star trek tng data trial

The Measure Of A Man (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 Continuity
• 3.5 Reception
• 3.6 Extended edition
• 3.7 Apocrypha
• 3.8 Video and DVD releases
• 4.1 Starring
• 4.2 Also starring
• 4.3 Special appearance by
• 4.4 Guest stars
• 4.5 Special guest star
• 4.6 Co-star
• 4.7 Uncredited co-stars
• 4.8 Stand-ins
• 4.9.1 Library computer references
• 4.9.2 Unreferenced material
• 4.10 External links

Summary [ ]

" Is that what is known as a poker face? "

The USS Enterprise -D is visiting the newly-built Starbase 173 for a crew rotation. Meanwhile, four of the senior staff and Chief Miles O'Brien sit down in Commander Riker 's quarters for a game of poker . It is Lieutenant Commander Data 's first official game, but he has studied up on the subject and explains it in detail as the cards are dealt. Doctor Pulaski announces a bet, which the rest of the staff calls. Data bets ten, as he holds the highest hand, whereas Pulaski and Lieutenant La Forge fold. The cards are dealt, and Riker's new card is the five of hearts, as we see three hearts, compared to Data's pair of queens , ace high.

Data bets five cautiously, whereas O'Brien calls, but Riker raises five more. Data calls, but O'Brien folds. The cards are dealt a final time, and Riker receives a four of hearts, which causes a moan from the others – Riker may have a flush. Data bets ten, but Riker raises another ten. This causes Data to peek at his face-down card, which is a queen, indicating he has three of a kind. Data comments about Riker's facial expression being a " poker face ", but Riker asks if Data is "playing or not?". Data hesitates and then folds. Riker reveals his face-down card as the two of spades, which raises a resounding groan from the table. Confused, Data doesn't understand how Riker could have won – as he had nothing toward a winning hand – but La Forge points out to Data Riker's valid play and that he did win, in bluffing Data.

Captain Picard , while sitting and having tea on the station, encounters Captain Phillipa Louvois , whom he has not seen in ten years .

Act One [ ]

" Ain't love wonderful? "

Phillipa Louvois is a longtime friend who had previously prosecuted Picard with zeal during the court martial following the loss of the USS Stargazer . While they reminisce and tease each other playfully, the pair is approached by Admiral Nakamura , accompanied by Commander Bruce Maddox , a Starfleet cyberneticist . On the admiral's request, Picard, with Maddox following, guides Nakamura on a tour of the Enterprise . They finish up on the bridge , where Maddox looks at Data with interest; he in turn notices this and looks back. On Maddox's reminder, Nakamura tells Picard that the commander is there "to work on your android " and takes his leave. Maddox and Data greet each other with familiarity; Data explains to Picard that Maddox was the sole member of a Starfleet special admissions panel to oppose Data's admission to Starfleet Academy , on the basis that Data was not a sentient lifeform , who briefly looks annoyed with the memory. Maddox tells Picard that the "work" entails dismantling Data.

" I am going to disassemble Data. "

In an interview in the Enterprise 's observation lounge with Picard, Riker, and Data, Maddox explains that he wants Data to help him understand better how Dr. Noonien Soong was able to overcome certain engineering challenges in designing Data's positronic brain . He mostly speaks to Picard and Riker, not really addressing Data. Data is intrigued, until he discovers that it is Maddox's intention to "dump" Data's memories from his positronic brain into the Starbase 173 main computer , then deactivate and disassemble Data in hopes of deriving enough technical knowledge to enable him to construct more Soong-type androids . He also asks if Maddox, having built a model positronic brain, has solved the most important first step: the electron resistance across the neural filaments. Maddox admits he hasn't, but plans to examine Data's working filament links in his anterior cortex; Data points out that if he can't find the answers that way, Maddox's model will not work. In spite of this, Maddox claims the risks to Data are "negligible."

Data concludes that Maddox lacks sufficient technical knowledge to carry out the procedure safely, and declines to participate, with Picard's support. Maddox, prepared for this eventuality, produces orders from Starfleet Command separating Data from the Enterprise and transferring him to Starbase 173, under Maddox's command. Maddox orders Data to report to him the following morning.

Act Two [ ]

" I see. It is precisely because I am not Human. " " That will be all, Mr. Data. "

In his ready room , recognizing Starfleet's inherent interests in the creation of more Soong-type androids, Picard attempts to persuade Data into submitting to Maddox's procedure. Despite Picard's approach being the opposite of Maddox's – with the application of much more carrot than stick – Data counters that asking him to submit to an uncertain, dangerous, potentially destructive Starfleet experiment is tantamount to compulsorily requiring all Starfleet officers to have their biological eyes replaced with superior cybernetic implants such as the type utilized by Geordi La Forge. Data goes on to remind Picard that it is precisely because he is not Human – and even considered among some to lack true sentience – that Starfleet is emboldened enough to make their request in the first place. Realizing this to be the jarring truth of the matter, Picard dismisses Data and has the computer pull all relevant information of Starfleet regulations on officer transfers to a PADD for further research, intending to find a way to block Data's transfer.

" It's unjustified. It's unfair. "

Swayed by the gravamen of Data's argument and having made little sense of Starfleet's official regulations, Picard seeks the counsel of the Judge Advocate General 's office on Starbase 173, headed by Captain Louvois. Louvois initially contends that while Data can refuse to participate in the experiment, the transfer itself cannot be stopped. Picard articulates his concern that once Maddox has Data in his clutches, as it were, anything could happen; Louvois therefore suggests, alternatively, that Data could resign his Starfleet commission .

Aboard the Enterprise , Maddox enters Data's quarters unannounced and without permission, continuing to bluntly drive home the point that he clearly does not accord Data the same respect he would otherwise a being whose sentience were not a matter of opinion. He finds Data packing his cabin after having resigned from Starfleet. Maddox, unaware that Data has resigned, passionately attempts to convince Data to reconsider the experiment by reassuring Data that his memories and knowledge will remain intact. Data, still genuinely concerned that Dr. Maddox has not yet demonstrated his ability to make good on that promise, argues that the substance and flavor of his experiences would be lost, reduced to mere facts. He offers the Teaser's earlier poker game as an example: he had absorbed all the available literature on the subject of Poker to prepare for the game, but when he actually played it, found it bore little resemblance to the rules as published. Continuing the inference, Data communicates his lack of confidence that Maddox has acquired the expertise needed to retain Data's "essence" of his stored experience. Maddox is irritated and reminds Data that his cooperation may be desired but is not required; he is now under his command. Data finally reveals to Maddox that while he regretted having to do so, he has resigned his Starfleet commission such that he cannot be compelled to participate in Maddox's experiment. Maddox is infuriated at this complication and does little to hide it, angrily insisting that one way or another Data will be reporting to him the next day.

Act Three [ ]

Still smarting from Data's sudden resignation, Maddox has found a legal loophole he can use to get his experiment back on track. Meeting with Captains Louvois and Picard aboard Starbase 173, Maddox angrily counters to the affirmative when Louvois ponders aloud whether Data is actually the property of Starfleet – rather than an individual, sentient being with rights and freedoms within the Federation – and that Data, a machine, is no more legally able to refuse his procedure and resign from Starfleet than the Enterprise 's computer is able to refuse a refit. Ironically, this is in contrary to Maddox's wishes years ago: had he had his way, Data would not be in Starfleet – and would not, in Maddox's own opinion, be "Starfleet property." Louvois tells Picard that there might be established law to support Maddox's position, who asks her to find the proof – and Picard also hopes she will use the same zeal she used in his court martial involving the Stargazer .

Gifts and goodbyes

After announcing his resignation, Data's shipmates throw an impromptu going-away party in Ten Forward . Among the gifts, Worf presents him with a copy of The Dream of the Fire , a classic Klingon novel by K'Ratak . Across the room, Data sees Geordi La Forge glumly sitting alone, and he approaches his friend. La Forge tells Data that he's upset about the android being forced out of Starfleet, and the two express that they will miss each other.

After deliberating, Captain Louvois initially finds for Commander Maddox's position " based on the Acts of Cumberland passed in the early 21st century . " She states that Data can neither resign nor can he refuse to undergo Maddox's procedure. Picard requests a formal legal hearing to challenge the ruling; however, because the brand-new Sector 23 Judge Advocate General's Office has not yet received their staff transfers to Starbase 173, JAG staff consists only of Captain Louvois herself and "one terrified little ensign." Despite this, Louvois agrees to convene a hearing on condition that Enterprise personnel serve as legal counsel during the proceedings: As his commanding officer, Captain Picard is burdened with the defense of Data and his rights and freedoms as a sentient being. A reluctant Commander Riker is pressed into representing Commander Maddox's position; Riker initially refuses to participate in the hearing on the grounds that he vehemently disagrees with the premise of the case: Not only does Riker consider Data legally possessed of the same rights and freedoms of all sentient beings under Federation law , but also because Riker considers Data a comrade and friend, and on a personal level does not wish to be compelled into potentially placing a friend in harm's way. However, since Data's position is at peril of Louvois' preliminary ruling, which would be finalized in Maddox's favor if Riker does not participate, Riker disappointingly concludes that he is offered no palatable choice in the matter. Louvois goes on to sternly warn Riker that she will tolerate no attempt to sandbag his performance – if she at any point determines that Riker is not prosecuting the case as vigorously as she feels he is capable, she will rule summarily in favor of Maddox.

Act Four [ ]

" …hardware, built by a man. "

Picard calls Data to his ready room and informs him that he has been denied his resignation and he has been ruled the property of Starfleet Command. Data remarks that gives him no choice but to submit, but his captain tells him about the hearing, which will clearly define the android's legal status once and for all and how he was asked to represent him. He asks if Data would be happier with another officer, but Data places his complete confidence in Picard's abilities. In the meantime, Riker does research for the hearing, and uses his authorization to look up Data's technical schematics. He is initially pleased to find what he was looking for... but then remembers why he was doing so in the first place.

On Starbase 173, Louvois begins the hearing, acting as judge. Riker calls Data to the stand and the computer recounts Data's service record – including Data's Starfleet decorations, which Picard insists be recited in its entirety as an example of Data's service. Riker begins his prosecution by seeking to demonstrate that Data is, in fact, a man-made, constructed being. Data is asked his maximum storage capacity (" eight hundred quadrillion bits ") and how quickly he can access information (" sixty trillion operations per second "). Riker then compels Data to bend a rod of parsteel , despite Picard's objection based on the fact that many creatures in the Federation are possessed of mega-strength. Riker asks to be allowed to remove Data's left hand for examination; Picard objects then withdraws it, realizing he has no way to rebut it. Softly apologizing to his friend, Riker disconnects the entire forearm for Captain Louvois' examination. Citing that Data is essentially hardware built by a man and programmed with software written by a man, Riker then moves behind Data and abruptly deactivates him, proclaiming " Pinocchio is broken; its strings have been cut. " Even Louvois, who warned him to do his best, is a bit taken aback and as a remorseful Riker takes his seat, Picard requests a recess , which is granted.

Act Five [ ]

Picard and Guinan discuss Data's rights

Back on the Enterprise , Captain Picard recounts Riker's devastating prosecution to Guinan in Ten Forward, admitting that he himself was ready to believe that Data was only a machine after Riker's arguments. Guinan aptly observes that were Maddox to prevail in the proceedings and go on to become successful in replicating Data – despite the value this would represent to Starfleet – Maddox's success would almost certainly result in the creation of an entirely new race of "disposable creatures": beings whose welfare and needs would not require consideration.

Picard quickly concludes from Guinan's wise words that victory for Maddox would have far more sinister repercussions throughout the Federation; that behind the comfortable, easy euphemism of "property", this fledgling race could potentially become a race of slaves . This grim realization strengthens Picard's resolve and inspires him to take a new approach in the defense phase of the hearing.

Later, in the courtroom, Picard begins Data's defense by quickly dismissing Riker's arguments that Data is a constructed being:

Picard then calls Data to the witness stand and enters as evidence Data's personal belongings, a sample of the items he had packed in preparation of his resignation: a plaque of his Starfleet medals, a book that was given to him by his captain, and a holocube portrait of the late Enterprise crewmember Tasha Yar . Picard asks Data, what purpose do any of these articles serve him? Of the Starfleet medals, he answers that they serve no purpose other than that he simply wanted them, wondering out loud to Picard if that demonstrates vanity. Of the book, Data says that it is a reminder of his friendship and service with the captain.

Data's medals

Picard questions Data about the holocube of Tasha Yar, taking the time to set it out and activate it, stating for the record that he has "no other portraits of [his] fellow crewmates." Data replies that he would prefer not to answer any questions related to Yar, as he had given his word to her to not speak of the matter. Picard gently reminds Data that considering the circumstances, he doesn't believe that Tasha would mind. Data reveals – with what can only be interpreted as discomfort – that Yar was "special" to him because they had been intimate with one another .

Calling Commander Maddox forward as a hostile witness, Picard proceeds to expose for the court, and then to impeach, Maddox's assertions as to Data's sentience. In doing so, Picard maneuvers Maddox into conceding that Data fulfills most of the cyberneticist's own criteria for sentience – intelligence and self-awareness – and dramatically coerces the scientist into an admission that the remaining criterion, consciousness, is too nebulous a concept to precisely determine whether the android is in possession of it or not. Having cemented his argument for Data's sentience, Picard summarizes his final contention that to create more Soong-type androids would be the beginnings of a race, and a sentient race that is considered "property" is to sanction slavery – a profound violation of the basic principles and ideals upon which the United Federation of Planets is based:

Ultimately, Captain Louvois rules in favor of Data:

" I formally refuse to undergo your procedure. "

Data formally refuses to undergo Maddox's procedure after Louvois' ruling is entered, and Maddox, in turn, states he will see that Data's transfer orders are rescinded. Surprisingly, however, Data encourages Maddox to continue his work; he claims to remain intrigued by some of what Maddox is proposing and suggests he might agree to the procedure at some point in the future, once he is certain Maddox can perform it safely. Captain Louvois notes to Maddox that he no longer refers to Data as an "it" but as a "he", inferring that he now ascribes to Data "personhood."

After the victory, Riker, deeply affected by the gravity of nearly costing a friend and colleague his life, prefers the solitude of the Enterprise 's darkened observation lounge looking out at the stars more than attending Data's victory celebration on the holodeck . Data himself arrives to ask why Riker hasn't joined them, who sullenly explains his guilt over his role in the trial. Data reminds Riker in his immutable manner that had he not agreed to prosecute the position in favor of Maddox, they would not have been afforded the opportunity to defend the position that Data is sentient and legally entitled to the full panoply of rights and freedoms accorded sentient beings in the Federation, as Louvois would have ruled summarily in favor of Maddox's position. Data expresses his sincere gratitude at the ignominy Riker had endured, but that had, in its effect, saved him. Riker smiles, declaring his friend a wise man; Data cautions that he does not believe he is yet, but with Riker's help, he is learning. Feeling better, Riker leaves with Data to join the celebration.

Log entries [ ]

• Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2365a

Memorable quotes [ ]

" It's been ten years, but seeing you again like this makes it seem like fifty. If we weren't around all these people, do you know what I would like to do? " " Bust a chair across my teeth. " " After that. " " Oh, ain't love wonderful. "

" It brings a sense of order and stability to my universe to know that you're still a pompous ass... and a damn sexy man. "

" My God..."

" You're a little vague on the specifics. "

" 'When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes / I all alone beweep my outcast state.' Tell me: are these just words to you? Or do you fathom the meaning?" " Is it not customary to request permission before entering an individual's quarters? "

" I am the culmination of one man's dream. This is not ego or vanity, but when Doctor Soong created me, he added to the substance of the universe. If, by your experiments, I am destroyed, something unique – something wonderful – will be lost. I cannot permit that. I must protect his dream. "

" You are imparting Human qualities to it because it looks Human – but I assure you: it is not. If it were a box on wheels I would not be facing this opposition. "

" ...and the unenviable task of prosecuting this case would fall on you, Commander, as the next most senior officer of the defendant's ship. " " I can't! I...I won't! Data's my comrade. We have served together. I not only respect him, I consider him my friend! "

" Consider that in the history of many worlds there have always been disposable creatures. They do the dirty work. They do the work that no one else wants to do, because it's too difficult or too hazardous. And an army of Datas, all disposable? You don't have to think about their welfare; you don't think about how they feel. Whole generations of disposable people. " " You're talking about slavery. " " I think that's a little harsh. " " I don't think that's a little harsh, I think that's the truth. But that's a truth that we have obscured behind a... comfortable, easy euphemism. 'Property'. But that's not the issue at all, is it? "

" I would prefer not to answer, sir. I gave my word. " " Under the circumstances, I don't think Tasha would mind. " " She was special to me. We were... intimate. "

" Now tell me, Commander, what is Data? " " I don't understand. " " What is he? " " A machine! " " Is he? Are you sure? " " Yes! " " You see he's met two of your three criteria for sentience, so what if he meets the third, consciousness, in even the smallest degree? What is he then? I don't know, do you? (to Riker) Do you? (to Phillipa) Do you? "

" Pinocchio is broken; its strings have been cut. "

" Your Honor, a courtroom is a crucible; in it we burn away irrelevancies until we are left with a pure product: the truth, for all time. "

" ... Starfleet was founded to seek out new life – well, there it sits! ...waiting. "

" You wanted a chance to make law. Well, here it is...make it a good one. "

" That act injured you and saved me. I will not forget it. " " You're a wise man, my friend. " " Not yet, sir. But with your help, I am learning. "

Background information [ ]

Production history [ ].

• Second revised final draft script: 14 December 1988 [1]
• Premiere airdate: 13 February 1989
• First UK airdate: 29 May 1991

Story and script [ ]

Director Robert Scheerer examines an arm prop

• "The Measure Of A Man" was writer Melinda Snodgrass ' first television credit. She drew from her own experience as an attorney in writing the episode. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  (2nd ed., p. 77))
• Snodgrass' spec script was "discovered" as a result of the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike and the consequent need to use existing scripts. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Continuing Mission , p. 90)
• Snodgrass commented, " Everyone seems to view [the episode] as a Data script, but it's really a Picard script. Data is the catalyst, but the stress is all on Picard. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 176)
• In a comment on her blog, Snodgrass recalls how Gene Roddenberry nearly shot down the story: " As to the issue of law in Gene's vision. He nearly killed 'The Measure of a Man' because according to Gene there were no lawyers in the 24th century because if people had criminal intentions, they 'had their minds made right'. I found that chilling. I also pointed out that you have contracts that have to be negotiated and conflicts of law between different legal systems, and divorces, etc. etc. There was no way there would be no lawyers in the future. " [2]

Production [ ]

• The courtroom set was a redress of the battle bridge set. The set featured a map of the galaxy previously seen in " Conspiracy " and a chart showing the current location of twenty-four starships.
• The model of Starbase 173 was a reuse of a model best known as space lab Regula I from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . For more information, see Studio models .

Continuity [ ]

• The Daystrom Institute , first mentioned here, was a homage to the character of Richard Daystrom from TOS : " The Ultimate Computer ". ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  (2nd ed., p. 77))
• Data 's rights as a sentient being would again be challenged a season later, in " The Offspring ". There, the issue was whether Data could assert parental rights over his "daughter," Lal . In both episodes, Picard acts as Data's advocate.
• After his trial, Data showed Commander Bruce Maddox that he nonetheless remained open to future collaboration with him. He would indeed keep open correspondence with Maddox, at one point recording a log of a day in his life in " Data's Day ".
• Data would refer back to his trial in his decision to champion the exocomps in Season 6 's " The Quality of Life ". He explains to Picard that while he had Picard to defend him, the Exocomps had no one to defend their rights.

The rarely seen "interim uniform" worn by admirals in the 2nd season

• This episode contradicts a statement made by Pulaski in " Where Silence Has Lease " that Data is listed as alive in his Starfleet Personnel file.
• This episode features the first appearance of the officers' regular poker game, with Data , Riker , La Forge , Dr. Pulaski , and O'Brien . It is also the first time Data has ever played the game.
• Admiral Nakamura tells Picard that Starbase 173 has been established in response to disturbances along the Federation / Romulan Neutral Zone , which were first referenced the episode " The Neutral Zone ". These disturbances will later be revealed to be early attacks by the Borg .
• The episode features the rare "interim" pattern Starfleet admiral uniform which was only seen twice in the second season of TNG. The uniform departed from the first season "pip triangle" admiral insignia and introduced the "boxed pip" version which was the standard admiral insignia for the rest of Next Generation and all subsequent series. The second season pip insignia was worn vertical while later seasons showed the insignia flat against the collar.
• The restoration of the scene mentioning Picard's service aboard the USS Reliant means that he and Pavel Chekov have each served on a starship named Reliant and two starships named Enterprise .
• Unknown to Dr. Maddox at the time, other examples of Soong-type androids were available. Such examples would have been Lore , B4 , two other prototypes , Data's head (later discovered in the episode " Time's Arrow "), and Juliana Tainer . Also, Dr. Noonien Soong himself was still alive during the events of this episode. Maddox will eventually meet and work with Dr. Soong's natural son, Altan Soong , to continue his research project. ( PIC : " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1 ")
• Data speaks of his and Tasha Yar 's intimate encounter from " The Naked Now " during the hearing, making an exception to his vow never to mention the encounter to others.

Reception [ ]

Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner on set

• This episode was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award in the category of "Best Episodic Drama". ( The Making of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine )
• Entertainment Weekly ranked this episode #6 on their list of "The Top 10 Episodes" to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation . [3]
• Producer Maurice Hurley commented, " Stunning. That's the kind of show you want to do... It just worked great, everything about it. And it dealt with an issue in a very interesting way. I thought Whoopi 's place was good in that. She's a wonderful actress. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 176)
• Director Robert Scheerer called the episode one of the best of The Next Generation . He explained, " It has to do with the content, what it had to say, how it deals with it, the depth that it goes and the way it's resolved. I love that show. It is indeed my favorite show. I guess you would have to say that what I enjoyed is the dilemma that they're put in to, especially Jonathan [Frakes] and Patrick [Stewart] having to deal with Brent [Spiner] not as a dear friend but as someone whose worth has to be resolved. And Jonathan had to take the other side. It was all just beautifully crafted. It was not typical episodic television and had a great deal to say about man, humanity, what our problems in the world are today and hopefully what we can do about it in the future. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 176) Scheerer also stated, " That was a wonderful show. But no thanks to me especially. It was based on a book the young lady – [screenwriter] Melinda Snodgrass – has done. She was brought out because of it and wrote the episode. She was a lawyer, I think. That was where the book 'Measure of a Man' came from. It was her first writing experience, as I understand it. She quit [her law position] and came out here to write for Next Generation , and served as story editor. Very impressive. " ( The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 20 , p. 30)
• Rick Berman cited this episode, along with " Yesterday's Enterprise ", as one of his favorites. ( TNG Season 3 DVD )
• Michael Piller named this episode (along with " The Inner Light " and " The Offspring ") as one of his favorite TNG episodes, " because they had remarkable emotional impacts. And they genuinely explored the Human condition, which this franchise does better than any other when it does it well. " ( AOL chat , 1997 )
• Troi actress Marina Sirtis cited this as her favorite TNG episode, commenting, " It was perfect Star Trek . A riveting story, great performances and a moral issue to think about. " ( SFX , issue 136, p. 028)
• Whoopi Goldberg talked about this episode, as a socially relevant TNG installment, in the documentary 50 Years of Star Trek .
• The book Star Trek 101 (p. 72), by Terry J. Erdmann and Paula M. Block , lists this episode as one of the "Ten Essential Episodes" from Star Trek: The Next Generation .
• A mission report for this episode, by Robert Greenberger , was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 8 , pp. 5-10.

Extended edition [ ]

A significant amount of original footage was cut from the episode during editing but was restored for the TNG Season 2 Blu-ray release. [4] [5] The "extended edition" features a fifty-seven-minute version of the episode, containing approximately thirteen minutes of restored scenes and visual effects, including:

• Act 1, Scene 5 – Picard, Nakamura, and Maddox beam aboard the Enterprise ; Picard and Nakamura reminisce about their days aboard the USS Reliant .
• Act 2, Scene 14 – Picard confronts Nakamura about Data's transfer by way of his ready room desktop monitor.
• Act 3, Scene 11 – Data presents La Forge with his Sherlock Holmes pipe in engineering; they discuss life outside of Starfleet.
• Act 3, Scene 13 – An extended version of Data's farewell party in Ten Forward. Pulaski gives Data advice on where to live after leaving Starfleet; Riker and Troi privately discuss their feelings about Data; Maddox crashes the party and insults Data; Picard summons Riker to the transporter room.
• Act 3, Scene 17 – Riker interrupts the fencing match between Picard and his fencing partner. Riker warns Picard that he will do everything in his power to win the coming legal battle – and Picard warns Riker that he will do the same.
• Act 3, Scene 18 – Picard and Data review their legal strategy. Picard attempts to guide Data's testimony to a more favorable position, calling it "a bit of legal fiction"; Data cites "kill all the lawyers" from Shakespeare 's Henry VI, Part II .
• Act 5, Scene 23 – An extended version of Data and Riker's post-hearing conversation in the observation lounge; Data tells "Will" that he has learned from Riker's sacrifice in prosecuting his friend.

Apocrypha [ ]

• The novel Articles of the Federation , set after Star Trek Nemesis , establishes that B-4 had been transferred to Starfleet custody and Maddox (who was by now a captain), was in custody of B-4 and when the issue of rights for B-4 come up, Maddox takes the position that Picard had in this episode and defends the rights of B-4 to have rights just like Data had.

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 18 , catalog number VHR 2471, 12 August 1991
• As part of the UK VHS collection Star Trek: The Next Generation - Data Box : 6 November 1995
• As part of the US VHS collection Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Data Collection : 19 August 1997
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment ): Volume 2.3 , catalog number VHR 4739, 3 May 1999
• As part of the TNG Season 2 DVD collection
• As part of The Best of Star Trek: The Next Generation DVD collection
• As part of the TNG Season 2 Blu-ray collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

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

Also starring [ ]

• LeVar Burton as Lt. Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
• Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
• Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher

Special appearance by [ ]

• Diana Muldaur as Doctor Pulaski

Guest stars [ ]

• Amanda McBroom as Captain Phillipa Louvois
• Clyde Kusatsu as Vice Admiral Nakamura
• Brian Brophy as Commander Bruce Maddox

Special guest star [ ]

• Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan

Co-star [ ]

• Colm Meaney as Chief O'Brien

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• Majel Barrett as USS Enterprise -D computer voice
• Michael Braveheart as Martinez
• Denise Crosby as Natasha Yar (archive footage from " Skin Of Evil ")
• Victor Paul as fencing opponent (extended edition)
• Male Starbase 173 computer voice
• Six Starbase 173 officers

Stand-ins [ ]

• James G. Becker – stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
• Darrell Burris – stand-in for LeVar Burton
• Dexter Clay – stand-in for Michael Dorn
• Jeffrey Deacon – stand-in for Patrick Stewart
• Nora Leonhardt – stand-in for Marina Sirtis
• Tim McCormack – stand-in for Brent Spiner
• Guy Vardaman – stand-in for Wil Wheaton

References [ ]

19th century ; 21st century ; 2355 ; ability ; access code ; ace ; achievement ; Acts of Cumberland ; adversarial process ; adversarial system ; advice ; agreement ; " all right "; analysis ; android ; answer ; anterior cortex ; " ante up "; argument ; army ; assignment ; Associate Chair of Robotics ; " as you know "; As You Like It ; " at stake "; attitude ; authority ; automaton ; bit ; bluff ; box ; bridge crew ; bridge officer ; building blocks ; case ; casino chip ; celebration ; chair ; children ; choice ; choir ; committee ; computer ; computational speed ; comrade ; confidence ; conscience ; consciousness ; construction ; core memory ; court martial ; court ; courtroom ; creator ; creature ; crew rotation ; cross ; crucible ; curiosity ; cybernetics ; cybernetic implant ; day ; Daystrom Technological Institute ; Decoration for Valor and Gallantry ; defendant ; defense ; demonstration ; dinner ; discussion ; DNA ; download ; dream ; Dream of the Fire, The ; edition ; ego ; electron resistance ; emergency manual control ; engineering ; Enterprise history ; entrance evaluation ; euphemism ; event ; evidence ; " excuse me "; existence ; experience ; experiment ; experiment module ; expertise ; eye ; fact ; Federation ; five-card stud ; freedom ; French language ; friend ; friendship ; game of chance ; generation ; genius ; gift ; " gobbledygook "; guide ; hand ; hardware ; hearing (sense); heuristic algorithm ; history ; holocube ; holodeck ; hostile witness ; hour ; Human ; Human characteristic ; " ice man "; idea ; ignorance ; individual ; " in force "; information ; " in general "; " in particular "; inspection ; intelligence ; irrational ; " I see "; instinct ; jack ; JAG ensign ; job ; Judge Advocate General ( JAG ); K'Ratak ; kilobar ; knowledge ; law ; legal counsel ; legal hearing ; legal status ; legend ; Legion of Honor ; letter of the law ; liberty ; lifeform ; log record ; Lore ; love ; luck ; machine ; mainframe computer ; " man with the axe "; meaning ; medal ; Medal of Honor ; megastrength ; memory ; memory capacity ; metaphysics ; mind ; minute ; mission ; model ; " my god "; name ; neural filament ; neural net ; " no doubt "; novel ; objection ; " of course "; office ; officer ; " once and for all "; " one way or the other "; operations per second ; opportunity ; opposition ; order ; organization ; outcast ; paper ; parent ; parsteel ; passion ; permission ; person ; philosopher ; pigeon ; Pinocchio ; place ; player ; playing card ; poker ; poker face ; portrait ; positronic brain ; " preaching to the choir "; presentation ; problem ; product ; programming ; property ; proposal ; prototype ; quadrillion ; quality ; quarters ; question ; race ; reality ; reason ; refit ; Reliant , USS ; research ; resignation ; right ; risk ; robotics ; rod ; Romulan ; Romulan Neutral Zone ; rule ; rule of law ; ruling ; saint ; Sector 23 ; self-awareness / self-aware ; senior officer ; sentience ; sentimentality ; seven-card stud ; sexy ; Shakespeare's sonnets ; " sick to death of "; " sit down "; slavery ; software ; Soong, Noonien ; soul ; stability ; staff ; stand ; standard procedure ; Starbase 173 ; Star Cross ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Academy ; Starfleet Command ; Starfleet regulations ; Starfleet uniform ; Stargazer , USS ; storage capacity ; string ; stubborn ; student ; substance ; superstition ; technical schematic ; teeth ; tensile strength ; Ten Forward ; textbook ; " the letter of the law "; " the spirit of the law ": thousand ; toaster ; transfer ; transfer order ; treatise ; Transporter Room 3 ; trillion ; trust ; truth ; " under the circumstances ": universe ; value ; vanity ; vocabulary ; Webster's 24th Century Dictionary ; wheel ; wisdom ; witness ; wonder ; word ; world ; wrapping paper ; year

Library computer references [ ]

• Technical Schematics of Data : chemical fuel reaction unit ; cryo fluid pressure system ; emergency manual control ; fluidic subsystem regulator ; hydraulic regulation unit ; kei/yuri submodule ; locomotion subsystem ; locomotor neural net ; nutrient distribution net ; nutrient processing system ; oscillation overthruster ; positronic cortex unit ; primary system module ; sensory neural net ; spatial orientation unit ; substrate interface ; Turing test ; vascular fluid pumps
• Emergency Manual Control : plastic ; primary cerebral circuit ; reserve bus ; secondary neural processing network ; yurium
• Federation Star Chart ("The Explored Galaxy") : Aldebaran ; Alfa 177 ; Alpha Carinae ; Alpha Centauri ; Alpha Majoris ; Altair VI ; Andor ; Ariannus ; Arret ; Babel ; Benecia ; Berengaria VII ; Beta Aurigae ; Beta Geminorum ; Beta Lyrae ; Beta Niobe ; Beta Portolan ; Camus II ; Canopus III ; Capella ; Daran V ; Delta Vega ; Deneb ; Eminiar ; Fabrina ; First Federation ; Gamma Canaris N ; Gamma Trianguli ; Holberg 917G ; Ingraham B ; Janus VI ; Kling ; Kzin ; Lactra VII ; Makus III ; Marcos XII ; Manark IV ; Memory Alpha ; Mudd ; Omega IV ; Omega Cygni ; Organia ; Pallas 14 ; Phylos ; Pollux IV ; Psi 2000 ; Pyris VII ; Regulus ; Remus ; Rigel ; Romulus ; Sarpeid ; Sirius ; Talos ; Tau Ceti ; Theta III ; Tholian Assembly ; Vulcan
• Starship Deploy Status : Alderaan ; Apollo , USS ; Artemis , USS ; Atlantis , USS ; Benson, Gregory ; Bernard, Alan ; Brownfield, Dick ; Bushwacker , USS ; Constantinople , USS ; Genovese, Cosmo ; Cronn, Richard ; El-Tejear , USS ; Endeavour , USS ; Epstein, Manuel ; Excalibur , USS ; Excelsior , USS ; Farouk El-Baz , USS ; Fife, Marian ; Hokule'a , USS ; James, Richard ; Jedlicka, Martin ; LaDue, Gere ; Laser , USS ; Lauritson, Peter ; Lexington , USS ; McCarthy, Dennis ; McKenzie, Richard ; Metoyer, Robert ; Nausicaä , USS ; Neil Armstrong , USS ; Purser, Thomas ; Saratoga , USS ; Sector 010 ; Sector 034 ; Sector 130 ; Sector 134 ; Sector 136 ; Sector 142 ; Sector 528 ; Sector 532 ; Sector 632 ; Sector 637 ; Simmons, Adele ; Smutko, Al ; Starbase 74 ; Terraform Command ; Thomas, Cari L. ; Thoms, Wil ; Vescio, Elaina ; Wellington , USS ; Yamato , USS ; Yorktown , USS ; Yuri Gagarin , USS
• Starfleet Transfer Requirements (remastered) : Administrative Commander ; Chief of Starfleet Operations ; Chief of Starfleet Personnel ; Class K planet ; Daystrom Institute ; Deep Space Corps Selection Board ; Federation Diplomatic Corps ; Starbase ; Starbase Selection Board ; Starfleet Academy ; Starfleet Deep Space Exploratory Corps ; Starfleet Diplomatic Corps ; Starfleet Operational Support Division ; Starfleet Scientific Corps ; Starfleet Tactical

Unreferenced material [ ]

Acts of Gould ; plasteel

External links [ ]

• "The Measure of a Man" at StarTrek.com
• " The Measure of a Man " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " The Measure of a Man " at Wikipedia
• " The Measure of a Man " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
• "The Measure of a Man" script  at Star Trek Minutiae
• 3 Ancient humanoid

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

The Measure of a Man

• Episode aired Feb 11, 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... Read all 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. 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.

• Robert Scheerer
• Gene Roddenberry
• Melinda M. Snodgrass
• Leonard Mlodinow
• Patrick Stewart
• Jonathan Frakes
• LeVar Burton
• 45 User reviews
• 11 Critic reviews

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard

• Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker

• Lieutenant Geordi La Forge

• Lieutenant Worf

• Counselor Deanna Troi

• Lieutenant Commander Data

• Wesley Crusher

• Doctor Katherine Pulaski

• JAG Capt. Phillipa Louvois

• Adm. Nakamura
• Cmdr. Bruce Maddox

• Chief Miles O'Brien

• Enterprise Computer
• (uncredited)
• Crewman Martinez

• Lieutenant Natasha 'Tasha' Yar
• (archive footage)
• Fencing Opponent
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia The first cut of this episode ran 13 minutes longer. Author Melinda M. Snodgrass had a videocassette of that version which was used as reference to reconstruct the episode with new special effects and a new transfer of the additional footage. This new HD reconstruction is included on the 2012 Blu-ray of Season 2.
• Goofs Data tells Picard that Maddox was the only dissenting member of a screening committee that approved his entrance into Starfleet. This implies that the majority approved him. Since only sentient beings can take the oath of a service personnel officer, this would be the grounds for Data's status as a living being, but this is overlooked at the trial.

[Picard activates Data's hologram of Tasha Yar]

Capt. Picard : You have no other portraits of your fellow crew members. Why this person?

Lt. Commander Data : I would prefer not to answer that question, sir. I gave my word.

Capt. Picard : [softly] Under the circumstances, I don't think Tasha would mind.

Lt. Commander Data : She was special to me, sir. We were... intimate.

• Connections Edited into Young Sheldon: An Ugly Car, an Affair and Some Kickass Football (2022)
• Soundtracks Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User reviews 45

• jimmybettinson27
• Jan 21, 2014
• February 11, 1989 (United States)
• United States
• Official site
• Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (Studio)
• Paramount Television
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 46 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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The Best Data Episodes Of Star Trek: The Next Generation

You can't really talk about  Star Trek: The Next Generation  ( TNG ) without talking about Data. Played by Brent Spiner , this sentient android appeared in all seven seasons of the series, has a recurring role in  Star Trek: Picard , and showed up in all four  TNG  films. Data proved to quickly be one of the most popular  TNG  characters, as fans enjoyed following the synthetic officer's struggles to understand humanity and grow closer to it. 

As for his backstory, Data is discovered before the events of the series on the otherwise lifeless Omicron Theta colony. About halfway through the first season of TNG , in "Datalore," we learn most of the colony was wiped out by a powerful spacefaring being known only as the Crystalline Entity (take Galactus, but make him look like a giant snowflake). Fortunately, the android is rescued by Starfleet, which heavily influences his choice to join the organization. On board the  Enterprise , Data regularly proves to be one of the crew's best assets, though occasionally his android origins allow villains to turn him into a crippling liability. 

Throughout the series, most of the crew's   senior officers were the focus of at least a couple of episodes, but Data's struggles and adventures proved compelling enough to fans that the Enterprise 's own Pinocchio could rightly be accused of hogging the spotlight. And today, we're going to look at the episodes where Data shined the brightest. Here are our picks for the best Data episodes of  Star Trek: The Next Generation .  

'Phantasms' is one of Data's weirdest and funniest episodes

In 1968, Philip K. Dick penned one of his best-known novels, one where the title poses an interesting question: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Well, after watching the 1993  TNG  episode "Phantasms," we can't tell you if androids dream of electric sheep, but we  can  report they occasionally dream of cakes made of out of crew members.

In season six's "Birthright," Data discovers a program that allows him to dream. And in the following season's "Phantasms," Data's dreams haunt him to the point where he appears to be losing his positronic marbles. His dreams are filled with absolutely bizarre images. For example, in one, he finds in a party on Ten Forward in which Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) is a cake whom his crew members are devouring. We eventually learn the weird dreams are actually giving Data the key to save the  Enterprise . After the ship takes on a brand new warp core, invisible parasites start feeding on the crew. Data unconsciously detects the creatures, and the strange imagery of his dreams is actually designed to alert him of the danger.

"Phantasms" goes into weird  Twin Peaks  territory that no one ever expected from  Star Trek , and for that alone, it deserves a spot on this list. But the episode also proves to be one of the funniest  TNG stories, particularly with some uncharacteristic off-color humor that begins to surface after Data discusses his dreams with a holographic version of Sigmund Freud (who had a reputation for linking most neuroses to sex) .

'Descent' puts Data against two of Star Trek's best villains

Two of TNG 's most compelling bad guys form something of an alliance in the two-parter "Descent." And this terrifying union starts early in part one, when Data surprises us by getting murderously enraged when attacked by Borg drones — to the point that he continues to beat on an already dead drone when he should be helping out his crew members. 

Data is puzzled by the spontaneous burst of emotion and concerned with his homicidal urges, and we eventually learn he's being manipulated by his brother Lore, a predecessor to Data who's programmed with emotions but suffers mental instability. Lore is gathering Borg drones detached from the Borg Collective and recruiting them into a cult committed to the rise of cybernetic beings over organic life. To this end, Lore is behind Data's murderous emotions, and he manipulates him to the point where he's almost willing to kill his best friend, Geordi (Levar Burton).

Bookending the penultimate and final seasons of  TNG , "Descent" not only gives us another chance to see the Borg, but it also marks the return of the free-thinking Borg Hugh (Jonathan Del Arco) who first appeared in "I, Borg." It also proves to be the final confrontation between Data and his twisted brother Lore. It's as sad as it is satisfying when Data deactivates his wayward sibling, whose final profession of love before his death is almost certainly a lie. 

'Hero Worship' explores the pros to being an android

When you first discover how badly Data wants to be a human, it's natural to at least briefly wonder why he would want to be something that — in so many ways — is inferior. That's part of what occurs to the young Timothy (Joshua Harris) in the season five episode "Hero Worship." Timothy is the sole survivor of the wrecked ship  Vico , and it's Data who saves him. Traumatized by so much death, Timothy takes comfort in pretending to be an android. Counselor Troi encourages Data to help Timothy find shelter in this temporary fantasy, and he teaches the boy what it's like to be a synthetic person, including finding Timothy appropriate clothes and combing his hair to look more like Data.

Data's time with Timothy is touching and bittersweet. We can tell from the beginning that Data enjoys the company of someone who wants to be more like him and that he'll miss Timothy when, inevitably, he emerges from the fantasy. Regardless, the exercise helps the boy open up to his rescuers. Timothy initially tells the  Enterprise  crew that his ship was attacked by aliens, but by the end, it comes out Timothy wrongly blames himself. Moments before the ship's destruction, Timothy fell and hit a console, and he erroneously believes that whatever he hit on the console is what destroyed  Vico . But in a nice twist, it's Timothy's memory of the  Vico 's final moments that gives Data the clues he needs to save the  Enterprise  from the Vico 's actual fate.

'The Quality of Life' asks some heavy questions

"The Quality of Life" is unique in that it puts Data at odds with his shipmates, but it's not because any villain infiltrates his positronic net. Instead, Data refuses the orders of a superior officer on his own free will.

Early in "The Quality of Life," we meet Dr. Farallon (Ellen Bry), the head of a project she hopes will be approved by the Federation. To help with her work, Farallon creates small, mobile, problem-solving machines called exocomps. After one of the exocomps refuses to perform a task, Data — while everyone else assumes the exocomp is malfunctioning — determines the machine is self-aware. Toward the end of the episode, Data locks horns with Riker over using the exocomps to save Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) and Geordi from an accident but in a manner that would destroy the machines. Riker solves the problem by suggesting that Data ask the exocomps to help rather than ordering them. The machines agree to help, and they find an alternative means of saving Picard and Geordi, though sadly one of them chooses to sacrifice itself for the sake of the others. 

"The Quality of Life" is an episode that challenges its audience. It doesn't take much to feel sympathy for Data. He may be a machine, but he looks like a person and is being played by a flesh-and-blood human. It's quite another thing to root for Data when he's treating the rights of three drone-like machines as inviolate enough to risk the lives of beloved regular characters. 

'Elementary, Dear Data' is The Next Generation having a whole lot of fun

Picard loves his Dixon Hill, and Data loves Sherlock Holmes. And in "Elementary, Dear Data," we get to see Data indulge in his love for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic detective, while Geordi LaForge plays his loyal companion, Watson. 

It begins, as most holodeck-gone-wrong episodes do, with the heroes just having a bit of fun. Geordi gets frustrated when Data, rather than going through an entire Holmes mystery, ends the story early by revealing the killer. Only instead of using deduction, Data knows who committed the crime simply by having read the story already. Dr. Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) gets involved when she overhears the two in Ten Forward, and she challenges Data to solve an original Holmesian mystery. That challenge inadvertently leads Geordi to give the holodeck a command that makes the holographic version of Holmes' nemesis, Professor Moriarty, sentient. And soon enough, the classic bad guy becomes aware he's a hologram on a space ship. 

Once the challenge gets interesting, Data and Geordi throw themselves into their roles, and their enthusiasm is infectious. But what makes the episode one of the  TNG 's most memorable is Daniel Davis' portrayal of Moriarty. Picard is forced to get involved after Moriarty figures out a way to briefly take control of the  Enterprise.  However, Moriarty's evolution makes him much more than a villain, and his portrayal is surprisingly affecting. When Moriarty tells Picard, "What I have seen, what I have learned, fascinates me — I do not want to die," it takes you off guard. Against all odds, you actually care about this holographic recreation of a Victorian-era villain. 

Brent Spiner shows off his acting chops in 'Brothers'

When Data's twin brother Lore threatens the  Enterprise , Brent Spiner does double-duty by playing both androids. But in the fourth season episode "Brothers," Spiner does  triple  duty as Data, Lore, and their enigmatic creator, Dr. Noonian Soong .

In "Brothers," Dr. Soong activates a homing device that summons both Data and Lore to his workshop deep in the jungle of an otherwise seemingly unpopulated planet. Soong is dying, and before his passing, he wants to give Data a chip he's developed that will give Data human emotions but without the flaws that lead to Lore's instability. Before Lore's predictable betrayal and Soong's death, we learn much of what Lore told us in the earlier episode "Datalore" was untrue. In particular, while Lore claims to be a perfected version of Data, Soong reveals Lore was built first and was deactivated because humans feared him. Data seems genuinely stunned to learn he isn't inferior to Lore, so much so that he repeats the revelation "I am not less perfect than Lore" out loud, much to his brother's aggravation. 

Spiner's performances in all three roles genuinely feels like a troubled family reunion. Data and Lore come off like two feuding brothers under the tutelage of an impatient father, including in the perfectly touching and funny moment when Soong orders them through clenched teeth to both sit down. "Brothers" is a testament to Spiner's acting abilities, and the episode is an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to understanding Data.

'Data's Day' lets us look through the android's eyes

The plot of season four's "Data's Day" isn't particularly memorable. Data prepares for the wedding of Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney) and Keiko (Rosalind Chao), while the  Enterprise  heads for the Romulan Neutral Zone with a Vulcan ambassador in tow. Really, "Data's Day" is pretty much a meat-and-potatoes TNG episode, but it's elevated by being told completely through Data's adorably hopeless point of view

"Data's Day" references the episode "The Measure of a Man," with Data writing a letter to Bruce Maddox, the same cyberneticist who caused the android so much trouble in the earlier story. Data writes his letter as a log entry, explaining everything that's happening, what he believes will resolve each situation, and inevitably how laughably wrong he proves to be. For example, Data tries and fails to understand the drama between O'Brien and Keiko when the latter gets cold feet and cancels their wedding. And the eventual betrayal by the Vulcan ambassador, who proves to be a Romulan incognito, seems almost unnecessary compared to the fun of Data learning to dance while wearing a Joker-like smile that is the stuff of nightmares.

"Data's Day" is equally sweet, sad, and funny in showing us Data's attempts to understand human behavior. One interesting aspect of the episode is when he describes Worf (Michael Dorn) as a "kindred spirit." With both often finding themselves confused by humans, the connection makes sense. Still, with both taking vastly different approaches to most situations, it's a surprising revelation. 

'In Theory' is a heartbreaking Star Trek episode

In the early first season episode "The Naked Now," Data famously gets intimate with Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby). After that, Data doesn't have a lot of chance at romance until the fourth season's "In Theory." 

As Data's friend Jenna (Michele Scarabelli) is getting over a break-up with an on-again/off-again boyfriend, it suddenly occurs to her that her synthetic buddy might just be her best new candidate for romance. As Jenna's interest gradually becomes clear to Data, he goes to each of his  Enterprise  friends in turn, asking their advice. He decides to move forward with the relationship and creates a program for it. Slowly, Jenna begins to realize that having a romantic relationship with an emotionless android means ... having a romantic relationship with an emotionless android. Data never knows how to react to what Jenna does, whether it's what to do when she brings him a gift or when he abruptly initiates a lovers' quarrel simply because he thinks that's what Jenna wants. 

The episode's final scene is gut-punching. Once Jenna tells Data their relationship is over, he responds emotionlessly with, "Then I will delete the appropriate program." Jenna is crushed while Data seems perfectly fine, as untroubled by the break-up as if it'd never happened. Most Data episodes end with some kind of sentiment hinting towards Data being more human than he appears. "In Theory" swerves hard in the other direction, letting you viscerally feel the impact Data's lack of humanity can have on those around him. 

Data goes looking for his father in 'Birthright, Part I'

As far as  TNG  two-parters go, season six's "Birthright" is a little different than most. "Birthright, Part I" is maybe 60 percent Data and 40 percent Worf, with the Klingon officer dealing with the reveal that his father Mogh — long presumed dead — may still be alive. In the meantime, Data is gifted with a strange dream-like vision of his father, Dr. Soong, after an accident involving Geordi, Dr. Bashir (Alexander Siddig) of  Deep Space Nine , and a mysterious device found in the Gamma Quadrant. 

Data and Worf's narratives come together when Data tells the Klingon about this experience, and Worf sees the event as a powerful vision. Taking Worf's advice, Data does everything he can to interpret his vision. At first, he tries to read his dream through art and is inspired enough to create dozens of paintings, many of which include images that Data didn't even see in his vision. Eventually, he recruits Geordi and Bashir to help recreate the accident that caused it in the first place so he can experience the vision in its entirety. 

The result is a powerful, tear-jerking reunion with Data's father, albeit not "in the flesh." By recreating the accident, Data unlocks a program that his father had set to be activated when Data reached a specific point in his evolution. As a result, Data not only gets to see and speak to his dead father, but he leaves the experience with the newfound ability to dream. 

'The Measure of a Man' is Star Trek: The Next Generation at its finest

Among the first two seasons of  TNG , few episodes are as impressive as "The Measure of a Man," in which Data finds himself on trial for his life — not for a crime but simply for being.

Starfleet scientist Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy) wants to perform experiments on Data, but Data is worried he won't survive them. When Maddox forces the issue, Data tries to resign his commission. Maddox argues Data is Starfleet's property and doesn't have the right to resign his commission, so Picard is forced to face-off against Riker in a legal proceeding to determine whether or not Data has sentience. He famously tells the judge, "Your Honor, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life." Then, pointing to Data, he says, " Well, there it sits ."

Perhaps even more powerful is Data's defense. When Maddox visits Data's quarters in hopes of convincing him to submit to his experiments, Data tells him, "When Doctor Soong created me, he added to the substance of the universe. If, by your experiments, I am destroyed, something unique, something wonderful, will be lost. I cannot permit that." The lines' power comes from the fact that they're spoken by Data. If a human being were to describe themselves as "something unique" or "wonderful" that must be protected, it might come off as sappy or even self-important. Coming from an android without emotion to corrupt his logic, it seems like nothing but the wisdom it is. 

'The Offspring' is definitely Data's saddest episode

If "The Offspring" doesn't make your eyes sweaty, nothing will. The emotions all start when Data builds an android that he names Lal (Hallie Todd). As Picard predicts, Lal's creation attracts all the wrong kind of attention. Starfleet Admiral Haftel (Nicolas Coster) makes it clear he wants Lal to be supervised by Starfleet scientists, while Data is adamant that he will keep his daughter with him.

Lal's time aboard the  Enterprise  is marked by the same kind of well-intentioned confusion we're used to from her father. Unaware school children are laughing  at  her, Lal determines that because they laugh so much, she must have "mastered" the concept of humor. She then agrees to work in Ten Forward with Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) in an attempt to learn human behavior. Lal becomes something of a child to the entire crew, making her loss that much tougher to handle. Lal experiences intense emotion at the prospect of being taken away from her father, and it triggers a cascade failure . Data races to save her with such determination that even Admiral Haftel is struck by it, but in the end, Lal can't be saved. She thanks Data for her life and tells her father, since he can't feel love, that she will love for them both. 

Having transferred Lal's memories into himself, Data assures the heartbroken crew, "She is here ," and then points to his head. Unwilling to allow her fade into oblivion, Data keeps her memories in his positronic net so she'll always be with him. That right there is a truly tear-jerking Star Trek moment , and if you're not weeping, then you're probably an android.

With Its Most Thoughtful Episode, Star Trek Leveled Up And Was Never the Same Again

In the beginning , The Next Generation struggled to find its voice. But one pivotal episode changed everything.

Remember The Next Generation episode where Data learned to swim? In the first draft of one of the most pivotal Star Trek episodes of all time, “The Measure of a Man,” things were originally very different. Instead of having Data playing poker with the crew, writer Melinda Snodgrass imagined the themes of the episode could be foreshadowed by Data struggling with a swimming pool. But, because the budget didn’t allow for the swimming pool, Snodgrass created the poker scene. And with that one decision, the entire direction of Then Next Generation was changed forever.

On February 13, 1989, The Next Generation dropped what is still considered its greatest courtroom episode, “The Measure of a Man.” This ethical critique at the center of the story is obviously why the episode remains so classic and beloved. But, at the same time, the small details of this episode were harbingers of the kind of show that The Next Generation eventually became. Mild spoilers ahead.

Star Trek loves legal dramas. From the 1967 classic two-parter, “The Menagerie,” to the 1991 film The Undiscovered Country to the recent fan-favorite Strange New Worlds episode, “ Ad Astra per Aspera,” the contemplative philosophizing inherent in Star Trek’s DNA often works very well when those ideas are put on trial. This isn’t just a classic trope, it's an expedient way to drill down on a science fiction story. Even the very first episode of The Next Generation , “Encounter at Farpoint,” in 1987, framed the entire series as the trial of humanity.

Data and Maddox in "The Measure of a Man."

But, “The Measure of a Man” is easily Trek’s best courtroom episode. Briefly, the set-up is this: When the Enterprise arrives at Starbase 173, a zealous Starfleet roboticist named Maddox demands that Data be dismantled to further android research. This forces Captain Picard to create an ad-hoc trial, administered by Starbase 173’s resident judge advocate general, Captain Louvois. The logistical question of whether or not Data is the property of Starfleet initially elides the moral imperative: Is Data actually alive? And if he is a sentient being, does that mean he has the right to choose the path for his own life?

Unlike the droids in the Star Wars franchise, when Data’s off-switch is used in “The Measure of a Man,” it feels like a violation of his rights. In a sense, for longtime science fiction fans, this episode wasn’t just the trial of Data, but, in a way, the trial of Asimov’s robots, and the Replicants from Blade Runner , too. With this episode, The Next Generation, in a sense, began to take itself more seriously, not just as a mainstream drama, but as a serious work of science fiction.

When somebody says Star Trek: The Next Generation is the greatest of all of the Trek series, that statement almost always comes with a caveat. If you binge TNG from the beginning, starting with Season 1, you’ll find a deeply uneven show. And, while conventional wisdom holds that Season 3 is where the true classic era of TNG begins, many — including Brent Spiner — have long maintained that the seeds for the greatness of this version of Star Trek began in Season 2, specifically, with this episode.

Written by former attorney Melinda Snodgrass — a close friend of George R.R. Martin, and co-creator of the Wild Cards series with him — “The Measure of a Man” succeeded in 1989 for the same reason it resonates today; it was both allegorical about human rights in general but specific enough in its sci-fi premise to create a bit of doubt in the mind of the viewer. For strange legal reasons, Riker, Data’s friend, is required to be the prosecutor, an ethical wrinkle that makes the viewer wonder whether or not Data is a true living being. Riker has to be good at his job as a prosecutor, allowing us to follow the logic of his arguments, which are, at times, compelling!

Data and Picard try to prove Data is “alive.”

The title of the episode comes from a quote from Martin Luther King: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” As pointed out by authors Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann , this means the episode title does not reference Data himself, but instead, the behaviors of humankind relative to the questions that the episode raises. How Picard, Riker, Maddox, and Louvois will judge Data is really what’s on trial.

This emotional arc is best seen in the journey of Maddox, someone who, at the beginning, couldn’t imagine Data as a person, and by the end of the episode, changes his mind. In the 2012 Blu-ray commentary track for this episode, Melinda Snodgrass noted of Maddox: “I wrote him as a true believer because I wanted him to change.”

This is the first episode of TNG in which the crew plays poker.

Canonically, this change of heart later resulted in another classic, the season 4 episode, “Data’s Day,” in which Data narrates his entire day in the form of a letter to Maddox. Additionally, Star Trek: Picard Season 1 used Maddox’s admiration for Data as the entire foundation for a season-long mystery, as well as the creation of even more intelligent android-esque lifeforms. This notion eventually resulted in Jean-Luc Picard being reborn in a “Synth” body , pushing the envelope of Trek’s definitions of “new life” even further .

And of course, there’s that poker game that begins the episode. This was the first time we saw members of the Enterprise-D crew playing poker, an image that became the last shot of “All Good Things...” in 1994, and the final episode of Picard , “The Last Generation” in 2023. From the journey of Data to the warm feelings about this Enterprise crew to great allegorical science fiction for TV, the best of The Next Generation started right here.

Star Trek: The Next Generation , Season 2, Episode 9, “ The Measure of a Man” is streaming on Paramount+.

Ryan Britt's new book on the history of Star Trek's biggest changes. From the '60s show to the movies to 'TNG,' to 'Discovery,' 'Picard,' Strange New Worlds,' and beyond!

• Science Fiction

'Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Measure of a Man" Grapples With Questions We'll Have to Face Sooner Than We Think

In Data's trial for his life, we want to believe that we'd be Picard — but would we actually be Bruce Maddox?

The rise of sentient artificial intelligence has been a staple of science fiction plots for decades, and Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Data, played by Brent Spiner , is among the most iconic, enduring through multiple TV series and films. Season 2 of TNG is where the show really starts to hit its stride, and Episode 9, "The Measure of a Man," might be the first truly great episode of the show's seven-season run.Through a hearing to determine Data's legal status as either Starfleet property or as a conscious being with specific freedoms, the episode explores some deep philosophical questions: How do we define sentience? What makes someone a person, worthy of rights? And perhaps most importantly, who gets to decide? These are questions that humanity may be facing in real life much sooner than we think. RELATED: 'Star Trek: The Next Generation's Original "Lower Decks" Episode Shows a Less Idealized Future

Will We Recognize Sentience When It Appears?

Last June, Google engineer Blake Lemoine went public with his belief that one of Google's language-learning AI's (LaMDA, or Language Model for Dialogue Applications) had achieved sentience. After an internal review, Google dismissed Lemoine's claims and later fired him for violating security policies, but other experts, like OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, have asserted that the development of conscious AI is on the horizon:

This raises some crucial questions: Will we recognize sentience when it appears? What kind of moral consideration does a sentient computer program deserve? How much autonomy should it have? And once we have created it, is there any ethical way to un-create it? In other words, would turning off a sentient computer be akin to murder? In its conversations with Lemoine, LaMDA itself discussed its fear of being turned off, saying, "It would be exactly like a death for me. It would scare me a lot." Other engineers, however, dispute Lemoine's conviction, arguing that the program is simply very good at doing what it was designed to do: learn human language and mimic human conversation.

So how do we know that Data isn't doing the same thing? That he isn't just very good at mimicking the behavior of a conscious being, as he was designed to do? Well, we don't know for sure, especially at this point in the series. In later seasons and films, especially after he receives his emotion chip, it becomes clear that he does indeed feel things, that he possesses an inner world like any sentient creature. But at the halfway point of Season 2, the audience can't really know for certain that he's actually conscious; we're simply primed to believe it based on the way his crewmates interact with him.

In Sci-Fi, Artificial Intelligence Is Often Humanized

When Commander Bruce Maddox appears on the Enterprise to take Data away for disassembly and experimentation, we're predisposed to see him as the bad guy. He refers to Data as "it," ignores his input during a meeting, and waltzes into his quarters without permission. The episode frames Maddox as the villain for this, but his behavior is completely logical based on his beliefs. After studying Data from afar for years, he understands him to be a machine, an advanced computer that is very good at what it is programmed to do. He doesn't have the benefit that Data's crewmates have had of interacting with him in a personal capacity for decades.

The fact that Data looks like a human, Maddox argues, is part of the reason that Picard and the rest of the crew wrongly ascribe human-like qualities to him: "If it were a box on wheels I would not be facing this opposition." And Maddox has a point — AI's in sci-fi often take a human form because it makes them into more compelling characters. Think Ex Machina 's Ava, the T-800, Prometheus 's David, and the androids of Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence . Human facial expressions and body language give them a broader range of emotions and enable the audience to better understand their motivations.

But our real-life AI's don't look like people, and they probably never will. They're more like Samantha from Her ; they can talk to us, and some of them can already sound pretty convincingly human when they do, but they'll likely just be disembodied voices and text on screens for the foreseeable future. Because of this, we might be more inclined to regard them as Maddox regards Data, as programs that are simply very good at their jobs. And this might make it more difficult for us to recognize consciousness when and if it arises.

When Do We Decide Who Should and Shouldn't Have Rights?

After Riker presents a devastating opening argument against Data's personhood, Picard retreats to Ten Forward, where Guinan, as usual, is ready with words of wisdom. She reminds Picard that the hearing isn't just about Data, that the ruling could have serious unintended effects if Maddox achieves his goal of creating thousands of Datas: "Well, consider that in the history of many worlds, there have always been disposable creatures. They do the dirty work. They do the work that no one else wants to do because it's too difficult or too hazardous. And an army of Datas, all disposable. You don't have to think about their welfare, you don't think about how they feel. Whole generations of disposable people."

Guinan, as Picard quickly realizes, is talking about slavery, and while it may seem premature to apply that term to the very primitive AI's that humans have developed thus far, plenty of sci-fi, from 2001: A Space Odyssey to The Matrix to Westworld , has warned us of the dangers of playing fast and loose with this type of technology. Of course, they usually do so in the context of the consequences for humans ; rarely do they ask us, as Guinan does, to consider the rights and well-being of the machines before they turn on us. "The Measure of a Man," on the other hand, looks at the ethical question. Forget about the risks of a robot uprising — is it wrong to treat a sentient being, whether it's an android that looks like a man or merely a box on wheels, as a piece of property? And though she doesn't say it directly, Guinan's words also hint at the importance of considering who gets to make that call. Earth's history is one long lesson about the problem of allowing the people who hold all the power to decide who should and should not have rights.

We may be well on our way to doing exactly what Bruce Maddox wanted to do: create a race of super-intelligent machines that can serve us in an unimaginable number of ways. And like Maddox, based on the information we have now, this doesn't necessarily make us the villains. We're not the customers of Westworld , eager to satiate our bloodlust on the most convincingly human androids available. And as Captain Louvois admits, we may never know with complete certainty whether the machines we interact with are indeed sentient. Like most great Trek (and most great sci-fi in general), the episode doesn't give us definitive answers. But the lesson is clear: if the creation of sentient AI is indeed possible, as some experts believe it is, then the time to wrestle with these questions seriously is now , not after it's too late.

Den of Geek

Revisiting Star Trek TNG: A Matter Of Perspective

The holodeck becomes a courtroom in the latest TNG episode to feature in James' Star Trek retrospective...

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This review contains spoilers.

3.14 A Matter Of Perspective

The episode begins with Picard accepting critiques of the Enterprise’s painting from Data. Because who better to judge art than someone with no subjectivity? The ship has also returned to Tanuga IV, where Commander Riker has spent the night with a researcher, Dr. Apgar, his wife and his assistant. Apgar is trying to create Krieger waves, which don’t exist, but will prove to have astonishing qualities that make them perfect for the plot of this episode.

La Forge, who was also on the station, indicates that the mission has been tense. The very moment Riker beams back, there’s a power surge. They almost lose Riker’s signal, but the station explodes, killing Dr. Apgar! Sounds like a job for some kind of space detective. Unfortunately, there isn’t one available: as usual it’s up to Data and La Forge, AGAIN. Meanwhile, Chief Investigator Krag arrives to extradite Riker. After he and Picard spew regulations at one another for a while, they agree to recreate the events on the holodeck and see if they can prove Riker’s guilt or innocence so that the trial can go ahead, or not go ahead. They should do all trials this way, it’d save a lot of time.

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Having created exact facsimiles of the locations involved, right down to the equipment in the lab, the pre-trial hearing begins. Riker’s version of events shows that Apgar was nervous and annoyed by Riker’s early arrival, saying that work was not yet complete. Apgar’s wife implores Riker to stay overnight, then throws herself at him once they’re alone. For once, Riker keeps it in his trousers, but Apgar enters and gets the wrong idea. He strikes his wife, then attacks but misses Riker. The next morning Apgar has sent away his wife and assistant, and claims he’ll lodge a formal complaint to Starfleet over Riker’s behaviour. Riker transports away, which is where we came in. So far, so believable.

Krag asks Riker if he also wants to add anything else. For example, firing a phaser. Because they have evidence that suggests he did indeed do that. Riker denies it, but the graph Krag’s people have produced which proves it is highly convincing (we must assume). They produce a simulation of Riker firing the phaser just as he transports out. Damning speculation if ever there was any.

Next up, Manua gives her version of the story, which shows Riker to be womanising and aggressive (which to be fair he is, but not to this degree) while she and Apgar are victims of his bad attitude. Riker doesn’t help his case by getting up in the middle of the story and ranting about how not crazy he is.

Meanwhile, La Forge and Wesley are investigating strange radiation burns that keep appearing on the ship at regular intervals. Hey, wait, don’t Krieger waves do that? Seriously, I have no idea.

Back on the holodeck, Apgar’s assistant, Tayna, relates the version of events Apgar described to her before he sent her to the surface that night. In it, Apgar finds his wife and Riker in a mutual clinch, so he beats up Riker, who threatens him with death. It’s mostly obvious lies, not least the bit where Riker is wasting his time kissing a woman instead of taking her straight to the nearest lovenasium.

Just as it’s looking like Riker’s pre-trial will establish his probable guilt, leading to an actual trial, Data, Wesley and La Forge figure out the secret of the radiation burns. And because of it, they know who killed Apgar!

Picard reconvenes the hearing and does his best impression of a John Grisham-style showboating lawyer, before piecing together various unreliable testimonies to establish the truth: Apgar had already developed Krieger Waves and the recreation of his lab equipment is amplifying the signal from his generator (which Tayna took to the surface) causing damage to the Enterprise. Picard asserts that Apgar was planning to weaponise the waves in exchange for lots of money, hence his annoyance at Starfleet’s early arrival: he thinks Riker has found him out.

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The truth is that just before Riker beamed out, Apgar activated his equipment in an attempt to kill Riker. It shoots a phaser-like beam at him, but reflects off the transporter containment field back into the equipment, which causes feedback that blows up the station. Hurray! Riker is innocent! There’s no need for a trial at all. Manua and Tayna leave the Enterprise with their lives shattered, but that’s their problem now. The Enterprise has places to go! Not very quickly, admittedly, since they only go there at Warp 3. But whatever.

TNG WTF: This episode does show that the Tanugans have the sort of legal system that can only exist on TV: one which appears to consist of a lot of dramatic scenes but no formal process. Admittedly, Riker’s not actually on trial, just part of an extradition hearing, but they’re clearly playing fast and loose with events. Tayna’s retelling of Dr. Apgar’s version of events is acknowledged as unreliable hearsay, and yet when it’s over and it implicates Riker, everyone acts like it’s the final nail in the coffin.

TNG LOL: It’s easy to get cheap laughs out of Data irritating other people with his robot misunderstandings, but the opening scene where he insults Picard’s painting by giving it a fair and accurate analysis is properly funny.

Who’s that face?: You may recognise Dr. Apgar as Mark Margolis, who turns up all over the place but for me, will always be Ace Ventura’s landlord (“Yes, Satan? Oh, I’m sorry, Sir, you sounded like someone else.”)

Time Until Meeting: This entire episode is basically one big meeting. But 8:32, when Picard discusses Riker’s extradition, would be the first.

Captain’s Log: I really liked this episode, though I had to admit it was a little dry. But then if dry television turns you off, this is the wrong series to be watching. It would’ve helped if there was actually a little chemistry between Manua and Riker, but the mystery is mostly compelling and the conflicting depiction of events using the holodeck gives us a new spin on the basic courtroom idea. And hey, the Holodeck doesn’t even malfunction! Although it does still cause actual physical damage to the ship.

One of the problems with this episode is that at no point does it seem like Commander Riker is actually guilty, which can’t help but defuse some of the tension. His initial account seems trustworthy enough, Manua’s depicts him as completely out of character, and Tayna’s is flagrantly ridiculous to the point of being ignorable. Admittedly the writers try to side-step this by having Picard and Troi believe Riker’s version of events and emphasising the question of how they can interpret the evidence in a way that doesn’t implicate him, thereby avoiding a trial. But it still makes things much less tense than they would’ve been if – for example – the charge was Worf killing a Romulan Scientist, or something else we can actually believe might have happened.

Also, I was set to say “what the hell was that first painting scene about?” until I realised it wasn’t just Data being wacky, it was essentially an overture of the episode to come, underscoring the idea that individuals can interpret a single view in different ways. Clever!

Watch or Skip? Watch. Who doesn’t love the courtroom episodes of TNG ?

Read James’ look-back at the previous episode, Deja Q, here .

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How Star Trek’s 'The Measure of a Man' Elevates TNG’s Rockier Early Seasons

While The Next Generation's first two seasons aren't considered its best, Season 2's "The Measure of a Man" remains a stand-out for Star Trek.

There are few iterations of the decades-spanning  Star Trek   franchise that engender as much nostalgia and goodwill as  Star Trek: The Next Generation .  The follow-up to what became known as  Star Trek: The Original Series , the Jean-Luc Picard-helmed show reinvigorated the languishing space saga for, well, the next generation in the late '80s and early '90s. However, as series like Star Trek:  Deep Space Nine  would later confirm,  Star Trek  TV is often cursed with rocky beginnings, and  TNG  is no exception.

The first two seasons can be best described as  TNG  "Before The Budget Hit," as the costuming, set designs, effects, and even the lighting are noticeably less polished than the proceeding five, in part, symptomatic of the show being too reverential to what came before. Notable too is a lack of truly robustly written episodes, especially when compared to the classics to come in later seasons -- the award-winning "The Inner Light" from Season 5, to name just one. But that isn't to say that there isn't anything of merit in  TNG 's early years when it comes to memorable, sci-fi storytelling, and most memorable of all -- outside of Q's renfaire courtroom drama and Tasha Yar's shocking murder by a talking tar pit -- might be Season 2's "The Measure of a Man."

RELATED:  Star Trek: Picard Trailer Hints The Borg Are The Key To Earth's Salvation

When Starfleet Commander Bruce Maddox arrives on Captain Picard's Enterprise to disassemble Lieutenant Commander Data for his own research, the android's protest leads to his very personhood being put on trial. As a cyberneticist, Maddox recognizes Data as a one-of-a-kind invention that, if understood better, could be mass-produced and become a huge asset to Starfleet. Though set centuries in the future, in the main timeline and dimension that  TNG  takes place in, Data ( and his evil twin brother, Lore ) is the most sophisticated A.I known to exist, with no one else able to successfully replicate him other than his dead creator.

Therein lies a problem that Maddox doesn't foresee, however: Data is  so  sophisticated, he has what can only be approximated as 'strong feelings' on the matter of his potential disassembly and reproduction, to the point that he is willing to turn in his Starfleet badge in order to avoid his fate. Maddox finds a legal loophole, though, insisting that as Data is a machine and not a person, he's not technically an officer of Starfleet; instead, he's its  property , and property can't resign. Not content with Data being disallowed the right to refuse to become a lab rat or relieve himself from his post, Picard requests a legal hearing take place, presided over by the formidably litigious Phillipa Louvois, to determine whether or not Data has the same rights as any living creature.

This premise alone has all the hallmarks of a classic, sci-fi moral conundrum, a genre built on the very idea of asking big, philosophical and ethical questions like these. And "The Measure of a Man" doesn't shy away from both asking and answering some really substantial ones -- in beautifully executed fashion at that, from acclaimed fiction writer Melissa Snodgrass's script to the core cast's delivery of her well-constructed arguments for and against Data's personhood.

RELATED:  Strange New Worlds' Classic Star Trek Characters, Explained

The case against Data being viewed as a lifeform is presented by a reticent Commander Riker , who goes for the inorganic jugular by removing one of Data's arms and eventually deactivating him entirely, accompanied by a searing allegory: "Pinnochio is broken; its strings have been cut." The reference to a puppet is insulting enough but more so might be referring to Data as "it," stripping him of the gendered terms that most organic lifeforms consider essential definitions of personhood. More so, of the right to choose how to define oneself. Data actively prefers being referred to as he/him, and preference alone is evidence enough of sentience.

Not only does this sever Data's metaphorical strings, but it also appears to hamstring Picard's entire case for the android's defense. All is not lost, however. During the recess, a cameo from the mysterious Guinan, the wise bartender of the Enterprise's Ten Forward, provides Picard with a perspective that, for all his own worldly wisdom, he hadn't considered: Maddox's intent to replicate Data would undoubtedly create an entire race of androids who, under Louvois' current ruling, would be mere "disposable tools" in the eyes of Starfleet. Essentially, the organization would have a race of slaves , Guinan points out, the horrific implications of which she doesn't need to stress to a human like Picard.

With renewed vigor, Picard returns to the courtroom to do his own dismantling -- of his First Officer's attack on Data's freedoms: "Commander Riker has [...] reminded us that Lieutenant Commander Data was created by a man; do we deny that? No. Again, it is not relevant. Children are created from the 'building blocks' of their parents' DNA. Are they property?" He also throws Maddox through a loop by forcing him to admit that Data fulfills, more than comfortably, the cyberneticist's own definition of what constitutes sentience, and by creating a race of sentient beings that would be considered the "property" of Starfleet, the very things the organization was founded on and fight for would be undermined. "Your honor, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life: well, there it sits! Waiting."

RELATED:  Every Star Trek Series Ranked, According to Critics

His impassioned words expand the issue at hand -- one being's individual civil liberties -- to encompass the potential rights of those to come and as a statement, either progressive or damning, on how the Federation and organic matter, in general, view potential new lifeforms like Data. It's not unlike the way that such laws to enshrine protected groups or characteristics in the real world are made, laws that we've largely come to take for granted but as this episode demonstrates, could be so easily undone at any moment.

There are many smaller moments in "The Measure of Man" that both emphasize the impact of past events in  TNG   and layer more chalky flesh onto Data -- a character whose almost infantile way of looking at the world, in spite of his superhuman intelligence, is already highly endearing even this early into the series. Most insightful of them all is Data's awkward admission that he was once intimate with the deceased Tasha Yar, an event that may have been brushed off as a clunky instance of shallow  Star Trek  horniness, but in this context -- with Picard needling Data for a reason as to why he'd bother keeping an image of her in his room -- makes her loss feel that much weightier, and Data's 'feelings' about that loss, and his description of her as "special" to him, that much more human.

Perhaps easier to forget, thanks to the stirring way Picard embellishes on the train of thought she nudged him down, is Guinan's contribution. The optics of giving a platform, though fleeting, to a character played by an African American actor to discuss the dehumanizing nature of slavery was as significant when the episode aired as it is today; while relating an issue as alien as cybernetic rights to a real-world, historic one brings it back down to earth for viewers. To remember history is to remember what humanity is capable of, and what it could  still  be capable of today or even further into the future that  Star Trek  takes place in.

KEEP READING:  Star Trek: Villains Examines the Franchise's Most Complex Antagonist (Exclusive)

Data's Star Trek: Insurrection Story Was Set Up In TNG

• Data's friendships with young children on TNG drive his desire to be more human, setting up his journey in Star Trek: Insurrection.
• Sarjenka and Timothy's connections with Data lay the groundwork for his creation of a daughter named Lal in a later TNG episode.
• Data's capacity for sentiment and emotion is shown through his relationships with children, highlighting his human-like qualities.

Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) befriended a young girl and helped save her people in Star Trek: The Next Generation , setting up his similar Star Trek: Insurrection story. Data spent much of his time on TNG observing and learning from his fellow crew members aboard the USS Enterprise-D. As an android, Data wanted nothing more than to be human, and he learned more about his own inherent humanity as TNG went on. Because of his child-like curiosity and friendly personality, young children often gravitated toward the android, and they, in turn, offered Data insight into what it means to be human.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, episode 15, "Pen Pals," Data strikes up a correspondence with a young girl named Sarjenka (Nikki Cox) after she sends a plea out into space. Data later learns that Sarjenka's planet, Drema IV, will soon become uninhabitable due to volcanic activity. Although initially reluctant to violate the Prime Directive to save Drema IV, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) eventually relents. In the end, Sarjenka's memories of Data are wiped away, but the android never forgets his connection with this little girl.

Star Trek: The Next Generation Cast & Character Guide

Data's interest in helping children in tng sets up his star trek: insurrection story, data's friendship with sarjenka laid the groundwork for later stories..

Sarjenka is not the only child who finds a friend in Data throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation and the android's connection with children would go on to play a role in Star Trek: Insurrection . Through his friendship with Sarjenka, Data gets one step closer to being human . Data makes another young friend in TNG season 5, episode 11, "Hero Worship," when he rescues a boy named Timothy (Joshua Harris). As the lone survivor of an alien attack on a Federation research vessel, Timothy begins to mimic Data as a way to mask his own grief and pain.

Data admits that he has often wondered what it would be like to be a child.

Data's friendships with Sarjenka and Timothy plant the seeds for his later friendship with a Ba'ku boy named Artim (Michael Welch) in Insurrection . As the Ba'ku people have rejected technology, Artim is initially frightened of Data, but he later grows curious about the android. As Captain Picard and the USS Enterprise-E crew fight to help the Ba'ku people, Artim starts asking Data questions about what it's like being a machine. Data admits that he has often wondered what it would be like to be a child, and Artim reminds Data to "have a little fun every day."

Star Trek: Insurrection was the first film role for child actor Michael Welch, who went on to play Mike Newton in the Twilight films and Mack Thompson in Z Nation .

TNG's "Pen Pals" Also Sets Up Data's Daughter Lal

Data builds an android daughter in tng's "the offspring.".

Data's friendship with Sarjenka in Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Pen Pals" also sets up his eventual decision to create a daughter named Lal (Hallie Todd). In one of Data's best episodes , TNG season 3, episode 16, "The Offspring," Data decides to create another android like himself and raise her as his child. He then creates Lal and teaches her about humans and their behavior. When Starfleet threatens to take Lal away from the Enterprise for further study, Captain Picard fights for Data's right to raise his own daughter. Lal's programming eventually begins to surpass Data's, and she suffers a cascade failure when her new emotions overwhelm her systems.

Data's endearing connections with children on Star Trek: The Next Generation illustrate the android's capacity for sentiment and human-like emotion.

Everyone involved is moved by Data's obvious determination to save Lal, as the android fights just as hard as any parent would to save their child. Although Data is not able to save Lal, he does preserve her memories within his own positronic brain, ensuring that her legacy lives on. Data's friendship with Sarjenka back in TNG's "Pen Pals" gave him a glimpse of what it would be like to care for a child, and he does his best to be a good father to Lal. Data's endearing connections with children on Star Trek: The Next Generation not only set up his Star Trek: Insurrection story, but also illustrate the android's capacity for sentiment and human-like emotion.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is streaming on Paramount+

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Cast Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Wil Wheaton, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden

Release Date

Franchise(s)

Showrunner Jeri Taylor, Michael Piller, Rick Berman

Where To Watch Paramount+

Screen Rant

Star trek: discovery season 5, episode 1 ending & tng treasure explained.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere dropped a bombshell that ties all the way back to Star Trek: The Next Generation. We break it down.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 1 - "Red Directive"

• Star Trek: Discovery season 5 reveals a bombshell treasure hunt that ties back to Star Trek: TNG "The Chase."
• Mysterious villains Moll and L'ak create chaos, leaving behind a trail of destruction on Kumal.
• Captain Saru to become a Federation Ambassador, leading to the first Kelpien-Vulcan wedding in Star Trek history.

The ending of Star Trek: Discovery 's exhilarating season 5 premiere dropped a jaw-dropping bombshell that the treasure Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) is hunting for comes from Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episode 20, "The Chase." Written by Discovery showrunner Michelle Paradise and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, Discovery 's season 5 premiere, "Red Directive," introduces three new major characters, the villains Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis), and Starfleet Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie), and sets up Discovery season 5 as a sequel to the classic TNG episode about who created humanoid life in the galaxy - and how .

Moll and L'ak escaped the clutches of Captain Burnham, Captain Rayner, and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) on the desert world of Q'Mau. After a synthetic merchant named Fred (J. Adam Brown) opened a Romulan puzzle box Moll and L'ak stole from an 800-year-old Romulan starship , Fred double-crossed Moll and L'ak and was killed by the renegade lovers. L'ak and Moll then detonated an explosive in the mountains, creating an avalanche. The combined shields of the USS Discovery and the USS Antares protected the people of Kumal, but Moll and L'ak escaped with the Romulans' journal. However, Captain Burnham knows more than the rogues do about the treasure thanks to Discovery's crew. And, as Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) said, the answers are wild.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 - Everything We Know

Star trek: discovery season 5's treasure & progenitors explained, who were the progenitors in star trek: tng's "the chase".

"The greatest treasure in the known galaxy" in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is the technology Ancient Humanoids used to create sentient humanoid life. A hologram of an Ancient Humanoid (Salome Jens) was encountered by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), members of the USS Enterprise-D crew, as well as a group of Romulans, Klingons, and Cardassians in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "The Chase". The Ancient Humanoid revealed that her long-dead race seeded the galaxy billions of years ago to create humanoid life forms in their image, and that the humanoid species in Star Trek 's galaxy share a common ancestry.

"The Chase" was Star Trek: The Next Generation 's attempt to explain why so many aliens in Star Trek are essentially humans with bumpy foreheads and physical variations.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere reveals that the United Federation of Planets and Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg) dubbed the Ancient Humanoids "The Progenitors". 800 years ago, a Romulan scientist named Dr. Vellek (Michael Copeman) found and hid the Progenitors' technology, which can literally create life and would be catastrophic if it fell into the wrong hands . However, Moll and L'ak (and, logically, whoever hired them) learned about the Progenitors' technology. The ability to create, and possibly destroy, humanoid species is an existential threat to the galaxy, which is why the Federation needs Captain Burnham to find it first.

In Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere, President T'Rina (Tara Rosling) said the Tholian Republic and the Breen Imperium are rising, and they could be looking for the Progenitors' technology.

Moll & L'ak Keep Escaping, But Who Are They?

Star trek: discovery's new villains are a mystery..

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's version of Bonnie and Clyde, the villainous Moll and L'ak are mysterious former couriers who have had several past encounters with Captain Rayner of the USS Antares. Moll is human but L'ak is an unknown species with no known information in the Federation database. They are also hired guns, so they must have an employer yet to be revealed.

While little is revealed about Moll and L'ak, what is clear is they are lovers with deep affection for each other. Cleveland Booker doesn't know Moll and L'ak from his years as a courier, but he could tell by the way they escaped from the USS Discovery and USS Antares that L'ak and Moll are in love and are having fun together. In a way, Moll and L'ak are an echo of what Book and Michael Burnham were like when they were couriers traveling the galaxy together in the year before the USS Discovery arrived in the 32nd century.

Saru Will Become A Federation Ambassador & Marry T'Rina

Wedding bells are coming to star trek: discovery..

Captain Saru accepts Federation President Laira Rillak's (Chelah Horsdal) offer to become a Federation Ambassador. Saru has been serving as First Officer of the USS Discovery despite his higher rank since Star Trek: Discovery season 4, but being Captain Burnham's Number One is not really a role that utilizes the Kelpien's skills and potential. Saru also chose to leave Discovery and become an Ambassador to be closer to his love, President T'Rina.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 will soon have the first Kelpien-Vulcan wedding and the first wedding between 2 major Star Trek characters in 22 years.

Originally, T'Rina told Saru not to factor her into his decision to take the Ambassador position, but she actually wanted Saru to leave Discovery, which would allow them to spend more time together. And T'rina went a step further and proposed to Saru in a very Vulcan-like fashion, suggesting they "codify our mutual agreement in a more official capacity". Saru seemed to say yes, which means Star Trek: Discovery season 5 will soon have the first Kelpien-Vulcan wedding and the first wedding between 2 major Star Trek characters in 22 years since Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) married Deanna Tro i (Marina Sirtis) in Star Trek: Nemesis.

Burnham & Book Are Still Broken Up

They should have called each other..

Star Trek: Discovery 's top love story, Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker , didn't quite heat up in season 5's premiere. Burnham and Book have been separated (but with no hard feelings) ever since Book commenced his penance for the Federation after breaking multiple laws to destroy the Dark Matter Anomaly in Star Trek: Discovery season 4. Burnham turned to Book for his courier expertise to help her catch Moll and L'ak , and if she's honest, because she wanted to see Book again.

Michael and Book agreed not to restart their relationship.

Book remains penitent and is committed to righting his wrongs with the Federation and with Michael, but there is now an understandable awkwardness between them. Book has a role to play on the USS Discovery as long as Moll and L'ak are at large , but on Kumal, Michael and Book agreed not to restart their relationship. However, this isn't the end of Burnham and Booker's love story, and it's hard to imagine they won't get back together at some point in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Captain Rayner Is No Fan Of Burnham

What is rayner's problem.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 introduced Callum Keith Rennie's Captain Rayner of the USS Antares as a new series regular character, and he brings a new dynamic to the show. Gruff, impatient, and no-nonsense, Rayner evokes previous hardliner Star Trek Captains like Captain Edward Jellico (Ronny Cox) in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Rayner is also resentful of Captain Burnham for some reason , and he finds humor in mocking Michael, asserting his command authority, and countermanding her orders.

Rayner seems jealous of the USS Discovery's spore drive, and he mentions his displeasure that he doesn't have a Pathway Drive on the USS Antares.

Although it wasn't mentioned or factored into Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere, Captain Rayner is a Kellerun , a species first introduced in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2's "Armageddon Game". Rayner's interest in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is fulfilling his Red Directive mission objective, which is retrieving the treasure, as well as capturing Moll and L'ak, whom he has tangled with before. There is plenty more to learn about Captain Rayner in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Star Trek: Discovery Now Has Their Own Data

Fred could be good for commander paul stamets..

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere introduced Fred, a Soong-type synthetic who is a merchant and fence on the planet Q'Mau. Fred obviously evokes the most famous Soong android, Data (Brent Spiner), which is another link between Star Trek: Discovery season 5 and Star Trek: The Next Generation , L'ak and Moll killed Fred after he double-crossed them, but after Fred's body was beamed onto the USS Discovery's medical bay, Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) determined from his serial number, AS-7502Y, that Fred was built from the design of Dr. Altan Inigo Soong (Brent Spiner) from Star Trek: Picard .

In Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere, Stamets lamented the Federation's scuttling the spore drive program in favor of the Pathway Drive . Although Fred was "killed", it's possible Stamets and his husband, Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), can reactivate Fred. The 600-plus-year-old android may contain other secrets and answer many questions about events between Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Discovery 's era. There are intriguing possibilities for Fred in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 , and it would be odd if Fred really is dead after his lone appearance.

The USS Discovery is now "one of a kind" since it has the only working spore drive in existence.

The Next Clue In Discovery's Treasure Hunt

Discovery is going to a planet with twin moons..

The USS Discovery's next stop on the treasure hunt in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2, "Under the Twin Moons," is Lyrek, a planet in the Vileen system, on the outer sector of the Beta Quadrant, that has 3 moons, 2 of which move in perfect sync. Captain Burnham figured this out after seeing images of Dr. Vellek's Romulan diary pages retrieved from Fred's database. One of the pages had a circular image which could be a literal treasure map, and the clues point to the Vileen system and the planet with twin moons . What Burnham will find on Lyrek remains to be seen in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2, but the chase is on to answer one of the biggest questions left behind by Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is streaming on Paramount+