Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Prepare for warp speed as Gene Lyons and Big D travel back to the 24th century—and then to 2063—to review Star Trek: First Contact, the Next Generation crew’s darkest and most action-packed cinematic outing. Commissioned by listener Jeremiah as part of a sci-fi classics series, this episode dives deep into the ethics of Picard’s command decisions, the practical (and impractical) nature of Borg assimilation, and the horny weirdness of Star Trek fandom.
Along the way, Gene and Big D debate Star Trek vs. Star Wars and ponder whether the Borg Queen really does have big “ASMR energy.” They also address critical questions like: What’s the best Star Trek tech? And how many wipes does it take to remove Data’s synthetic skin?
Whether you’re Team Trek or Team Wars, this episode is a hilarious, no-holds-barred deep dive into one of the franchise’s most beloved films—and possibly its most awkward.
Plot Summary
In the 1996 sci-fi action film Star Trek: First Contact, directed by Jonathan Frakes, the crew of the USS Enterprise-E faces one of their greatest threats: the Borg. Picking up where Star Trek: The Next Generation left off, this cinematic installment thrusts Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew into a high-stakes mission to save both Earth’s future and its past.
When the Borg—a collective of cybernetic beings bent on assimilation—launch an attack on Earth, the Enterprise joins the fight. But just as the Borg are defeated, they escape through a temporal vortex, traveling back in time to the 21st century to prevent humanity’s first contact with alien life. Realizing the stakes, the Enterprise follows them to 2063, a pivotal year when Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell) is set to launch the first warp-capable ship, drawing the attention of the Vulcans and igniting the era of interstellar peace.
As the Borg begin assimilating the Enterprise from within, Picard’s past trauma resurfaces, pushing him toward vengeance. While Commander Riker (Frakes) and crew help Cochrane overcome his doubts and make history, Picard and Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) battle the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) in a psychological and physical showdown aboard the ship.
First Contact blends thrilling action, smart time-travel storytelling, and emotional character arcs. It explores themes of identity, trauma, and humanity’s potential, all while delivering one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed Star Trek films.
Join our podcast review as we revisit Star Trek: First Contact, breaking down its iconic scenes, character development, and whether its mix of sci-fi spectacle and thoughtful storytelling still holds strong today.
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