This post contains spoilers from Star Trek: Picard season 2×09 episode “Hide and Seek.”
The Borg Queen was almost back to her completely evil self on the most recent episode of Star Trek: Picard. She had practically overtaken Agnes Jurati and had laid claim to the La Sirena after a successful coup. After gravely injuring Seven of Nine, she was preparing to deliver the final death blow when Jurati managed to come through and stop her.
I certainly didn’t want Seven of Nine to die so I’m glad that was prevented; however, the Borg Queen (or different incarnations of her) have been around for as long as we know, probably longer. She is evil to the core and cannot be trusted as the crew has seen by allowing her to come aboard the La Sirena from the start. So having Jurati talk to the Queen about successfully working together with humanity instead of against humanity is one thing. Having the Queen agree to consider it is quite another as well as letting the team go free after she saves Seven’s life.
Star Trek: Picard has made the Borg Queen less effective.
The Borg Queen has always been a fearsome villain. At her command, the Borg assimilated everything and anyone in their path, including Captain Jean-Luc Picard who has never fully gotten over that. This is one of the most educated, diplomatic, and logical men in Starfleet, and he was able to be fully overtaken by the Queen. Somehow, though Jurati has managed to keep from being fully overcome. And yes, I understand that’s part of the plot, but Jurati managing to outsmart the Queen is a bit hard to believe.
Dr. Jurati hasn’t been that strong of a character and asking us to believe she was able to “get through” to the Borg Queen is asking us to really suspend belief. One person couldn’t possibly be smarter than she is, especially when you consider how she was able to take over Lt. Commander Data who was an android. Yes, that backfired against her, but it wasn’t because of a conversation where she saw the error of her ways.
Expecting Star Trek fans to believe that redemption is possible for the Borg Queen after the millions of people that have been assimilated, worlds have been destroyed, and lives ruined is too far-fetched even for science fiction.