OnStar Trek: The Next Generation,Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) wanted nothing more than to be human, but he was often more human than he realized. As an incredibly advanced android created by Dr. Noonien Soong (Brent Spiner),Data was superior to humans in many ways.His strength and agility were better than any human, and he could do complex calculations and recall vast amounts of information thanks to his positronic brain. As the operations officer on the USS Enterprise-D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Data proved himself an invaluable member of the crew.
Despite all the advantages Data had as an android, he spent much of his time observing the humans around him and trying to be more like them.Data was often compassionate and even sometimes sentimental;he had diverse interests and sought to connect with those around him. And he accomplished all of this without the emotion chip created for him byDr. Noonien Soong, proving he never needed it in the first place. In his quest to be human, Data became a shining example of all of the best things about humanity, and the android did many human things onStar Trek: The Next Generation.
Data received the ultimate upgrade inStar Trek: Picardseason 3, complete with a new synthetic body and the ability to experience emotions, but he had long been human in all the ways that mattered.
I Wish Star Trek: TNG Had Never Introduced Data’s Emotion Chip
Star Trek Generations failed Data, making me wish Star Trek: The Next Generation had never introduced his emotion chip.
10Data Enjoyed Making Art & Music
Various Episodes Of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Data’s desire to better understand humanity leads him to take up music and painting. Although Data can download the knowledge necessary to play the violin or copy a Monet painting, he chooses to continue practicing. He also combines styles of music and art in different ways, in much the same way human artists experiment with tones and styles.Data can be seen playing the violin or painting in several episodes ofTNG,often seeking out the opinions of those around him regarding his work.
The very act of creating unique art is human in and of itself.
Throughout history, humans have used art and music as a way to express their emotions, so it makes perfect sense that Data would seek to emulate humanity in this way.Data also tried out several other human hobbies,including writing poetry, playing poker, and performing in plays. Data may have felt that his techniques in these art forms lacked creativity, but the very act of creating unique art is human in and of itself.
9Data Told Jokes & Worked to Develop His Sense Of Humor
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 4 (“The Outrageous Okona”) & Others
InStar Trek: The Next Generation’s “The Outrageous Okona,” Data tries to understand the nuances of humor, seeking advice fromTen Forward bartender, Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg). Thanks to his android logic,Data often takes things literally,failing to understand sarcasm and human idioms. This also makes it difficult for him to understand jokes and the many random things humans (and aliens) find funny.
Data struggles with humor more than most of the other human endeavors he attempts, which makes sense, in a way.Even among humans, humor is subjective.What is funny to some may not be funny at all to others. Still, Data does his best, and in the end, he manages to make the Enterprise crew laugh, even if it takes him a beat to realize why his remark was funny.
10 Times Star Trek: TNG Was Funny Because Of Data
The android Lt. Commander Data may not always understand humor, but he was often the funniest character on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Introduced In Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4, Episode 11 (“Data’s Day”)
As Data recounts the details of a day on the USS Enterprise-D inStar Trek: The Next Generation’s “Data’s Day,” he spends some time with his cat, Spot.Data dotes on Spot just as many humans do with their pets,taking time out of his day to entertain and train the orange cat. Data designed at least 221 different types of food for Spot, trying to figure out the one that she liked best (supplement 25), and he looked after her closely when she became pregnant.
Although Spot was initially referred to as a male cat, she was later confirmed to be female when she gave birth to a litter of kittens.
When Data needs someone else to look after Spot, he entrusts his cat toLt. Worf (Michael Dorn) with the advice:“You must talk to him. Tell him he is a pretty cat, and a good cat.“Worf responds that he will feed him, although the Klingon later discovers that he is allergic to cats.The desire for a pet is very humanand it’s difficult to argue that Data doesn’t love Spot. The android even composes a poem for his furry friend entitled “Ode to Spot,” which he recites inTNGseason 6, episode 5, “Schisms.”
7Data Became A Father To Lal
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 16 (“The Offspring”)
In one ofStar Trek: The Next Generation’sbest episodes, “The Offspring,“Data creates a daughter named Lal (Hallie Todd)using the cybernetic technology Dr. Soong used to create Data. Throughout the episode, Data teaches Lal about humanity and she learns quickly. As Lal’s programming begins to surpass even Data’s, Starfleet takes an interest in her and wants to take her to a Starfleet science facility.
Captain Picard stands up for Data’s right to keep custody of his daughter, but the argument becomes moot when Lal malfunctions. Lal begins experiencing emotions for the first time, fearful that she will have to leave the Enterprise. These emotions overwhelmLal’s positronic brain, causing a cascade failure.Data fights to save Lal’s life just as hard as any parent would,but he is unable to save her. Data then downloads Lal’s memories into his own neural net, so that she will continue to exist in some way.
When Data seeks parenting advice from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), he laments that he cannot love Lal, but Beverly finds that hard to believe. This is one of the many instances when characters express their skepticism about Data’s supposed lack of feeling.
Many Episodes Of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Data considers Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) to be his best friend, as he states outright in “Data’s Day.” Not only doData and Geordi both share an interest in science and engineering,but they also spend much of their free time together, going onholodeck adventures as Sherlock Holmesand Dr. Watson. Although Geordi is the one who works on Data when he needs repairs, the engineer never treats Data as anything less than human.
La Forge is sometimes awkward around other people, particularly women, so his friendship with Data makes perfect sense. The two can discuss complicated engineering problems without having to worry about social niceties. Geordi also helps Data throughout his journey to be human, and Data even states that he"never knew what a friend was until [he] met Geordi,“inStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 5, episode 24, “The Next Phase.”
5Data Fought For The Right To Make His Own Decisions
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 9 (“The Measure Of A Man”)
In the excellentStar Trek: The Next Generationepisode, “The Measure of a Man,” Data’s right to make his own choices is called into question. WhenDr. Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy)visits the Enterprise asking to dismantle Data for further study, the cyberneticist claims that Data is the property of Starfleet.Data, of course, does not wish to be dismantled,and Captain Picard helps the android fight for the right to make his own choices.
14 Episode Details You Missed In Star Trek: TNG’s “The Measure Of A Man”
“The Measure of Man” was one of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Here are 14 details you missed.
The desire not only to survive but also to remain in control of our own lives is one of humanity’s most basic instincts. Although the acting judge Captain Phillipa Louvois (Amanda McBroom) cannot say whether or not Data has a soul, it’s clear thathe deserves the opportunity to, as she puts it,“explore that question himself.“The events of “The Measure of a Man” continue to resonate withinStar Trektoday, and it remains a shining example of Data’s obvious humanity.
4Data Learned To Dance From Dr. Beverly Crusher
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4, Episode 11 (“Data’s Day”)
“Data’s Day” contains numerous examples of Data acting human, from his conversations with Geordi and Worf to hisruminations on his own desire to"become more than what I am.“As Data prepares for the wedding of his friendsChief Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney)and Keiko (Rosalind Chao), he discovers that he may have to dance at the ceremony. Data then goes to Dr. Beverly Crusher and asks her to teach him to dance.
Throughout “Data’s Day,” Data seeks advice from his friends on how best to helpMiles and Keiko on their wedding day.Data wants to ensure that his friends have a perfect wedding,a very thoughtful and human thing to do. An unfeeling machine would not care about any of these things and would have no reason to learn how to dance. Despite being arguably superior to humans, Data never looks down on those around him and is always willing to seek out advice.
3Data Reacted With Anger When He Was Mistreated
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 22 (“The Most Toys”)
Another Data-centricStar Trek: The Next Generationepisode that puts the android’s humanity on full display, “The Most Toys” sees Data kidnapped by a cruel and obsessed collector named Kivas Fajo (Saul Rubinek). Fajo fakes Data’s death and takes the android to his private collection of rare and valuable objects.Fajo does not see Data as a person,but rather as a thing to possess. Despite this, Data remains calm even as he defies Fajo’s orders.
To force Data to comply, Fajo kills one of his assistants, threatening to kill more. Meanwhile, Geordi and the Enterprise crew have discovered Fajo’s ruse and returned to retrieve Data. Just as Data is beamed back to the Enterprise, he appears to fire a deadly weapon at Fajo. Until this point inTNG,Data has never been driven to true anger.While “The Most Toys” leaves it ambiguous as to whether Data really fired the weapon, it’s clear he experienced a strong reaction to Fajo’s cruelty and disregard for human life.
2Data Saved A Little Girl & Her Planet
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 15 (“Pen Pals”)
WhenData intercepts a message from a young girl named Sarjenka(Nikki Cox) on the planet Drema IV, he begins a conversation with her. After learning that her planet will be destroyed due to geological activity, Data tells Captain Picard about his conversations with Sarjenka. Although Picard initially refuses to prevent the destruction of Drema IV due toStarfleet’s Prime Directive, he changes his mind after hearing Sarjenka’s cry for help.
Picard Almost Let A Planet Be Destroyed To Preserve Star Trek: TNG’s Prime Directive
Data helps Captain Picard see that even Starfleet’s most important rule sometimes needs to be broken on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Data then visits the planet’s surface and returns to the Enterprise with Sarjenka in tow.The frightened little girl refuses to leave Data’s sideand all of their interactions are incredibly sweet. Data’s initial decision to answer Sarjenka’s plea is one of the most human things he has ever done. Even though Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) erases Sarjenka’s memories of Data, the sentimental android leaves a singing stone with her as a memento.
1Data Sought A Connection With His Family
When Data is first introduced inStar Trek: The Next Generation,he knows very little about his origins. As theonly android in Starfleet,Data cannot help but wonder if there are others like him. After learning he has a brother named Lore (Brent Spiner) inTNGseason 1, episode 13, “Datalore,” Data tries to connect with him only for Lore to try to kill the Enterprise crew. Later, inTNGseason 4, episode 3, “Brothers,” Data runs into Lore again and also meets his creator, Dr. Noonien Soong.
After Lore wounds Soong and leaves him to die, Data laments that he cannot mourn his creator. Soong, however, knows thatData will grieve for him,“in [his] own way.“Data later dreams of his creator, learning that Soong wanted Data to learn and grow, and perhaps one day achieve his own form of humanity. Data was always the best of the Soongs, but he found a true family full of people who care about him in the crew of the USS Enterprise-D onStar Trek: The Next Generation.
