Another humdrum episode from the Season Three archives who's only distinction is that it is the show's first episode with the Borg. Basically, Chakotay and Ensign Nobody land on a planet filled with Borg who have been freed from the Collective. Ensign Nobody is shot and killed within the first three seconds and Chakotay goes on to forge a relationship with the Borg lady who saved his life, resulting in a rare instance of sexual intimacy.
This intimacy is a rare thing in Voyager (and Star Trek shows in general) but it isn't used nearly enough to give the episode any bite. The climax of the episode has Chakotay helping the former Borg via some combination of telepathy and mind control, but it would have been a lot more interesting if he considered betraying Voyager all on his own simply because of some mushy feelings for his new friend.
What does make the episode interesting is the political questions raised about the limits of socialism within a democracy. The new Borg are living in a co-op, which is seen as a good thing so long as each of them are still free to make up their own minds about things. But the moment they have united their society into a single collective, the question is raised as to how they will use their new found "power".
The episode features more than a few holes (see the Goofs section for most of them), but watch towards the end of the episode for Harry Kim's imitation of the Flash. No sooner has he been beamed to the transporter room with the Away Team then he's suddenly on the Bridge (with none of his Away Team gear).
This intimacy is a rare thing in Voyager (and Star Trek shows in general) but it isn't used nearly enough to give the episode any bite. The climax of the episode has Chakotay helping the former Borg via some combination of telepathy and mind control, but it would have been a lot more interesting if he considered betraying Voyager all on his own simply because of some mushy feelings for his new friend.
What does make the episode interesting is the political questions raised about the limits of socialism within a democracy. The new Borg are living in a co-op, which is seen as a good thing so long as each of them are still free to make up their own minds about things. But the moment they have united their society into a single collective, the question is raised as to how they will use their new found "power".
The episode features more than a few holes (see the Goofs section for most of them), but watch towards the end of the episode for Harry Kim's imitation of the Flash. No sooner has he been beamed to the transporter room with the Away Team then he's suddenly on the Bridge (with none of his Away Team gear).