Soon after his debut in Star Trek: The Next Generation's premiere, Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) became one of the show's most beloved and enduring characters. A highly advanced android created by cyberneticist Dr. Noonien Soong (Brent Spiner), Data was an invaluable addition to the USS Enterprise-D crew. Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Data saved the Enterprise and its crew numerous times throughout TNG's seven seasons.Despite all of the android abilities that made Data superior to humans, he wanted nothing more than to be able to experience human emotions. Throughout his Star Trek journey, Data observed and learned from the people around him, eventually developing his own kind of humanity. Like Leonard Nimoy's Spock on Star Trek: The Original Series, Data offered an outsider's perspective on humanity. Because of this, and because of Brent Spiner's brilliantly understated performance, many of Star Trek: The Next Generation's best episodes center on Data.
15"Descent"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 6, Episode 26 & Season 7, Episode 1
When Data, Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), and Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) encounter a group of Borg drones who behave strangely, Data experiences anger for the first time. Later, Data joins the Borg, who have been working with Data's evil twin brother, Lore (Brent Spiner). Lore has found a way to use the emotion chip he stole to manipulate Data's emotions, and he turns Data against the Federation.Although Data initially sides with Lore, his friends manage to reactivate his morality subroutines. In the end, Data sides with Captain Picard and the Enterprise crew, deactivating his brother. Data removes the emotion chip and considers destroying it, but Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) convinces him to keep it just in case. "Descent" may not be perfect, but it offers a fascinating look at Data's character and his relationship with Lore.
14"Birthright, Part I"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 6, Episode 16
In this Star Trek: The Next Generation two-parter, both Data and Worf embark on journeys to learn more about their respective fathers. When Data is struck by an energy discharge while working in engineering, he inadvertently activates a previously dormant dreaming program within his positronic brain. Data has a dream-like vision of his creator/father, Dr. Noonien Soong, and he spends much of the episode trying to figure out what it means.
Data turns to other cultures and religions in search of answers and creates numerous paintings in an attempt to explain his dreams. Eventually, he decides to recreate the accident that triggered his first vision, and he has a conversation with his father, who encourages him to keep dreaming. "Birthright, Part II" drops Data's storyline entirely to focus on Worf, but Data's dreaming later plays a role in season 7's "Phantasms."
13"Redemption, Part II"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 1
The first part of Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Redemption" two-parter focuses on Worf and his role in Klingon politics, and Part I ends with the Klingons on the verge of a civil war. In Part II, Captain Picard creates a blockade to prevent the Romulans from aiding the Duras sisters in the Klingon civil war. Initially, Picard does not put Data in command of any of the blockade ships, but when Data questions this, Picard gives the android command of the USS Sutherland.
Data proves to be an excellent commander.
Data's first officer, Lt. Commander Christopher Hobson (Timothy Carhart), openly states that he doesn't think an android can be a good starship captain. Hobson remains openly insubordinate, but Data takes it all in stride, putting Hobson in his place while remaining perfectly composed and professional. Data proves to be an excellent commander, and he confidently uncovers the cloaked Romulan ships lying in wait, effectively ending the Klingon civil war.
12Star Trek: First Contact
Directed By Jonathan Frakes — Premiered November 22, 1996
Data plays a significant role in all four Star Trek: The Next Generation films, but Star Trek: First Contact has the strongest storyline for the beloved android. Star Trek: First Contact sees Captain Picard and the USS Enterprise-E follow a Borg cube back in time to stop the cybernetic drones from altering history. While in the past, Data encounters the Borg Queen (Alice Krige), who tempts him by giving him human skin with the sensation of touch.
The Borg Queen wants Data to give her the encryption codes for the Enterprise computer, but he only considers her offer for 0.68 seconds. While that may be "nearly an eternity" for an android, Data ultimately sides with humanity, helping thwart the Borg and ensure Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell) completes his historic warp flight. Captain Picard may be the true star of Star Trek: First Contact, but Data gets some great moments and proves why he's such a vital member of the Enterprise crew.
11"Thine Own Self"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 16
When Data is injured while on an away mission, he loses his memory and wanders into an alien village carrying a case of radioactive probe fragments. Garvin (Michael Rothhaar), the village magistrate, and his daughter Gia (Kimberly Cullum) take Data in, assuming he must be from some other part of their planet. When the villagers begin getting sick, Data realizes the radioactive fragments are the cause and concocts a cure, but the villagers still blame Data.
The townspeople attack Data, appearing to kill him, and Garvin and Gia bury him. Before long Commander Riker and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) arrive disguised as locals and beam Data back to the Enterprise. The android's functions are all restored, but he retains no memories of his time on the planet. Still, Gia considered Data her friend, and he left quite an impression on her, saving her entire village even without his memories.
10"Fully Dilated"
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5, Episode 7
In its fifth and final season on Paramount+, Star Trek: Lower Decks took on a multiverse storyline that allowed characters from all over the Star Trek timeline to make an appearance. In "Fully Dilated," Lieutenants Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), D'Vana Tendi (Noël Wells), and T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) encounter Data's abandoned head from a parallel universe where everything is purple. Tendi reactivates Data's head, and the purple android helps her work through some of her own problems.
Brent Spiner returns to voice purple Data, and it's truly a delight to see the original TNG-era android return. "Fully Dilated" borrows from many classic Trek episodes, but Data's head steals the spotlight, delivering most of the episode's best lines. Before Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) returns Data's head back to his own universe, he points out that it's a "missed opportunity" for their Enterprise to be gray "when purple is an option." It's hard to argue with that logic.
9"Elementary, Dear Data"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 3
Data first learned about Sherlock Holmes in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1, but he truly embraces his inner detective in "Elementary, Dear Data." As the Enterprise waits to rendevous with another ship, Geordi La Forge suggests that he and Data partake in a holodeck adventure as Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes. Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diane Muldaur) accompanies them but does not believe that Data could solve a truly original mystery.
When Geordi asks the Enterprise computer to create an adversary capable of defeating Data, the holodeck recreation of Holmes' nemesis Professor Moriarty (Daniel Davis) evolves far beyond his original programming. Moriarty wants to exist in the real world, and while this is not possible yet, Picard agrees to store Moriarty's program until he can be made solid. "Elementary, Dear Data" is an incredibly fun outing that solidifies Data and Geordi's friendship as one of Star Trek's best pairings.
8"Surrender"
Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 8
In Star Trek: Picard's nostalgia-filled season 3, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard reunited with his TNG crew aboard the rebuilt USS Enterprise-D. Despite Data's deaths in Star Trek: Nemesis and Picard season 1, the android returns in Picard season 3 with a new golem body courtesy of Dr. Altan Soong (Brent Spiner). After Data's new body is retrieved from Daystrom Station, Geordi tries to reactivate Data, but Lore's personality keeps fighting for control.
This Data still has all of the qualities that made the original Data who he was, plus the ability to experience genuine emotions.
In "Surrender," Geordi takes down the mental barrier between Data and Lore, allowing the two personalities to vie for control. As Data reminisces on all of the things that make him human — from his love of Sherlock Holmes to his cat, Spot — his personality eventually takes over Lore. Data then reunites with his old friends and helps take back the USS Titan. This Data still has all of the qualities that made the original Data who he was, plus the ability to experience genuine emotions.
7"Deja Q"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 13
John de Lancie's Q never failed to add a dash of fun to any Star Trek episode he appeared in, and "Deja Q" proved that TNG should have paired Q and Data more often. When Q arrives on the Enterprise-D bridge without his powers (or his clothes), the formerly omnipotent being struggles to adapt to his newfound humanity. Captain Picard assigns Data to keep an eye on Q, and even Q finds himself affected by Data's selflessness.Q doesn't understand why Data would want to be human, but he ends up learning a lot about humanity from the android. When Data is electrocuted saving Q, Q takes a shuttlecraft to draw his enemies away from the Enterprise in a surprising act of self-sacrifice. Q's actions impress the Q Continuum enough for them to return his powers, and Q thanks Data by granting him a moment of genuine laughter.
6"Pen Pals"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 15
In one of Star Trek's most adorable episodes, Data befriends a young girl named Sarjenka (Nikki Cox) from an alien planet on the brink of destruction. Although Data technically violated the Prime Directive by communicating with Sarjenka in the first place, he notifies Captain Picard when he learns of her planet's fate. Picard initially orders Data to end all communications, but he eventually realizes he cannot ignore the girl's pleas for help.Unable to get her to safety on the planet, Data brings Sarjenka aboard the Enterprise, leading to some sweet scenes as she refuses to leave his side. In the end, Dr. Kathrine Pulaski wipes Sarjenaka's memories, but Data knows that he will always remember her. Episodes like "Pen Pals" make it difficult to believe that Data is incapable of feeling, as he's incredibly sentimental throughout the story, even leaving a memento with Sarjenka in the end.
5"Data's Day"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4, Episode 11
In "Data's Day," the android pens a letter to Dr. Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy) detailing his day aboard the Enterprise. Much of his day is spent preparing for the wedding of Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) and Keiko (Rosalind Chao). Data acts as a go-between between O'Brien and Keiko and later takes dancing lessons from Dr. Beverly Crusher. Data struggles with the nuances of humor and communication, leading to some funny moments throughout the episode.
"Data's Day" is an incredibly charming episode that offers insight into Data's way of thinking.
4"The Most Toys"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 22
"The Most Toys" offers a look at a different side of Data's humanity than many of the other entries on this list. When an obsessive collector named Kivas Fajo (Saul Rubinek) kidnaps Data, the android remains defiant until Fajo threatens to kill his assistant, Varria (Jane Daly), if Data does not comply. Fajo is one of Star Trek's most despicable guest stars, as he has no compassion for other forms of life or remorse for any of his actions.
Episode writer Shari Goodhartz and Brent Spiner both agree that Data did, in fact, fire his weapon at Fajo.
When Data attempts to escape with Varria, Fajo kills her. Data picks up Varria's weapon, but Fajo does not believe that Data's programming will allow him to kill another living thing. As Data stands there poised to fire, the Enterprise beams him back onboard, leaving the question of whether or not he fired his weapon ambiguous. "The Most Toys" is an excellent exploration of Data's character, elevated by strong performances from Brent Spiner and Saul Rubinek.
3"Brothers"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4, Episode 3
Brent Spiner does triple duty in "Brothers," portraying not only Data and Lore but also their creator Dr. Noonian Soong, and he truly knocks it out of the park. When Soong triggers an automatic recall in Data, the android singlehandedly takes over the Enterprise and redirects the ship to Soong's home. Soong has built an emotion chip for Data and wishes to install it, but Lore soon arrives to complicate matters.
"Brothers" is a captivating episode of television and a vital moment in Data's story.
Lore steals the emotion chip meant for Data, making him even more unstable, and mortally wounds Dr. Soong on his way out. Data sits with Soong as he dies, lamenting that he will not be able to mourn him. Dr. Soong, however, replies that Data will grieve in his own way, and Data calls him father as the older man dies. As much as I dislike what Star Trek did with Data's emotion chip storyline, "Brothers" is a captivating episode of television and a vital moment in Data's story.
2"The Measure Of A Man"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 9
In one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's most celebrated episodes, Data's very right to exist as his own person is put on trial. When Dr. Bruce Maddox visits the Enterprise for an inspection, he announces his intention to dismantle Data in order to learn more about him. Data refuses, with the support of Captain Picard, but Maddox insists that Data is the property of Starfleet.Data's trial is one of Star Trek's most brilliantly written scenes, from Picard's passionate speech to Data's matter-of-fact responses. "The Measure of a Man" represents Star Trek at its best, tackling tough topics that remain relevant today while also telling a compelling story with some great character moments. Although the entire storyline revolves around Data, "The Measure of a Man" is also a great episode for Captain Picard, Commander Riker, and Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg).
1"The Offspring"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 16
After watching "The Offspring," I find it impossible to accept that Data is incapable of feeling, and the ending never fails to make me cry.
Data fights just as hard to save her as any father would for his daughter, deeply affecting the visiting admiral who initially wanted to take Lal away. Lal comes to love her father, and when she dies, Data incorporates her memories into his own positronic brain. With incredible performances from Brent Spiner and Hallie Todd, "The Offspring" delivers one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's most beautifully tragic stories and it remains Data's finest hour.
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