"Collective"
comments? pforooghi@compusmart.ab.ca
As I was watching "Collective" tonight, I couldn’t help but think of what Don Corleon (or, I think it was him) said in "Godfather III". I’ll try to paraphrase to the best of my recollection, but it was something to the effect of "Every time I try to get out, they pull me back in again!" He was referring to the Mafia. Seven, of course, was never part of the mob. Or was she? The Borg and the mob do seem to me to have a lot in common. Both are vicious and evil, not to mention ruthless. So, what is my point? Trust me, I do have one! My point is that every time Seven tries to put her Borg past behind her as best as she can, and embrace her humanity- fledgling as it is-, she gets pulled back into the Borg world, in one way or the other. In this episode, she is called on to negotiate with a group of adolescent drones, one of which was beyond insolent and infuriating. The leader was acting as though he were the Borg King! (if such a title existed, that is) I think being in charge of the small collective really got to his head. Let’s just say that he made Seven look down to earth! Perhaps he felt he needed to be so overbearing in order to ensure the survival of the group. Well, Seven tried to deal with him and the rest of the bunch as best she could, but it was very obvious that being back on a cube was a little more than unsettling to her. I’m sure she was thinking to herself- "why doesn’t this dark, disturbing part of my past ever let go of me?" "Why am I always being "pulled back in" to this macabre world?"
I believe we got an answer to these questions a couple of times during the course of this episode. The most revealing moment to me occurred during her conversation with Janeway early on, the one in which Janeway thanked her for her insights. Indeed, what Seven had to say was very insightful. Basically, from what Seven said herself, and from what I was able to extrapolate from the conversation, she wanted to convey to the Captain that being raised by the Borg is, ironically, the very reason why she has been able to embrace her humanity and reclaim it. Initially, this statement would appear to be an oxymoron, but upon closer analysis, it does make some sense. The Borg gave Seven order, something which they boast to be one of the best attributes of the collective (this, and perfection). Through this order, Seven was able to function after the terrifying ordeal of watching her parents, and later herself, be assimilated. Order is the opposite of irrationality and hysteria. From this, one can conclude that it is precisely this order which was able to help Seven later on in her life, when she was severed from the collective and forced to reacquaint herself with her lost and mostly forgotten humanity. In essence, logic and order have held her in good stead throughout her existence, and for this, she will always be grateful to the Borg, in spite of all the damage they have inflicted upon her. At the end of the show, Seven is seen reasserting her Borg nature and in a very real sense, embracing it as much as she has been endeavoring to embrace her humanity in the past few years. As the Collective leader is dying, he says that "we are Borg". Seven confirms this statement, and the look on her face implies that she is beginning to realize that in a very real sense, a part of her will always be Borg, regardless of how far she progresses in her individuality. To paraphrase the notorious words of the Borg, resisting this fact is futile.
In the final analysis, this episode highlighted, in a very thought-provoking and moving way, how Seven will always be "pulled back" into the Borg world because after all is said and done, she will always be "one of them", in one way or another. A kinder, gentler Borg, perhaps, but never fully human either. Until now, I think that Seven, perhaps mainly at the urging of the Captain, wanted to divest herself of her Borg origins. Now, I believe they both realize that while she has made tremendous strides on her road towards individuality and humanity, her Borg nature and instincts are as real and legitimate as her human ones, and always will be. So, it can be said that Seven of Nine will always be "pulled back in again", as Don Corleon was. Though in her case, I don’t believe it will be as detrimental to her well being.
I was so enthralled by the entire premise, not to mention
the brilliant performances of Mulgrew/Ryan, that I can't give it anything less
than four out of four comm badges. So, there you have it. My unbiased
(yeah, right! LOL) opinion. Take care. Pooneh
