the title sequence. Normally, the episode title and all guest stars, producers/director are listed after the opening title sequence. Novel A novelization of this episode was published by Pocket Books. It was one of five novelizations to be made of The Next Generation episodes, along with "Encounter at Farpoint", "Unification", "Relics", and "All Good Things...". Reception In 2017, Den of Geek ranked Jonathan Del Arco as one of the top ten guest star roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation. He also appears in the role of Third of Five (i.e. Hugh), in "I, Borg" and "Descent, Part II", and reprised the role in the series Star Trek: Picard. Medium ranked this the 62nd best episode Star Trek: The Next Generation in 2017. In 2019, ScreenRant recommended "Descent" as background on the character Data, for the series Star Trek: Picard. Film Daily ranked Stephen Hawking as one of the greatest Star Trek guest stars. In 2020, Space.com recommended watching this episode as background for Star Trek: Picard. In 2020, Cnet noted "Descent" for featuring the return of the characters Hugh and Lore, and described it as "fun" but not as good as "Best of Both Worlds". In 2020, SyFy Wire recommended this episode for binge watching, noting how it explores Hugh, Data, and the Borg. Watch guides The Nerdist suggested this episode as the conclusion of a story arc of this TV show. They propose a story arc with the Enterprise 1701-D confronting the Borg, that would include "Q Who?", "The Best of Both Worlds", "I, Borg", and "Descent". In 2020, GameSpot recommended "Descent" parts I & II for background on the character of Data. Story arc continuity As a season cliffhanger, Descent follows up on a number of threads opened in prior episodes: "Brothers", fourth season episode where Data's emotion chip is introduced, and Lore is left at large "I, Borg", the fifth-season episode where Hugh is first encountered. "Suspicions", the sixth-season episode where the metaphasic shields were first introduced. Additionally, the emotion chip is followed up on in the 1994 film Star Trek Generations. Home video releases "Descent, Part I" and "Descent, Part II" was released on LaserDisc in the United Kingdom in January 1996. The PAL format optical disc had a runtime of 88 minutes, including both Parts of episode using both sides of the disc (CLV). The 12 inch optical disc retailed for 19.99 pounds when