Special Agent Matti
What? Another Borg episode? So soon?! And how can they get rid of the Borg babies?! What will I do without Azan and Rebi?! Waaaahhh!!!
*20 mg impedrizine*
What a lovely night, the stars are shining bright, they make a lovely sight, upon this lovely night. Doi, de doi, doi doi...
*Sighs*
Poor Seveny Weveny. First her parents abandon her to the Borg, then Janeway rescues her from them. Then she rescues the babies, then she has to give them back to their families. Even when those families are not in the least bit interested in their Child's welfare. She got Icheb back, but now the three littlies are leaving for good. Poor babies. Poor borgies.
And then she has a problem with her technobabble translator and no-one has any spares, so it's drama time: do or die. In this imperfect case it's the lovely Icheb who saves the day by throwing Seven's morality back in her face, the same way she used to do it to Janeway. The boy's a quick learner.
And then, he decides that he's also going to join Starfleet. You know, as if alien ex-Borg from another quadrant join up every Stardate. Sheesh! Icheb is going to be one hell of an officer. Trained by Starfleet, Seven, the Borg and Janeway? Watch out galaxy.
Of course, you know that no-one's going to die, not at this stage of the game, but the relationship dynamics are what make Imperfection so watchable. Jeri plays a subtle second fiddle to Manu's virtuoso violin, pulling back into an introverted fatality which is so out of character that it is almost like watching someone else. Manu has lots of fun with Icheb, pulling out the stops on arrogance, pig-headendness, deception and defiance.
If nothing else, it's great to see a child genius who isn't a dweeb. Burn in hell, Wesley Crusher!
PG (Low level violence, supernatural themes)
VHS rental and retail: 9 March 2001