There is endless storytelling potential in the science fiction concept of machine cultures and hive minds. Star Trek's Borg, although overused in recent years, is a very effective tool for a writer's exploration of individuality and conformity. Frank Herbert took a different, but equally effective approach in his 1972 novel "Hellstrom's Hive."

With "The Sum of it's Parts," Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda tries it's hard at machine society. Although the character "HG" looks a bit like the Borg, the society he represents is very different. The story by Celesta Chan Wolfe and teleplay by Steven Barnes visualizes a machine culture that really is made up of machines. A collection of miscellaneous devices approaches the Andromeda, enters and only then assembles themselves into a humanoid shape. Humanoid bodies, however, are used only when needed to communicate with humans.

Being a Harper-driven episode, I, of course, liked it. Woolvett brings a lot to the role, he's funny but also interesting, more than just the clown. This episode, he actually gets to be a little menacing, panicked, and whole other range of feelings, which is nice to see. Too many times, good actors are hidden in sci-fi shows behind greasy make-up or badly written alien personalities, it's nice to see a show giving someone a bit of room to do something different.