[1], Television and video games (1987–present), Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, "Sparking Creativity Through Activism: Actor Jonathan Del Arco", "Patrick Stewart Unveils 'Picard' Trailer and Surprise 'Star Trek' Castings", "Review/Theater; 'Spoils of War,' in a Family, Life and the World", "Reviews/Theater; A Kaleidoscope of Language Onstage and on Video", "Review/Theater; Overcoming a Loveless Childhood", "Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jerry Patch", "New La Jolla Era Begins, Written in 'Blood, "Jonathan Del Arco of 'The Closer' Talks About His Work with GLSEN and His Character's Coming Out", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jonathan_Del_Arco&oldid=1011959774, Articles lacking reliable references from June 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2020, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from June 2020, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 13 March 2021, at 20:28. Hugh's presence on Star Trek: Picard was a pretty big deal. The cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation has some serious acting chops. Hugh #002b Star Trek: The Next Generation HeroClix Near Mint STAR TREK. Morales. Del Arco is a member of Actors' Equity Association. Del Arco turned to waiting tables in 1995 for an income. Star Trek: The Next Generation Coming to Super7's ReAction Figure Line. By implanting an unsolvable geometric formula into his mind and returning him to the Collective, the formula should rapidly spread (similar to a computer virus) and disable the Borg. [1] The story idea for "I, Borg" was well received by the production staff, with executive producer Rick Berman saying that he "fell in love" with the characterisations of Guinan,[2] Picard, La Forge and Hugh which resulted in a series of two character scenes in the episode. Brent Spiner is also reprising his role as Data, even though the character died in Star Trek: Nemesis. The episode received Nielsen ratings of 12.8 percent and critics were positive with praise directed at both Del Arco and Whoopi Goldberg, as well as the general nature of the plot. [2][3], Del Arco has appeared in a wide range of live theatrical plays. $11.73 + shipping. Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) insists on treating the surviving Borg despite the concerns of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). ", "The 10 Best Singularity Themed Star Trek Episodes", "Star Trek: The Next Generation — 10 Great Guest Performances", "The 10 Best Star Trek: TNG Episodes Of All Time", "Star Trek – The Next Generation, Episode 123: I, Borg (VHS)", "Star Trek the Next Generation – Season 5", "Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Five (Blu-ray)", "Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5 Blu-Ray Review", "A Guide to Binge Watching 7 Great STAR TREK Arcs", "Very Important Binge: The best TNG episodes to watch before Star Trek: Picard", "Every Next Generation & Voyager Character Returning In Star Trek: Picard", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I,_Borg&oldid=1007012867, Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 5) episodes, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Television episode articles with short description for single episodes, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 16 February 2021, at 01:03. His most notable role during this period was as the Borg drone Hugh on Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1992, which he reprised in 1993 and again in 2020. This means that it was watched by 12.8 percent of all households watching television during its timeslot. $10.19 + shipping. But all was not happy for characters from The Next Generation, as former Borg Hugh (Jonathan Del Arco) was surprisingly killed. He offers to be returned to the crash site, where he will be found and re-assimilated by the Borg. Del Arco volunteered for Barack Obama and has worked for five presidential campaigns,[12] including as a celebrity surrogate for President Obama in 2012, Hillary Clinton in 2016, and the Biden/Harris campaign in 2020. - Hugh Borg 4" Action Figure - Star Trek: The Next Generation. The team wanted the eye-piece to be dramatic, but decided against using a laser as this had been previously used for Locutus of Borg. La Forge accompanies Hugh to the crash site and, from a safe distance, watches the Borg recover him. Guinan convinces Picard to meet with Hugh, as well, and Picard comes to the same conclusion, in part because Hugh refers to himself as "I" instead of the Borg's collective "we" during their discussion. Balance of Power (Star Trek: The Next Generation Book 33) - Kindle edition by Hugh, Dafydd ab. In 2013, Del Arco was awarded the 2013 Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign and now works with the campaign as a guest speaker. [15], In 2016, Empire ranked this the 34th best out of the top 50 episodes of the 700 plus Star Trek television episodes. He was brought back to the Enterprise-D for medical attention by Dr. Beverly Crusher under protest from Captain Picard. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Most recently, he has volunteered as surrogate for Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock for their campaigns in the 2020 Georgia Senate runoff elections. He and Jean-Luc shared the experience of being part of the Borg, but were eventually freed from the Collective. Jonathan Del Arco (born March 7, 1966) is an Uruguayan American actor and gay rights and political activist. He reprised his role of Hugh in Star Trek: Picard, a direct sequel to The Next Generation. The crew now debate whether it is appropriate to sacrifice one individual to protect the majority, though Picard is still insistent on destroying the Collective. His Broadway theatre debut came in 1987 in Milcha Sanchez-Scott's Roosters at the INTAR Theatre. As a teenager, Del Arco became interested in acting and the theater. "[13], In 2011, this episode was noted by Forbes as exploring the implications of advanced technology, showing how an isolated Borg alien must learn how to be an individual. The Enterprise-D rescues a wounded Borg drone, Third of Five, who later takes the name “Hugh” (TNG, “I, Borg”) Because Jonathan Del Arco is returning to play Hugh in Picard, his origin story is super important. She finds Hugh to be not a mindless drone but a confused young man, and she agrees Hugh is no longer a Borg. Make sure this fits by entering your model number. [8], Del Arco had a partner who died of AIDS in the late 1980s while they resided in New York City. He often traveled by commuter train to New York City, where he attended plays. Michael Westmore's make-up team developed a removable eye-piece for Hugh, using magnets to allow the actor to remove it as required by the script. ", "The Best of Both Worlds", "I, Borg", and "Descent". From 178 episodes of interstellar voyages and interpersonal dramas, choosing the best guest stars from The Next Generation is tricky at best and ultimately just impossible. Star Trek: The Next Generation moved the universe forward roughly a century past the days of James T. Kirk and Spock. Roles on other highly rated shows such as 24, The Sopranos, and Dollhouse followed. [3] DeCandido criticised the "defanging" of the Borg, but understood why the writers took the approach they did as a near-unstoppable enemy is difficult to write for. by STAR TREK. In 1990, with a role on the Miami Vice television show and a role in the independent film Lost Angeles under his belt, Del Arco moved to Los Angeles, California. Picture Information. Club, and while he was disappointed that the Borg were made less "nightmarish",[11] the question of genocide that hung over the episode and the expansion of potential story ideas from the plot made it worth it. [14] In May 2019, The Hollywood Reporter ranked it among a top twenty five episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Picard abandons the proposed plan and instead offers Hugh asylum within the Federation. [7], He said that his performance in "I, Borg" was driven by the memories of watching a childhood friend die, and the innocence that he felt given to his friend's memory over time; "When I first read the script. [citation needed] Del Arco then worked on numerous political campaigns.[which?] On Picard's orders, the drone is confined and monitored by security forces at all times and is prevented from contacting the Borg Collective. He received a call back, and returned to audition once more. [28][29], "Star Trek: The Next Generation Nielsen Ratings – Seasons 5–6", "Star Trek: The Next Generation's 25 must-watch episodes", "Star Trek: The Next Generation: "I, Borg"/"The Next Phase, "The 25 greatest standalone TV episodes of the past 25 years", "Has Star Trek Lost Its Moral Relevance? The Borg drone initially calls himself "Third of Five", but ends up referring to and understanding himself as "Hugh" – the name given to him by La Forge. "Star Trek: The Next Generation," otherwise known as "TNG," practically invented meme culture — and predicted a world where we talk in memes. [10] Zack Handlen gave "I, Borg" a grade of A- in his review for The A.V. Hugh's storyline in "Nepenthe" exists in the aftermath of the events of the previous episode. [21] The episode was later released in the United States on November 5, 2002, as part of the season five DVD box set. Shortly after, Del Arco won a role in the touring company of Torch Song Trilogy. [10], In 1996, Del Arco joined the Hispanic Playwrights Project at the South Coast Repertory and spent six seasons there. I heard his voice, that's what it sounded like – full of wonderment and confusion about everything. Hugh's designation used the ordinal \"Third,\" while the Star Trek: Voyager character Seven of Nine used the cardinal \"Seven.\" The concept behind Hugh was used by the creative staff of Voyager in the form of One.The name \"Hugh\" is a pun, as it sounds like the English word \"you,\" conveying the message of individuality. This fits your . Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Balance of Power (Star Trek: The Next Generation Book 33). He received his script on the evening prior to meeting with the producers and felt that it gave him a decent sense of the character. Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Deann… As they come to understand the workings of the Borg, La Forge and Data devise an idea of using the Borg drone as a weapon of mass destruction. [26], In 2020, SyFy Wire recommended this episode for binge watching, noting how the episode introduces the recovering Borg 'Hugh' played by Jonathan Del Arco. Hugh expresses enthusiasm at the prospect of remaining with La Forge but ultimately refuses, recognizing that the Borg will still come looking for him. Hugh, having been severed from the Borg Collective, attempts to discover his own individuality and help his fellow Borg acclimate as well, until Lore appears and takes advantage. Theater critic Mel Gussow called his a "most sensitive performance", and said his debut was "auspicious". 5.0 out of 5 stars 4 ratings. Jonathan Del Arco (born March 7, 1966) is an Uruguayan American actor and gay rights and political activist. The series picks up about 95 years after the original series is said to have taken place. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) assist Crusher in bringing the Borg back to health. In 2014, he appeared in the episode "Love Sucks" of The Crazy Ones, as the previously unseen husband of Brad Garrett's character. "I, Borg" also marked the first time that Jay Chattaway scored a Borg related episode, but would continue to do so for the rest of the series and during Star Trek: Voyager. Troll & Toad.com - Troll And Toad keeps 92% of all Magic The Gathering cards in stock. As they restore him to health, the crew must decide whether or not to develop him as a weapon of mass destruction against the Borg; when he demonstrates free will, they must question that decision. [1], The episode was directed by Robert Lederman, his first of the series and the only new director during the fifth season. [11][13] "Never did I imagine that working for a nonprofit organization would have such a great effect on me personally. Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) and Lt. [6] He had previously done a screen test for the role of character Wesley Crusher for this same show. "Nepenthe" showed Hugh and Elnor trying to stop the plans of the Tal Shiar, and the effort ended up costing the Ex-Borg his life. They instead opted for a hologram and a series of LEDs that were powered by a battery pack built into the costume and mounted on the actor's back. Price: $12.74 + $2.00 shipping. [2] Michael Piller, who wrote "The Best of Both Worlds", described "I, Borg" as having a "great premise which forces Guinan and Picard to face their own prejudices". https://screenrant.com/star-trek-picard-tng-unanswered-question-hugh-borg He works to raise awareness for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which Del Arco described as life-changing. According to Nielsen Media Research, it received ratings of 12.8 percent. [4] His second Broadway role followed in 1988, when he played Martin in Michael Weller's play Spoils of War at the Music Box Theatre, replacing Christopher Collet. He also spent the summers of 1998 and 1999 at the Institute on the Arts and Civic Dialogue at Harvard University, working under Anna Deavere Smith.[8]. He was happy when the character later returned in the sixth season finale/seventh season opener "Descent", which he felt was similar to his previous ideas. The Measure of A Man - Season 2, Episode 9. Hugh, formerly Third of Five, was a former Borg drone who was rescued by the USS Enterprise-D in 2368. That, to me, was Hugh. An early diamond in the rough, however, is … After a reunion with fellow XB Picard, the two escaped the Romulan guards pursuing him and android Soji. [16], In 2017, Den of Geek ranked Jonathan Del Arco as in Star Trek: The Next Generation as one of the top ten guest star roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation. They didn't particularly need guest stars to make episodes stand out. The episode aired during the week commencing May 10, 1992, in broadcast syndication. Hugh Borg 4" Action Figure - Star Trek: The Next Generation. [5] This was followed in 1990 by a role in John Jesurun's Everything That Rises Must Converge at the Kitchen Theatre Company. [12], A 2009 article by Newsweek, noted this episode for emergence of independent identity, and of empathy and forgiveness. It is the second live action series of the Star Trek franchise, and comprises a total of 178 episodes over seven seasons. He was awarded the 2013 Visibility Award by the Human Rights Campaign. In addition to acting, Del Arco is a political, environmental, and gay rights activist. [19], In 2019, The Hollywood Reporter listed this among the twenty five best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. [17], Variety listed "I, Borg" as one of the top 15 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series which aired in syndication from September 1987 through May 1994. The episode confronts the crew’s prejudice against the Borg and, for the first time on Star Trek, actively explores whether a Borg drone could, in fact, leave the collective and … Crusher is aghast at this suggestion, considering it equivalent to genocide, while Picard and the other senior crew deliberate on the ethics of this plan. In further debates, La Forge finds himself becoming a friend to Hugh, and begins to doubt his previous idea. Hugh discusses how the Borg only wish to learn about other cultures through assimilation, but La Forge counters this argument, discussing aspects of individuality that make them human and unique. [11] In a review of 25 greatest science fiction episodes by SyFy of the years between 1992 and 2017, "I, Borg" was the only Star Trek episode selected, although this excluded any episodes before 1993 or so. "[6] Following his appearance in the episode, he later pitched a couple of story ideas to the producers to feature the return of Hugh. Star Trek VIII: First Contact. [25], The Nerdist included this episode as part of a story arc of this TV show. [18], In 2019, Screen Rant ranked "I, Borg" the sixth best episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Picard hopes that, once Hugh is reconnected, the sense of individualism Hugh has learned will spread throughout the Collective. Just as the Borg transport out, Hugh turns to give La Forge a parting glance. It's not currently known what role Hugh will play in Star Trek: Picard, but Del Arco has confirmed his character remains in the same state [4] The arm piece was also redeveloped; rather than a single "club" piece as previously used for the Borg, it was built from a foam-rubber glove with attachments. [6], Del Arco's other stage performances include Amulets Against the Dragon Forces by Paul Zindel,[7] House Arrest by Anna Deavere Smith,[8] Virgin Molly, The by Quincy Long, Common Infractions / Gross Injustices produced by American Repertory Theater,[9] and Blood Wedding by Federico García Lorca. Admittedly, Wesley needs the help from time to time. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. An injured Borg drone (Jonathan Del Arco) is found amid a crashed scout ship. Crusher and La Forge arrange to have Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg), who has a similar loathing for the Borg because they destroyed her homeworld, speak to Hugh. When he performed for the producers, someone else read the lines assigned to Picard and La Forge, and he felt like he immediately got a positive result. Continuing Hugh’s journey in the new Star Trek: Picard has only added to the emotional heft of one of the most unique TNG characters. Del Arco was deliberately antisocial prior to his audition to get into the role but also sought to use the innocence and wonderment generated by a friend's death as Hugh's voice. The episode was written by René Echevarria, with help from executive producer Jeri Taylor. [17] He appears in the role of Third of Five (i.e. SAVE UP TO 25% See all eligible items. He eventually enrolled in acting classes there, and after graduating from high school, he moved to New York City permanently. [3], The design of the Borg prosthetics as used in "I, Borg" was an evolution from those previously seen in the series. It wasn't until Star Trek: Beyond (2016) that an LGBT character would appear, when it was revealed that Hikaru Sulu was gay. The writers had problems bringing back the Borg due to their apparent near-invincibility. When broadcast it was the seventh most watched episode of the season, behind both parts of "Unification", "A Matter of Time", "Power Play", "Cause and Effect" and "The Game". He praised the characterisations, specifically for Crusher, and added "it’s never a bad thing when TNG actually remembers its character continuity". He was awarded the 2013 Visibility Award by the Human Rights Campaign. He was pleased when the character later returned in the two-part episode "Descent". This decision by the creative team was partly out of respect and an homage to real-life LGBT activist and gay actor George Takei, who originally portrayed Hiraku Sulu. [23] The first Blu-ray release was in the United States on November 19, 2013,[24] followed by the United Kingdom on November 18. Series: "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Episode: "Descent" parts 1 & 2 (S06, E26 & S07, E01) Premise: Data’s evil twin, Lore, stumbles upon the Borg ship that Hugh is on. [1] Beginning in 2007, Del Arco had a series regular role on TNT cable network's The Closer as the openly gay medical examiner, Dr. [8] When broadcast it was the seventh most watched episode of the season, behind both parts of "Unification", "A Matter of Time", "Power Play", "Cause and Effect" and "The Game". [6], The episode aired during the week commencing May 10, 1992, in broadcast syndication. [20], "I, Borg" was first released on VHS cassette in the United States and Canada on October 7, 1997. Instead, through a friend, he found paid work on an environmental campaign being led by actor/director Rob Reiner. According to Nielsen Media Research, it received ratings of 12.8 percent. Since the show is called “Picard,” we know it’s going to feature Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard, former captain of both the Enterprise-D from TNG and the Enterprise-E from the TNG movies. . In 2017, Den of Geek ranked Jonathan Del Arco as one of the top ten guest star roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation. The episode also saw a development in the make-up design for the Borg by Michael Westmore's team. Hugh), in "I, Borg" and "Descent, Part II". Early on in its run, Star Trek: The Next Generation wasn’t exactly known for quality episodes. [8], Keith DeCandido in his review for Tor.com gave the episode a score of 8 out of 10, and described Goldberg's appearance as "particularly good",[3] while Del Arco was said to be "spectacular" in his "subtle, powerful performance". But it certainly did help! Del Arco's breakout role came in 2003 when he landed a recurring guest star role on FX Networks' highly popular series Nip/Tuck, where he played a transgender woman named Sofia Lopez. [26] They propose a story arc with the Enterprise 1701-D confronting the Borg, that would include "Q Who? He is best known for his role as Hugh the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard, and for his series regular role as medical examiner Dr. Morales in The Closer and Major Crimes.