pts · 91d
So that's why. They were supposed to the Borg race. Damn. Would have been an interesting way for the Borg to have evolved.
lauha@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 92d
Wasn't the queen destroyed at the end of the episode and all the others died because he queen died?
Damage@feddit.it · 18 pts · 92d
I hate the "destroy the central entity and the others will be disabled" trope, so overused in sci-fi
filcuk@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 92d
I see it used on species that don't have individial identities, where one controls the brood, and for those it makes sense and I don't mind.
Didn't see this ep so not sure it applies.
Starship troopers is a good example perhaps, not many others I can think of.
Star craft 2 did this well IMO, where the brood without mother splits into chaotic disordered groups who are aggressive to everyone.
Juice@midwest.social · 3 pts · 91d
Edge of Tomorrow
CaptainSpaceman@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 91d
1st Avengers movie had that too
leagman1@feddit.org · 1 pts · 91d
lauha@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 92d
I understand that, but my point was that the issue was resolved in the episode unlike the post make you believe
Damage@feddit.it · 1 pts · 92d
Sure, I wasn't arguing your point
DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social · 2 pts · 92d
Allow me to explain: the rest is boring tho
data1701d@startrek.website · 2 pts · 89d
Well then, you might enjoy "The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals"...
samus12345@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 91d
"He said they sought peaceful co-existence. That was good enough for me!"
southsamurai@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 92d
Fucking mind flayers and their grand design!
unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 92d
Which, when? I grew up with genteel trek enthusiasts and therefore I was not a fan for a long time but always learning
AngryPancake@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 92d
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)
unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 92d
Ooooh ok