Star Trek: First Contact

The craft descended through the atmosphere. Its bright landing lights blinding the crowd assembled below. They gazed skyward, hands shielding their eyes, struggling to make out the unearthly sight descending through the atmosphere.

The ship touched down, its weight pressing its footpads into the soft earth below. The crowd collectively held their breath as a door slid open and a figure appeared against the brightly back-lit interior of the ship, slowing making their way down an extending walkway that had sprung from the skin of the vessel.

As the figure reached the end of the gangway they reached up and lowered the hood of the cloak that had been hiding their features. The crowd gasped as the figure’s features were revealed: human-like, yet undeniably alien — skin tinged with an unearthly green, ears tapering to delicate points. This was no visitor from another of Earth’s factions.

The alien held their hand up in a greeting.

The date was the 5th of April, 2063, now forever known as “First Contact Day”.

The Path To First Contact

It’s hard to believe that, in the Star Trek universe at least we will be breaking the warp barrier in less than 40 years — especially when Artemis II has only just made it to the moon (or it will tomorrow at the time of writing, fingers crossed).

In the intervening period the planet’s been through a lot:

The Eugenics Wars

Originally these happened in the 1990s but events in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Picard pushed these back in the time line to the mid-to-late 2020s. 30 million people died as result of a group of genetically enhanced “super men” attempting to take over the planet. This fractured the world’s governments, destroying allyships and ultimately leading to a breakdown in society.

World War 3

The events of the Eugenics wars lead directly to the last and greatest of Earth’s wars. World War 3 is scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2053. Due to governments falling during the Eugenics wars, the Earth is broken up into factions which now have control of the nuclear arsenals across different continents. With no safeguards in place it was just a matter of time before a faction used their nuclear capabilities leading to a global war that resulted in the deaths of 37 million people, with bombs being dropped right up until the end of the conflict in 2053.

Despite the conflict, space travel was still happening during this period with a manned mission to Mars in 2032 and a mission outside of the solar system in 2037.

Eventually a ceasefire was declared in 2053 but the factions still remained hostile towards each other, teetering on the brink of another conflict.

Post-Atomic Horror

Following on from WW3, the Earth is a wasteland. Thanks to the nuclear fallout millions that didn’t die in the war now die from radiation sickness and starvation. With little hope for the future, small groups form communities where they live day-to-day on what they can scavenge from the wrecked cities or grow themselves on uncontaminated land.

It’s this fractured, desperate world that Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell – Babe, 1995) inhabits when he builds the Phoenix — a ship that will not only break the warp barrier but also attract the attention of the Vulcans, setting humanity on a path to the stars. Yet, as Star Trek: First Contact reveals, this pivotal moment is under threat and the man who is supposed to make this historic event happen is not what the future holds him up to be.

What’s Star Trek: First Contact About?

Star Trek: First Contact takes us to 2373, we’re on board the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-E, she is a year into her mission with the majority of the crew of the Enterprise D onboard, with the notable exception of Lieutenant Commander Worf (Michael Dorn — CHiPs 1977-82) who is now stationed aboard the space station Deep Space Nine.

6 years previously, the Enterprise‘s Captain, Jean-Luc Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart — X-Men 2000, Robin Hood: Men In Tights 1993), had been captured and assimilated by a race of cybernetic beings whose only goal is to achieve perfection by taking the best of other races and folding it into their own.

After the events of 2366, The Borg have been quiet — perhaps too quiet — and now they’ve returned with one aim: the assimilation of Earth, its people, and its technology.

Fearing that Picard might be compromised due to his previous assimilation by The Borg, the Enterprise is sent to patrol the Romulan Neutral Zone — an area far away from The Borg incursion into Federation space. Listening in to the ensuing battle between Federation forces and The Borg, Picard realises that the fleet doesn’t stand a chance so going against his mission he orders the Enterprise to engage The Borg.

On arriving at the site of the battle, the crew of the Enterprise are met with a scene of devastation with Starfleet vessels damaged and scattered all over the place. After rescuing the crew of the Defiant, which included the reassigned Lieutenant Commander Worf, Picard takes control of the remaining fleet and directs them to attack a minor subsystem on The Borg vessel.

Seemingly unimportant The Borg have left this system undefended and damaging it causes The Borg Cube to begin to blow itself apart.

The danger isn’t over, though. Just before the Cube disintegrates, a secondary ship — a Borg sphere — ejects from its core and heads for Sector 001 and Earth, opening a transwarp conduit that pulls it back through time to the mid-21st century.

As the Enterprise gives chase, they can see the Earth changing before them, moving from it’s iconic green and blue marble to a brown, barren world with every lifesign now reading as Borg. Reaching Earth just after The Borg Sphere, the Enterprise is able to destroy it, but not before it is able to rein fire down on the planet’s surface.

As well as attacking Earth, multiple Borg drones have also beamed aboard the Enterprise, securing multiple decks and assimilating all of the crew members they come across. For Jean-Luc Picard, this brings back traumatic memories of his own time as The Borg drone, Locutus, as he must battle his own assimilated crew and a new Borg threat in order to save his ship.

On transporting down to the planet to find out what The Borg’s plan was, the away team discover that Zefram Cochrane’s warp ship, The Phoenix, was damaged in The Borg assault. With first contact only days away the crew of the Enterprise must help Cochrane rebuild his damaged ship to ensure the future of humanity and their place amongst the stars.

The Good

From its opening sequence to the end credits, Star Trek: First Contact is a relentless, epic entry in the Star Trek franchise, never letting up on its engaging pace. You feel as though you are there with the crew as they race against time to save both the Enterprise and their own futures.

Jonathan Frakes (who plays Commander William Riker in the film – The Doctors 1977-78), in his movie directorial debut having directed several episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation television series clearly understood the assignment. He brings a warmth and charm to the screen in a script that is very dark in parts and he also knows how to get the most out of his co-stars.

The “guest stars” Alfre Woodard and James Cromwell add a level of gravitas to the film as well, moving it from a good Star Trek film to a great science fiction film.

Cromwell (who has appeared in 3 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, one episode of Deep Space Nine and reprised his role of Cochrane in Enterprise) is perfectly cast as the drunk and surly Zefram Cochrane. He is clearly horrified by how the future holds him in such high regard and literally runs away when Geordi LaForge (Levar Burton —Roots 1977, Perception 2012-15 ) tells him about a statue they place in his honour.

Through LaForge’s pep talks with Cochrane and Lieutenant Reg Barclay’s (Dwight Shultz — The A-Team 1983-87) fawning we discover that Cochrane isn’t interested in making history or even making it to the stars, he’s just out to make money with his warp ship.

Woodard (St. Elsewhere 1985-88, Desperate Housewives 2005-06) is wonderful as the fish-out-of-water Lily. After going to check on the Phoenix after The Borg attack, Lily is irradiated by the leaking engines and is beamed up to the Enterprise for treatment. She must face the fact that there is a wider universe out there and that she has a significant role to play in the future of Earth’s development. She also acts as a counterpoint to Picard’s increasingly unhinged behaviour when it comes to The Borg, pointing out that they were once members of his crew and that he needs to save the ones still alive rather than focusing on irradicating The Borg incursion at any cost.

The Bad

It’s not “bad” bad, but I feel that the title music is a little too sedate for the type of movie Star Trek: First Contact actually is.

Jerry Goldsmith’s theme is rather slow and sedate, with horns adding a weight to the track but this slow pace doesn’t fit with the fast-paced action orientated storyline that is to come — at least to me anyway!

This could have been intentional, lulling the audience into a false sense of security before we’re almost immediately thrown into the battle with The Borg and while it does evoke “Star Trek“, when you compare it to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan‘s fast-paced and epic main title (composed by James Horner) the difference is night and day. It’s a minor gripe though as the rest of the soundtrack matches the tone and pace of the film well.

And as a little fun fact, the official trailer (linked above) uses music from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan so read into that what you will.

I also didn’t like the lack of backstory for some of the characters.

For example we’re introduced to the new helmsman Lieutenant Hawk (Neil McDonough — Minority Report 2002, Desperate Housewives 2008-09) but we know nothing about him, where he served before or why he’s been brought on to the Enterprise. He’s allegedly the first confirmed canonically gay character in the franchise although this isn’t mentioned in the script (presumably this was excluded due to producer Rick Berman’s objections), which is a shame given it significance.

Another missed opportunity was an exploration of what Earth was like at this time. We get mentions of factions and that Earth is in a bad state, but we know really know how bad of a state it’s in and having this knowledge would have made the importance of first contact even more critical.

I understand these details might have been cut for pacing, but their absence feels like a missed opportunity.

While the music and character backstories are minor quibbles, my biggest reservation lies with the introduction of a character who fundamentally alters the nature of the film’s greatest threat: The Borg Queen.

Hot take but I’m kind of on the fence about the introduction of The Borg Queen (Alice Krige — Sleepwalkers 1992, Children of Dune 2003). Don’t get me wrong, Alice Krige is wonderful in this role: a perfect combination of sinister, slimy and seductress all rolled in to one. The way she thinks she’s able to manipulate Data (Brent Spiner — Independence Day 1996, Threshold 2005-06) into helping her only to be ultimately betrayed by him is done masterfully.

My issue isn’t with the character’s portrayal or even the lines the character has, it’s that they felt the need to include a “Queen” at all.

In the television series, The Borg were scary because they were not self-aware individuals — to be assimilated was to lose your self and your identity completely, two of the most defining traits a human has. The introduction of The Borg Queen as the de facto spokesperson of The Borg and her using “I” instead of “we” removes some of the fear of losing yourself during assimilation.

I understand that Picard and the crew needed a central foe with which to direct their anger and energy but I do wonder if it could have been scripted in a slightly different way more in keeping with the mass consciousness of The Borg that was always a main factor in fearing them.

The Ugly

The treatment of the Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s female characters is appalling. And I’m not overstating that!

Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis — Crash 2004, The Sunshine Murders 2025) at least has some time on screen trying to get to know Cochrane and also gives us one of the funniest scenes in the movie, if not the franchise.

And she’s in the control centre counting down as the Phoenix prepares for its maiden voyage so she has that going for her at least.

But it’s Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden — The Hunt For Red October 1990, Marker 1995) who is most hard done by. She’s barely in the movie, in a blink-and-you’ll miss it scene where she helps Lily escape The Borg who are trying to enter sickbay and then once more on the bridge of the Enterprise as she meekly accepts Picard’s commands to recapture the ship knowing that she’ll die.

I’m not sure what happened to the Doctor Beverly Crusher we saw in the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series. She would have been the first one to question Picard’s decisions and bring him to his senses. Instead this role is handed off to Lily and Crusher is merely there as a background actor. At least Gates McFadden will have enjoyed the paycheck if not the script!

Final Thoughts

Despite its flaws, Star Trek: First Contact remains a cornerstone of the Star Trek franchise — a bold, ambitious film that captures the spirit of exploration and resilience. Yet, it also reflects the limitations of its time, particularly in its treatment of female characters and its reimagining of the Borg.

If you forced me to rate the Star Trek films then First Contact would be in second place, just behind Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. I love the action aspect of the storyline and the fact that we’re not just stuck on a space ship but also on Earth in its near future — a time period that I will live to see (although I could do without the Eugenics and World War thank you very much!)

It was fun to see Picard so “un-Picard” like as he battled his inner demons due to his past connections with The Bog and seeing Sir Patrick Steward chewing the scenery is always a pleasure.

And while there is strong female representation in Lily as I mentioned before, this is to the detriment of Troi and Crusher who were always the cornerstones in emotionally charged storylines and it’s disappointing to see them so underutilised.

First Contact is still a thoroughly brilliant film though as its written and presented in a way that makes it accessible to anyone — you don’t need to know who The Borg are to understand the threat, you don’t need to have seen Best Of Both Worlds to understand the trauma that Picard’s assimilation has caused and I think this is why the film did so well at the box office grossing around $146 million on a $45 million budget.

The film serves as a perfect entry point into the franchise for people who might not have thought that Star Trek was for them and as a Trekkie myself, it’s wonderful to have more people join in the fun.

Decades later, First Contact remains a fan favourite — a testament to its blend of action, heart, and the enduring appeal of Star Trek’s optimistic vision of the future and the hope that there is more out there, perhaps still to be seen on the 5th of April 2063.

Watch this if you think resistance isn’t futile or you want to see a drunk Deanna Troi try to talk about time.

And happy First Contact Day!