The Ultimate Showdown: Unveiling the Epic Battles of Star Trek Against the Borg!

Summary

The Borg, a formidable villain in Star Trek, were an amalgamation of humanoid species with cybernetic implants, lacking individualism.

The Borg's primary objective was to assimilate both species and technologies, fueled by their unparalleled adaptability which rendered them a potent and destructive force. The Borg made numerous appearances across various Star Trek series and films, engaging in notable confrontations within The Next Generation, Voyager, and First Contact.

The Borg, introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation, have stood out as one of the most formidable adversaries in the Star Trek universe. Instead of being a separate species, they were a collective of diverse humanoid species with cybernetic enhancements. Within the hive mind of the Borg, individuality did not exist, and their main objective was to assimilate other species and technologies. Leading the Borg was a Borg Queen, who possessed emotions and a sense of individuality, unlike the drone members.

From their chilling debut in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Borg proved to be unyielding and famously declared "Resistance is futile." While not all Starfleet captains have confronted the Borg, they have appeared in five other Star Trek series and acted as the primary antagonist in Star Trek: First Contact. Through their ability to strip away humanity and swiftly adapt, the Borg have become one of the most destructive forces ever confronted by the Federation. Below is a comprehensive list of the shows and movies that featured Star Trek protagonists facing off against the Borg.

8 Star Trek: The Next Generation

7 Star Trek: First Contact

The Borg were initially introduced to Starfleet through the intervention of the all-powerful entity Q (portrayed by John de Lancie). This occurred when Q forcefully hurled the Enterprise-D to a distant region of the galaxy during the events of the TNG season 2 episode titled "Q Who." Subsequently, the Borg posed repeated challenges for the Enterprise, most notably through their successful assimilation of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) in the iconic two-part episode known as "The Best of Both Worlds." This assimilation allowed the Borg to acquire crucial knowledge about the Federation and Starfleet, resulting in the devastatingly one-sided Battle of Wolf 359. In "I Borg," an episode from TNG season 5, the Enterprise comes to the aid of an abandoned Borg drone who later adopts the name Hugh (portrayed by Jonathan Del Arco). As Hugh develops a sense of individuality, he re-joins the collective and influences a separate group of Borg. Following this, Data's malevolent sibling Lore (played by Brent Spiner) utilizes these Borg in an ultimately futile endeavor to dismantle the Federation.

In Star Trek: First Contact, the Borg alter the past, forcing Captain Picard and the USS Enterprise-E crew to pursue them and restore the timeline. They track the Borg back to the year 2063, just as Zefram Cochrane is about to achieve warp travel and humans are about to make first contact with the Vulcans. The Borg infiltrate the Enterprise and capture Lt. Commander Data. The Borg Queen attempts to convince Data to join them, but he ultimately betrays her and helps stop the Borg threat. Picard and his crew ensure that history unfolds as it should, securing the correct future.

6 Star Trek: Voyager

5 Star Trek: Enterprise

Star Trek: Voyager not only showcases the character Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), a former Borg drone, in a prominent role, but it also features the Borg as the primary adversaries of the USS Voyager crew throughout the series. Given that Voyager is set in the Delta Quadrant, the Borg's territory, it is logical for them to have a significant presence on the show. In a surprising deviation from their usual behavior, the Borg send Seven of Nine to seek assistance from the Federation as they are unable to assimilate a unknown species called Species 8472. Over the course of the series, Voyager manages to rescue numerous previously assimilated children and confront a Borg Queen (Susanna Thompson). In the final episode of Star Trek: Voyager, Janeway deals a devastating blow to the Borg by infecting them with a virus that severs their collective mental connection to one another.

Despite the fact that the Federation's initial encounter with the Borg occurred in 2365, the crew of the original Enterprise NX-01 had a prior encounter with this cybernetic race. "Regeneration," an episode from the second season of Enterprise, serves as a sequel to Star Trek: First Contact. Upon discovering the wreckage of the Borg ship from the aforementioned movie, Earth's scientists find two Borg drones on board. Once these drones assimilate the scientists, they manage to escape into space, prompting Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) and the Enterprise crew to take action. In their pursuit, Archer and his team succeed in boarding the Borg ship. Although they are able to disable and ultimately destroy the Borg transport vessel, the Borg manage to transmit a distress signal to the Delta Quadrant, revealing Earth's location.

4 Star Trek: Lower Decks

3 Star Trek: Prodigy

In the latest episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks, titled "I, Excretus," the depiction of the Borg takes a step forward. Previously shown primarily as holograms, the Borg are now central to the plot as Ensign Brad Boimler finds himself trapped in a simulation set within a Borg cube. Determined to achieve a perfect score on his training drill, Boimler repeatedly confronts Borg drones and ultimately faces off against the notorious Borg Queen herself, portrayed by Alice Krige. Even after successfully completing the simulation, Boimler continues to engage with it to ensure the training consultant aboard the USS Cerritos does not fail. Unexpectedly, Boimler ends up getting assimilated by the Borg Queen and becomes known as Excretus of Borg. This transformative encounter leaves a lasting impact on Boimler long after he is liberated from the simulation.

The encounter with the Borg occurs only in one episode of Star Trek: Prodigy, specifically in season 1, episode 12, titled "Let Sleeping Borg Lie." When the USS Protostar stumbles upon a dormant Borg cube, the young crew members embark on a mission to search for a means to disable the Diviner's weapon called the Living Construct. Zero (Angus Imrie), being a Medusan – a noncorporeal lifeform accustomed to hive minds – volunteers to be assimilated. The Borg attempt to assimilate the other crew members as well, but Gwyn (Ella Purnell) aids Zero in resisting assimilation and rescues their comrades. While the crew of the Protostar successfully escapes, they learn that disabling the Living Construct is an insurmountable challenge.

2 Star Trek: Picard, Season 2

Star Trek: Picard season 2 voyages Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and his crew back in time to 21st-century Los Angeles, thanks to the intervention of Q. Although the season does not showcase the Borg in large numbers, it prominently features the Borg Queen as a central figure in the storyline. Upon their arrival in the past, the Borg Queen implants Borg nanoprobes into Dr. Agnes Jurati (portrayed by Alison Pill), who then engages in a subconscious struggle against the Queen. Gradually, the Borg Queen gains dominance and assimilates multiple mercenaries who pursue Picard. While still battling the Borg Queen within her mind, Agnes manages to persuade her to adopt a new approach to the Borg, one based on collaboration rather than assimilation. Consequently, Jurati transforms into the new benevolent Borg Queen, and Picard extends provisional membership within the Federation to her collective.

1 Star Trek: Picard, Season 3

Jean-Luc Picard's past as Locutus comes back to haunt him in Star Trek: Picard season 3. After surviving Admiral Janeway's near-destruction in Star Trek: Voyager, the vengeful Borg Queen joins forces with the Changelings to seek revenge on the Federation. Their diabolical plan nearly succeeds when the Borg's upgraded assimilation process assimilates hundreds of Starfleet officers under the age of 25. These assimilated crewmembers seize control of Starfleet's most formidable starships and launch attacks on Earth's planetary defenses. The devastating consequences involve significant losses among Starfleet personnel and the destruction of Earth's shields. However, thanks to Admiral Picard's persuasive abilities, his son Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) is convinced to break free from the clutches of the Borg. With the reunited crew of the Enterprise-D, they successfully eliminate the Borg Cube. Although it may seem like the end of the Borg threat, these enduring adversaries have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the Star Trek franchise.