star trek data and borg queen

Everything We Know About the Borg Queen After 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 2

Now that 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 2 has come to a close, let's unpack everything we know about the long-lost Borg Queen.

Star Trek: Picard has ended its strong, focused second season, having tossed the principal characters first into a dark alternate timeline and then several centuries into the past, all thanks to Jean-Luc Picard’s ( Patrick Stewart ) trickster-god nemesis, Q ( John DeLancie ). The major Season 1 characters returned: Captain Rios ( Santiago Cabrera ) now commands a new version of Picard’s old ship the Stargazer ; Raffi ( Michelle Hurd ) and Elnor ( Evan Evagora ) now serve together on a new Excelsior , and Seven of Nine is once again a Fenris Ranger and caretaker of Rios’ beloved La Sirena .

Dr. Agnes Jurati ( Alison Pill ) is another returning character, and for most of this second season, it seemed like the show did not know what to do with her . Then, at about the halfway mark, Jurati’s fate intertwines with one other character, who Star Trek fans haven’t seen in a long time: the Borg Queen ( Annie Wersching ). So who is the Borg Queen? Let’s take a look at her legacy and her current incarnation.

RELATED: How 'Star Trek: Picard' Squandered the Potential of Its New Characters

The One Who Is Many

1997’s Star Trek: First Contact establishes several updates to the Borg which carried over into later series, including Picard. They have the ability to assimilate via retractable cybernetic tentacles, and while we knew they were a decentralized collective, First Contact reveals the singular entity controlling this collective: the Borg Queen, played in that film by Alice Krige .

Krige would go on to portray the character in several episodes of Star Trek: Voyager , including the series finale. Susanna Thompson stepped in to play the Queen in the crucial "Unimatrix Zero" two-parter, setting up a strange mystery that to date has not been directly addressed. At the end of First Contact , the Queen is killed by Captain Picard, who severs her cybernetic spinal cord after Data ( Brent Spiner ) is able to destroy her organic components. The crew of the Voyager encounter the Borg and the Queen in the Delta Quadrant, and the show does not attempt to explain how the Queen can be alive following the events of First Contact .

The Voyager crew encounter the Borg many times during the show’s run, with the series finale centering around a future Janeway ( Kathryn Mulgrew ), who travels back in time to guide her younger self in battle against the Borg. Future Janeway knows that a Borg transwarp hub can propel the ship back to the Alpha Quadrant, and sacrifices herself to poison the Borg Queen and clear the way for Voyager ’s return.

The Borg Slayer

Fast forward to the second season of Picard , which deposits the admiral and company into a dark alternate timeline. Picard himself is a galactically-feared conqueror of countless alien species, and is set to exterminate yet another: the Borg Queen.

In Season 1 of Picard , former Borg drone and Voyager crew member Seven of Nine accessed a Queencell in the massive, abandoned Borg cube known as the Artifact. The concept of a chamber in each Borg cube which could only be accessed by the Queen was made canon. Seven of Nine then relinked herself to the rest of the collective, taking control of them all and allowing the La Sirena crew chance to escape.

The Season 2 premiere ends with a version of the Borg Queen appearing on the bridge of Rios’s Stargazer. Drawn to yet another massive spatial anomaly, Picard’s presence has been requested by an unknown species looking to formally join the United Federation of Planets. This turns out to be a previously-unknown Borg Queen, and as her massive cybernetic tentacles bury themselves in the Stargazer’s consoles and take over her systems, Picard orders the ship to self-destruct.

Jump ahead to this alternate timeline. As the main characters adjust to their surroundings, we learn that Seven was never assimilated by the Borg here. This Annika Hansen has no implants and is in fact the President of the Federation. She is about to honor Picard with the title “Borg Slayer” as he executes the Borg Queen before presumably the entire galaxy.

Echoing Timelines

The misplaced crew quickly comes together, and they learn that they're path back home runs right through the Borg Queen. In this timeline, Agnes Jurati is a scientist working for the Dark Federation and has access to the Queen, who is held in some kind of storage unit. We learn that the Borg have some kind of extrasensory perception of alternate timelines. This Borg Queen understands that the timeline has shifted, and knows who they all are and what they're doing.

Given Seven's reveal that the Queencells were not necessarily created for any one Borg Queen, the notion of a time-shift-sensitive Queen suggests that the Borg Queen could perhaps split her consciousness into many different avatars at once, allowing her to exist as simultaneous incarnations of herself. This could also explain her ability to inhabit the consciousness of Dr. Agnes Jurati. The Queen infiltrates Jurait's mind and in short order finds herself loose on the streets of L.A. in the early 21st century. The Queen needs a certain amount of elements and endorphins to grow her strength, and soon Jurati and the Queen are locked in a battle for control of Jurati's body.

The Star Gazer

The survival of our main characters depends on an internal debate which Jurati eventually wins. She convinces the Borg Queen that no matter the timeline, the Borg are always eventually defeated, whether by "a lone Borg slayer or United Federation." She convinces the Borg Queen that she and her drones will never able to overcome and achieve the perfection she seeks.

Before the season's ultimate dénouement, we watch Jurati and the Borg Queen find a common ground. Borg Queen Jurati then takes off in La Sirena, theoretically giving the Borg a 400-year head start on assimilating the galaxy. Picard and company wrap up their business in the past, repairing the timeline. With what is presumably the equivalent of his final breath, Q sends everyone save Rios (who elects to stay in the past) back to the bridge of the Stargazer, where all of this started.

Picard orders the bridge crew to stand down, cancels the self-destruct sequence, and waits. Borg Queen Jurati reveals herself, and the entire narrative comes full circle. The Borg now openly offer species the opportunity to assimilate. The Borg's request to join the Federation may not have been a ruse, after all. The finale reveal, Borg Queen Jurati tells Picard that there is a much bigger threat out there, one that will necessitate the Federation and the Borg working together. With the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation all officially returning for Season 3, we can expect the ramifications of Picard 's continuity-breaking overhaul fo the Borg to become the focal point of the show's third and final season.

Data and the Borg Queen Totally Had Sex and Other Star Trek: First Contact Secrets

Did you enjoy this video, in this video.

Data and the Borg Queen Totally Had Sex and 6 Other Things We Learned From Jonathan Frakes' Star Trek: First Contact Commentary

The director and star of the film sat in for ign's wfh theater to reveal new tidbits from behind the scenes..

Commander Riker himself, Jonathan Frakes, joined IGN's WFH Theater this week to discuss his feature directorial debut, Star Trek: First Contact, and along the way he dropped a bunch of interesting tidbits about the making of the film.

If you missed this installment of WFH Theater, you can still watch the commentary track in the video embed below. But if you just want to browse the Enterprise-E computer for some of the highlights from the discussion, read on! And also be sure to check out our previous recaps of the Rogue One WFH Theater , the 10 Cloverfield Lane WFH Theater , and the Jurassic Park WFH Theater .

Yes, Data and the Borg Queen Borg-Boned

The origin of the riker sit (and the riker walk).

"I don't know! It's been there forever," he said of the Riker Lean. "I stole the walk -- the lead with one shoulder -- from an actor named John Cullum, who probably stole it from John Wayne."

As for the Riker Sit, an IGN viewer asked if the actor-director sits like that in real life too. "I do when the chairback is below the danger zone," Frakes laughed. "I measure twice and cut once! That started in [the TNG set] Ten Forward because the backs of the chairs were so low, it was easy. And then I thought, this is really a hotdog, asshole thing to do. Nobody's going to let me do this. And then nobody stopped me! It's such a cocky, unattractive, kind of bad cowboy move. Whoever did the YouTube compilation of Riker sits down, it went viral and was even more embarrassing, and made me strangely even more proud!"

Swag From the Set

Frakes Wanted to Direct Star Trek: Nemesis

He did break away and make non-Trek features with Clockstoppers and Thunderbirds. "I only ever made four movies," he said. "Three of them made money and then I went to movie jail after Thunderbirds. But let's not ruin a perfectly good night!" (Of course, he continued to direct for the small screen ever since and has a long list of credits today.)

He Will Be Back for Picard Season 2

First Season Riker Was Stiff, First Contact Riker's Life Is F#@king Great

There's also the fact that being so busy as the director doesn't really give one the chance to get too nervous about performing. "Your nerves prevent you, just physically," said the filmmaker. "Remember Riker from Season 1 [of TNG]? He was so stiff and so awkward ... that was all nerves. You know, it was a skin-tight spacesuit on a brand-new television show. The Riker in this movie, you know, he's wearing a leather jacket and he's directing a movie and his life is f#@king great, let's face it!"

Dissatisfaction With Elements of First Contact

He also compared aspects of it to looking like "'70s TV," but also said overall he thinks the scene is "fine" and that this scene just would never have happened on the TV show. "The set would never have existed," he said. "We wouldn't have time to do the wirework and the wire removal and the big green screen." He also acknowledged that he was working with a relatively restrained budget compared to most big tentpole movies of the time - "$45 million. It made $220 [million]. ... That's how I got Insurrection."

What are you thoughts on First Contact? Let's discuss them below! And for more WFH Theater, be sure to check out our watch party of Netflix's Extraction with director Sam Hargrave, the Russos and special guest Chris Hemsworth.

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Agnes Jurati

• View history

Doctor Agnes P. Jurati was a female Human cyberneticist who worked at the Daystrom Institute during the late 24th century . ( PIC : " Remembrance ")

After an encounter with the defeated Borg Queen of an alternate timeline , a trip into the past, and her own assimilation, Jurati returned four hundred years later, and reunited with her friends, now as the Queen of a small Borg Cooperative. ( PIC : " Farewell ")

• 1 Daystrom Institute career
• 2 Joining Picard
• 3 Joining the Stargazer crew
• 4 Queen of the Borg
• 5.1 Relationships
• 6 Key dates
• 7 Memorable quotes
• 8.1 Appearances
• 8.2 Background information
• 8.3 External link

Daystrom Institute career [ ]

Jurati was recruited out of Starfleet by Bruce Maddox to aid in his android research, and characterized their work as "coming close" to being able to create an advanced android similar to Data . However, after the banning of synthetic lifeforms following the Attack on Mars , as well as the disappearance of Maddox, much of her research was stalled and ground to a halt.

She was approached by retired Admiral Jean-Luc Picard at the Institute's Division of Advanced Synthetic Research in 2399 , and they discussed the possibilities of creating a new, flesh-and-blood android comparable with previous Soong-types via fractal neuronic cloning . ( PIC : " Remembrance ")

After Picard related his experiences with Dahj Asha to Jurati, she researched Dahj, who had recently been offered a fellowship at the Daystrom institute. Jurati told Picard that Dahj's identity, including records of education on Regulus , appeared to have been fabricated only three years prior . ( PIC : " Maps and Legends ")

Joining Picard [ ]

Shortly after her second meeting with Picard, Jurati received a visit from Commodore Oh , the head of Starfleet Security . Oh questioned Jurati about the latter's communications with the retired Admiral, and told her that Picard was likely to go looking for Bruce Maddox and Dahj's twin sister Soji . Via mind meld , Oh showed Jurati the Admonition , leading her to believe it was a record of a long-dead civilization that was destroyed after they built sentient synths. With this, Oh convinced Jurati that the creation of sentient synths would once again bring about the end of all organic life in the Galaxy, and Jurati needed to "atone" for her role in developing these synths. Oh ordered Jurati to join Picard on his mission, and to kill Maddox and Soji. Oh also placed a psychic block to prevent Jurati from revealing exactly what she saw. Finally, Oh gave Jurati a viridium tracker . ( PIC : " Nepenthe ", " Broken Pieces ")

Jurati subsequently appeared at Château Picard in the midst of an attack by Romulan assassins . Jurati shot one of the assassins, then insisted on joining Picard on La Sirena for his mission. She found the first part of the journey "boring", and kept herself entertained with academic journals and flirting with Cristobal Rios , the captain of La Sirena . ( PIC : " The End is the Beginning ", " Absolute Candor ")

At Freecloud , Jurati manned the transporter while the others rescued Maddox from Bjayzl . However, after Maddox was in La Sirena 's sickbay , she turned off the hematic microrepair unit keeping him alive. When the ship's EMH , Emil , tried to intervene, Jurati deactivated him. ( PIC : " Stardust City Rag ")

Jurati kissing Rios

Jurati was able to convince the others that Maddox died of the injuries Bjayzl and her cronies had inflicted, but she grew increasingly distressed. Needing a distraction and some company en route to The Artifact , Jurati had an intimate encounter with Captain Cristóbal Rios . ( PIC : " The Impossible Box ")

After La Sirena departed the Artifact, Rios discovered that they were being followed by Narek in a Romulan Snakehead . Jurati began to realize that Commodore Oh must have been working with the Romulans and the scout ship was following them because of her. Rios told her he suspected Raffi was the one being tracked, and Jurati could not bring herself to tell him about her situation before he was called away. Left alone in sickbay, Jurati injected herself with noranium hydride hoping it would neutralize the viridium tracker in her bloodstream , though this also sent her into a coma . ( PIC : " Nepenthe ")

Emil saved Jurati's life, and he and Raffi informed Picard about their suspicion that Jurati had killed Maddox. Upon waking up, Jurati was confronted by Picard, who declared she should turn herself in for the murder of Maddox once they reached Deep Space 12 . Jurati agreed and when prompted, told Picard about Oh forcing the Admonition on her and giving her the tracker and a directive to kill Maddox and Soji to prevent a repetition of the apocalypse Oh had seen in her vision. However, Jurati's resolve to go through with that mission had already been weakening, and once she met Soji in person, she decided that she would no longer carry out Oh's orders. Afterwards, Jurati gathered with the others to pool their knowledge of the situation and uncover the mystery surrounding Oh, the Zhat Vash , and the Attack on Mars . ( PIC : " Broken Pieces ")

Jurati traveled to Coppelius with the rest of the crew on La Sirena , though she thought they were still headed for DS12. When she arrived on the bridge with her bag packed, ready to turn herself in, she was delighted to find they were about to meet Soji's people instead. After the ship was drained of power by one of the orchids making up the planet's orbital defense and crash-landed on the surface, Jurati took care of Picard, who had fallen unconscious. Scanning him, she found the abnormality in his brain that meant he only had a short time left to live, prompting Picard to admit as much to the others.

Jurati joined the rest of the crew as they traveled first to the crashed Artifact, which Seven of Nine had piloted to Coppelius, and then to Coppelius Station . There, she met Dr. Altan Soong , son of Noonien Soong , and the synths he had created together with Bruce Maddox. They warned the synths they were about to be attacked by Oh's Romulan fleet. Jurati shared the Admonition with Sutra , the leader of the synths, who realized it was a message only a synthetic mind could decipher. While Rios and Raffi Musiker headed back to La Sirena to repair the ship, Jurati stayed behind with Picard, saying she wanted to help Soong finish some of Maddox's work.

When Soong and Sutra told their people that they were going to contact the extra-galactic Alliance of synthetic life who had created the Admonition, which in effect would mean the end of all organic life in the galaxy, Jurati convinced them she was on their side. While Sutra ordered for Picard to be put under house arrest, she allowed Jurati to continue working, ostensibly to help Soong transfer his mind into an artificial body, a golem , thus allowing him to be spared from the impending genocide. ( PIC : " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1 ")

Instead of helping Soong, however, Jurati found a way to occupy him and broke out Picard. Together, they headed back to La Sirena , looking for the others, but they found the ship deserted. Picard and Jurati discussed their next steps and decided they needed to stall the Romulan fleet until Starfleet coul catch up with them. Picard also wanted to set an example to the synths by protecting them, so they would reconsider their plan to exterminate all organic life in the galaxy. Picard managed to fly La Sirena into orbit, just as the Romulan fleet arrived, and Agnes used the fundamental field replicator to execute a version of the Picard Maneuver , projecting dozens of images of La Sirena into space as decoys. After Starfleet arrived and Picard managed to convince Soji to power down the beacon, proving she was not the threat the Romulans believed her to be, the standoff was resolved and the Romulan Fleet left, escorted by Starfleet.

Picard collapsed, and Soji beamed him and Jurati down to the surface, where Picard died of his neurological disease. Just before he passed away, however, Jurati, working with Soong and Soji, was able to transfer Picard's consciousness into the golem originally built for Soong himself. When Picard, Rios, and the crew they assembled along the way left Coppelius some time later aboard La Sirena , Jurati was with them, sharing a kiss with Rios on the bridge. ( PIC : " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 ")

Joining the Stargazer crew [ ]

By the year 2401 , two years after the Coppelius incident, Jurati had been acquitted of the murder of Dr. Maddox due to "alien-induced temporary insanity." Her romantic relationship with Rios had also ended, but the two remained friendly, despite some awkwardness.

While on Raritan IV with Soji, Jurati was summoned by Rios, now captain of the USS Stargazer , for assistance in deciphering an unknown signal coming from a spatial anomaly. After she decoded the signal, it was revealed that it was an urgent message requesting Picard's presence and an appeal to join the Federation . When Picard arrived, a Borg vessel emerged from the anomaly and a Borg Queen beamed onto the bridge of the Stargazer and began to assimilate the ship. In order to prevent the ship from falling into the hands of the Borg, Picard initiated a self-destruct sequence , which moments later destroyed the vessel and seemingly everyone onboard. ( PIC : " The Star Gazer ")

Miraculously, after the explosion, Jurati woke up in a laboratory on Earth being greeted by a talking virtual pet cat . Unbeknownst to her, Q had created an alternate timeline and replaced the alternate version of Jurati with the Jurati from the prime timeline as part of his ongoing trial of Humanity .

With the assistance of that timeline's Borg Queen, Jurati joined Picard and the others as the time traveled into the past aboard the CSS La Sirena .

Agnes is assimilated.

After arriving in the early 21st century , Jurati was assimilated by the Borg Queen, as she attempted to use Jurati to gain a 400 year advantage on the galaxy. ( PIC : " Fly Me to the Moon ", " Two of One ", " Monsters ")

Jurati and the Borg Queen would eventually agree to share Jurati's body and create a new Borg Collective that would not forcefully assimilate people and would embrace the distinctiveness and individuality of its members. Now together as one, she left Earth aboard the CSS La Sirena and traveled to the Delta Quadrant . ( PIC : " Hide and Seek ")

Queen of the Borg [ ]

In 2401 , the Borg contacted the Federation, claiming to want to join it. Unbeknownst at the time, the evolved Jurati/Borg Queen, who was clearly different than was previously encountered beamed aboard the USS Stargazer and began assimilating the ship and its fleet. In response, Jean-Luc Picard activated the Stargazer 's auto-destruct , stopping the assimilation and destroying the vessel. ( PIC : " The Star Gazer ")

In an alternate timeline where Picard self-destructed the USS Stargazer , Agnes, as the Borg Queen, was killed in the explosion. ( PIC : " The Star Gazer ") This timeline was averted when Q returned Picard's crew to moments before the explosion and Picard cancelled the self-destruct upon realizing that the Borg Queen was actually Agnes. ( PIC : " Farewell ")

Jurati returns as the Borg Queen.

Upon returning from 2024 moments before the explosion, Picard canceled the auto-destruct and allowed the Borg Queen to proceed after realizing that it was the same Queen from an alternate timeline who had merged with Dr. Jurati.

The Borg Queen revealed that a powerful energy wave was approaching and she needed the shields of the fleet combined with that of her own ship to block it. This Borg Queen had come to Picard both because he was someone in charge with whom she shared a mutual trust and because they needed the help of a friend. The Borg Queen's efforts were successful, saving countless lives, although she didn't know who was behind the creation of the massive transwarp conduit aside from it being a threat that required close observation. Picard agreed to grant the Borg provisional membership in the Federation so that they could remain there, "the Guardian at the Gates." ( PIC : " Farewell ")

Personal life [ ]

Dr. Jurati was a leading academic in her field. When she was bored during the early days of her journey on La Sirena , she read through two years of back-issues of the Journal of Theoretical Cybernetics , "including the Festschrift for Professor Kwok ", proving she was a voracious reader. She also remarked that her father had read many paper books when she was a child, and she had used to annoy him about it. ( PIC : " Absolute Candor ")

Like Picard, Jurati was fond of Earl Grey tea . She enjoyed Kasseelian opera , sushi , and red velvet cake . However, the concept of baking cookies from scratch was somewhat foreign to her. ( PIC : " Maps and Legends ", " The End is the Beginning ", " Stardust City Rag ", " Broken Pieces ")

Before joining Picard on his quest, Jurati told Commodore Oh that she had never been off-world, implying she left Starfleet Academy to join Maddox at the Daystrom Institute before she ever got substantial space flight training. When she did spend some time in space, she found it to be boring, later saying " it's cold and empty and wants to kill you. " ( PIC : " Nepenthe ", " Absolute Candor ", " The Impossible Box ")

After she saved his life in the Romulan attack on the Château, Jurati told Picard she was a "terrible liar". Towards the end of their adventure, however, after she manipulated Soong and managed to free Picard from his house arrest, she had changed her mind: " I honestly thought I was the worst secret agent ever, but I'm starting to believe I may have a gift. " ( PIC : " The End is the Beginning ", " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 ") Something else Jurati considered a gift (somewhat jokingly) was her ability to sense when she was about to make a mistake. She called it a "superpower", though she agreed with Rios it was not a particularly useful one. ( PIC : " The Impossible Box ")

Jurati could be very talkative and often made witty comments. By 2401 , this had turned into a habit to babble when she was nervous, which could get her into trouble. However, she was also quick-witted enough to talk herself out of trouble again. ( PIC : " Absolute Candor ", " Penance ")

Relationships [ ]

Jurati developed friendships with the people she met on her mission with Picard. Although she had been manipulated into joining them under false pretenses, especially Raffi Musiker and Cristóbal Rios continued to be kind to her after they discovered the truth. By 2401, Jurati had a close relationship and easy rapport with Soji, whom she had told not to let her drunkenly call her ex. She happily greeted Seven of Nine from the bridge of the Stargazer , and she gave Elnor a delighted hug when they reunited in the dystopian alternate reality. Jurati also developed a strong friendship with Picard, often affectionately calling him "Mister". ( PIC : " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1 ", " The Star Gazer ", " Penance ", " Assimilation ")

Over the course of their time together on La Sirena , Jurati developed a romantic relationship with Cristóbal Rios . The two shared a lot of light-hearted banter, but also grew closer when Jurati was starting to feel the weight of her secret mission. After she killed Maddox, Jurati happened upon Rios practicing soccer late at night. After some conversation, the two started kissing and were about to go off to sleep together, but Jurati pulled back because she felt like she was about to make a mistake. When Rios continued to be kind and understanding, however, she opened up to him about feeling hollow and lonely, and they decided to sleep together after all, since it might at least help her for the night. ( PIC : " Absolute Candor ", " Stardust City Rag ", " The Impossible Box ")

When Sutra tried to mindmeld with Jurati on Coppelius to learn more about the Admonition, Rios tried to stop her, since he worried about the trauma the vision had caused Jurati. Later, when he told Jurati he was headed back to the ship with Raffi, he continued to be deeply concerned about her, and the two shared a tender moment. A while later, when they were getting ready to leave Coppelius, Jurati and Rios kissed on the bridge of La Sirena , while the rest of the crew was still occupied elsewhere. ( PIC : " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1 ", " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 ")

The relationship with Rios ended after less than a year, just like all of Jurati's past intimate relationships had. Nevertheless, and despite their occasional bickering, the two remained friendly and Rios was deeply concerned for Jurati when she was behaving strangely after letting herself be assimilated by the Borg Queen. ( PIC : " The Star Gazer ", " Penance ", " Two of One ")

Key dates [ ]

• Joins Starfleet
• Is recruited into Daystrom by Bruce Maddox
• Is sent by Oh to join Picard, and ordered to kill Maddox and Soji Asha
• Joins Picard's quest
• Kills Bruce Maddox
• Helps Picard protect Coppelius
• Is cleared for the murder of Maddox
• Goes on a diplomatic goodwill tour with Soji
• Is transported by Q to an alternate 2401 where the Confederation of Earth exists.
• Time travels to the 21st century
• Assimilated by the Borg Queen
• Convinces the Borg Queen to create a new, better Collective and merges with her
• Arrives on the USS Stargazer seeking the Federation's help against an unknown threat

Memorable quotes [ ]

" How can I help you? " " You can tell me if it is possible to make a sentient android out of flesh and blood. " (Jurati laughs) " No, really. How can I… Is that why you've come here? " " It is. " " Even before the ban, that was… Well… W-Well a flesh and blood android was in our sights, but a sentient one? Not for a thousand years. " " That makes it even more curious that recently, I had tea with one. "

" So... space turns out to be super boring. Go figure. " " What were you expecting? " " I don't know. It's so... empty. I mean, of course, right? It's right there in the name. 'Space.' It's not like it's called 'vast quantities of stuff.' Although, come to think of it, there are over three billion stars in our galaxy alone and ours is one of two trillion. There are a septillion known planets, so maybe it should be called 'vast quantities of stuff.' Like, why focus on the negative? "

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

• " Remembrance " ( Season 1 )
• " Maps and Legends "
• " The End is the Beginning "
• " Absolute Candor "
• " Stardust City Rag "
• " The Impossible Box "
• " Nepenthe "
• " Broken Pieces "
• " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1 "
• " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 "
• " The Star Gazer " ( Season 2 )
• " Penance "
• " Assimilation "
• " Watcher "
• " Fly Me to the Moon "
• " Two of One "
• " Monsters "
• " Hide and Seek "
• " Farewell "

Background information [ ]

Jurati was played by Alison Pill .

She was the only character besides Jean-Luc Picard to appear in every episode of the first and second seasons of the series.

Early in the character's development, Dr. Jurati was named "Dr. Sarton," after a roboticist in the Isaac Asimov novel The Caves of Steel . [1]

External link [ ]

• Agnes Jurati at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 3 USS Antares (32nd century)

• More to Explore
• Series & Movies

Published Feb 2, 2024

Top 10 Data Moments

In celebration of Brent Spiner's birthday, we're highlighting our favorite android's best scenes.

StarTrek.com

He's got pale skin, yellow eyes, and if you invite him to your wedding, he may sing at the reception. He's Lt. Commander Data, android creation of Dr. Noonien Soong, and he's the heart-free heart of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

At first blush, he may've seemed like an obvious proxy for The Original Series ' Mr. Spock, but as portrayed by Brent Spiner, he very quickly defined Data as his own character — optimistic, voracious for knowledge, quixotic in his attempts to understand human nature and, yes, occasionally socially awkward.

As we celebrate Mr. Spiner's birthday, let's take a look back at a mere 10 of the possible hundreds of best Data moments.

10. Resistance is Futile

Star Trek: First Contact

Let's start this one off with a bang. Seemingly seduced by the Borg Queen with the promise of new human flesh, Data fires torpedoes at Zefram Cochrane's ship, the Phoenix . When they hit, it will prevent the titular First Contact with the Vulcans.

But Data's loyalty cannot be manipulated so easily! He purposely fudges the calibrations and, when discovered, uses the Borg's own catchphrase back on 'em as he smashes open a tank of poisonous gas.

9. Data Grows a Beard

"The Schizoid Man"

There are many examples of Data making minor, oftentimes foolish adjustments in an effort to feel more human.

The one that never fails to get a laugh from me is Data with a Riker-esque "fine, full dignified" beard in " The Schizoid Man ."

8. The Death of Lal

"The Offspring"

Brent Spiner's Data — he'll make you laugh, he'll make you cry. The conclusion to " The Offspring " is an excellent example of what film theorists call "The Kuleshov Effect."

Is Data's blank stare into the void of space his typical tabula rasa of non-emotion? Or has the death of his "daughter" Lal changed him in some way? Considering that he has downloaded her experiences, and part of that was her development of feeling, I'd like to believe that somewhere in his positronic matrix is a new understanding of what it is like to be human.

7. Carnal Knowledge

"The Naked Now"

Despite being a huge TNG fan since the beginning, I did not see " The Naked Now ," when it first aired.

Maybe my parents forced me to go outside and play, I don't know. So when kids at school told me that Data and Tasha Yar "got it on," I thought for certain they were pulling my leg. But it really happened, and it was awesome. Too bad Tasha later got killed by a giant blob of tar.

6. Winning the B'aht Qul Challenge

"The Chase"

When confronted by Klingon captain Nu'Daq in " The Chase ," Data is focused in on his PADD and probably not in the mood for conversation.

This blasé attitude makes Nu'Daq's lightning fast defeat in the B'aht Qul challenge (that's arm wrestling to you and me) even more dishonorable. He tries to redeem himself with a head-butt attack, only to quickly learn that even a ridged Klingon dome is no match for a skull of cortenide and duranium.

5. Waiting at the Bottom of a Cave for 500 Years

"Time's Arrow, Part II"

One of the things I really dig about Data is that for all of his attempts to become human, his android properties can certainly come in handy. Perhaps the most extreme example is the two-parter (and season cliffhanger) " Time's Arrow ."

Whereas any other member of the Enterprise crew would have turned to dust, Data's head has no problem with waiting around for five centuries until it is reattached to its body (which blew through a time-space portal) so it can warn Commander Riker to adjust the phase parameters on his photon torpedoes. Now THAT'S dedication to a mission!

4. An Excretory Exclamation

Star Trek Generations

There are few things more fun than seeing our beloved characters acting in unexpected ways. So turn on Dr. Soong's emotion chip and, bam, you've got Data humming, you've got Data laughing. You've also got Data saying something out loud that you KNOW Starfleet officers are always thinking to themselves whenever they are in a tough spot.

As the Enterprise 's saucer section readies for its crash landing on Veridian III in Generations , Spiner delivers two simple words that elicited one of the biggest laughs I ever heard in a theater. This being a family website, I won't reprint them here.

3. Commanding A Starship

"Redemption II"

People like to joke about "when the robots take over," but Star Trek has always been a show about optimism. Maybe advancements in artificial intelligence will be...good?

Data certainly proves himself worthy of command in Part II of " Redemption ," and he does it while giving his bigoted second officer a slap in the face, too. Data's ability to swiftly analyze information and calculate risk uncovers Sela and her lurking Romulan warbirds. Even the whiney Lt. Commander Hobson is impressed.

2. Meeting Spock

"Unification II"

While I have no doubt Data was first developed as a Spock substitute (see Admiral McCoy's  remark about “points on your ears, boy” in “Encounter at Farpoint Part I”) it took no time at all for Spiner and company to develop the character into something wholly its own. When Data and Ambassador Spock meet up in “Unification Part II” to compare just how different they are from one another (Spock, always striving to suppress his human side, Data always yearning to feel) it really drove the issue home. Hardcore fans of both TOS and TNG didn't actually hear this conversation until the second time they viewed the episode, however. The first time they were too busy shouting OMYGOD SPOCKANDDATA ARETALKING OMYGODTHISISAWESOME!!!!!!!!

1. Ode to Spot

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Schisms

[ RELATED : Ode to Spot ]

It isn't just the poem Data recites in the episode " Schisms ," but it's the reaction it gets from the rest of the crew — especially Riker who nods off then hopes to encourage an early conclusion with premature applause.

Should we take a moment to re-read it right here?  Yeah, I think we should.

Felis catus is your taxonomic nomenclature, An endothermic quadruped, carnivorous by nature; Your visual, olfactory, and auditory senses Contribute to your hunting skills and natural defenses.

I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations, A singular development of cat communications That obviates your basic hedonistic predilection For a rhythmic stroking of your fur to demonstrate affection.

A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents; You would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance. And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion, It often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.

O Spot, the complex levels of behavior you display Connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array. And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend, I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.

So there's my top 10. Please remember the kind spirit of Data before you rip into me for leaving off your favorites.

Brent Spiner's Star Trek Characters, Ranked

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This article was originally published on February 1, 2012.

Jordan Hoffman is a writer, critic and lapsed filmmaker living in New York City. His work can also be seen on Film.com, ScreenCrush and Badass Digest. On his BLOG, Jordan has reviewed all 727. On his BLOG, Jordan has reviewed all 727 Trek episodes and films, most of the comics and some of the novels.

“It was a very different feel for the character.”

'Lower Decks' finally resolves a huge Star Trek villain mystery [Exclusive]

There is only one Borg Queen. Or are there several? First introduced in the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact , the enigmatic leader of the Borg seemed to transcend time and space. She also represents a paradox: A single person speaking for an entire hivemind collective.

Played first by Alice Krige, there are now three Borg Queens in total. Susanna Thompson took on the role in several episodes of Voyager ; and in Picard Season 2 , another Borg Queen will be played by Annie Wersching.

But who is the “real” Borg Queen? In a recent surprising (and hilarious) cameo in Lower Decks , the answer seems to be that the original Borg Queen is still the canonical one — at least during Starfleet training simulations!

To get to the bottom of this classic Star Trek mystery, we spoke to the Borg Queen herself. Here’s what Alice Krige had to say about her surprise return to the Star Trek canon and why she thinks her character is always there, even when you don’t see her.

Alice Krige at the 11th Annual Official Star Trek Convention in 2021.

In Lower Decks, Season 2, Episode 8, “I, Excretus,” Boimler ( Jack Quaid) finds himself in a holographic drill where he has to do everything he can to “resit the Borg.” After obsessively running the drill over and over, Boimler meets a holographic recreation of the Borg Queen. Cue an Easter egg from First Contact.

The Borg Queen blows gently on Boimler’s skin, referencing something similar she did to Data when his android skin was briefly grafted with human skin. It’s a hilarious scene, and all-to-brief, but there’s a degree of Trekkie legitimacy brought to it because it really is the voice of Alice Krige.

The original Borg Queen tells Inverse she never expected to return to Star Trek, especially not like this.

“They just, they just called and asked if I would do it. It was great fun,” Krige says, revealing she recorded most of her dialogue in her husband’s closet. “It has the best sound in the house. It’s so full of clothing, plenty of insulation.”

Boimler (Jack Quaid) prepares to be assimilated by the Borg Queen (Alice Krige).

This isn’t the first time since First Contact that Krige has returned to her famous Star Trek role. When the Borg Queen initially crashed the Voyager party for the episode “Dark Frontier,” she was not played by Krige, but instead by Susanna Thompson (perhaps more famous for her role as Lenara Kahn in the DS9 episode “Rejoined.) But when it was time for Voyager’s big finale, Krige was asked once again to don her Borg leather. This put her in the unique position of being one of the few Star Trek villains (Q is another) who have tangoed with both Captain Picard and Captain Janeway.

Krige says that when she returned for Voyager , she realized she’d based much of her performance on the Borg Queen’s attempts to seduce Next Generation ’s leading men.

“There's sexual energy that she kind of manipulated both Data and Picard,” Krige says. “Well, she didn't manipulate either of them, but she thought she was. So I had to decide how to play that in Voyager because instead of two men this was two women [Janeway and Seven of Nine.]”

This led Krige to a quick phone call with “the producers” of Voyager , in which it was decided the Borg Queen was “Omnisexual,” which meant, yes, she would probably have some kind of flirtation with Janeway or Seven, too, if she wanted to.

“After that, I thought great . I just went and had a great time because they're two wonderful actresses,” Krige tells Inverse . “It was a very different feel for the character because it was a very different sort of energetic exchange.”

A time-traveling Admiral Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and the Borg Queen (Alice Krige)

It’s been exactly 20 years since Krige last played the Borg Queen in Voyager, and because she perished in that episode and we also saw Picard take her out in First Contact , fans have wondered for years just how many copies of the Borg Queen there are, or if the Queens are actually different characters.

With Annie Wersching’s Borg Queen coming to Picard Season 2 and Alice Krige’s delightful return to Lower Decks , could there ever be a meeting of all these Borg Queens? How does she keep coming back? Alice Krige isn’t sure, but she wouldn’t rule out a live-action return.

“She manifests in many different ways, or maybe she doesn't?” Krige says playfully. “Even if she’s not there, it doesn't mean she's not there . She’s so mysterious and endlessly interesting. Who knows how she shows up?”

Lower Decks is streaming now on Paramount+.

This article was originally published on Oct. 8, 2021

• Science Fiction

Q Saved Star Trek's Federation From The Borg In TNG

• Q's warning about the Borg in Star Trek TNG saved the United Federation of Planets from certain destruction.
• The Borg's encounter with the Enterprise-D led to Earth's vulnerability being exposed, prompting Starfleet to better prepare.
• The Battle of Wolf 359 could have been much worse without Q's intervention, which helped slow down the Borg Cube.

By warning them about the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Q (John de Lancie) saved the United Federation of Planets - and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) - from certain destruction. Introduced in the premiere episode of TNG , Q developed a certain fondness for Captain Picard and made a habit of antagonizing the Captain of the USS Enterprise-D. While Q's initial appearance in "Encounter at Farpoint" was certainly adversarial, he grew more and more interested in humanity as TNG went on. Although the crew on the USS Enterprise-D may not agree, Q's actions often helped Picard and his crew just as much as they annoyed them.

In one of Q's best Star Trek episodes , Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, episode 16, "Q Who," the omnipotent being sends the Enterprise hurtling thousands of lightyears across space, where they encounter the Borg for the first time. When Borg drones beam onto the Enterprise, Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) destroys one only for another to appear in its place. The Enterprise tries and fails to outrun the Borg Cube, and quickly finds itself outmatched. If the Borg had made it to Earth before the Federation learned anything about them, the Borg would have caused much more damage than they did.

Everyone In Star Trek Who Beat The Borg

Q saved the federation by introducing them to the borg in star trek: tng's "q who", q likes humanity (and picard) more than he lets on..

Soon after the USS Enterprise-D arrives seven thousand light years from their previous location in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Q Who?", they discover a planet with giant craters where the cities should be. This discovery prompts Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) to remark: "It is identical to what happened to the outposts along the Neutral Zone." This line proves that the Borg already knew about Earth and humanity (which is later more firmly established when the Borg appear in Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise) . Q's intervention, then, did not reveal the Federation to the Borg, but rather warned Starfleet about what was already coming.

Because of this encounter, Captain Picard then provides Starfleet with everything he learned about the Borg, allowing them to better prepare for a potential attack. If the Borg had approached Earth with no warning, the Federation would have responded as they always do when encountering new species - with peaceful curiosity. Picard responds this way in "Q Who," attempting to communicate with the Borg before using any kind of force against them. Q's actions put Starfleet on the defensive, and as Picard says, gave them "a kick in [their] complacency."

The Enterprise lost 18 crew members in its initial encounter with the Borg. These losses may have been prevented if Picard had accepted Q's help sooner, but it's clear Q doesn't place the same value on individual human lives.

The Battle Of Wolf 359 & Its Aftermath Could've Been Much Worse Without Q

Starfleet suffered a devastating loss, but it could have been wiped out entirely..

At the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Q Who," Picard remarks that Q may have done the right thing in warning them about the Borg. Q even offered his help earlier in the episode, but Picard refused (which is understandable, given their history). It will be a while before the Borg return, but when they do, they deal the Federation a devastating blow. In the excellent TNG two-parter, "The Best of Both Worlds," the Borg assimilate Captain Picard and turn him into their mouthpiece, Locutus. Locutus then leads the Borg in an attack at Wolf 359, where Starfleet suffers one of its worst losses prior to the Dominion War.

After the Battle of Wolf 359, Starfleet began developing more defensive technology, including warships like the USS Defiant, which proved invaluable during the Dominion War.

However, the battle slowed the Borg Cube down, if only slightly, allowing the Enterprise-D to catch up with the Cube before it reached Earth. Data and Worf then rescue Picard from the Cube and use his Borg knowledge and connections to destroy the Borg ship. If the Enterprise had been unable to rescue Picard, not only would Earth likely have sustained significant damage, but Starfleet would have lost one of its best and most influential Captains. Whether Q's goal was to save the Federation or simply to save Picard, his actions in Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Q Who" helped prepare the Federation for future conflicts with the Borg and other powerful enemies.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is streaming on Paramount+

Cast Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Wil Wheaton, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden

Streaming Service(s) Paramount+

Franchise(s)

Writers Jeri Taylor, Michael Piller, Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, Ronald D. Moore

Showrunner Jeri Taylor, Michael Piller, Rick Berman

Where To Watch Paramount+

Data and the Borg Queen Totally Had Sex and 6 Other Things We Learned From Jonathan Frakes' Star Trek: First Contact Commentary

The director and star of the film sat in for ign's wfh theater to reveal new tidbits from behind the scenes..

Commander Riker himself, Jonathan Frakes, joined IGN's WFH Theater this week to discuss his feature directorial debut, Star Trek: First Contact, and along the way he dropped a bunch of interesting tidbits about the making of the film.

If you missed this installment of WFH Theater, you can still watch the commentary track in the video embed below. But if you just want to browse the Enterprise-E computer for some of the highlights from the discussion, read on! And also be sure to check out our previous recaps of the Rogue One WFH Theater , the 10 Cloverfield Lane WFH Theater , and the Jurassic Park WFH Theater .

Yes, Data and the Borg Queen Borg-Boned

The origin of the riker sit (and the riker walk).

"I don't know! It's been there forever," he said of the Riker Lean. "I stole the walk -- the lead with one shoulder -- from an actor named John Cullum, who probably stole it from John Wayne."

As for the Riker Sit, an IGN viewer asked if the actor-director sits like that in real life too. "I do when the chairback is below the danger zone," Frakes laughed. "I measure twice and cut once! That started in [the TNG set] Ten Forward because the backs of the chairs were so low, it was easy. And then I thought, this is really a hotdog, asshole thing to do. Nobody's going to let me do this. And then nobody stopped me! It's such a cocky, unattractive, kind of bad cowboy move. Whoever did the YouTube compilation of Riker sits down, it went viral and was even more embarrassing, and made me strangely even more proud!"

Swag From the Set

Frakes Wanted to Direct Star Trek: Nemesis

He did break away and make non-Trek features with Clockstoppers and Thunderbirds. "I only ever made four movies," he said. "Three of them made money and then I went to movie jail after Thunderbirds. But let's not ruin a perfectly good night!" (Of course, he continued to direct for the small screen ever since and has a long list of credits today.)

He Will Be Back for Picard Season 2

First Season Riker Was Stiff, First Contact Riker's Life Is F#@king Great

There's also the fact that being so busy as the director doesn't really give one the chance to get too nervous about performing. "Your nerves prevent you, just physically," said the filmmaker. "Remember Riker from Season 1 [of TNG]? He was so stiff and so awkward ... that was all nerves. You know, it was a skin-tight spacesuit on a brand-new television show. The Riker in this movie, you know, he's wearing a leather jacket and he's directing a movie and his life is f#@king great, let's face it!"

Dissatisfaction With Elements of First Contact

He also compared aspects of it to looking like "'70s TV," but also said overall he thinks the scene is "fine" and that this scene just would never have happened on the TV show. "The set would never have existed," he said. "We wouldn't have time to do the wirework and the wire removal and the big green screen." He also acknowledged that he was working with a relatively restrained budget compared to most big tentpole movies of the time - "$45 million. It made $220 [million]. ... That's how I got Insurrection."

What are you thoughts on First Contact? Let's discuss them below! And for more WFH Theater, be sure to check out our watch party of Netflix's Extraction with director Sam Hargrave, the Russos and special guest Chris Hemsworth.

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Data and the Borg Queen Totally Had Sex and 6 Other Things We Learned From Jonathan Frakes' Star Trek: First Contact Commentary

The director and star of the film sat in for ign's wfh theater to reveal new tidbits from behind the scenes..

Commander Riker himself, Jonathan Frakes, joined IGN's WFH Theater this week to discuss his feature directorial debut, Star Trek: First Contact, and along the way he dropped a bunch of interesting tidbits about the making of the film.

If you missed this installment of WFH Theater, you can still watch the commentary track in the video embed below. But if you just want to browse the Enterprise-E computer for some of the highlights from the discussion, read on! And also be sure to check out our previous recaps of the Rogue One WFH Theater , the 10 Cloverfield Lane WFH Theater , and the Jurassic Park WFH Theater .

Yes, Data and the Borg Queen Borg-Boned

The origin of the riker sit (and the riker walk).

"I don't know! It's been there forever," he said of the Riker Lean. "I stole the walk -- the lead with one shoulder -- from an actor named John Cullum, who probably stole it from John Wayne."

As for the Riker Sit, an IGN viewer asked if the actor-director sits like that in real life too. "I do when the chairback is below the danger zone," Frakes laughed. "I measure twice and cut once! That started in [the TNG set] Ten Forward because the backs of the chairs were so low, it was easy. And then I thought, this is really a hotdog, asshole thing to do. Nobody's going to let me do this. And then nobody stopped me! It's such a cocky, unattractive, kind of bad cowboy move. Whoever did the YouTube compilation of Riker sits down, it went viral and was even more embarrassing, and made me strangely even more proud!"

Swag From the Set

Frakes Wanted to Direct Star Trek: Nemesis

He did break away and make non-Trek features with Clockstoppers and Thunderbirds. "I only ever made four movies," he said. "Three of them made money and then I went to movie jail after Thunderbirds. But let's not ruin a perfectly good night!" (Of course, he continued to direct for the small screen ever since and has a long list of credits today.)

He Will Be Back for Picard Season 2

First Season Riker Was Stiff, First Contact Riker's Life Is F#@king Great

There's also the fact that being so busy as the director doesn't really give one the chance to get too nervous about performing. "Your nerves prevent you, just physically," said the filmmaker. "Remember Riker from Season 1 [of TNG]? He was so stiff and so awkward ... that was all nerves. You know, it was a skin-tight spacesuit on a brand-new television show. The Riker in this movie, you know, he's wearing a leather jacket and he's directing a movie and his life is f#@king great, let's face it!"

Dissatisfaction With Elements of First Contact

He also compared aspects of it to looking like "'70s TV," but also said overall he thinks the scene is "fine" and that this scene just would never have happened on the TV show. "The set would never have existed," he said. "We wouldn't have time to do the wirework and the wire removal and the big green screen." He also acknowledged that he was working with a relatively restrained budget compared to most big tentpole movies of the time - "$45 million. It made $220 [million]. ... That's how I got Insurrection."

What are you thoughts on First Contact? Let's discuss them below! And for more WFH Theater, be sure to check out our watch party of Netflix's Extraction with director Sam Hargrave, the Russos and special guest Chris Hemsworth.

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Data and the Borg Queen Totally Had Sex and Other Star Trek: First Contact Secrets

Screen Rant

Star trek's borg owe a big debt to alien.

Star Trek's malevolent Borg have a major connection to the xenomorphs from the Alien franchise and their creator, H.R. Giger.

• The Borg, inspired by Alien's design, are a formidable and chilling foe in the Star Trek universe.
• Originally insectoid, the Borg's cybernetic humanoids reflect a blend of organic and mechanical elements.
• H.R. Giger's influence on the Borg design continues to shape modern Star Trek iterations, like Star Trek: Picard.

The Borg remain one of Star Trek 's best villains, and their design owes a debt to the Alien franchise. Introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, episode 16, "Q Who," the Borg make one of the most memorable entrances of any Star Trek villain. When Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D first encounter the cybernetic drones, they quickly realize that, unlike any alien threat they have faced before, the Borg cannot be reasoned with. The United Federation of Planets' ideals of diplomacy and peaceful first contact prove ineffective, as do the weapons and shields of Starfleet's armada of starships.

The Borg were originally imagined as an insectoid species with a hive mind, but this proved too expensive. So the Borg became cybernetic humanoids, and the idea of a collective hive mind was adapted for the new type of Borg. Initially, the plan was to introduce the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation' s season 1 finale, in an episode that would have been part one of a trilogy. However, the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike halted those plans, and the Borg introduction was pushed forward several episodes. As for the design of the Borg drones and their technology, this was largely inspired by the designs of artist H. R. Giger, who created the xenomorph in Alien .

The design of the Borg also drew inspiration from the character Lord Dread from the 1987 television series Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future .

Everyone In Star Trek Who Beat The Borg

Star trek's borg were influenced by alien designer h.r. giger, alien's influence can be seen in the design of the borg drones themselves, as well as the interior of their ships..

Known for his images that combined human bodies and machines, Swiss artist H.R. Giger was part of the Academy Award-winning special effects team for 1979's Alien . After director Ridley Scott saw Giger's designs, particularly his painting entitled Necronom IV , Scott recruited Giger to design the alien for the film as well as the alien's environment and the derelict spacecraft. Giger designed every version of the alien, including the "facehugger," "chestburster," and the adult xenomorph. With their combination of organic and mechanical elements, Giger's creations in Alien led to some of the most memorable body horror moments in cinema.

In much of H.R. Giger's work, it's hard to tell where the organic ends and the mechanical begins.

While the look of the Borg is not quite as visceral as the various forms of the xenomorph , the combination of organic and mechanical elements remains disturbing. In much of H.R. Giger's work, it's hard to tell where the organic ends and the mechanical begins. From the adult Borg drones to the baby Borg discovered by Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) in "Q Who," there is something inherently horrifying about parts of the humanoid body being replaced by mechanical parts. This concept is later more fully realized when the Borg assimilate Captain Picard as their mouthpiece, Locutus.

Showrunner Terry Matalas Referenced Giger When Describing Star Trek: Picard Season 3's Borg Queen

Modern star trek creators continue to be influenced by giger's work..

In a 2023 interview with Entertainment Weekly , Star Trek: Picard season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas spoke about the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) , and the process that went into designing her new look. The Borg Queen of Star Trek: First Contact had a more obviously human appearance (her ability to detach her head from her body notwithstanding). But the Borg Queen of Picard season 3 has seen her collective destroyed and nearly been destroyed herself. Matalas describes this Borg Queen as an "H.R. Giger-esque demon," and, with her emaciated appearance, she certainly looks the part.

While the Borg had become somewhat less frightening over their many appearances in Star Trek: Voyager and beyond, Star Trek: Picard season 3 made the Borg genuinely frightening again. Alien may have focused more on the graphic elements of H.R. Giger's work, but the Borg exemplify the horrifying idea of machines taking over one's humanity. Star Trek depicts a very different version of the future from the one seen in Ridley Scott's Alien , but both franchises looked to H.R. Giger to craft some of the most iconic science fiction monsters of all time.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Star Trek: The Next Generation & Star Trek: Picard are available to stream on Paramount+.

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