So let me get this straight. The Borg perpetuate themselves by assimilating individuals into their collective. But when they assimilate Hugh back into the collective his individuality causes a catastrophic systems failure? Their entire existence is based on the assimilation of individuality, but if a Borg regains individuality and then is assimilated a second time his individuality cannot be processed? Okay that checks out.
The enterprise has a complement of over 1000 people. Let's be generous and assume the skeleton crew aboard the enterpriser consists of 200 people and that another 200 aren't officers (family of officers, children, ect.). That's 600 people on the planet. After 50 seconds of beaming there are 73 people left on the planet. After 15 more seconds there are only 47 people left. Working backwards that's 26 people every 15 seconds which means about 87 people were beamed off the surface during the preceding 50 seconds for a grand total of 113 people pulled off the surface. Plus the 47 left on the surface that's 160 people that were looking for Data and a skeleton crew of 840 left on board the enterprise. Okay good that checks out too.
Lore and Data want to create a race of purely artificial life forms by cobbling together a visor with Borg technology. Oh wait, its because Geordi can see the carrier wave Lore is using to manipulate Data. Got it.
Hey look, there's a chair on the bridge, not the first time I've seen one of those, where are they stored? The Borg ship is massive and unaffected by the Enterprises weapons. The Borg's weapons can knock out warp drive while the shields are up. No special generators are needed for metaphasic shielding, just a computer program. Got it; checks out.
Other thoughts:
Crusher, Tate, and Barneby's efforts to battle the Borg ship are by far the best part of this episode.
Its nice to see Hugh again. I really like "I Borg", but I didn't want or need a follow up. Now that there is a fledgling colony of independent Borg on a remote planet a follow up does seem appropriate, but it never comes.
Finally, I wish I wish I wish Geordi didn't stop data from destroying the emotion chip as this episode is directly responsible for the Data we get in Generations and that Data is the absolute worst.
I want a spin-off series featuring ensign Tate. I imagine she can get any posting she wants with "destroyed a Borg ship" on her service record.
Verdict: Semi-enjoyable, mostly forgettable, bad for canon.
Fun facts:
47 People were left behind after the Borg ship attacks.
The words bouye and buoyancy occur with alarming frequency. Well 3 times but still.
The Sons of Soong is (or was) a band working and recording in Oakland county Michigan. They released an album called "Stillborn and Afterbirth". I know this sounds made up but I assure you it is not. Google it.
