Summary
- The Borg, inspired by Alien’s design, are a formidable and chilling foe in the Star Trek universe.
- Originally insectoid, the Borg’s cybernetic humanoids reflect a blend of organic and mechanical elements.
- H.R. Giger’s influence on the Borg design continues to shape modern Star Trek iterations, like Star Trek: Picard.
The Borg remain one of Star Trek‘s best villains, and their design owes a debt to the Alien franchise. Introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, episode 16, “Q Who,” the Borg make one of the most memorable entrances of any Star Trek villain. When Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D first encounter the cybernetic drones, they quickly realize that, unlike any alien threat they have faced before, the Borg cannot be reasoned with. The United Federation of Planets’ ideals of diplomacy and peaceful first contact prove ineffective, as do the weapons and shields of Starfleet’s armada of starships.
The Borg were originally imagined as an insectoid species with a hive mind, but this proved too expensive. So the Borg became cybernetic humanoids, and the idea of a collective hive mind was adapted for the new type of Borg. Initially, the plan was to introduce the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation’s season 1 finale, in an episode that would have been part one of a trilogy. However, the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike halted those plans, and the Borg introduction was pushed forward several episodes. As for the design of the Borg drones and their technology, this was largely inspired by the designs of artist H. R. Giger, who created the xenomorph in Alien.
The design of the Borg also drew inspiration from the character Lord Dread from the 1987 television series Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future .
Star Trek’s Borg Were Influenced By Alien Designer H.R. Giger
Alien’s influence can be seen in the design of the Borg drones themselves, as well as the interior of their ships.
Known for his images that combined human bodies and machines, Swiss artist H.R. Giger was part of the Academy Award-winning special effects team for 1979’s Alien. After director Ridley Scott saw Giger’s designs, particularly his painting entitled Necronom IV, Scott recruited Giger to design the alien for the film as well as the alien’s environment and the derelict spacecraft. Giger designed every version of the alien, including the “facehugger,” “chestburster,” and the adult xenomorph. With their combination of organic and mechanical elements, Giger’s creations in Alien led to some of the most memorable body horror moments in cinema.
In much of H.R. Giger’s work, it’s hard to tell where the organic ends and the mechanical begins.
While the look of the Borg is not quite as visceral as the various forms of the xenomorph, the combination of organic and mechanical elements remains disturbing. In much of H.R. Giger’s work, it’s hard to tell where the organic ends and the mechanical begins. From the adult Borg drones to the baby Borg discovered by Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) in “Q Who,” there is something inherently horrifying about parts of the humanoid body being replaced by mechanical parts. This concept is later more fully realized when the Borg assimilate Captain Picard as their mouthpiece, Locutus.
Showrunner Terry Matalas Referenced Giger When Describing Star Trek: Picard Season 3’s Borg Queen
Modern Star Trek creators continue to be influenced by Giger’s work.
In a 2023 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Star Trek: Picard season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas spoke about the Borg Queen (Alice Krige), and the process that went into designing her new look. The Borg Queen of Star Trek: First Contact had a more obviously human appearance (her ability to detach her head from her body notwithstanding). But the Borg Queen of Picard season 3 has seen her collective destroyed and nearly been destroyed herself. Matalas describes this Borg Queen as an “H.R. Giger-esque demon,” and, with her emaciated appearance, she certainly looks the part.
While the Borg had become somewhat less frightening over their many appearances in Star Trek: Voyager and beyond, Star Trek:Picard season 3 made the Borg genuinely frightening again.Alien may have focused more on the graphic elements of H.R. Giger’s work, but the Borg exemplify the horrifying idea of machines taking over one’s humanity. Star Trek depicts a very different version of the future from the one seen in Ridley Scott’s Alien, but both franchises looked to H.R. Giger to craft some of the most iconic science fiction monsters of all time.
