data star trek next generation

Data's Day (episode)

• View history
• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 1.6 Act Five
• 1.7 Log entries
• 2 Memorable quotes
• 3.1 Production history
• 3.2 Story and script
• 3.3 Production
• 3.4 Cast and characters
• 3.5 Continuity
• 3.6 Reception
• 3.7 Video and DVD releases
• 4.1 Starring
• 4.2 Also starring
• 4.3 Guest stars
• 4.4 Co-stars
• 4.5 Uncredited co-stars
• 4.6 Stand-ins
• 4.7.1 Unused production references
• 4.8 External links

Summary [ ]

Responding to Commander Maddox's help after Data's trial regarding his rights , Data records this log entry on Soong-type androids to aid Maddox's research. This is the day he records.

It begins with the handover of the bridge from night watch to day watch, with Data ceding command to Commander Riker . The first officer has deliberately arrived 15 minutes early to give Data, a member of the O'Brien wedding party, more time to prepare – a courtesy the second officer appreciates. Data relates his not-quite-emotional anticipation regarding his participation in the wedding and gives Riker the updates from the night watch, which essentially sum up the action to come. Lieutenant Juarez has gone into labor, and the ship is stationed, awaiting the arrival of an Ambassador -class ship, the USS Zhukov , bearing Vulcan Ambassador T'Pel .

Data's narration continues as he departs the bridge and travels to his first off-watch destination:

He then drops in on Keiko Ishikawa in her quarters to inform her that the wedding rehearsal is about to begin. Keiko, evidently anxious, reveals to Data that she is unhappy and that she would like to call off her wedding to Miles O'Brien . Upon Data questioning her, she says this decision would make her happy. Since Data introduced O'Brien to her, she also says it would mean a lot to her if he would talk to O'Brien on her behalf. Data accepts her request and leaves.

" She what?! Canceled the wedding? Today? Without even a word?! "

Data arrives at Ten Forward , just as crew members are busily setting up the wedding decorations, and delivers Keiko's "good news" to O'Brien, whose reaction is entirely opposite Data's prediction. After O'Brien storms out of Ten Forward to see Keiko, Geordi La Forge advises that, next time, Data should let him deliver any "good news." When La Forge leaves, Data continues his narration:

Act One [ ]

Data arrives at the transporter room and gives the order to Hubbell to bring Ambassador T'Pel aboard. Ignoring Data's greeting, she coldly informs him that she wishes to meet with his captain and immediately leaves the transporter room. Once inside the turbolift , Data again resumes his narration.

T'Pel introduced to Riker

Upon bringing T'Pel to the Captain Picard in his ready room , Data and Commander Riker are at once asked to leave by the ambassador, which they do without question. Data returns to the bridge, where Riker mutters to him that T'Pel is a "charming woman," in a very sarcastic tone.

In the ship's barbershop , La Forge and V'Sal are exchanging friendly insults and banter regarding La Forge's haircut and V'Sal's skill as a barber , since La Forge had been to the barbershop the previous week. V'Sal knows La Forge wants to look good for the wedding but says he is not a miracle worker. La Forge responds by requesting that V'Sal just keep his ears on straight this time.

When La Forge asks if he has come in for a trim, Data replies, in his attempt at a friendly jibe: " My hair does not require trimming, you lunkhead. " La Forge, in confusion, echoes " Lunkhead? ", prompting Data to explain that this was an attempt at banter and was not intended " as a serious disparagement ." Chuckling, La Forge advises him not to try it on the captain, and Data agrees.

Data then attempts to understand the interplay between Keiko and Chief O'Brien from earlier in the day, and he explores the terms "cold feet" and "jitters" with La Forge's help. La Forge ends the exchange by asserting his firm belief that the wedding will, in fact, proceed, telling Data that he'd better get a gift. Data's narration resumes:

Worf is in the ship's replicating center and confirms that he's picking out a wedding gift and agrees to help Data in finding something appropriate, having attended Human weddings before. Worf points out a selection of crystal glasses as a typical traditional gift his adoptive parents would give for family weddings. When he pauses the display on a crystal swan however, Data mentions that it was his understanding that the item selected should reflect the personality of the giver; a swan doesn't remind him of Worf. Data changes the subject to actual participation in a wedding. Worf notes his discomfort with the overall sentimentality of the wedding ritual and notes that though he would be honored to participate in one, he is not sure about all of the "talking, dancing, and crying" that would be involved. Data pauses at the notion of dancing.

In sickbay , Dr. Crusher and her staff examine the expectant Lieutenant Juarez. Data asks her in passing if she would teach him how to dance . Crusher pulls him quickly into the privacy of her office after Martinez notices them talking about this while walking by and asks why her. After she hurriedly brings him into her office, Data brings up her service record and notes she won first prize in numerous tap and jazz competitions. She stops him and explains that was a long time ago and does not want to be known as the "Dancing Doctor" again. Data takes it as a refusal, but she agrees to teach him as long as they keep it between the two of them and imitates a zipped-lip signal, to which Data agrees and returns the signal. Data is then paged to the bridge by Captain Picard , who asks him for a tactical projection of possible Romulan deployments along the Neutral Zone , using all Federation records on the subject and report to his ready room, without any particular given area to study. The captain then orders the ship to set a course for 130 mark 246 at warp 7, which takes the ship very close to the Neutral Zone. Data continues the narration:

Just then, Data catches his right hand tapping the console apparently of its own accord…

Act Two [ ]

Data enters the ready room and gives his analysis of the Romulan strategy behind the deployment of their ships in the sector. Their ships are deployed to support a policy of confrontation, as a method to test Federation defenses along the Neutral Zone; with a 90% probability that they will continue that policy with no sign of a more conciliatory attitude on their part. Ambassador T'Pel agrees with the caution but states the mission must proceed as planned. Picard notes that Starfleet Command agrees with the ambassador, but his call for an escort is flatly rejected by the ambassador with her giving the captain a stern look. He then thanks Data as he leaves the ready room.

Data then goes to his quarters and orders feline supplement 74 for Spot , a long-haired orange cat that is Data's. He proceeds to his work desk and as he asks the computer to run a fluidic sensor diagnostic , Spot jumps on his lap and Data proceeds to give the feline attention. Data is shortly joined by Chief O'Brien, who comes to apologize for his outburst earlier in the day in Ten Forward.

Data makes multiple and finally overly friendly attempts to make the chief more comfortable, offering pillows , music, and a drink. O'Brien gets to the point by appealing to Data to talk to Keiko to try and get the wedding back on. Data concludes by noting that Keiko may not have fully analyzed her position. He resumes his personal log as he walks down the corridor :

Data meets Keiko in the arboretum and logically and aggressively points out Keiko's "errors", to which Keiko responds with an emotional appeal to leave her alone.

Data then describes his research to Counselor Troi regarding various wedding customs. In her office , Troi advises him that the best way to help Miles and Keiko is to just stay out of the process. They then move onto the concept of Data getting married and his reservation that he cannot grow old with someone. They are interrupted when Ambassador T'Pel summons Data to her quarters.

T'Pel attempts to make use of Data's Priority 3 clearance on the ship to gain information about the Enterprise 's deflector shields ' field strength at maximum output, using her access code of Kappa Alpha 4601704. Data informs her that while the code is valid, he notes that he has the same safeguards as the ship's computer and therefore must report any inquiry regarding restricted information to the captain. T'Pel lamely backs out of the request by telling Data she was merely interested in his security safeguards, and that they appear to be adequate. She dismisses Data and he leaves her quarters. While en route to a turbolift, he continues the narration:

Act Three [ ]

Data learns how to dance

Data arrives at the holodeck , where Dr. Crusher is finishing up some pre-exercise stretching in a dance studio . She gives him one beginning lesson in tap-dancing. Data informs her after this lesson that she should simply teach him the final lesson. Data then perfectly mimics Dr. Crusher's routine, which becomes increasingly elaborate. Crusher has to interrupt Data's exploration of routines with the refrain of " Stop, Data! " numerous times.

After mastering tap-dancing, Data informs the doctor that he is now prepared to dance at the wedding. Dr. Crusher explains that tap is not used at weddings, though she doesn't know why when Data asks. She figures that the waltz , the appropriate dance, will be much easier, but contrary to her expectations, Data finds the act of dancing with a partner extremely difficult as he is unable to look at her feet, or understand the variables and nuances. Instead, Crusher leads while Data observes their feet as she explains the movements, and then to look into his partner's eyes while they switch leads, with Data being much improved. She also tells Data to smile, which he does with a mannequin-like enthusiasm. Crusher is called to look in on the laboring Lt. Juarez and leaves Data to practice with a holographic partner.

Data next arrives on the bridge as Commander Riker is telling a gruesomely funny story to two other officers and Ensign Kellogg who is monitoring the security console . His narration continues:

The fun comes to an end as a Romulan D'deridex -class warbird, the Devoras , is detected. Picard brings the ship to yellow alert and sends them a message. The warbird replies that they are to proceed on a heading of 037 mark 005 to the agreed-upon coordinates which cross into the Neutral Zone. Picard brings the ship to red alert , much to the surprise of T'Pel, which the captain reassures her that he trusts his crew and will not take any provocative action, unless he orders them.

T'Pel informs Data to hold position at a specified set of coordinates. Admiral Mendak appears on the viewscreen and agrees to allow the ambassador to be beamed aboard. T'Pel refuses any attempt to have an escort, or to have the conference held aboard the Enterprise and departs to the transporter room by herself. Over the intercom, the bridge crew monitors the transport as the transporter pattern begins to break down. The bridge crew and O'Brien try frantically to save it, but it was for naught as the ambassador is killed.

Act Four [ ]

Chief O'Brien begins as the narrative ends to describe the accident and Data supplies that it is unlike any transporter malfunction ever recorded on a Starfleet vessel as backups were specifically designed to prevent that. La Forge establishes that the transporter is in perfect working order, and O'Brien follows up with the statement that the transition coil was replaced only the week before, and that there was no interference from the Romulans' shields. Dr. Crusher then reports that there isn't enough left of T'Pel to do an autopsy , only some molecular compounds left on the transporter pad .

Worf calls Picard over the intercom that Admiral Mendak is hailing. Picard returns to the bridge and reports the apparent death of T'Pel. Mendak compliments him for a well-played maneuver, accusing him of arranging for T'Pel's death, and recommending that both ships leave the Neutral Zone. Picard gives Data the task of investigating the accident.

Data then arrives at sickbay and asks for a comparison of the ambassador's last transporter ID trace with the remains, with the caveat that he may be chasing an "untamed ornithoid without cause." The genetic code is examined and found to be identical, except that there are single-bit errors in the base-pair sequence as if it were replicated material. Dr. Crusher postulates that either the DNA was mutated by the accident, which Data immediately rules out as per the transporter records; or that the remains are not those of the ambassador.

Act Five [ ]

Data, La Forge, and Riker are in the ready room as Data explains to Captain Picard that the only explanation of the evidence is that a second transporter signal appears to have been operating during the accident, and that the ambassador was beamed off the Enterprise pad while fake remains were beamed onto the pad in her place. Picard queries Lt. Worf on the bridge as to the whereabouts of the Devoras . Worf replies that it is on heading 079 mark 125 at warp 2 and still in the Neutral Zone, on its way home.

Picard calls the ship to red alert again but orders all hands to battle stations . The captain orders the Enterprise to intercept the Devoras while Riker immediately orders Worf to raise shields , with all weapons loaded and ready. As the Enterprise comes in hot, the Romulan ship drops out of warp and both ships confront each other, ready for battle.

Admiral Mendak hails and begins to complain about Picard, who interrupts with an accusation that they faked Ambassador T'Pel's death and that they're holding her captive. At that moment, a second Warbird decloaks to starboard, and Mendak suggests that Picard leave. Picard states flatly that he will take any action necessary to rescue the ambassador, as she is a Federation citizen.

Mendak relents stating he is not ready to start a war today, and signals to his right, revealing Ambassador T'Pel, now dressed in a Romulan uniform with the traditional Romulan bowl cut. She introduces herself as Sub-commander Selok , a spy , and thanks Picard for his help in getting her home. Mendak notes that as there are no Federation citizens on his ship, he informs Picard that the game is over and expects them to leave peacefully before closing the channel; Worf reports three more Warbirds entering the sector on long-range sensors. The Romulans have scored a point on Starfleet today. Riker quietly sums up the situation as " Some days you get the bear, and some days the bear gets you. " Picard orders a reverse course back into Federation territory at warp 6.

Keiko is in the arboretum as Data approaches with an apology for interfering in her plans. She informs him that it would be best if he got dressed for the wedding, leaving Data confused as she hands him a white carnation for the "father of the bride."

The wedding takes place in Ten Forward. Traditional Japanese -sounding flute and string music plays, and Captain Picard officiates, stating the privilege of ship captains to perform weddings.

The wedding continues with a now-skillful Data leading the bride in a dance.

Back in duty uniform, Data looks for Dr. Crusher in sickbay and comes across Picard. The captain has dropped by the nursery after the wedding to see Lt. Juarez's baby boy , cooing softly in a crib. Noting that the child was born at the same time they were facing destruction, Picard welcomes him aboard.

Data begins night watch

Finally, Data leads his night watch team onto the bridge. Worf reports that all systems are normal, they are on course for Adelphous IV , engineering is realigning the main deflector dish , sickbay reports that Lt. Umbato broke two ribs during a holodeck exercise, and sensors continue to gather long-range information on the Murasaki quasar . Data takes the bridge from Worf.

The lights dim as the bridge's night watch commences.

Log entries [ ]

• Second officer's personal log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)

Memorable quotes [ ]

" Uh, Data, I've decided not to go through with it. " " You do not wish to rehearse? " " No, I'm calling off the wedding. "

" She what? Canceled the wedding? Today, without even a word?! Of all the childish, selfish irresponsible things to do! "

" This is my first officer, Commander William Riker. " " Leave us, please. " "Charming woman. " " The tone of Commander Riker's voice makes me suspect that he is not serious about finding Ambassador T'Pel "charming". My experience suggests that in fact he may mean the exact opposite of what he says. "

" Since your actions did not produce the desired result, the only advisable solution would be to reexamine your decision-making process and look for errors. "

" My hair does not require trimming, you lunkhead. "

" Have you ever been an actual participant in a Human wedding? " " NO. " " You would not consider it an honor? " " An honor perhaps, but Human bonding rituals often involve a great deal of talking, and dancing and… crying. "

" There may be a correlation between humor and sex. The need for more research is clearly indicated. "

" I don't want to be known as the Dancing Doctor… again. "

" Am I dancing, Doctor? "

" They don't do a lot of tap-dancing at weddings. " " Why? " " Well, Data, because… I don't really know why, Data. "

" I could be chasing an untamed ornithoid without cause. " " A wild goose chase? "

" In the game of Poker , there is a moment when a player must decide if an opponent is being deceptive or actually holds a winning hand. This decision is based not only on the odds, but also on an appraisal of the man. Is he bluffing or does he have the cards? "

" Some days you get the bear , and some days the bear gets you. "

" Since the days of the first wooden sailing ships, all captains have enjoyed the happy privilege of joining together two people in the bonds of matrimony. And so, it is my honor to unite you, Keiko Ishikawa, and you, Miles Edward O'Brien, together in matrimony… "

" There are still many Human emotions I do not comprehend: anger, hatred, revenge, but I am not mystified by the desire to be loved or the need for friendship. These are things I do understand. "

" Welcome aboard. "

Background information [ ]

Production history [ ].

• Final draft script: 10 October 1990 [1]
• Second unit and insert shots filmed: 7 December 1990
• Premiere airdate: 7 January 1991
• First UK airdate: 15 June 1994

Story and script [ ]

• The idea of doing a "day in the life" plot was first pitched by Harold Apter during the third season . Various viewpoints were considered, including Picard's and that of the ship itself. According to Ronald D. Moore , Data's viewpoint was finally chosen, "because he's the only one who's up 24 hours a day". However, Rick Berman insisted that at least one plot arc should run through the story, and the Romulan spy intrigue was created. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  (2nd ed., p. 151)) Michael Piller explained, " Rick believed that you cannot have a show that has no jeopardy or drama on Star Trek . I agreed with him, otherwise all you're doing is a scrapbook. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 213)
• Regarding the latter, Piller explained, " I was against that because I felt that O'Brien was too good a character and potential benefit to the show to make him another star's supporting character. I felt he would always sort of be a sounding board for someone else to talk to and I didn't want to waste him on that. So we never did get around to replacing Wesley and O'Brien emerged on his own. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 213)
• Moore added, " We obviously didn't want any of the regulars getting married, because that's a big thing and we didn't want it to be a faceless nobody. Everybody was delighted with the work Colm Meaney had been doing for us and we did want to do more with him as the series was going on. So we said this was a neat idea – we'll marry O'Brien. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 213)
• Moore was assigned to rewrite Apter's teleplay. According to Moore, " In Apter's version, there was a scene on the holodeck where Data literally does John Travolta 's big disco number from Saturday Night Fever . Complete with the white suit. It was hysterical ! Everybody knew we were never going to do that, but the idea of including some dancing was then in the air. " ( Star Trek: The Next Generation 365 , p. 187)
• This episode marks the first night watch seen on screen, although it does explain the difference in bridge lighting in several previous episodes. Moore got the idea from The Making of Star Trek , in which Gene Roddenberry was noted to have proposed that a starship's lights would be dimmed at times to simulate a natural day/night cycle for Humans. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation 365 , p. 187)

Production [ ]

• Gates McFadden and Brent Spiner did their own dancing in this episode, except for the overhead shots where Spiner requested a double, as he did not feel confident enough to pull it off. McFadden did the choreography, as she was a well-known Hollywood choreographer long before Next Generation . According to director Robert Wiemer , McFadden and Spiner also developed the lines in the scene, which were later accepted by the scriptwriters. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  (2nd ed., p. 151))
• Second Unit and insert shots for this episode were filmed on Friday, 7 December 1990 on Paramount Stage 8 and 9 including the scenes of William Glover .

Cast and characters [ ]

• This was the first appearance of Rosalind Chao as Keiko; her first and last as Keiko Ishikawa , and her first as Keiko O'Brien . She makes several more appearances in TNG, before becoming a regular recurring character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .
• V'Sal , the barber , first appeared in this episode. As his name was not stated in dialogue, the Star Trek Encyclopedia  (2nd ed., p. 310) assumed that he, and another Bolian barber featured in later episodes, Mr. Mot , were in fact the same person.

Continuity [ ]

• The running narration of this episode is a log entry recorded by Data for Commander Bruce Maddox , who wished to disassemble Data in a risky procedure to experiment on him in " The Measure Of A Man ". After the trial on his right to choose, Data remained open to future collaboration, told Maddox to continue his work and said that he found some of what he proposed "intriguing." His reference to Maddox's "most recent letter" suggests that he and Data have had a continuing correspondence.
• This episode features the first occasion where Data refers to Geordi as his best friend.
• This was the first appearance of Data's cat , Spot , although it does not receive a name until " In Theory ". According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  (2nd ed., p. 152), the cat was Spiner's idea.
• This was also the first appearance of several locations aboard the Enterprise -D including the arboretum , the barbershop , the nursery , and the replicating center .
• Picard's actions in this episode were mentioned ten episodes later in " The Drumhead ", twisted into near treason by witch-hunting Admiral Norah Satie .
• The device used by V'Sal's Human colleague to dye the alien officer's elaborate hair is usually seen as an engineering tool.
• The replicating center is a partial redress of the bridge of the USS Enterprise as seen in the first three movies.
• Data mentions that this episode takes place during "a celebration of the Hindu Festival of Lights ", one of the few references to actual, non-fictional religions in Star Trek . This suggests (but not confirms) a date of October 24th, since the festival would fall on that date in 2367 . Also, according to Data, the Enterprise was commissioned exactly 1,550 days (about four years, three months) prior. Taking the October date into account, this suggests the Enterprise was commissioned July 27th , 2363 . This differs with the commissioning date of "4 October 2363" in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual . If the wedding date is taken to be 1,550 days after the date of commission in the Technical Manual, then the wedding actually occurs January 1st of 2368 .
• As an homage, Picard's wedding remarks are almost the same as those which Kirk uses in the teaser for the Star Trek: The Original Series episode " Balance of Terror ", an episode also involving the Romulans. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  (2nd ed., p. 151))
• In turn, Picard's comments were used as the basis for the wedding in the Deep Space Nine episode " 'Til Death Do Us Part ". ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion  (pp. 687-688))
• By contrast, however, Benjamin Sisko officiates the wedding of Rom and Leeta in the Bajoran language , as he is acting in his capacity as Emissary of the Prophets , rather than as a Starfleet captain. ( DS9 : " Call to Arms ")
• Picard mentions, as Kirk had, that ship captains "since the days of wooden sailing ships" as having the ability to legally marry couples. This authority, however, was limited in many Terran navies. The captain also had to be a notary public or other recognized source. Some countries included a notary public license with the ship's master's certificates which allow captains to marry people on board.
• The appearance of the pads on the transporter platform is inconsistent throughout this episode. In some scenes, the border lines around each pad are more pronounced than they are during others. This is because the set was being redressed for use in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country . The thicker black border lines seen in that film were kept in for the rest of the series.
• A passing shot of the Enterprise immediately prior to the wedding scene appears to use the same passes of the ship as " Encounter at Farpoint ", though with the Excelsior elements removed.
• The shot of a test cylinder being beamed away and back again appears to be the same shot from " Hollow Pursuits ".

Reception [ ]

• Ronald D. Moore was satisfied by the final result, calling it a "great, fun episode. " ( Star Trek: The Next Generation 365 , p. 187)
• Rick Berman commented, " I ended up being pleasantly surprised, but it was an off-episode. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 213)
• A mission report for this episode by Patrick Daniel O'Neill was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 15 , pp. 60-62.
• Michael Chabon watched this episode twice while writing for the first season of Star Trek: Picard . [2]

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 43, 9 March 1992
• As part of the UK VHS collection Star Trek: The Next Generation - Data Box : 6 November 1995
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment ): Volume 4.4, 2 July 2001
• As part of the TNG Season 4 DVD collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Cmdr. William Riker

Also starring [ ]

• LeVar Burton as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
• Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
• Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data

Guest stars [ ]

• Rosalind Chao as Keiko O'Brien
• Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien
• Sierra Pecheur as T'Pel / Selok
• Alan Scarfe as Mendak

Co-stars [ ]

• Shelly Desai as V'Sal
• April Grace as Transporter Technician

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• Majel Barrett as USS Enterprise -D computer voice
• Bowman as science division officer
• Michael Braveheart as Martinez
• Cameron as Kellogg
• Tracee Lee Cocco as Jae
• Gerard David as operations division ensign
• Denise Deuschle as science division officer
• Jeremy Doyle as operations ensign
• Michele Gerren as civilian
• Eben Ham as operations division ensign
• Melanie Hathorn as sciences officer
• Kai as science division officer
• Kast as command division officer
• Loska as command mission ops officer
• Michael Moorehead as science division ensign
• Teri Noel as relief ops manager
• Randy Pflug as Jones
• Keith Rayve as command conn ensign
• John Rice as science division officer
• Denise Lynne Roberts as Patti
• Noriko Suzuki as operations division ensign
• Maureen Tamblyn as dance partner
• Matt Tufo as barber
• Uchizono as command division officer
• Natalie Wood as Bailey
• Harry Young as science officer
• Alfredo Juarez
• Juarez baby
• Alien command officer
• Boy in replicating center
• Female relief ops ensign
• Female sciences officer
• Male command officer
• Operations ensign

Stand-ins [ ]

• Nora Leonhardt – stand-in for Marina Sirtis
• Tim McCormack – stand-in for Brent Spiner
• Lorine Mendell – stand-in and photo double for Gates McFadden
• Randy Pflug – stand-in for Colm Meaney
• Richard Sarstedt – stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
• Dennis Tracy – stand-in for Patrick Stewart
• Guy Vardaman – photo double for Brent Spiner
• James Washington – stand-in and photo double for Michael Dorn
• Unknown actor – dancing double for Brent Spiner

References [ ]

abduction ; ability ; access code ; accident ; accusation ; adage ; Adelphous IV ; admiral ; adoptive parent ; advice ; agreement ; " all hands "; alternative ; ambassador ; Ambassador -class ; analysis ; Andorian ; android ; anger ; answer ; anticipation ; appeal ; arboretum ; arm ; argument ; arrival ; assumption ; " at hand "; attitude ; Aurelia ; autopsy ; autosequencer ; axe ; back-up system ; barber ; barbershop ; base pair sequence ; battle stations ; bear ; beauty ; behavior ; best friend ; biomechanical maintenance program ; birthday ; blade ; bluff ; Bolian ; Brahms, Johannes ; bride ; carnation ; celebration ; chair ; chess tournament ; children ; choice ; citizen ; commissioning ; computer ; computer log ; computer program ; comrade ; conclusion ; confrontation ; contraction ; coordinates ; count ; course ; crew ; Crusher 4 ; crying ; custom ; cybernetics ; D'deridex -class ( unnamed escort ; unnamed reinforcements ); dance ( dancing ); dance lesson ; dance partner ; dance studio ; " Dancing Doctor, The "; day ; day watch ; Daystrom Institute ; decision making process ; deductive reasoning ; defense ; defense system ( defensive system ); deflector shield ; delegation ; destruction ; detective ; Devoras ; diplomat ; diplomatic conference ; diplomatic relations ; DNA ; Doyle, Arthur Conan ; dress uniform ; ear ; emergency manual control ; emotion ; emotional consideration ; emotional distraction ; emotional response ; engineering status report ; error ; event ; evidence ; examination ; exercise ; experience ; explanation ; expression ; eye ; fact ; father of the bride ; Federation ; Federation records ; Federation territory ; feeling ; feline supplement 74 ; field strength ; first officer ; first prize ; fluidic sensor diagnostic ; foot ; friend ; friendship ; gagaku ; Galvin V ; genetic code ; genetic record ; goal ; " good luck "; " wild goose chase "; guest quarters ; guide ; " gut feeling "; hatchet ; hail ; hair ; haircut ; hairstick ; happiness ; hatred ; headsman ; high school ; Hindu Festival of Lights ; Hindu ; Holmes, Sherlock ; holodeck ; honor ; hour ; Human ; humor ; hundred ; idea ; impulse power ; " in love "; information ; inquiry ; instruction ; intuition ( instinct ); intercept course ; investigation ; " Isn't It Romantic? "; irony ; Japanese ; jazz dance ; joy ; judgment ; kimono ; kindred spirit ; labor ; lesson ; letter ; level 1 diagnostic ; lie ; logic ; long range scan ; long range sensor ; love ; lunkhead ; lying ; Maddox, Bruce ; main deflector dish ; malfunction ; marriage ( bonds of matrimony ); matter to energy signal ratio ; medicine ; meeting ; methodology ; Midsummer Night's Dream, A ; minute ; miracle ; miracle worker ; mission ; mistake ; mitochondrial structure ; molecular structure ; moral ; Murasaki quasar ; music ; mystery ; navigational system ; negotiation ; night watch ; nucleotide base ; number one ; offer ; opinion ; opponent ; organic compound ; organic matter ; organic sample ; ornithoid ; orphan ; outsider ; override ; parameter ; patience ; patriot ; percent ; performance ; person ; personality ; personnel transfer ; phase transition coil ; phaser ; phaser range ; pillow ; play ; poker player ; playing card ; poker ; policy ; power ; power interruption ; privilege ; probability ( odds ); problem ; professional services ; promotion ; protocol ; question ; rabbit ; reason ; record ; red alert ; rehearsal ; rematerialization process ; replicating center ; report ; research ; result ; revenge ; reverse course ; rib ; risk ; role ; Romulan ; Romulan Neutral Zone ; Romulan Neutral Zone sector ; Romulan Star Empire ; Rozhenko, Helena ; Rozhenko, Sergey ; sailing ship ; St. Louis ; Saint Louis Academy ; secondary school ; security clearance ; security safeguard ; sense of humor ; service record ; sex ; sickbay ; signal lock ; sister ; smile ; social interaction ; society ; solution ; spy ; " stand by "; standard procedure ; starboard ; Starfleet ; starship ; story ; strategy ; sub-commander ; subject ; subspace bias ; subspace channel ; subspace frequency ; subspace message ; success ; supposition ; swan ; system flaw ; tap dance ; tap and jazz competition ; text ; theory ; thing ; thousand ; torpedo bay ; transfer sequence ; transition coil ; transporter ; transporter carrier wave ; transporter emergency ; transporter ID trace ; transporter malfunction ; transporter pad ; transporter pattern ; transporter record ; transporter room ; transporter signal ; transporter unit ; tricorder ; truth ; turbolift ; Umbato ; understanding ; variable ; voice ; Vulcan ; Vulcan philosophy ; " wait a minute "; warbird, Romulan ; warp factor ; weapon system ; wedding ( wedding day ); wedding dress ; wedding gift ; wedding rehearsal ; week ; " welcome aboard "; yellow alert ; Zhukov , USS

Unused production references [ ]

Mexler ; queen

External links [ ]

• " Data's Day " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " Data's Day " at Wikipedia
• "Data's Day" at StarTrek.com
• " Data's Day " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
• "Data's Day" script  at Star Trek Minutiae
• " Data's Day " at the Internet Movie Database
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Star Trek: The Next Generations 'Cause and Effect' Explained

T he Star Trek franchise has a straightforward mandate when it comes to making individual episodes. The writers select a science fiction idea with varying levels of grounded realism. Each concept walks a line between needless complexity and fanciful silliness. The writers and directors generally accomplish that feat, delivering fun episodes of TV that leave audiences thinking without making them laugh inappropriately. "Cause and Effect" is a stellar example of a now well-worn trope that blew fans' minds in the 90s.

The time loop or temporal loop is a literary plot device that originated over 100 years ago. Russian novelist P. D. Ouspensky used the concept in his 1915 book, Strange Life of Ivan Osokin, to discuss the mechanical nature of human thought. Richard A. Lupoff's 1973 short story "12:01 P.M." cemented the concept and its most common format. The most popular example remains Harold Ramis's Groundhog Day . The concept appears throughout pop culture today, sometimes including groundbreaking innovations like Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's "Through the Flash." "Cause and Effect" is Star Trek 's first foray into the concept.

Star Trek: Who is Isabella?

What is "cause and effect" about.

"Cause and Effect" opens with a gripping teaser in which the Enterprise-D suffers a cataclysmic collision, spins out of control, and explodes, killing everyone aboard. The episode resumes unabated, depicting a tense poker game between the Enterprise-D crew members. Beverly Crusher calls Riker's bluff, winning the hand with unusual prescience. As she treats Geordi La Forge for his unexplained vertigo symptoms, Crusher experiences déjà vu. Worf discovers a localized fluctuation in the space-time continuum, through which a Federation ship suddenly emerges. The vessel rockets inexorably toward the Enterprise-D. Picard requests suggestions from the senior staff. Riker recommends igniting an explosive decompression reaction to push the Enterprise to the side. Data pitches using a tractor beam to shove the oncoming vessel away. Picard follows Data's advice , but the ships collide and explode, just as they did in the teaser.

The Enterprise-D crew experiences the time loop again. They play cards, but Riker experiences déjà vu and folds before Crusher can call his bluff. Details shift through each subsequent loop. Now La Forge feels the familiarity Crusher expressed. Crusher and other crew members hear whispers in the night. Déjà vu spreads throughout the crew. The Enterprise hits the mystery ship and explodes again. Crusher records the mysterious voices on her third trip through the loop. La Forge discovers the temporal loop , prompting Data to examine the recordings and pick out thousands of copies of Picard, Worf, and Data's voices. With the knowledge of what will happen next, it's up to the senior staff to find a way out before they're doomed to endless violent deaths.

Why is "Cause and Effect" significant?

"Cause and Effect" earned excellent ratings when it premiered. It also prompted hundreds of calls to local affiliate stations from confused viewers. The TNG season 5 Blu-ray special features mention widespread complaints from fans. According to writer Brannon Braga , audiences of the early 90s were less understanding of non-conventional story structures. Those calling in believed that the episode footage was repeating unintentionally between commercial breaks. This likely primed Star Trek fans for unusual future episodes. Braga also stated that "Cause and Effect" was his most popular episode. The outing appears to this day on various top ten lists and compilations.

How does "Cause and Effect" end?

Data discovers a way to create a resonance in his positronic brain, essentially leaving a message for himself on the next loop. As the day starts anew, Data gradually notices the number three appearing in various places. Data deals only threes in the poker game, followed by several players simultaneously drawing three of a kind. The statistical anomaly draws attention. Data runs diagnostics, receiving a string of threes. He reports his findings, prompting a discussion about the number's potential meaning. As the ship emerges again, Data realizes that the three represents the command pips on Riker's uniform. Data withdraws his tractor beam idea and supports Riker's proposition , which allows the Enterprise to evade the oncoming vessel. The time loop ends, revealing that the crew spent 17 days in the fluctuation. They welcome the crew of the USS Bozeman , who has been trapped for more than 90 years.

"Cause and Effect" is a compelling episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation . It enjoyed the benefit of a trope only one year before Bill Murray would make it iconic. Though contemporary audiences struggled to understand the unique premise, modern viewers love the episode. It's funny that Jonathan Frakes would direct an episode in which the solution to an otherwise unsolvable problem is to listen to his character. "Cause and Effect" is worth a rewatch, for anyone looking to relive the past a few times.

Star Trek: Why Was The Original Series Canceled?

Star Trek: Who Created Data And What Happened To Him?

In the long history of "Star Trek," few characters are as beloved by fans as the android Data (Brent Spiner). A cybernetic being powered by a positronic brain, Data served as second officer on Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) U.S.S. Enterprise, the setting of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." But while fans got to spend time with Data over the many episodes of TV and movies in which he appeared, far less is known about his reclusive creator, Doctor Noonian Soong (also Brent Spiner).

Indeed, the story of Data's creation by Soong is documented in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and additional information has been included in other movies and series, most recently "Star Trek: Picard." We've learned that the cyberneticist came from a long line of geniuses who worked to create new life forms using science, not all of whom were pure of heart. Indeed, Soong himself was driven by an obsession that lasted until his final moments. Though he was declared a madman and considered a disgrace by Federation scientists, he continued his work in secret. Eventually, he was destroyed by his own creations.

The mad cyberneticist Noonian Soong made Data and his evil twin Lore

Doctor Noonian Soong came from a long lineage of mad cybernetics experts, and they were engaged in some questionable experiments long before Data was assembled. Soong's ancestor, Adam Soong (Brent Spiner once again) went so far as to create a series of clones. All of them died with the exception of one, Kore, and he spun the fiction that he was her father in the traditional sense of the word. That history was depicted in Season 2 of "Star Trek: Picard." Adam may even have been connected to the creation of the villain Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban), but that's a story for another time. Later, in the "Star Trek" timeline's 22nd century, Adam's descendant, Arik Soong, picked up the torch of genetic and cybernetic experimentation. The character was featured in multiple episodes of "Star Trek: Enterprise."

This lineage eventually culminated with Data's progenitor, Noonian Soong, who worked in secret alongside his wife, Juliana O'Donnell (Fionnula Flanagan) to perfect his research and create the fan-favorite android. But Data was actually the fifth such android Soong built. The first three were far less capable and much closer to mindless robots. His breakthrough came with the fourth attempt, Data's evil brother Lore . Ultimately, it was Soong's fifth android, Data, whom the scientist considered to be the apex of his work. Unlike Lore, who had emotions but lacked a sense of ethics and therefore was a loose cannon, Data was not given the emotional programming, allowing him to function within certain ethical parameters.

Data's brother Lore killed their creator

Ultimately, it was Noonian Soong's own work that killed him. His fourth android, Lore, was much like Data but without the sense of ethics that kept him from being corrupted. Over time, Lore developed a deep resentment for his father figure, believing that Soong was playing favorites and preferred Data. Lore's paranoia was further confirmed when he learned that Soong was secretly developing an emotion chip for Data. The actual reason for this was that Soong mistakenly believed that Lore was disassembled and functionally dead, so he had no reason to work on Lore's own upgrades.

When Soong sent out a signal summoning Data to Terlina III, where he had secretly been furthering his cybernetic experiments, it also drew Lore's attention, and the two brothers converged on the planet in the Season 4 "The Next Generation" episode "Brothers." After Soong reveals in the episode that he'd created an emotion chip for Data, Lore's jealousy grows. He deactivates Data, then impersonates him in order to receive the emotion chip for himself. But since the chip wasn't meant for him, Lore becomes unstable and attacks the already sickly Soong.

In Soong's final moments, he compares Lore to the biblical Esau, Jacob's evil sibling who impersonated his brother to receive a false inheritance from their blind father, Isaac. But as Data, rescued by William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), comes to the aid of his dying creator, he finally refers to Soong as "father."

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Published Apr 21, 2019

Becoming Mr. Data

Cosplayer Eric Hall takes us step-by-step through his process of finding his inner android.

StarTrek.com

I love Mr. Data. And, to the surprise of some, I also love his evil brother Lore.

As a nerdy kid in the 1980s when Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted, I immediately identified with Data's quest to better understand humanity. I admired his positive attitude, his sense of duty, and his willingness to collaborate with those completely unlike him for the benefit of the greater good.

I also happened to look a lot like my favorite robot already. There were times when I would be out and about in jeans and a t-shirt, and a random grocery store cashier or gas station attendant would approach out of the blue and say,  “Y'know' you look like that robot guy from Star Trek ." Friends at work told me that I looked like Data as well, possibly due to my dependably slicked back hair — much like Data himself. And so in 1992, I took the cosplay plunge, starting with a licensed gold TNG Ops uniform Halloween costume from Rubies, with some black pants. I wore my new costume to work that Halloween, with some white crème Halloween makeup on my face and my hair slicked back as usual. It was a big hit!

That same year, I began attending Star Trek conventions in the Seattle area where I lived. Back in the day, Seattle was the top ratings market for TNG, Deep Space Nine and Voyager , and there were conventions in Seattle, Portland, and nearby Vancouver, Canada, just about every four months. During one convention trip to Vancouver I picked up a nicer and more accurate TNG Ops uniform and used that as I attended conventions going forward.

After a job transfer to Salt Lake City, Utah, I was within an easy six-hour drive to Las Vegas for the annual convention there, and I’ve attended each year since. During my first trip to the Las Vegas convention in 2002,  I was on my way to the convention hall when a woman at the other end of the room saw me, and yelled out, “DATA!” I was used to being asked to pose for photos and she looked so excited to see me, so I headed over to grab whatever selfie might result. When we were finally toe to toe, she looked me in the eyes, and a wave of disappointment washed over her face.

“Oh… you don’t have his eyes,” she said, before walking away. I decided right there to get some yellow contact lenses when I returned home so that I could take my cosplay to the next level.

My secrets and tips for being the best version of Data I can possibly be are listed below:

• My hair is a dishwater blond, and Data’s hair is a darker brown. I use brown hairspray dye after I have slicked my hair back to darken my hair to match his, and to even out my hairline to android-like precision.
• I keep my sideburns somewhat long so that I can trim them to a triangular Starfleet point before applying makeup.
• The makeup I use depends on what I will be doing. If I’ll be cosplaying Data all day long, going outside into the heat, dancing or otherwise moving around a lot, I use professional stage makeup. Mehron Clown White greasepaint is a great option. For shorter time frames of just a few hours, I use Ben Nye Crème Foundation P-1 White makeup. Both  can be found at theatrical supply stores, or through online retailers.
• After I have applied the makeup, I use a powder brush with regular baby powder to set my face. While there are professional powders available used to set makeup, most I’ve seen have a pink or tan cast to them. Using powder keeps foundation from smearing and sweating off, and helps to reduce the sheen and reflective glare in photos so that I appear to have pale artificial skin. I keep a small container of foundation with me so I can touch up my lips if needed after eating or drinking
• I use white gloves (actually glove liners I bought at a military surplus store) so that my hands match the color of my face. That way, I can navigate conventions and events without leaving behind makeup from my fingers.
• You can purchase and thrift your costumes! My main TNG uniform, as well as my First Contact duty uniform and dress uniform, were all purchased. But for many of my Data variations, I've ventured out to thrift stores to complete the look. You'd be amazed at what you can find with some hunting — not to mention the money you can save.
• Props are a great addition to any cosplay. For regular TNG Data, I have a mechanical toy cat that moves, meows and purrs that I carry as his pet cat Spot, as well as my original Playmates phaser and tricorder toys that light up and make sounds from the series. I also enjoy the challenge of re-creating props on a budget from thrift store finds.
• I have the complete set of TNG DVDs and I watch episodes on Hulu as well. I’ve memorized a few lines that Data is known for, and I try to imitate his voice. For example, when people come up to me and ask me how I am, I respond by saying “I am functioning within established parameters,” without cracking a smile.

Hopefully, the next time you run into me at a convention I'll have rounded out some of the cosplays on my Data wishlist. I'm looking forward to getting not only Lore’s gold engineering jumpsuit from “ Datalore ," but Data’s British Royal Navy holodeck uniform from Star Trek Generations and his prisoner jumpsuit from “ The Most Toys .” This android's work is never done!

Eric Allan Hall has been costuming since 1987. A lifelong Star Trek fan, he's  been featured in his Borg costume in the documentaries Trek Nation , by Rod Roddenberry, and in William Shatner’s Get A Life . Transplanted to Utah from the Seattle area in 2001, Eric has attended about 80 conventions since he first started cosplaying – often with his family.

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Screen Rant

Picard never appeared in star trek’s mirror universe but his doppelganger was just as evil.

TNG never visited the Mirror Universe, but Star Trek: Picard revealed that the Confederation of Earth's Jean-Luc was just as evil as any Terran.

• General Picard's reign of terror in the Confederate Earth was just as brutal as the Mirror Universe's Terran Empire.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation never visited the Mirror Universe due to a cooler, scientific approach by the producers.
• Fans had to wait until Star Trek: Picard to meet General Picard's evil alternate, as TNG rejected the idea.

Audiences never met the Mirror Universe version of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), but Star Trek: Picard revealed that he had an evil doppelgänger who was just as evil as anyone in the Terran Empire. In Picard season 2, the machinations of Q (John de Lancie) created an alternate timeline in which the United Federation of Planets becomes the Confederation of Earth. This brutal regime was the antithesis of Star Trek's Federation, drawing comparisons between the Confederation and the Terran Empire .

Both the Confederation and the Terran Empire placed humanity above all other species in the galaxy, leading to a bloody and brutal subjugation of other alien races. As Star Trek: TNG didn't visit the Mirror Universe , General Picard was the closest that fans got to seeing his evil counterpart. Just like the Mirror Universe version of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), the Confederation's General Picard was a cruel despot who had conquered countless worlds and killed scores of enemies .

Worf Ruled The Mirror Universe In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (No, Really)

General picard of confederation of earth was as evil as mirror universe.

Of the many reveals about Star Trek: Picard 's Confederation , the information about General Picard and his reign of terror was the most chilling. General Picard annihilated the Klingon home world Qo'noS, much like the Mirror Universe's Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) did in Star Trek: Discovery . Rather than command the USS Enterprise-D, Picard was in command of the CSS World Razer, a fearsome looking starship of which an oil painting was hung in the General's study . General Picard's study was also decorated with the skulls of some notable Star Trek figures, including:

• Borg Sentinel One of Two
• Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn)
• Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo)
• General Martok (J.G. Hertzler)
• Director Sarek (Mark Lenard)

Like his Prime Universe counterpart, General Picard also had a synthetic body, which he had acquired following a battle with Gul Dukat . The General's chateau was staffed by both Romulan and synthetic slaves, who maintained his home while he was on important business for the Confederation Corps. When Prime Picard arrives in the Confederation reality in Star Trek: Picard season 2, it's on the eve of Eradication Day, in which the General is scheduled to publicly execute the Borg Queen (Annie Wersching). The Borg Queen's skull would have joined the others in Picard's trophy room if Jean-Luc and the La Ceritos crew hadn't saved her.

Why Star Trek: The Next Generation Never Went To The Mirror Universe

The notion of a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode set in the Mirror Universe existed from as early as 1987, when David Gerrold joked about a sequel to "Mirror, Mirror" in Starlog magazine which would have featured Edith Keeler (Joan Collins) and dangerous, carniverous Tribbles . Jerome Bixby, who wrote the original Mirror Universe episode of Star Trek: The Original Series pitched a sequel for TNG that would have featured older versions of the TOS characters . However, this idea was rejected by Paramount, who didn't want to feature them so heavily in TNG .

Of the many Mirror Universe episodes pitched to Star Trek: The Next Generation , hardly any of the failed pitches have become public knowledge.

A.J. Black's book Lost Federations: The Unofficial Unmade History of Star Trek suggests that the pulpy idea of a darkest timeline didn't sit well with " The Next Generation's cooler, scientific approach to Star Trek, particularly in the Piller era. " Black's assumption is largely correct, backed up by Michael Piller himself. Piller explained that he " wasn't interested " in revisiting the Mirror Universe during TNG , despite the multiple "Mirror, Mirror" sequels that were pitched to him . While Piller would eventually acquiesce and produce a "Mirror, Mirror" sequel on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , fans would have to wait until Star Trek: Picard to meet Jean-Luc's evil alternate.

All episodes of Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: The Next Generation are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Picard

*Availability in US

Not available

After starring in Star Trek: The Next Generation for seven seasons and various other Star Trek projects, Patrick Stewart is back as Jean-Luc Picard. Star Trek: Picard focuses on a retired Picard who is living on his family vineyard as he struggles to cope with the death of Data and the destruction of Romulus. But before too long, Picard is pulled back into the action. The series also brings back fan-favorite characters from the Star Trek franchise, such as Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), Worf (Michael Dorn), and William Riker (Jonathan Frakes).

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation - Data

• S1E12. Datalore

• S2E03. Elementary, Dear Data

• S2E06. The Schizoid Man

• S2E09. The Measure of a Man

• S2E15. Pen Pals

• S3E02. The Ensigns of Command
• 
S3E16. The Offspring

• S3E22. The Most Toys

• S4E03. Brothers
• S4E11. Data's Day
• S4E25. In Theory
• S5E04. Silicon Avatar
• S5E11. Hero Worship

• S5E26. Time's Arrow Pt. 1

• S6E01. Time's Arrow Pt. 2

• S6E08. A Fistful of Datas

• S6E09. The Quality of Life

• S6E16. Birthright Pt. 1
• S6E17. Birthright Pt. 2

• S6E26. Descent Pt. 1

• S7E01. Descent Pt. 2

• S7E06. Phantasms

• S7E10. Inheritance
• S7E16. Thine Own Self

• S7E17. Masks
• Movies or TV
• IMDb Rating
• In Theaters
• Release Year

1. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Naked Now (1987)

TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

The crew of the Enterprise is infected with a virus that causes them to behave as though they were intoxicated.

Director: Paul Lynch | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Denise Crosby

Votes: 4,706

(Has a subplot/contributes significantly.)

2. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Lonely Among Us (1987)

While distracted by two antithetical races applying for Federation membership, the Enterprise picks up a sentient entity that can alternately possess either man or machinery.

Director: Cliff Bole | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Denise Crosby

Votes: 3,790

While not particularly Data-focused, this episode sees the birth of Data's special interest on Sherlock Holmes.

3. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Big Goodbye (1988)

Captain Picard and some of his crew are caught in a deadly trap in the holodeck as the result of a ship-wide scan from an alien race.

Director: Joseph L. Scanlan | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Denise Crosby

Votes: 3,989

4. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Datalore (1988)

TV-PG | 46 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

The Enterprise visits the planet where Data was created and discovers another android like him, but when he's assembled, he's not exactly like him.

Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Denise Crosby

Votes: 4,171

(Primary main character.)

5. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Skin of Evil (1988)

Counselor Troi is held captive on a deserted planet by a slick, black, oily, sentient and immortal puddle of evil.

Votes: 4,061

6. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Neutral Zone (1988)

While assigned to investigate missing outposts in the Neutral Zone, the Enterprise revives three cryogenically frozen people found aboard a wayward derelict Earth vessel.

Director: James L. Conway | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Denise Crosby

Votes: 3,870

7. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Elementary, Dear Data (1988)

An attempt to provide Data with a challenging Sherlock Holmes holodeck program backfires when its Professor Moriarty character accidentally becomes self-aware.

Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 4,350

8. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Schizoid Man (1989)

A dying anti-social scientist unintentionally comes upon the perfect vessel in which to preserve his intellect and arrogant personality - Data.

Director: Les Landau | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,552

9. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Measure of a Man (1989)

When Data resigns his commission rather than be dismantled for examination by an inadequately skilled scientist, a formal hearing is convened to determine whether Data is considered property without rights or is a sentient being.

Director: Robert Scheerer | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 6,231

10. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Royale (1989)

Worf, Data, and Riker find themselves trapped in a re-creation of a poorly written novel.

Director: Cliff Bole | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,748

11. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Pen Pals (1989)

Data befriends an alien girl in distress, breaking the Prime Directive, while Wesley commands his first team.

Director: Winrich Kolbe | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,478

12. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Peak Performance (1989)

The crew of the Enterprise participates in war games.

Votes: 3,580

13. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Ensigns of Command (1989)

After 111 years of silence, an extremely litigious alien race asserts its agreed upon right to wipe out a Federation colony in its territory.

Votes: 3,706

14. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Deja Q (1990)

Much to Picard's displeasure, Q reappears on the Enterprise, claiming to have been ejected from the Q Continuum, and therefore, lost his powers.

Votes: 4,283

15. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Offspring (1990)

After returning from a cybernetics conference to the Enterprise, Data creates his own "child," much to the chagrin of his captain, and without regards to the ramifications with Starfleet.

Director: Jonathan Frakes | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 4,580

16. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Most Toys (1990)

When transporting a dangerous material to the Enterprise, Data is kidnapped and the crew is led to believe he is dead when the shuttlecraft he was piloting explodes en route.

Director: Timothy Bond | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,570

17. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Brothers (1990)

After an accident aboard the Enterprise leaves one of its children in grave danger, Data commandeers the Enterprise, driven to take the ship to an unknown origin, where an interesting figure awaits.

Votes: 3,610

18. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Legacy (1990)

The crew of the Enterprise enters into orbit around the home planet of their former crewmate, Tasha Yar, where they encounter her sister.

Votes: 3,210

19. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Data's Day (1991)

Data tries to comprehend the complex emotions between O'Brien and Keiko, who are about to be married.

Director: Robert Wiemer | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,821

20. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Clues (1991)

Effects of passing through a wormhole give the Enterprise crew a sense that they were unconscious for more than the thirty seconds they've been led to believe.

Votes: 3,835

21. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: In Theory (1991)

When a female crew member is infatuated with Lieutenant Commander Data, he decides to give a romantic relationship a try. Also, the Enterprise finds itself having to maneuver through a dangerous nebula.

Director: Patrick Stewart | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,119

22. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Redemption II (1991)

As Worf fights in the Klingon Civil War, Captain Picard and his crew must stop the Romulans from helping their pawns achieve victory.

Director: David Carson | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,466

23. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Silicon Avatar (1991)

The Crystalline Entity returns, and the Enterprise takes aboard a scientist to help track it down, but her personal agenda does not match Capt. Picard's.

Votes: 3,134

24. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Disaster (1991)

Collision with a quantum filament leaves Troi in charge of a damaged and endangered Enterprise with emergency bulkheads cutting off sections of the ship.

Director: Gabrielle Beaumont | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,602

25. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Unification I (1991)

Picard and Data follow Spock into Romulan space on a dangerous mission.

Votes: 3,543

26. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Unification II (1991)

On Romulus, Picard finds Spock, as well as an underground peace movement, a double agent, a bold ulterior motive against the Federation, and a familiar adversary.

Votes: 3,512

27. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: A Matter of Time (1991)

Reaching Penthara IV after an asteroid wreaks havoc of catastrophic proportions, the Enterprise crew deals with trying to save the planet as well as deal with someone who claims to be a historian from the future.

Director: Paul Lynch | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,147

28. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Hero Worship (1992)

Data rescues an orphaned boy named Timothy from a damaged ship. As a way to repress his own pain, Timothy begins to mimic Data's personality.

Votes: 2,991

29. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Power Play (1992)

A long-lost ship is found on a planet where cosmic storms prevented detection for 200 years. When a surface landing goes wrong, the away team is beamed back...with a few extra surprises.

Director: David Livingston | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,032

30. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Next Phase (1992)

A transporter malfunction, combined with a Romulan ship under stress and a damaged cloaking device, creates the illusion that Ensign Ro and Geordi are dead, but Geordi doesn't believe it to be so, and he acts accordingly.

Votes: 3,460

Reddit user u/bugsdoingthings says: "[This episode] has a nice subplot focusing on Data and Geordi's friendship."

31. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Time's Arrow (1992)

Captain Picard and his archaeological curiosity are called upon by scientists from Earth when they find evidence to support beliefs that aliens had visited Earth in the late 1800s.

Votes: 3,671

32. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Time's Arrow, Part II (1992)

Captain Picard and crew follow Data back to the late 1800s to get him back, only to find the suspected alien visitors killing people of that time.

Votes: 3,648

33. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Schisms (1992)

Commander Riker's inability to fall asleep begins to show in other members of the crew in other forms, putting the Enterprise on the trail of a mystery.

Votes: 3,138

Not particularly Data-focused, but in the teaser Data does recite the poem he wrote for his cat, Spot, titled "Ode to Spot".

34. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: A Fistful of Datas (1992)

While the crew is experiencing some much needed down time, Worf and his son go on an Old West excursion in the holodeck, where they meet several versions of Data serving as the bad guy after an experiment in Engineering goes wrong.

Votes: 3,213

35. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Quality of Life (1992)

When Geordi is assigned to survey a new mining development with Dr. Farallon, who invented an experimental mining technology, she uses a new sophisticated robot called an Exocomp to repair a power grid.

Votes: 2,936

36. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Ship in a Bottle (1993)

Lt. Barclay mistakenly awakes Moriarty in the forgotten holodeck program, who then makes his demands clear and unforgettable.

Director: Alexander Singer | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,655

37. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Birthright, Part I (1993)

While visiting Deep Space 9, a Yridian tells Worf his father lives, and a discharge from an alien device puts Data in a dream state where he meets his own father.

Votes: 2,955

38. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Timescape (1993)

Aboard a shuttlecraft and en route back to the Enterprise, Picard, LaForge, Data, and Troi find themselves trapped in a time trap of some sort, where the Enterprise is being taken over by ... See full summary  »

Director: Adam Nimoy | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,384

39. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Descent (1993)

After an encounter with the Borg, Data feels his first emotion when he gets angry with the Borg. Data then tries to find ways to recreate the situation in order to feel emotions again, ... See full summary  »

Director: Alexander Singer | Stars: John Neville , Jim Norton , Natalija Nogulich , Brian Cousins

Votes: 3,065

40. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Descent, Part II (1993)

Before Lore can run risky experiments on Geordi, Troi and Picard, the three seek a way to re-boot Data's ethical program that Lore switched off to pull Data to his side.

41. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Gambit, Part I (1993)

While investigating the apparent death of Capt. Picard, Riker is abducted by a group of intergalactic archaeological thieves, only to find Picard has apparently joined their ranks.

Director: Peter Lauritson | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,025

Reddit user u/laserprisim says: "What's the episode where [Data] gains command of the Enterprise and has to reprimand Worf for questioning his decisions in public?" u/msegmx: That was 'Gambit'. Very good episode.

42. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Gambit, Part II (1993)

Riker and Picard must find out why this intergalactic gang is looting archaeological sites.

Votes: 3,018

[See above.]

43. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Phantasms (1993)

Data deals with his new ability to experience nightmares as the Enterprise deals with the installation of a new warp core that won't work as expected.

Votes: 2,954

44. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Inheritance (1993)

TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

On Federation planet Atrea IV, Data encounters the former wife of his creator Noonian Soong who claims to be his "mother".

Votes: 2,871

45. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Thine Own Self (1994)

Data is sent to follow a probe that has drifted off course and crashed on a primitive planet, only to crash on the planet himself, with no memory of any event prior to crashing on the planet's surface.

Votes: 3,048

46. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Masks (1994)

Investigating a rogue comet that's been traveling throughout the universe for over 87 million years, Picard discovers alien beings within the comet, which infest the computer systems on the Enterprise, as well as Data.

Votes: 3,027

47. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Genesis (1994)

When a new torpedo guidance system malfunctions, Picard and Data go chasing after it into an asteroid field, while the crew is left behind to deal with their own strange behaviors.

Director: Gates McFadden | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,040

48. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Emergence (1994)

Strange images begin appearing throughout the ship's decks and holodecks. Data and the rest of the crew begin to investigate only to discover that the ship's computer itself is exhibiting ... See full summary  »

Votes: 2,571

49. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: All Good Things... (1994)

TV-PG | 105 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

Capt. Picard finds himself shifting continually into the past, future and present and must use that to discover a threat to humanity's existence.

Votes: 9,256

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