 " Q Who " is the 16th episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek : The Next Generation . The episode first aired in broadcast syndication on May 5 , 1989 . It was written by executive producer Maurice Hurley and directed by Rob Bowman . " Q Who " marked the first appearance of the Borg , who were designed by Hurley and originally intended to appear in the first season episode " The Neutral Zone " . 
