Star Trek The Next Generation Feature Length Episodes: Ranked

Enter Locutus.

By far the most long-running plot thread in Picard's Star Trek history, the invasion by the Borg of the Federation is among the most chilling of Star Trek stories. Once they finally arrive in Federation space, they seem unstoppable. They quickly overpower the Enterprise and Picard is kidnapped. He has been marked to aid the Borg in their assimilation of Humanity, though he refuses to cooperate. But resistance is futile and Picard is transformed into the unfeeling Locutus of Borg.

It is the greatest cliffhanger in the Trek franchise. Locutus walks toward the viewscreen, speaking for the Borg. He tells Riker that Jean Luc has become one of them. He tells him that they will all join him. From this time forward, they will service the Borg. The camera zooms in on Riker's face and he gives the grave order to fire on his Captain.

This is the greatest two-part story in The Next Generation. It feels as though it is more than that, as both Star Trek First Contact and Star Trek Picard serve as sequels to the episodes. Locutus himself may have been saved from the Collective within a couple of days of his kidnap but the deep scars of his trauma are still apparent today. His return to the Cube in The Impossible Box is full of flashbacks to his time with the Borg.

The greatest threat faced by Picard, this one overcame him. And it is burned into Trek history as the greatest two-part story in The Next Generation.