Summary

In this conversation, we discuss the film 'Spaceman: No Way Home' and explore themes of reality, perception, and symbolism. We also delve into the portrayal of alienation and the profound impact of the film. The conversation then shifts to the challenges of finding good films and the fascination with actress Isabella Rossellini. We analyze the character of the Borg Queen in 'Star Trek: First Contact' and discuss the reversal of assimilation. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the hive mind and the origin of events. The conversation explores the banal beginning and ongoing nature of the Borg's destructive force. It draws historical parallels to civilizations like the Syrians and discusses the fall of the Borg. The concept of distinctiveness and assimilation is examined, along with the influence of Quebec's distinctiveness on the rest of Canada. The conversation also delves into the mystery of the Borg Queen and her role as an avatar of collective intelligence. The possibility of multiple queens and alternate timelines is considered. In this conversation, we discuss the character of the Borg Queen in Star Trek. We explore the mystery surrounding her origins and her role as the ruler of the Borg collective. We also delve into the inescapable influence of the Borg on individuals, particularly focusing on Picard's trauma and altered state. We contemplate the idea of the Borg Queen as a chosen one or consort, and discuss her horrifying and mysterious nature. We also touch on the themes of love and deception in relation to the Borg Queen. Finally, we reflect on the non-linear storytelling in the film and the value of multiple viewings.

Takeaways

• Films like 'Spaceman: No Way Home' and 'Star Trek: First Contact' explore themes of reality, perception, and symbolism.
• The portrayal of alienation and the profound impact of a film can evoke deep emotions and introspection.
• Finding good films can be challenging, but when a film resonates, it can create a memorable experience.
• The character of the Borg Queen in 'Star Trek: First Contact' raises questions about the origins and nature of the Borg collective. The Borg's destructive force is comparable to historical civilizations like the Syrians.
• Distinctiveness and assimilation are key themes in the Borg narrative.
• Quebec's distinctiveness has had an impact on the rest of Canada.
• The Borg Queen is a mysterious figure and an embodiment of the collective's intelligence. The Borg Queen is a mysterious and powerful character in Star Trek, with origins and motivations that are not fully explained.
• The influence of the Borg is inescapable, even for those who have been liberated from their control.
• Picard's encounter with the Borg has left him traumatized and forever altered, with a constant reminder of his past experiences.
• The Borg Queen may be seen as a chosen one or consort, with a unique role in the collective.
• The Borg Queen is both horrifying and seductive, with a power that comes from her ability to still chaos.
• Love can blind even the most powerful beings, as seen in the deception of the Borg Queen.
• The non-linear storytelling in the film allows for a fragmented and immersive experience, requiring multiple viewings to fully appreciate.

It’s said that a lie can travel half way around the world before the truth has a chance to even tie its shoes. How fast can an idea travel? Why do terrible ideas travel so quickly? Data seemed prepared to kill his best friend. Lore engaged the emotion chip and suppressed the ethics program. The Borg captured Picard and turned him into a drone, the programmed him to service The Collective, to the extent that he would have destroyed his own crew in combat. What if we could see human indoctrination like this. What if we could see indoctrination like suppressing the ethics program whilst you amplify the anger and grievance circuitry, or like suppressing the individuality and replacing it with a collective voice? What does the STTNG Borg Canon tell us about how human minds are changed by coercive force? What does STTNG Borg Canon tell us about how control over others can become a life force for some human beings? Sending the concept of I into The Collective weakened it and forced a destructive transformation that The Collective could not easily adapt to — an idea was destructive to The Borg Collective, caused it to splinter, a faction to form. What does the STTNG Borg Canon tell us how an idea can become a weapon of mass destruction?

Borg Drones have no agency or free will, they serve The Collective and they become absorbed into it once they can no longer function as a working unit. A Borg Drone has no value as an individual. The concept of agency seems irrelevant to the Borg. Does an increasingly digitized society feel like The Collective? How much control do we have, really, in modern society? What is Free Will? What is Agency? Would we rather become emotionless cybernetic entities that move from location to location extracting the resources we need to service ourselves — incentivized by the algorithm? Do we strive to be Picard, despite his pure naïveté in doubting Q, or do we strive to be Lore, because of his shameless resolve in his charismatic mission? Maybe we strive to be like Hugh, because he did choose based on values he learned to embrace. How much control does each character have? What does the STTNG Borg Canon tell us about our own society and how much control we have or do not have in our lives and the systems of systems in which we reside? 

Show Notes.