Summary
- "The Best of Both Worlds" almost became a four-part saga, enhancing character development and emotional depth.
- Rick Berman's preference for episodic, self-contained stories led to the rejection of the extended arc idea.
- The proposed longer story would've reshaped Picard and Riker's arcs, setting the stage for more serialized storytelling in TNG.
Star Trek: The Next Generation's legendary two-parter "The Best of Both Worlds" almost became something even bigger, according to a 1990 production memo that recently resurfaced. The episode’s high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat showdown between the Borg and the crew of the Enterprise-D was originally envisioned as a four-episode saga.
Long ranked as one of the most iconic stories in all of TNG, "The Best of Both Worlds" aired as the two-part finale and premiere between Seasons 3 and 4. It not only solidified TNG's legacy, but also helped define the modern cliffhanger. However, thanks to a fascinating behind-the-scenes nugget uncovered by The Trek Collective, we now know that the creative team once considered an even grander scale for the story — a move that, had it happened, might have changed the trajectory of Star Trek storytelling forever.
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Imagining The Next Generation’s Four-Part Saga
In 1990, two internal memos circulated among the TNG production staff: one from showrunner Michael Piller and another from writer Ronald D. Moore. Piller pitched a grander vision for a multi-part event, and Moore wholeheartedly agreed. Piller’s proposal was for a four-episode arc that dove deep into the ramifications of a Borg incursion. Moore supported the idea, even suggesting the Enterprise should be thoroughly beaten by the Borg, leaving Riker (Jonathan Frakes) to prove himself by pulling the ship back together and delaying their arrival at the Battle of Wolf 359. Moore stated his memo firmly:
“I am firmly in favor of a part three and four to the story.”
The story they imagined might have looked something like this:
- Part I: The Threat Emerges: This episode would have followed the same events leading up to the cliffhanger from the existing Part I, including Riker’s growing tension, and the crew’s attempt to intercept the Borg cube. The Borg reveal Picard (Patrick Stewart) as Locutus, and Riker gives the fateful order to fire.
- Part II: Picard Becomes Locutus: Worf (Michael Dorn) fires on the Borg — but the cube anticipates the move and escapes. Locutus (Picard) hails the Enterprise, revealing his knowledge of Starfleet and Riker himself, even mockingly calling him "Number One." A cerebral battle unfolds between Riker and Locutus: mentor vs. Student.
- Part III: The Counterattack: The crew launches a series of unsuccessful attempts to disable the Borg cube, with multiple away missions led by Riker, Data (Brent Spiner), and Worf. Tensions among the crew escalate. Riker is pushed to rely on Shelby, who earns his respect as acting first officer, while Starfleet suffers a devastating defeat at Wolf 359, arriving too late to prevent the carnage. Federation outposts fall. Starfleet is on the brink of collapse.
- Part IV: Redemption and Aftermath: The Enterprise, severely damaged, recovers with Riker in charge. The crew battles in an all-out Borg war, with the Enterprise narrowly escaping destruction by outsmarting the Borg and exploiting their regeneration sequence. Similar to the actual “Best of Both Worlds” Part 2 ending, the Enterprise escapes as the cube explodes over Earth, and Picard starts to recover as his Borg implants deactivate.
What we got instead was similar, and still epic, but far more condensed. The two-part version delivers the essentials: Riker’s command dilemma, the introduction of Locutus, the dramatic cliffhanger, and the eventual self-destruction of the Borg cube. But several ambitious threads — like the broader Federation response, extended crew development, and Picard’s slow recovery — were largely left out or deferred to later episodes like "Family."
Why The Star Trek: TNG Mega Episode Didn’t Happen
Ultimately, the four-parter never became a reality, largely due to executive producer Rick Berman. Berman had a strong preference for self-contained episodes, particularly those that could function as bottle shows — contained stories that typically returned to the status quo by the end. This was part of a broader production philosophy that aimed to make TNG episodes more accessible for syndication, where serialized storytelling was still considered a risky bet.
Michael Piller originally floated the idea of a trilogy, but Berman, along with series creator Gene Roddenberry, leaned toward a science-based storyline that would remain mostly ship-bound and episodic in nature. They were wary of venturing too far into serialized territory, especially with such an effects-heavy adversary as the Borg.
There were likely other factors too. Budget constraints were significant — the elaborate sets, prosthetics, and visual effects required to convincingly depict a Borg War would have pushed the limits of TNG's resources. Time pressures were another issue. With a full slate of episodes already in motion for Season 3, it’s possible the team simply didn’t have the bandwidth to commit to a three or four-hour mega-episode.
Despite these obstacles, the pitches from Piller and Moore clearly influenced the final product. Though scaled back, the ambition of the proposed story bled through in the emotional weight and high-stakes tension that made "The Best of Both Worlds" unforgettable.
What Could Have Been: Expanded Arcs For Riker and Picard
The proposed four-part episode wouldn’t have just amped up the scale — it would have shaped the emotional and developmental arcs of the TNG cast in meaningful ways. Extending the Borg storyline across four parts would have given the characters more space to evolve and react to the Federation's gravest threat yet. Ronald D. Moore saw the arc as a chance to stretch the characters and inject new life into the series:
“Watching us take the first hits, fall back, regroup, and ultimately push the Borg back will be an exciting series of stories.”
Captain Picard would have had a longer and more harrowing psychological journey as Locutus. Rather than a swift transformation and recovery, viewers might have seen Picard grappling with identity loss in real time. His trauma wouldn’t have been a footnote — it would have been front and center.
Commander Riker, too, would have grown immensely. A longer command arc would have given him the chance to truly step into the captain’s chair not as a reluctant placeholder, but as a decisive leader in wartime. Moore believed this extended scenario would help define Riker’s character more clearly, allowing viewers to see him command through adversity, rebuild the ship, and make high-stakes decisions that would ripple into later seasons. Piller and Moore viewed this as an opportunity to “take the show into new territory.” A four-part saga would have made Season 4 feel like a bold new chapter, and even set the stage for more serialized storytelling in the franchise.
“The Best of Both Worlds” Is Still Star Trek Gold
But even as a two-parter, "The Best of Both Worlds" delivered one of the most dramatic moments in sci-fi television. Riker’s "Mr. Worf, fire" cliffhanger is legendary. The eerie calm of Locutus was spine-chilling. And the visual effects were ahead of their time. In fact, the impact was so profound that it still became a template for future Star Trek series and countless other TV shows. Without “The Best of Both Worlds,” there might be no Deep Space Nine Dominion War arc, and no Voyager Year of Hell.
More than three decades later, the episode is still a benchmark. Newer series like Star Trek: Picard have echoed the themes of identity, trauma, and resilience first touched on here. And many fans think this TNG storyline is where we first truly saw the human side of stoic Jean-Luc Picard. The old memos that detail "The Best of Both Worlds" as a four-parter are a tantalizing glimpse into what Star Trek: TNG might have become if it had embraced longer-form storytelling earlier. It’s a compelling reminder that even the roads not taken can still inspire fans and creators decades later.
- Created by
- Gene Roddenberry
- First Film
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture
- Latest Film
- Star Trek Beyond
- First TV Show
- Star Trek: The Original Series
- Latest TV Show
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
- Creation Year
- 1966