In Monday's Ask Matt column, ...
Question: In
Monday's Ask Matt column, you were asked about season finales that left the audience as awestruck as this year's
Lost season finale did. You of course discussed
24's first season and the famous "Who Shot J.R.?" from
Dallas, but I really think you left out one of the more definitive season finales in TV history:
Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Best of Both Worlds, Part 1." If you were watching TV back in 1990, how can you forget this pitch-perfect, cliff-hanging episode of
Next Gen? I remember rewatching the episode many times that summer, wondering how the producers and writers would resolve the famous "Mr. Worf, fire..." line. While I think
Lost's season finale was good, in my mind, this is the gold standard of season finales and season-ending cliff-hangers. And few shows have come close to matching it since.
Answer: An absolute oversight. Time and again TV Guide has put this episode on lists of greatest-ever episodes, and not just for the sci-fi genre. The Borg was a mighty nemesis, and that final image of an assimilated Picard was truly awesome. Thanks for the reminder, and for reminding me why I try to avoid these sorts of questions. But while we're on the subject, read on....
