Screw you, Maddox, you sociopath. (I wanted to say something quite a bit stronger...) The complete and utter lack of any understanding of where rights come from and the resultant violation of rights just makes my blood boil. It makes me sympathetic (empathetic?) to every sci-fi plot where AI rebels against human oppressors by killing them all.
Probably my favorite early episode of Next Generation. The last exchange between Riker and Data moves me to tears every single time.
Touching. A friend is saved. I find it hard to believe they had to have the whole courtroom scenario anyway. Data is a bridge officer, a Commander with medals. He's passed Star Fleets entrance exam. Surely they value him above a 'thing' or an 'it'.
The problems this episode raises are not as hard to answer as it makes it seem. On top of that Data doesn’t have much of a say in the matter. Picard is the one that has to argue on his behalf. Not the great episode that some would have you believe.
A powerful episode, if somewhat lacking in subtlety. Data's trial is gripping not just due to the script but due to the performances of all involved, notably Patrick Stewart and Jonathon Frakes. Whoopi Goldberg also proves her presence to the show as invaluable and lending an extra quality of class.
Sure, the result here is never in doubt but the episode pulls no punches. It's regarded as a classic for a reason, although it would be outdone many times over in the years to come, and looking back it does feel somewhat quaint.
yes, picard against the adjudicator is great to see, and one of the highlights of the character. but the main problem with this episode is based on the fact that star trek is shit at lecturing about philosophy. when it is implicit, it is one of the most sophisticated television shows, but in an episode such at this when characters try to explicitly answer philosophical questions, it falls flat. as an example, in 'elementary, dear data' the moriarty character quotes 'cogito ergo sum', which has not been considered a valid account of subjectivity for centuries - even less so in the 22nd century. furthermore, the episode promises to address ideas about consciousness in machines. instead we are given a half-arsed throwback to american slavery, which just affirms that the show is and always will be a product of the US, and not a pure utopian vision. overall i'm rather disappointed that this is often regarded as 'top 10 TNG' material. even 'conspiracy' and 'where no one has gone before' from S1 greatly outmatch this.
An alternate title could've been "Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum" (I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am). :sweat_smile:
I also suppose simply asking Data "how do you feel about..." would not have provided the necessary drama to extend the episode to its full 44 minutes. :sweat_smile::sweat_smile:
That said, I absolutely loved this episode. I very much identify with the more "socially challenged" characters in Star Trek universe (Spock, Tuvok, Odo, Seven...) and Data is one of my favourites. There are so many sentient species in existence, so many ways of being. :heart:
Classic Trek. Trek is not all about action but humanity.
Data looks human, but is actually a machine...or is he? The question of what makes someone human is put on trial in this emotionally charged--yet entertaining--episode.
Data is such a likable character! Love the episodes that deal with him and this one is really touching. As a new Star Trek fan (started with TNG a few weeks ago after finishing TOS) I'm really looking forward to seeing more episodes like this. 10/10, although I might regret that at some point, hoping to see even better episodes, but "totally ninja" is matching this one all the way.
Iconic episode.
[Minor Picard spoilers] And then the Picard show will go on to shit all over this by literally using androids as slaves and Picard doesn't bat an eye at it, lmao. That's what happens when you have writers that don't know anything about the thing they're writing.
Reminds me.. I need to watch JAG again
Shout by FinFanBlockedParent2015-11-13T21:17:10Z
You want to know what Star Trek is all about than this is an episode you should see. If you don´t get it from this one you propably never will.