This Week's Episode: "Survival Instinct"
Summary: While exploring a massive space station, three former Borg drones infiltrate the ship and attempt to connect themselves with Seven of Nine. After their attempt fails, Seven learns that these former drones once served on a scout vessel with her that crashed on a planet. As Seven begins to explore the memories of her past, she discovers a dark mystery that led Seven to connect the three drones together.
Rating: 9
Best Scene: The female Borg drone admitting to Seven of Nine that she could never forgive her for what she did, but she understood why she did it. Oh, and Janeway "disciplining" Harry and Tom.
Worst Scene: The preview for this episode, which made the episode look like Seven was going to rejoin the Collective.
Best acting award goes to: Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine
Best Line: "I can't forgive you for what you've done. But I can understand why you did it." -- Three of Nine to Seven of Nine, experiencing loneliness for the first time in a long while.
Impressions: This episode, which was quite good, suffers from Seven of Nine overdose. Over the past two years we've been subjected to many Seven stories, some better than others. This one was one of the better Seven shows, yet, since we've seen so many, everyone groans when another one comes along. Personally, this episode does more for Seven of Nine than episodes like "Raven" and "Infinite Regress" have...and it should have aired two years ago, after Seven came on board. This is like the episode "Juggernaut" which should have aired almost next to "Extreme Risk" to give the B'Elanna suffering storyline some continuity. However, if you can swallow yet another Seven of Nine episode, it is quite good.
"Survival Instinct" has a lot going for it: humour, suspence and drama, and a good blend of it. The episode never really runs to slow, and is able to effectively manage flashback scenes with the present scenes. When the episode gets a little deep, the writers (particularly Ron Moore) use comedy, such as the scene in Janeway's Ready Room with Tom and Harry, to lighten the mood a little. The only thing going against the episode is the fact that it is yet another Seven of Nine episode, that probably should have aired earlier when Seven was in the initial stages of discovering humanity. Don't get me wrong, it still works at this stage of her development, but would have been more effective if it had aired earlier, perhaps last season or even in the fourth season. But overall, it is a quality episode.
The three former Borg drones were all fine actors, as was Jeri Ryan who flexes her acting abilities in this one. Although Seven's decision several years before that to link the Borg drones together so they could survive and rejoin the Collective was flawed, it made sense at the time. Seven had truly never experienced individuality, and the thought of it scared her, much like it did in 'The Gift". However, Three of Nine, following her separation from the other two, understands why Seven of Nine did it: it is the first time she has experienced individuality, and she misses the presence of the other two...the whole experience can be a little overwhelming, and a little scary.
Overall, a great episode that continues to deliver quality in season six. Good effects of the huge alien outpost, good acting and good writing. The final scene in the Mess Hall with Three of Nine (a Bajoran and a former Starfleet officer!) admiting to Seven of Nine in the golden light provided by the outpost was fantastic, and the image sticks with you. Too bad we never get to see anymore of her, since she was spending the last weeks of her life on Voyager. So, I have to give the episode a 9.
