Here we are, the season finale of the penultimate season of Star Trek Voyager. So how do we see the crew of Voyager off this time? Why, the return of the Borg of course! You really didnt think they were gone for good did you? Originally broadcast on May 24, 2000 this is Unimatrix Zero.
The Episode:
Captain’s Log Stardate Undetermined: Unimatrix Zero
When Seven begins to dream of a place where the Borg go during their sleep cycles, Janeway sees a chance to attack their biggest adversary….however the Borg Queen has other plans.
The Story:
The Borg Queen discovers a bug in the system and begins to try to find a way to stop it. Meanwhile, Seven awakes from a disturbing dream where someone calls out for her by her given name. Concerned, she speaks to the Doctor who assures her that dreams are a natural part of being human. Providing a device to document her sleep cycles, she is sent on her way.
On the bridge, Paris arrives to a disgruntled team. Seemingly 22 seconds late for his shift he is shocked when he discovers that they are messing with him and he has been reinstated as a Lieutenant. The festivities end when the ship receives a distress call from a colony but, when they arrive they discover that the colony has been destroyed by the Borg. As the ship retreats from the potential danger, Seven dreams of the same place only to discover that she is in something called Unimatrix Zero (UMZ).
A man named Axum tells Annika (Seven) that he knows her from her Borg days and the she was instrumental in helping him form this secret place that only one in a million Borg can get to. Now the Borg Queen has discovered it and is actively trying to Destroy the bug in the system. Axum and his friends ask Annika for help and she promises to discuss the matter with her Captain.
Calling the senior staff together, Seven convinces them all that of what she has experienced and, after Tuvok confirms the connection via a three way mind-meld, Janeway agrees to not only help but to use this glitch as a way to ‘reawaken’ the Borg from within causing a significant issue for the collective.
Unknown to Voyager, the Borg Queen has found a way in herself and begins to send drones into the glitch in order to bring the infected Borg back. With Tuvok, Janeway and Seven in the UMZ, they witness the Borg attacking but help to prevent the incursion, Janeway is spotted by the Queen just as the Borg drone is destroyed.
Back in the waking world, Janeway begins preparing for this new attack on the Borg. Assigning the Doctor and B’Elanna to work on a Virus that will keep the UMZ Borg aware when they leave it. The problem is, they must infect a working cube directly and the closest one is a heavily armed Tactical Cube. Returning to the UMZ, Seven informs Axum of their plan only to learn that she and Axum had a deeper relationship was no longer aware of. She leaves upset but still willing to help her Borg Brethren.
Janeway, Tuvok and Torres prepare take the Delta flyer to the Borg Cube to the cube in order to sneak aboard the cube but are interrupted by a larger cube that arrives and contacts Voyager. The Borg Queen makes her presence known but is not there to attack Voyager but to make a deal. She will provide Voyager with transwarp technology if Janeway agrees to stay out of Borg Business. Janeway refuses and the Queen promises them that she will see them all again. Janeway, convinced that she has the Queen on the run, moves forward with their plans. Taking the Delta Flyer to the tactical cube, they beam aboard just as the Borg Queen destroys the Flyer. Making their way to the central plexus, the team begin to try to infect the ship but are stopped by the Borg. The Borg surround the away team and begin assimilation but, although monitored, Chakotay and crew seem to not be concerned.
In the end, Voyager leaves the Cube and we see Janeway, Tuvok and Torres all assimilated drones. end of part 1.
Is this a ‘Good’ Episode:
It is very difficult to review a two parter so I will not dive in too much as to whether I think this is a good story or not. However, I do have some thoughts on the implications of this episode presents.
So, somehow, despite the fact that Seven has been with the crew for over three years and has in fact dreamed before, she is just now waking in Unimatrix Zero. I mean, sure, I get it, this is a clever plot point for them to encounter the Borg and end the season on a high note but I have a hard time believing that this would not have occurred much sooner than now. Honesty, I think that one of the Borg children should have been having dreams that he or she mentions to Seven revealing some interesting things that Seven can not dismiss. So, upon investigating they find this link. If it were Icheb it would have been even better seeing what his fate is in the Picard Series.
The cool thing is, this does give a really interesting twist on the Borg that have been able to regain their individuality after being assimilated. This Unimatrix Zero heavily implies that those few that have been able to return could have been able to due to this secret glitch in the matrix. I have to wonder if Picard were not a visitor of this place and that might be why he and Seven have a deeper connection beyond their shared assimilation. While this is never brought up in Picard, it would make for a fun moment where they both realize that they knew each other prior to their adventures together.
Overall, this is a pretty great if not VERY predictable season finale. While the episode ends with three of the key Voyager crewmembers having been assimilated, there was no real doubt that they would be saved in the season premiere. That being said, the question of HOW they would make it out alive was the question and we had to wait a full summer to get any answers…you my friends, only have to wait a few days. Until then…
Gleanings and Cool Bits:
- 0 photon torpedoes fired, -19 remaining.
- 1 shuttlecraft lost or destroyed, -6 remaining
- The second Delta Flyer destroyed in this episode.
- Seven get’s a taste of her former self…and rejects it.
- The one big mystery is why the Borg Queen didnt just assimilate Voyager and move on… I get her being tactical but that seamed VERY out of place for the Borg in general.
Thanks for reading the Retro TV Review, I look forward to discussing the rest of the series with you, one episode at a time every Monday, Wednesday and Friday! Next Review: Season Seven Premiere: Unimatrix One Part II
For more reviews: check out the weekly series called Key Movies Of My Life that comes out every Thursday and for more retro TV goodness check out the rest of the Retro TV Reviews here.
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Late To The Game 3/1/2021
Special Thanks to Memory Alpha as they are one of the best sources for details on Star Trek information available. Although I have a pretty deep knowledge on the subject, they have proven invaluable as a regular resource.
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