However, the Borg were never originally intended to be evil. Many fans in recent years have been disappointed with the ease by which this incredibly complex collection of races and beings from all across the galaxy have fit into the typical role of villain. But with the final of Season 2 of Picard having aired last week, it appears that the creators of the show are trying to address these issues and take the Borg in a different direction, with a whole new world of possibilities opening for these seemingly type-casted beings of late.
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The driving force here consists of the season’s mischievous and manipulative Borg Queen, combined with Agnes Jurati, who is exposed to be the mysterious person behind the mask in the first episode of the season, during a dramatic return to the present timeline. With this kind-hearted but often misguided member of Picard’s team comes a new possibility for the Borg. They now have an ambitious yet loving leader at the helm, who actually has a human moral compass, and whose aim is to assimilate people with their own consent, rather than by force. Agnes herself describes it as an opportunity for second chances, a chance for downtrodden members of the galaxy to find somewhere they belong: “What if we take this ship and build a better Borg? A real collective based not on assimilation, but salvation. Think about it! A Borg collective that embraces the uniqueness of its members.” This is an entirely new concept from the way that the Borg have always operated in the past, but despite some initial reservations and fear of weakness from only accepting the “stragglers” and the “broken,” the Borg Queen does eventually agree to Agnes’s plan. This new model it gives them the chance to do what she has always wanted to do: stop running.
The Borg have always been a threat, and have subsequently always been shut down before they could do too much damage. However, with a voluntary collective of unique and creative minds who want to work together, and want to work with the rest of the galaxy rather than against it, comes the possibility of a future where the Borg may actually be accepted as its own race. They may even be afforded the same protection and rights as the other species in the Star Trek universe. This possibility is even taken one step further at the end of Season 2, when the Jurati Borg Queen steps in to help save the entire galaxy from rift in space that has the potential to kill thousands of innocent people. In return for keeping an eye on the colossal threat that is heading their way, she asks for permission on behalf of her Borg collective to join The Federation. This is the first time in Star Trek history that this has ever been allowed or even considered, and creates infinite possibilities for amazing collaborations with the Borg going forward.
Of course, all of this rests heavily on Agnes Jurati herself. Her collective of consenting individuals is definitely a one-off among the Borg (so far), and is only accepted so quickly because Jurati herself already has a close and trusting relationship with Picard and his team, after saving their lives on several occasions. It remains to be seen whether Jurati will now begin assimilating other Borg collectives, and releasing their captives who do not consent to stay. It is also yet uncertain whether the other Borg will see the acceptance and protection that cooperation brings, and make changes of their own accord in line with Jurati’s philosophy.
Undoubtedly, Jurati’s Borg colony’s addition to the Federation will be a source of contention in the show’s third season. It may be a precarious union with those outside of Picard’s team, who don’t know or trust this new Borg Queen and her promise of salvation. Either way, the show is taking the Borg in an exciting new direction that could remove them as the villains of the show, and integrate them as the quintessential body of beings that paves the way for a whole new chapter in the Star Trek catalog.
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