Entertainment
Star Trek's Borg Queen Was Head Of Starfleet Medical
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Star Trek: First Contact is generally considered the best of the Next Generation movies, one that pitted Captain Picard and his erstwhile crew against their most implacable foe: the Borg. Fans love the movie, but one thing that many of them hate is the inclusion of Alice Krige’s Borg Queen. Her very existence as an individual makes no sense in a Collective where everyone shares the same hive mind. On top of that, she’s a walking time paradox, repeatedly dying onscreen only to pop up in future TV shows whenever the writers needed a cheap Big Bad reveal.
However, Star Trek’s stupidest villain was almost fixed by the franchise’s first prequel. Recently, a number of writers and producers for Star Trek: Enterprise got together for Trek Talks, a livestream telethon that helps raise money for the Hollywood Food Coalition. Together, they revealed a number of rejected episode pitches that would have electrified the fandom. Arguably, the most ambitious of these pitches would have been an origin story for the Borg Queen, one that had the potential to answer burning questions Trek fans have been debating for decades.
The Borg Queen’s Origin Story
During the Trek Talks stream, Enterprise writers Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens revealed they wanted to “have another Borg show, but bring in the head of Starfleet Medical, which would be played by Alice Krige.” Krige, of course, played the Borg Queen in Star Trek: First Contact, and the franchise has never revealed any details about who or what she was before being assimilated. In Reeves-Stevens’ story, we would see her Starfleet Medical bigwig “choosing to join the Collective,” and they wanted the episode to explore “what goes through the mind” of a person making such an insane choice to abandon both their individuality and their humanity.
Sadly, Reeves-Stevens didn’t elaborate on their pitch beyond those details, so all we know is that this Enterprise episode would have been a Borg Queen origin story explaining how this mechanical monarch was once the human head of Starfleet Medical. Still, I can’t help but think that this episode would have made her character much more palatable to the average fan. That’s because a well-written episode could answer fans’ biggest questions about this character while more organically integrating her into Star Trek canon.
Attack Of The Drones
For example, the Borg we first saw in The Next Generation spoke with a singular hive mind, and the concept of individuality was completely alien to them. That’s what made Picard’s assimilation so shocking. Not only did these bionic baddies target everyone’s favorite captain, but they turned him into a mouthpiece for their coldhearted collective. The Enterprise episode that Reeves-Stevens pitched could explain how and why the Borg learned the value of having an individual spokesperson. Furthermore, showing Krige’s character volunteering to join these villains might offer context for why the Borg Queen in First Contact wanted Picard to surrender himself willingly rather than be assimilated against his will.
Additionally, a Borg Queen origin story might finally help fans nail down a timeline of how and when Starfleet first learned about the Borg. In The Next Generation, Q is seemingly responsible for introducing Starfleet to this new threat by flinging the Enterprise deep into Borg territory. However, the Voyager episode “Dark Frontier” later revealed how Seven of Nine’s parents were Federation scientists eager to study the Borg, a race they mostly knew about through whispered rumors. The Enterprise episode “Regeneration” retconned things even further by revealing that Zefram Cochrane warned people about the Borg seen in First Contact, but he later recanted after his claims were dismissed as tall tales from a known drunk.
Resistance Is Futile (She Brought Cuffs)
This has led to lingering questions, like how long have Starfleet and the Federation officially known about the Borg? Unofficially, who was keeping tabs on these villains? Were shadowy figures (like Section 31) cross-referencing Cochrane’s tall tales with stories from El-Aurian refugees and Captain Archer’s own account of hostile, cybernetic beings? Right now, all of this is a mystery, one made more frustrating because it involves Star Trek’s most famous villains. Had we gotten this Enterprise episode, it might have cleared that mystery up for fans while making it easier for future writers (say, the Picard writers) to do more with the Borg Queen than have her show up and make evil speeches.
Early on Enterprise was viewed as a major letdown for Star Trek fans. But it started to get really good in its fourth and final season, and the Borg Queen pitch from Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens proves that this show still had some great stories to tell. Had we gotten this episode and more like it, Enterprise might have gone on to become one of the franchise’s most successful series. If nothing else, it could have avoided decades of fan squabbles over who and what the Borg Queen is and what she offers to the Collective beyond being (let’s face it) dommy mommy eye candy for drones and fans alike.
Entertainment
Tons of Fitbits are on sale ahead of Prime Day
Best early Prime Day Fitbit deals at a glance:
Amazon’s Prime Day sales event is right around the corner (I can’t believe it’s that time of year again!), and I’m genuinely shocked by the deals we’re seeing this early in the game.
Usually, Amazon doesn’t put Fitbits on sale until the very last minute, and then they’re gone. (And some years, they don’t go on sale at all.) But right now, we’re seeing all-time lows on select Fitbit models, including the Charge 6.
Here are the best early Prime Day Fitbit deals you can shop right now:
Best deal overall
$99.95
at Amazon
$159.95
Save $60.00
Why we like it
The Fitbit Charge 6 isn’t the newest Fitbit on the market, but it still has (almost) everything you’d need in a smart wearable. (I say almost because the Fitbit Charge 6 doesn’t have an altimeter, but if you’re not a trail runner, this probably isn’t a deal breaker.)
The Charge 6 tracks your calories, steps, sleep, heart rate, and more. It also has built-in GPS, 40+ exercise modes, a seven-day battery life, and includes a three-month Google Health Premium (formerly Fitbit Premium) membership. Once the three months are up, you’ll need to either cancel or renew for $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually.
Mashable Trend Report
Right now, you can get the Fitbit Charge 6 for $99.95 at Amazon. This is the lowest price we’ve tracked on this model since its release in 2023.
Best runner-up deal
Why we like it
If you’re willing to spend a little bit more, the Fitbit Versa 4 is on sale for $149.95. This isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen (it was $104.96 in April 2024), but it’s still a pretty good deal.
Unlike the Charge 6, the Versa 4 has an altimeter and Bluetooth wrist calling. So, if you’re looking for a wearable that acts more like a smartwatch, the Versa 4 might be the better buy. That said, it doesn’t have the more “serious” health sensor that the Charge 6 does (e.g., ECG and EDA).
The Versa 4 also comes with three months of Google Health Premium.
Best budget deal
$79.95
at Walmart
$89.95
Save $10
Why we like it
If you’re just looking for something that’s affordable and efficient, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is your best option at $79.95.
It’s a no-frills fitness tracker that’ll give you the basic features you need to stay on top of your health. It can track your heart rate, steps, and stress levels. (It also offers menstrual health tracking, which is nice.)
You’ll also get 10 full days of battery life and, like the other models mentioned above, three free months of Google Health Premium.
Entertainment
20+ book deals Im sending to the group chat before Prime Day even begins
Table of Contents
The best early Prime Day book deals at a glance:
It’s nearly Amazon Prime Day, which officially runs from June 23 through 26, but if you don’t feel like waiting, there’s already plenty of live deals to shop.
Besides offering three free months of both Kindle Unlimited and Audible to new subscribers, Amazon also has some pretty great discounts on books themselves. I’m not usually one to recommend purchasing physical books via Amazon (support local book stores!), but it’s pretty hard to pass up a 50% price drop on a book you’ve had on your TBR.
Amazon Editors just dropped the 20 best books of 2026 (so far) — find out what made the list
I’m tracking some of the best deals on physical books and e-books at Amazon ahead of the official Prime Day kick off, but remember to check back for more once things start ramping up.
Best early Prime Day hardcover book deal
$14.67
at Amazon
$30
Save $15.33
with on-page coupon
Why we like it
Named one of the best books of 2026 so far by Amazon Book Editors, Crux is an “exhilarating, tender novel about an unlikely friendship forged through a shared love of rock climbing,” according to Amazon Editor Abby Abell. Thanks to an on-page coupon at Amazon, you can add the hardcover version to your home library for less than half its usual cost.
More hardcover book deals
Best early Prime Day paperback book deal
$7.50
at Amazon
$19.95
Save $12.45
Why we like it
A classic trope of two abducted girls, only one returns and one doesn’t, The Girl Who Was Taken is a psychological thriller by Charlie Donlea where nothing is as it seems. Typically around $20, you can pick up the paperback version for only $7.50 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That’s just a few cents away from its lowest price ever.
Mashable Deals
More paperback book deals
Best early Prime Day Kindle book deal
$2.99
at Amazon
$18.99
Save $16.00
Why we like it
I highly recommend grabbing this twisty psychological thriller from internationally best-selling author Steve Cavanagh while the Kindle version is only $2.99. Kill For Me Kill For You follows two women seeking revenge against the men who killed their daughters. Over drinks one night, they decide to swap murders, but things don’t go exactly as planned.
More Kindle book deals
Entertainment
Red Drink for Juneteenth
Amber Mayfield Hewett loves a good party. Not “good” in the sense that there were enough chairs and everyone liked the dip (though a killer dip and a place to sit definitely don’t hurt). To Amber, a good party is one where everyone in the room feels like they belong — no one feels like a plus-one or wonders if they should’ve stayed home. “In my early twenties, I was living in Harlem and working as an assistant at a TV network,” she explains in her new book, Your Turn to Host. “I loved going out, exploring the restaurant scene and private clubs… But something always felt missing. Even though I was surrounded by people all the time, I felt lonely.”
So, Amber started her own supper club, hosting dinners as a way to create community. “The first dinner was 24 people — roommates, co-workers, people I’d met out in the city,” she says. “Everyone walked in as strangers, but as the night went on, they were laughing and swapping stories like old friends.” Her supper club has since grown into a full-time career, and as of this week, a book — a guide to hosting meaningful gatherings of all kinds: Friendsgiving potlucks, Sunday suppers, and of course, cookouts.
“At the core, cookouts are a way for your village to come together,” Amber explains. “I keep an open-door policy for kids and friends of friends. And to me, cookouts are synonymous with freedom because of the holidays typically celebrated with them, including Juneteenth.” In her book, Amber offers a full guide for a Juneteenth cookout — everything from grilling tips to lawn games, as well as her own recipe for traditional Red Drink. “On Juneteenth, it’s customary to serve red foods and beverages,” she says. “Red is a symbol of the profound sacrifice and resilience of African American people.” Amber’s recipe starts with a classic sorrel-syrup base (“You can use the same technique to make other syrups, like lavender or elderflower”) and is spiked with a cup of rum. “You can easily omit the booze if you prefer a non-alcoholic version,” she adds. “The drink is delicious and refreshing on its own.” Here’s how to make it…
Red Drink
Serves 15
From Your Turn to Host by Amber Mayfield Hewett
Sorrel Syrup:
4 cups (1 L) water
1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar
1 cup (1 1/2 oz/40 g) cut and sifted dried hibiscus flowers
2 cinnamon sticks
Punch:
2 (2 L) bottles club soda
1 cup (240 ml) dark rum
Juice of 2 large lemons
Ice cubes
4 lemons, sliced into wheels and seeded, for garnish
Make the syrup: In a medium pot, combine the water and sugar. Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Add the hibiscus flowers and cinnamon sticks, and stir until the flowers start to soften. Reduce the heat to medium to maintain a gentle boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is deep red in color and infused with a floral flavor (about 20 minutes). Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on the solids to extract all the liquid; discard the solids. Let the syrup cool completely before using or storing (about 30 minutes). The sorrel syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Make the punch: In a large punch bowl, stir together the club soda, 1 cup (240 ml) of the sorrel syrup, rum, and lemon juice to combine. (Amber notes: “If you’re skipping the rum, and want a little more flavor, you can add a splash of lemonade or a berry-flavored sparkling water.”) Serve with ice and garnish with lemon wheels.
Big thanks to Amber for sharing this recipe with us! You can find TONS of party recipes and hosting tips in her book and newsletter.
P.S. Five easy party foods, and a monochromatic fruit salad.
(Top photo by Xiana Gutierrez. Excerpted from Your Turn to Host by Amber Mayfield Hewett, published by Artisan Books. Copyright © 2026.)
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