Data was a beloved character in Star Trek: The Next Generation, particularly because he was the spiritual successor to the character of Spock in Star Trek: The Original Series. Data was an android, a being of artificial intelligence who had human sentience, but who was unable to process or express emotion. Much like Spock, who was revealed to have hidden depths in the original Star Trek series, Data was a marvel beyond modern science. Data appeared primarily in Star Trek: The Next Generation, traversing the galaxy and oftentimes the holodeck, finding a best friend in Geordi La Forge and even romance in Tasha Yar. His story continues in the movie sequels, as well as Star Trek: Picard, but there’s no denying his original incarnation remains the most powerful.
Like his fellow crew members, Data endured all the trials and tribulations of life aboard Starfleet’s flagship, the Enterprise-D. What made Data special was his identity as the first Soong-type android officer of Starfleet. His competence was repeatedly questioned by outsiders, and on more than one occasion, so was his right to exist. Data became one of the most important characters in the Star Trek canon, and his early adventures are by far his most compelling.
S2 E09: The Measure of a Man
In this iconic episode, Data is forced to make the case to a court of law about retaining autonomy over his own body. A scientist from Starfleet attempts to assert ownership of Data, stating that he is little more than machinery, and therefore property that can be disassembled at will. Picard defends Data’s rights, and demonstrates his sentience, while Riker is charged with questioning it.
Not only is Data’s life threatened by the very organization he is devoted to, but Picard and Riker are placed into an intense moral quandary. The conflicts between duty, conscience and friendship comes into play, challenging the characters and showing off Star Trek at its absolute best.
S4 E11: Data’s Day
This is a classic tale of Data’s primary struggle in the show, which was his effort to understand and emulate traditional human behavior. Data is the audience’s point of view in this episode, as he tries to prepare for the wedding of two of his crew mates. He completes a dancing lesson, gets in the middle of a domestic spat and pre-nuptial jitters, and ponders the validity of his perception of emotion.
Woven through these mishaps is the story of a Vulcan ambassador being guided by Data, a woman whose shifty demeanour leads to a mystery – just like the work of one of Data’s idols, Sherlock Holmes. Data is one of the kindest and most dependable people in the show, and this episode demonstrates that perfectly.
S3 E22: The Most Toys
Data is special for being an exemplary officer with impeccable logic and judgment, but he’s also an extremely rare piece of hardware. The latter becomes distressingly apparent when Data’s death is faked, and he is abducted by an artifact collector, a man who sees Data as little more than a doll to be displayed.
This episode manages to be a disturbing glance at the dark underbelly of the Star Trek universe, as well as a grueling ordeal for Data. While being dehumanized and objectified, Data has to reconsider everything he thought he knew about his ability to feel emotion. His compassion for a fellow inmate and his anger at her violent demise makes it clear that he’s not just a cold robot after all.
S6 E08: A Fistful of Datas
This absurd parody of classic Wild West movies follows Worf and his young son Alexander, but Data is unquestionably the star. In this episode, Worf allows his son to construct a holodeck program for the pair of them and Deanna Troi, an adventure that they can play out and bond over. An energy surge in engineering accidentally blends the holodeck controls with Data’s positronic mind, leading to unnaturally clever and deadly opponents in Alexander’s program.
Worf must overcome an entire cast of Datas acting like outlaws, while protecting his son. Meanwhile, Data adopts a southern accent and some bizarre cowboy-esque habits.
S4 E03: Brothers
Data’s family is the subject of this episode, and they make themselves known in a rather demanding way. Data is remotely hijacked by his creator, Dr. Noonien Soong, who orders him to return to Soong’s home immediately. After commandeering the Enterprise, Data is able to obey. He finds his ‘father,’ as well as another Soong-type android named Lore.
Soong tells his creations that he is dying, and also that he wishes to give Data an emotion chip: a piece of technology that would allow Data to have genuine feelings. Data’s brother Lore is somewhat less understanding, kickstarting a one-sided rivalry that carries on through the series.
S3 E16: The Offspring
This is another episode in which Data’s family becomes a hot topic. Data builds and activates another android, one with the potential to become as sophisticated as a Soong-made product. He receives a reprimand by Picard, who is forced to grapple with the fact that he cannot interfere with how Data procreates any more than he can tell human crew members whether they’re permitted to have children or not. Data’s fellow bridge crew mates quickly bond with the android, who has chosen her own gender and her name: Lal. The new android slowly acclimates to her environment, learning and rebelling and acting like a mix of a baby and the adolescent she appears to be. Her ultimate fate becomes a tragedy for Data, who cannot grieve like a normal parent.
The character of Data has been enjoyed by generations of viewers, those who watched him decades ago and those who have come upon him more recently. His journey in Star Trek: The Next Generation was one of the most emotional, ironically, as his struggle to adapt to his surroundings enamored audiences. His episodes covered everything from family to identity, showing how much the character grew beyond his introduction.