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Episodes in which Data is captain

Discussion in ' Star Trek: The Next Generation ' started by FTV , Jan 9, 2009 .

FTV Cadet Newbie

Data always seemed to kick butt whenever they actually put him in charge. So I tried really hard to find which episodes include the times Data has the bridge on any ship but my Google-foo was not strong enough. Can anyone recall the episodes where this happens?

Lt.Cmdr.LaForge Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

I was watching the episode 'Brothers' last night from season 4. Data is called home to his father, (originally presumed dead). Data takes control of the ship, deactivating the life support on the bridge to force everyone out, he then over rides all ship systems to only answer to picard on the bridge (whom data has been impersonating). He sets the Enterprise on a course to the residence of his father at warp 9.3, which apparently at the time was dangerous due to some recent upgrade or something. During this brief rebellion in which Data has no control over, nor does he even remember. He isn't 'given' the bridge as such, but the way in which he aquires it and takes control of the entire ship single handed is awesome, he 'kicks butt'! Hope this helped =]

Timo Fleet Admiral Admiral

In addition to "Brothers", there's "Redemption II" where Data gets to command the Sutherland against the objections of her top officers, and "Gambit II" where Data commands the E-D when both Picard and Riker go missing. And then there are umpteen episodes where Data commands a shuttlecraft... Plus one or two where he commands himself on a demanding away mission, such as in "Ensigns of Command" or "Thine Own Self", but I guess the question was about commanding vehicles rather than missions. Timo Saloniemi

Finn Bad Batch of TrekBBS Admiral

I wouldn't count Brothers. He wasn't in control of his actions since he wasn't himself. Plus he didn't act like someone in command or control of the ship. By that reasoning, Wesley was a Captain briefly in The Naked Now.

...OTOH, Barclay was a commanding personality in "Nth Degree"... Timo Saloniemi

Dane_Whitman Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

I think his best two 'command moments' were: 1. When he was in command of the Sutherland and he put that goof Hobson on his place. "FIRE!" 2. When he gave Worf that dressing down in "Gambit". Spiner does 'Data in command' really well, he would have made a believable Captain one day.

dave_R_treker Captain Captain

He was in command in Gambit part two

Red Ranger Admiral In Memoriam

Both Gambit, Pt. II and Redemption, Pt. II were Data's Spock/ The Tholian Web / Galileo Seven moments. I agree, Data made a good command officer. We did see him in command red twice, also, in Chain of Command, Pt. II and in Future Imperfect . He looked good in that color, too. Would've always had him as a command officer, and reworked it so the conn was an operations post like security or engineering. -- RR

Jefferies Captain Captain

Thought I should share this with you. Personally, I think Data would have made an excellent captain. Its a shame he never got promoted. If he had lived after Nemesis he maybe could have taken over command of the Enterprise from Picard at some point.

darkshadow0001 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

I think he was in control of the ship in one of the season one's episodes. I believe it might be the episode "Justice"

john titor Captain

Data should never have been killed off in Nemesis, they need to rectify that as its in direct conflict with how he turns out to be university professor in the future.

captcalhoun Admiral Admiral

^ the future with an E-D with three nacelles in it? and Worf rules some Klingon colony? 'possible future', chum. GEN negated it before NEM did.

Jefferies said: ↑ Thought I should share this with you. Personally, I think Data would have made an excellent captain. Its a shame he never got promoted. If he had lived after Nemesis he maybe could have taken over command of the Enterprise from Picard at some point. Click to expand...

Red Ranger said: ↑ Jefferies: Nice pic. You know, there is a novel where a future Data is in command of Enterprise , I think it's Imzadi . -- RR Click to expand...

Anwar Admiral Admiral

john titor said: ↑ Data should never have been killed off in Nemesis, they need to rectify that as its in direct conflict with how he turns out to be university professor in the future. Click to expand...

RaymondJames Captain Captain

personally I like when Doctor Crusher in in command why is it when she is in charge everything happens?

SiorX Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

RaymondJames said: ↑ personally I like when Doctor Crusher in in command why is it when she is in charge everything happens? Click to expand...

Bonzo the Fifth Commander Red Shirt

Jefferies said: ↑ Red Ranger said: ↑ Jefferies: Nice pic. You know, there is a novel where a future Data is in command of Enterprise , I think it's Imzadi . -- RR Click to expand...

Crewman47 Commodore Newbie

As Second Officer would he not always be in command of the third shift? So even though we've only seen a few times of him in command technically he's always had a command role on the ship.

Vanyel The Imperious Leader Premium Member

Not an episode, but he was told to take command by Picard in Nemesis . He keeps it for about 2 minutes, but he is in command.

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1.1 Specifications
1.2 Ancestry and family
1.3 Discovery and early life
1.4 The Enterprise -D
1.5.1 Assignments away from the Enterprise
1.5.2 Turbulent times
2 Interests
3 Alternate realities
4 Starfleet service record
5.1 Connections
5.2 See also
5.4.1 Appearances
5.5 External links

Biography and specifications [ ]

Specifications [ ].

Internal components

Data was constructed by Doctor Noonien Soong and, like the majority of Dr. Soong's works, was modeled after Soong's own likeness and mimicked the human form in impressive detail. Data's design included an ability to grow hair and a pseudo- cardiovascular system which produced a pulse and breathing, but rather than pumping blood , distributed biochemical lubricants and regulated microhydraulic power and temperatures throughout his body. ( TNG episode : " Birthright ")

Data's chemical nutrients are also capable of contracting molecular pathogens undetectable to transporter filters and bleeding from his dermal surface when his skin is pierced or torn. ( TNG episode : " The Naked Now ")

Data was composed of 24.6 kilograms of tripolymer composites, 11.8 kilograms of molybdenum - cobalt alloys and 1.3 kilograms of bioplast sheeting . ( TNG episode : " The Most Toys ")

His upper, spinal support is a polyalloy designed to withstand extreme stress. His skull is composed of cortinide and duranium . This composition makes him resistant to most forms of stress and virtually bullet proof. ( TNG episodes : " The Chase ", " Thine Own Self "; TNG movie : Star Trek: First Contact )

Data was built with an ultimate storage capacity of eight hundred quadrillion bits (approximately 100 petabytes) and a total linear computational speed rated at sixty trillion operations per second. ( TNG episodes : " The Measure of a Man ", " The Offspring ")

Data's brain was outfitted (unlike Lore 's type L) with a type R phase discriminating amplifier . ( TNG episode : " Time's Arrow ")

As his neural net was composed of anti- electrons (positrons), and throughout the nervous system, his body gave off an aura on a wavelength only visible to a humanoid wearing a VISOR . ( TNG episode : " Heart of Glory ")

Data has an ability to "spacewalk", for a limited amount of time, outside the pressurized confines of a vessel's hull-without an environmental suit . He also has acrobatic skills necessary to perform tasks in zero- gravity . ( TNG comic : " A Piece of Reaction "; TNG movie : Star Trek: Nemesis )

Designed with a "fully functional", anatomically correct form, he could perform various techniques of interaction, including sexuality. However, he could not master the ability to whistle. ( TNG episodes : " Encounter at Farpoint ", " The Naked Now ", " Brothers ")

Although he is flawlessly capable of this human idiosyncrasy. ( TNG episode : " The Schizoid Man ")

Data's construction, at first, had no buoyancy-resulting in his sinking whenever submerged in water . ( TNG episode : " Descent ")

However, this was corrected in later years as a potential drowning risk in emergencies. ( TNG movie : Star Trek: Insurrection )

Data possessed a simple infrared vision in addition to normal sight. ( TNG novel : Survivors )

Despite his impressive abilities and specifications, Data always desired to become more human but often struggled to master various aspects of humanity, such as emotion , humor and contractions. As part of his quest to become more human Data kept a pet cat , Spot .

Data did finally gain emotions when he installed an emotion chip created by Dr. Soong. He is most well known for using these emotions in Season 6 and 7 of TNG. ( TNG movie , novelization & comic adaptation : Generations )

Upon their first meeting, Commander Riker referred to him with the pet name of Pinocchio . Years later, his comparison to the antiquated children's tale came up again, while Will Riker considered Data's search for the "human condition." ( TNG episode : " Encounter at Farpoint "; TNG novel : The Eyes of the Beholders )

Ancestry and family [ ]

The dream of creating an android like Data dates back to as early as the 22nd century when Dr. Arik Soong , having failed in improving humanity by means of genetic modification, decided to begin development of a cybernetic lifeform . ( ENT episode : " The Augments ")

He had fully expected that he would not be the one to see the completion of this task; indeed, it was not until Arik Soong's descendant: Noonien Soong, under the tutelage of Ira Graves (Data's " grandfather ") and with the assistance of Juliana Tainer (Data's " mother "), that a fully-formed android was created. ( TNG episodes : " The Schizoid Man ", " Inheritance ")

Prior to Data, Dr. Soong created at least two other androids, Data's brothers Lore and B-4 . Both were considered faulty and were deactivated in favor of the more advanced Data. ( TNG episode : " Datalore "; TNG movie : Star Trek Nemesis )

Data, after the death of his daughter Lal

Despite his quite extensive ancestry Data may consider his crewmates aboard the starships Enterprise -D and -E more of a family and had a particularly strong bond with his friend Geordi La Forge .

In 2366 Data created a new android, his daughter Lal , in her short life Lal successfully achieved a far greater level of human emotion than Data had yet managed and she remained in his thoughts for many years following her death. Appearing in Star Trek: Picard, he also had another daughter called Dahj and also one called Soji.( TNG episode : " The Offspring ")

Discovery and early life [ ]

Data was constructed by Dr. Noonien Soong , and first activated in 2335 at the Omicron Theta colony on planet Kiron III . Unlike his "older brother" Lore , he was not given emotions, and at first was very childlike. In 2336 , his early memories were wiped and replaced with the logs and journals of the colonists. Shortly after, the colony was attacked by a Crystalline Entity and Data was left deactivated on a rock shelf. ( TNG episode : " Inheritance "; ST video game : Star Trek: Starship Creator ; TNG novelization : Encounter at Farpoint )

He was discovered in 2338 by the crew of the USS Tripoli , and reactivated, becoming familiar with Starfleet . Data entered Starfleet Academy in 2341 . ( TNG episode : " Datalore ")

Rear Admiral Alynna Nechayev met with Data while he was hoping to join Starfleet. Nechayev allowed Data to skip the entrance exams and to move to an accelerated track with credit for individual study. ( TNG novel : A Time to Be Born )

Data took the first-year course Ethics and Moral Principles , in which cadets debate the topic that life everywhere was sacred. However, Data was unable to form an argument against the hypothesis, as it was against his programming, and failed the course. ( TNG novel : Survivors )

In 2343 , Data completed an engineering honorarium at Utopia Planitia . A year later, he piloted the shuttle Curie from Earth to Utopia Planitia, ferrying a number of Starfleet officers and one civilian, the nine-year-old Kathryn Janeway . After arriving, he took Janeway on a tour of the facility. ( VOY novel : Mosaic )

At Starfleet Academy, he undertook the Priam IV test as part of admission to the graduating class. Although the test required cadets to be hypnotized into believing the test was real, Data could not be fooled and could even the see the holodeck walls. Therefore, he allowed computer experts to program the experience directly into his mind, an experience that he found disturbing due to the loss of mental control and later sudden return. It took him several days to reconcile the conflicting memories, and finally resolved the paradox by denying access to the real events. ( TNG novel : Survivors )

While in Starfleet Academy, Data had been instrumental in doing some updating and redesigning of the computer system used aboard starships, including greater sophistication in its communication skills and expansion of its already formidable memory. ( TNG novel : Strike Zone )

The year 2345 saw Data graduate with honors in exobiology and probability mechanics from Starfleet Academy as its first android graduate. ( TNG episode : " Encounter at Farpoint "; Last Unicorn RPG module : All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook )

One of Data's first assignments was as a Starfleet Education Representative , where he visited schools across the Sol system , before he was assigned to a starship. ( TNG novel : Survivors )

He remained an ensign for three years and spent ten-to-twelve years as a lieutenant before he was recruited for a survey mission by Captain Jean-Luc Picard aboard the USS Portia . ( TNG novel : The Buried Age ) During this mission, Picard encouraged Data to assert himself and work beyond what his superiors request of him; prior to meeting Picard, Data had shown a lack of career advancement because he always did the job in front of him simply because it didn't occur to him to push himself further or ask for particular assignments over others, adhering to the chain of command without thinking of going beyond the rules. Inspired by Picard's advice, Data was not only able to determine the true abilities and motives of the Manraloth , Ariel , but expose and thwart her plans to sabotage the Galaxy -class starships with a quantum virus that would have added various minor faults to their designs while rendering Starfleet computers unable to detect these flaws. As a result of his efforts, Data was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 2360 after the conclusion of the mission ( TNG episodes : " Datalore ", " Clues ") (A meeting of Starfleet Command had to specially approve the promotion. ( TNG novel : Survivors ) He subsequently served aboard the USS Trieste ( TNG novel : The Buried Age ), although he was assured that there was a place for him on a Galaxy-class starship when he wanted it for his role in saving them.

By 2365 , Data had earned the Starfleet Command Decoration for Gallantry , Medal of Honor with clusters, Legion of Honor , and the Star Cross . ( TNG episode : " The Measure of a Man ")

By the late 24th century , Data's collected letters were required reading by cadets taking the Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course at Starfleet Academy. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : Starfleet Academy Handbook )

The Enterprise -D [ ]

Data in dress uniform at Chief O'Brien 's wedding aboard the Enterprise -D

In 2364 , Data joined the crew of the USS Enterprise -D as operations manager , chief science officer , and second officer . ( TNG episode & novelization : Encounter at Farpoint ; WizKids module : Attack Wing )

Data also accompanied the Enterprise -D's First Officer , Commander Riker and away teams on various missions and first contacts with species such as the Theluvians . He also took part in various celebrations aboard the Enterprise -D such as Christmas .

Prior to a encounter with Q , Data was, unknowingly, pre-programmed by Starfleet Command to have the Enterprise -D find the planet Faltos . Data was given authority to command the ship on the orders of Admiral Thivov . Data was successful in finding Faltos. Data was also instrumental in escaping Faltos's orbit. Chief Engineer Michael Argyle and Dr. Beverly Crusher were able to help Data find Dr. Soong's research on the Crystalline Entity . Using this information, Data was able to create an escape plan by joining transporter and warp technology in a unorthodox way. However, as the ship was leaving Faltos's orbit, Data's file on this was taken away by Bensley to protect Faltos , thus making sure the planet remains lost. ( TNG comics : " ... Where No One Has Gone Before! ", " Spirit in the Sky! ", " Q Affects! ")

On stardate 41590.8, Data was part of an away team to the planet Tigan . After discovering a planetary conspiracy, the team were attacked by Tigan security forces. Tasha Yar and Will Riker were taken into captivity while Data was taken to a Tigan facility where one of the Tigan conspirators, Edic , attempted to reprogram Data's positronic brain to erase his findings and report back to the Enterprise with only a positive experience of the planet. Fortunately Data's mind proved too resilient for this tampering and the attempt was unsuccessful. Data was freed from the Tigans when Edic rebelled against his fellow conspirator Kadec after seeing the error of his ways. The experience left Data contemplative, his memory so perfect, maybe that could be the key to him learning to be Human . ( TNG comic : " History Lesson ")

He later went on an investigative mission to the planet Treva with Lieutenant Tasha Yar . They met with President Nalavia , with whom he attempted to flirt on Yar's suggestion. After Yar disappeared, Data was forced to carry on alone, and was taken on tours of the city to meet with survivors of the terrorist attacks and visiting schools. Meanwhile, he infiltrated the Presidential Palace , explored its computers , analyzed the data he found, and searched for Yar. Finally he escaped the palace and headed to the castle of Warrior's Rest in a stolen flyer to rescue Yar, but he was captured by a quoghart net he did not notice. There, Data shared what he'd learned about Nalavia’s Riatine water treatments and fake terrorists . Though conflicted by their duty to the Prime Directive , he and Yar participated in planning for the liberation of Treva, and in the defense of the rebel stronghold. He also began a relationship with Pris Shenkley , a mercenary working for fugitive ex–Starfleet officer Darryl Adin . Data later discovered information exposing Nalavia's schemes.

Following the mission, Data remotely accessed the Starbase 36 computer in order to find and examine files related to Adin's conviction in 2359 . Delving deeper, he interfaced with and finally merged completely with the computer to recover deleted files from the Standard Unlimited Virtual memory system, something that could only be done by an android. He virtually drowned in conflicting information from the starbase and was left unconscious, but was fortunately discovered and restored by Lieutenant Geordi La Forge . He discovered that the files had been tampered with and exosed the Orion plot that had framed Adin, exonerating him. ( TNG novel : Survivors )

At some point during the year 2364 , Data also served in the position of navigator aboard the USS Enterprise -D . ( TNG video game : The Transinium Challenge )

In 2366 , Data was taken by the Mezartine crew of the warship Conqueror . There he was used as a new body for the Pilot 's personality to continue his existence. As the pilot, Data ordered Captain Picard to give supplies or he would destroy the Enterprise . ( TNG - The Battle Within comics : " The Pilot ", " The Battle Within ")

In late 2368 , Data traveled through a Devidian portal to 1893 . An away team from the Enterprise followed him and brought him back to his own time . However, he left his head behind, which stayed in San Francisco for nearly five hundred years before being reconnected to his body shortly after his recovery by his crewmates. ( TNG episode : " Time's Arrow ")

In 2371 , Data was forced to play a deadly game with the entity Redjac when he took over Enterprise -D 's computer as part of his revenge. Redjac used the Enterprise -D 's holodeck to recreate Victorian London using Data's Sherlock Holmes program. Redjac tried to make Data feel fear. At first, Data was not able to stop Redjac from killing officers such as Ensign McKenzie . Data was able to save Counselor Troi from Redjac. Data and LaForge were then able to devise away to stop Redjac. Data was then able to find Redjac in a warehoused named " Montgomery & Sons" on Scott street, which Data saw as reference to Redjac's time on the original Enterprise . Data and La Forge were able to seal Redjac within a photon torpedo . ( TNG comic : " Embrace the Wolf ")

The Enterprise -E [ ]

Following the Enterprise -D's destruction, Data alongside the majority of Captain Picard's crew transferred to the new Sovereign -class USS Enterprise -E . ( TNG movie : Star Trek First Contact )

In the months following the infusion of the emotion chip into his neural net, Data had dificulties mastering his new emotions. He was prone to get angry or agitated over trivial matters, and found himself unable to produce art as before. In the latter matter, he enlisted the help of Lieutenant Padraig Daniels who came aboard for a temorary assignment. The two spent much time in the Enterprise ' art center painting, and eventually Data managed to express himself again using his emotions. ( TNG - Slings and Arrows eBook : The Oppressor's Wrong )

In 2374 during the Dominion War , Data and the crew of Enterprise-E were then sent to the Gorn homeworld to try and form an alliance between the Federation and the Gorn Empire. Data was left in command of the Enterprise after a coup occurred on the surface and Capt. Picard, Counselor Troi and Dr. Crusher went down to the surface. Data then held the Enterprise's fire against the one of the Gorn warships. Data then destroyed the Gorn warship. Data then informed Starfleet command and Adm. Connolly of the situation with the Gorn. Connolly told him that Starfleet could not send any reinforcements to him. Data was then contacted by the coup leader, Slessshh , who wanted the Enterprise to surrender or he would kill Capt. Picard, Dr. Crusher, Counselor Troi and the rest of the away team. Data however refused to do so saying that Slessshh was underestimating the human's strength. Data then decided to beam down, unarmed to the Gorn council chamber to demonstrate his point. Data then called Slessshh and the gorn weak. Data, at the behest of Capt. Picard, then challenged Slessshh to fight him. Data was able to defeat him and force the gorn war fleet to stand down.( TNG comic : " The Gorn Crisis ")

In 2376 , Data was part of an away team to investigate the Cardassian freighter Kamal , which the Enterprise had discovered in the Badlands . The freighter contained the Orb of Memory which caused the away team , including Data, to suffer flashbacks to people and events in their lives. ( DS9 novel : Avatar, Book One )

Assignments away from the Enterprise [ ]

Given Data's impressive abilities and usefulness to Starfleet, it was not uncommon for him to be called to serve on other missions away from the Enterprise from time to time .( TNG episode : " We'll Always Have Paris ", TNG episode : " The Ensigns of Command ", TNG episode : " Time's Arrow ", TNG episode : " Thine Own Self ")

In 2375 Data joined a duck-blind mission on the planet Ba'ku and was largely responsible for revealing a Starfleet/ Son'a plot to remove the Ba'ku from their planet. ( TNG movie : Star Trek: Insurrection )

In 2377 Data served as technical advisor during the development of the highly experimental USS Incursion . He joined the Incursion 's crew in the shakedown cruise testing the Incursion's holographic systems and subsequently found himself in the midst of the Warden plot to take over the galaxy . During the crisis he was recalled to Earth to help decode warden transmissions and was almost assassinated by Warden agents, fortunately he was rescued by the Incursion 's crew and rejoined the vessel to help bring down the Wardens. ( TNG video game : Away Team )

In 2378 Data was assigned to the USS Sovereign to assist in the investigation of the Vesuvi Event. It was discovered that a rogue Cardassian faction was responsible. Data received orders from Vice Admiral Liu to track down the device that the Cardassians were using to destroy star systems . A device was located on Alioth VI, but unfortunately, the Sovereign was discovered and attacked by a Cardassian fleet, forcing the crew to leave Data behind on the hostile planet for several months. He was recovered by the crew of the Sovereign and later was able to establish a dialogue with the Kessok after the Sovereign 's captain initiated a peaceful first contact. After the conflict in the Maelstrom region was resolved, he returned to the Enterprise . ( TNG video game : Bridge Commander )

Turbulent times [ ]

In 2378 , Data had his emotion chip forcibly removed following an incident at the Rashanar Battle site . ( TNG novels : A Time to Be Born , A Time to Die )

In 2379 , he commanded the Bravo team mission to infiltrate the nadion-pulse cannon firebase located in the Solasook Peninsula on Tezwa . The mission was successful after Data was able to interface with the base computers allowing him to send false signals forcing the crew to abandon the base. It was on this mission that Commander Riker was kidnapped and held captive for one month. During Riker's captivity, Data served as acting first officer of the Enterprise . It was Lieutenant Vale's belief that Data went without any rest for this entire one-month period. ( TNG novels : A Time to Kill , A Time to Heal )

After Riker's return, he approached Captain Picard about taking crew of the Enterprise with him to the USS Titan . Picard was fine with this except that Riker was not allowed to take Data as Picard felt that he had earned his chance to become first officer of the Enterprise . ( TNG novel : A Time for War, A Time for Peace )

Data in 2379

Towards the end of the year, Data sacrificed himself to rescue Captain Picard and destroy the Reman warbird Scimitar thereby preventing the deaths of the Enterprise -E's crew. ( TNG movie : Star Trek Nemesis )

Following his death, the copy of his neural net he uploaded to B-4 failed to take hold and Data, including his memories, were lost. ( PIC episode : " Remembrance ")

A reconstruction of Data's consciousness created by Altan Soong existed in a complex simulation. At his request, this version of Data's consciousness was terminated by Jean-Luc Picard. ( PIC episode : " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 ")

The personality and memories of Data, along as Lore, B-4, Lal and Soong himself were contained within the Daystrom Android M-5-10 golem , created by Altan Soong at Daystrom Station . ( PIC episode : " The Bounty ") When the android was recovered in 2401 , personalities of Data and Lore were at odds with each other within the golem, but when Lore appeared to be victorious and took over Data's memories, he actually became Data in the process, although now Data also included elements of Lore's personality. ( PIC episode : " Surrender ")

Interests [ ]

One of Data's hobbies/interests was "classical chamber music ." ( TNG video game : Echoes from the Past ; TNG episode : " A Matter of Time ")

Alternate realities [ ]

In an alternate timeline created when the USS Enterprise -C was accidentally sent through a temporal rift from 2344 to 2366 , the Federation had been at war with the Klingon Empire for almost 20 years as the Enterprise -C's disappearance resulted in the destruction of the Klingon colony Narendra III . In this timeline, Data was still the ship's operations officer. ( TNG episode : " Yesterday's Enterprise ")

In an alternate timeline, a group of advanced aliens on Elysia worshiped as gods by the natives transformed Data into a human male. Data spent the next several months adjusting to his new body, and found among other things that he was left handed. Meanwhile the Konor conquered the Samdian Sector setting off a chain of events that led to a major war that decimated all the major galactic powers. The timeline was averted when Data was transformed back into an android and sent back in time to before he encountered Elysia's "gods." Not being transformed into a human allowed Data to uncover a critical clue in the Samdian crisis that led to the peaceful resolution of that crisis. ( TNG novel : Metamorphosis )

Commodore Data

In another alternate timeline, he ascended to the rank of commodore . In 2408 , he was the commanding officer of the USS Enterprise -F with 2,023 crewmembers. ( TNG novel : Imzadi )

In an alternate timeline, Doctor Soong's dream became a reality and hundreds of Soong-type androids were operational within the Federation. Data fought for android rights and, after winning them, he and a group of others separated from the Federation to establish their own society. They settled on Iconia and began to explore their abilities.

Following the reactivation of Lore in 2378 , Data contacted the Enterprise -D and requested Captain Picard's assistance to avert a war. After successful negotiations utilizing Iconian gateway technology as a bargaining chip, the war that Data feared was prevented. In the mid- 2400s , he was offered a posting as Ambassador to the Dominion . ( TNG - Myriad Universes novella : Brave New World )

In an alternate timeline in which the Cardassian Union did not withdraw from Bajor in 2369 , Data became the captain of the USS Sutherland in 2373 , shortly after the outbreak of the Romulan War . ( TNG - Myriad Universes novel : A Gutted World )

Data with blue eyes in an alternate reality

In several alternate realities visited by Lieutenant Worf in 2370 , Data likewise served as the Enterprise -D's chief operations officer. In five of these realities, he attended Worf's surprise birthday party and gave him an expressionist painting of the Battle of HarOs . In two others, the painting depicted a Klingon Vor'cha -class battle cruiser .

In one reality, Data's eyes were blue instead of yellow. In another reality in which Jean-Luc Picard was killed during the Borg Incursion of 2366-2367 , Data was still the second officer of the Enterprise in 2370, which was under the command of William T. Riker . Worf was the first officer . ( TNG episode : " Parallels ")

In another reality, Data was the first officer of the FSS Enterprise in 2380 .

In another reality, Data served as the first officer of the US Enterprise , under the command of Wesley Crusher , prior to his death at the hands of the Reman usurper Vkruk in 2379. He was succeeded by Jean-Luc Picard, who had previously been the second officer.

In another reality, Data served aboard the United Earth Space Probe Agency vessel Enterprise before it was captured by the Klingon Empire and became the IKS Qu' . He was disassembled by the Klingons . By 2380, Captain Picard was the only surviving member of the original crew.

In another reality, Data was the first officer of the USS Enterprise -E , which was under the command of Thomas Halloway in 2380.

In another reality, Data was the captain of the ESS Enterprise in 2380. ( TNG novel : Q & A )

Shortly after the return of the USS Enterprise to Earth following the battle with Shinzon , Picard and B-4 were paid a visit by Q . Over the objections of Picard, Q restored Data to life in B-4's body. ( TNG novel : The Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard )

Sometime in the 29th century when the Borg assimilated the entire galaxy, Data's positronic matrix was stored in the Borg hive mind when they assimilated the Daystrom Institute . Data was then rebuilt by Locutus and helped Locutus defeat the Borg Queen 's sentinel, Seven of Nine . After Locutus and the Queen killed each other, Data was then sent back to USS Enterprise -E in 2381 to help Captain Picard defeat the Borg. ( TNG - Hive comics : " Hive, Issue 1 ", " Hive, Issue 3 ")

Starfleet service record [ ]

Appendices [ ], connections [ ], see also [ ].

Children of Soong

Appearances and references [ ]

Appearances [ ], external links [ ].

Data article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
Data (Star Trek) article at Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia.
Data (Assimilation²) article at Tardis Data Core , the Doctor Who wiki
Data article at the Star Trek Timelines Wiki .
1 Achilles class
2 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
3 USS Voyager (NCC-74656-A)

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.

Star Trek: Picard: how Data died, and his appearance in Picard explained

The death of Data explained, and what his appearances in Picard mean

If you've been watching Star Trek : Picard, you may have a few questions about Data, the android who appears in Picard's dreams – and who may very well be the 'father' of new characters Dahj and Soji. Data was an important character in The Next Generation, which this new series is a direct continuation of, and he led an interesting life. So here's everything you need to know about Lieutenant Commander Data, including how he ultimately died in the movie Star Trek: Nemesis.

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Who is Data?

Data was an android designed by Dr. Noonian Soong, a brilliant cyberneticist. Other androids exist in the greater Star Trek universe, but Data's positronic brain gave him a greater depth and nuance of personality – to the point where the Federation considered him sentient, with the same rights as any biological being.

Data was unable to feel emotion, however, and struggled to understand the many idiosyncrasies of the human race. But he was still capable of loyalty, wisdom, friendship and sensitivity, which earned him many friends when he served aboard the Federation starship Enterprise.

How did Data join Starfleet?

A mysterious alien life-form known as the Crystalline Entity destroyed a colony on the planet Omicron Theta, and Data's deactivated body was discovered among the debris by the USS Tripoli. He was revived by the Federation, and was accepted into Starfleet Academy when it became apparent that he had achieved a level of sentience never before seen in a synthetic being.

Data graduated, despite the social challenges of being the only android in the academy, and served as an ensign aboard the USS Trieste, before being assigned to the Enterprise-D in 2364 – which is where we meet him in The Next Generation.

How did Data die in Star Trek: Nemesis?

Nemesis was the last of the Next Generation movies. Released in 2002, it starred Tom Hardy as Shinzon, a clone of Picard who stages a violent coup and becomes leader of the Romulan Empire. At the end of the movie, Data sacrifices his own life to save Picard's, destroying Shinzon's ship in the process. Before he died, Data downloaded his memories into a prototype Soong-type android, B-4. But this model's positronic brain was not as advanced as Data's, meaning he had none of his brother's individuality or personality: just raw memories.

How can Data be in Star Trek: Picard?

Brent Spiner reprises his role as Data in Star Trek: Picard, only in dreams so far. Picard is still haunted by the loss of his friend, and the heroic sacrifice he made to save his life. So whenever you see Data in the new series, it's Picard experiencing a vision; an echo of the past. But who knows what the rest of the series has in store? Perhaps we'll see a return of the old Data at some point in this story – although that might cheapen his sacrifice in Star Trek: Nemesis somewhat.

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Is Data still alive in Star Trek: Picard?

Alas, the Data we knew from The Next Generation is gone forever. But a major plot point in season one of Picard is his memories – the ones he downloaded to B-4 – being used to create two 'daughters', Dahj and Soji. These android twins were designed by Dr. Bruce Maddox, a cyberneticist, using a process called fractal neuronic cloning. So while Lieutenant Commander Data of the USS Enterprise, lover of cats and Sherlock Holmes, is no more, his spirit lives on in them.

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How is Data in 'Star Trek: Picard' if he died in 'Star Trek: Nemesis?'

In Picard season 3 episode 6, "The Bounty," Riker, Worf and Raffi Musiker's away mission reunites them with an old friend, but how?

Data returns in Star Trek: Picard season 3 episode 6, The Bounty.

How Data died in Star Trek: Nemesis
Data lived on in B-4
Another Data head?
Why is Data old now?

What can Data do now?

Warning: Spoilers ahead if you haven't watched "Star Trek: Picard" episode 6, The Bounty .

Even though Spock died saving the Enterprise in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," Star Trek used the restorative powers of the Genesis planet to bring him back. So when Data made a noble sacrifice of his own in "Star Trek: Nemesis," it wasn't really a surprise when the door was left open – albeit slightly – for the android's future return.

"Star Trek: Picard" season one on Paramount Plus focused heavily on Data's legacy, introducing a family of synthetic offspring and revealing that his consciousness had been preserved in a virtual simulation. Jean-Luc Picard subsequently watched his friend die for a second time, but the show’s third season has just dropped the bombshell that – in true "Jurassic Park" style – something has survived.

In Picard season 3 episode 6 , "The Bounty," Riker, Worf and Raffi Musiker's away mission to the top-secret Daystrom Station reunites them with an old friend, an android with a familiar face who's been given responsibility for the facility's security. But how did Data (still portrayed by actor Brent Spiner) survive certain death in "Star Trek: Nemesis?" Why does he look so much older now? And is he still the same android we knew on the Enterprise-D? These questions and more are answered below. If you're behind, you can catch up on Star Trek: Picard Season 3" with our Star Trek streaming guide .

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Didn't Data die in Star Trek: Nemesis?

Data holds the head of B-4 in Star Trek: Nemesis.

Yes. "Star Trek: Nemesis" is the 10th film in the Star Trek movie franchise and the last to feature the cast of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." It features a clone of Jean-Luc Picard called Shinzon who's out to get Picard (and the Federation), with Data discovering an earlier prototype of himself called B-4 along the way.

In the film's climax, the Picard clone Shinzon had rigged his Romulan/Reman (don't ask) warbird, the Scimitar, to unleash its lethal thalaron radiation weapon on a severely damaged USS Enterprise-E. With Picard on board the enemy vessel, transporters inoperative, and the crew trapped in the quintessential no-win scenario, Data came up with his own solution to the Kobayashi Maru test.

Effectively blowing himself out of an airlock, Data leapt across the void of space to the Scimitar and placed an emergency transport beacon on Picard, who was instantly beamed back to the Enterprise. With the weapon nearly charged, Data fired his phaser at the thalaron generator, destroying himself and the ship in the process. He had sacrificed himself to save his captain and the crew, a fact Picard subsequently struggled to live with. RIP, Data.

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Data lived on in B-4, or DID he?

Data wasn't the only android built by his creator: genius cyberneticist Dr. Noonian Soong (also portrayed by Brent Spiner).

"Evil twin" Lore (Brent Spiner again) tormented the Enterprise crew on several occasions throughout "The Next Generation," and "Nemesis" introduced the earlier prototype model called B-4 (say the name out loud). Before his death, Data used B-4 as a kind of hard drive to back up his memories and personality, but – aside from sharing Data's ability to recite Irving Berlin standards – B-4's neural pathways lacked the sophistication to replicate his late brother.

But this is where it gets complicated ... The first season of "Picard" revealed that Data's consciousness had survived after all. Along with Soong's human son, Altan (also Brent Spiner), cyberneticist Bruce Maddox – who'd previously tried to prove Data was Starfleet property in classic "TNG" episode "The Measure of a Man" – used a process called "fractal neuronic cloning" to replicate a virtual Data from one of B-4's neurons. This version of the android lived in a "massively complex quantum simulation" until Picard agreed to his old friend's request to help him die for a second time.

There's another Data head in Star Trek: Picard, but whose is it?

Data and the body of B-4 or Lore in Star Trek: Picard season 3 episode 6, The Bounty.

Data, Lore and B-4 were all crafted in Noonian Soong's image, so it's almost impossible to tell them apart. It seems most likely, though, that the disembodied head we see in the top secret Daystrom research facility belongs to B-4.

First, we know from Picard's meetings with Dr. Agnes Jurati in season one that B-4 is in Starfleet’s possession. Second, when Will Riker reminds us that "Data copied everything he was onto B-4," the camera very deliberately cuts to the android head.

There's still a chance, however, that this is a misdirection, and that the head belongs to Lore. We have no idea what happened to Soong's more problematic son after his Borg misadventures in "TNG" two-parter "Descent" – we know he was dismantled but everything beyond that is a mystery. So while it's conceivable Starfleet have brought Lore back somehow, the show would have to fill in some gaps in the canon to explain his presence here.

The head probably isn’t Data's. The explosion at the end of Nemesis was pretty cataclysmic, and besides, if part of Data had survived, surely Maddox, Soong and Starfleet wouldn’t have resorted to using neurons from the inferior B-4 to bring him back.

Why is Data "old" now?

Data can grow old now in Star Trek: Picard season 3 episode 6, The Bounty.

Picard season one used some clever digital tricks to de-age actor Brent Spiner to look like he did in "The Next Generation" era, but the Data we see in "The Bounty" looks much older. His complexion is also much more human.

While the change undoubtedly saved some money on the show’s VFX budget, there's also an in-universe explanation. This is an entirely different type of synthetic body to Data's, much more similar to the "golem" the late Altan Soong gifted to Picard, allowing to survive his incurable irumodic syndrome.

Soong Jr. had originally planned to transfer his own consciousness into the golem before he died, but ended up going down a very different route. He instead decided to combine the consciousnesses of Lore, B-4, Data and Lal (the "daughter" Data built in "TNG" episode "The Offspring") in one body, aka Daystrom Android M-5-10. Soong built this older-looking version "with the wisdom and true human aesthetic of age. With the hope that in totality, something, someone will rise to be the best of us."

That's the million-dollar question, though it's clear there's much more to this new-look Data than simply managing the security systems at Daystrom Station. It’s also clear this isn't quite the Data we knew and loved.

Altan Soong never got the chance to finish the project before he died, leaving the various personalities vying for supremacy within the vessel. Data still recognizes Geordi La Forge, Picard and the rest of the crew, but with Lore also lurking in that shared mind, this resurrected body could be a danger to everyone.

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Richard's love affair with outer space started when he saw the original "Star Wars" on TV aged four, and he spent much of the ’90s watching "Star Trek”, "Babylon 5” and “The X-Files" with his mum. After studying physics at university, he became a journalist, swapped science fact for science fiction, and hit the jackpot when he joined the team at SFX, the UK's biggest sci-fi and fantasy magazine. He liked it so much he stayed there for 12 years, four of them as editor.

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Admin said: How is Data in 'Star Trek: Picard' if he died in 'Star Trek: Nemesis?' : Read more

OneOfTwelve Data already had a built-in aging program according to the TNG episode with his "mother" Juliana. Reply
Newhouse75 That head is in Mark Twains time. Don't forget. The one in the future was used to restore Data in The future. Reply
Backcountry164 It's called plot armor. Tripping over yourself making excuses for lazy writers seems pointless... Reply
View All 4 Comments

Data and His Artistic Pursuits

Exploring the sentient android's many interests.

Data open mouth smiles at Geordi La Forge

StarTrek.com

The characters of Star Trek: The Next Generation engage in artistic endeavors in many of the show’s 179 episodes.

Commander William Riker plays jazz music, while Captain Jean-Luc Picard has his interests in Shakespeare and Ressikan music. Dr. Beverly Crusher directs plays and Worf enjoys Klingon opera. This constant attention to art and creativity in the narratives of The Next Generation represents the Star Trek theme that in the future, humanity will improve itself. "We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity," reveals Picard in Star Trek: First Contact . The fictional characters of TNG are what writer Henry Miller called “truly alive.”

Ironic, then, that the most artistically active character from TNG is an android. Data is a robotic version of Pinocchio, wishing to obtain the human emotions he was denied by design. Data realizes that the quest, in comparison to the boon, is more meaningful, and he wishes to learn about the human experience despite his lack of emotions. He will not be human physically, but art provides him an appreciation for humanity. Indeed, art and creativity are Data’s textbooks of understanding. “You are here to learn about the human condition and there's no better way than embracing Shakespeare,” Picard teaches as he coaches Data in a play as King Henry (“The Defector”).

Data engages in numerous art forms — poetry (“Schisms”), painting (“Birthright”), acting (“The Defector” and “Emergence”), violin (“Sarek”), oboe (“In Theory”), and singing ( Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek Nemesis ).

Data is sometimes successful at his art, and, at other times, the crew reacts with trepidation and incredulousness at his poems or painting. With poetry, such as Data’s “Ode to Spot” written for his cat, it is understandable that the crew is often uncertain how to react to the android’s art:

“O Spot, the complex levels of behavior you displayconnote a fairly well-developed cognitive arrayAnd though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehendI nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend" — Data ("Schisms")

The reason why Data's art is successful sometimes and other times — not quite so — may be found in the ideas of poet Sir Stephen Spender who believed that the necessary traits of artists are concentration, memory, inspiration, faith and song.

Data obviously has very little problem with concentration being an android. In “A Matter of Time,” he explains his ability to listen to 150 different musical compositions at the same time, yet reveals that “in order to analyze the aesthetics, I try to limit myself to ten or less.” His memory is no slouch either, sharing with Commander Riker, “I remember every fact I am exposed to, sir.” Data also possesses the inspiration to be a good artist. He is inspired by his fellow crew, from Captain Picard who challenges him to learn about humanity through acting in Shakespeare’s plays, to Dr. Beverly Crusher who offers advice on the arts. He expresses delights in everyday experiences, from growing a beard (“The Schizoid Man”) to learning about Sherlock Holmes (“Elementary, Dear Data”).

If Data has a problem, it may be that he is short sometimes on faith and song, at least in the sense that Spender defines the terms. Confidence in one’s artistry is what Spender means by faith and confidence in one’s own unique voice is the song. The most common criticism of Data’s art by his fellow crew is that he should stop imitating the works of others, and start expressing his own experiences.

For example, in "The Defector," after Picard credits Data with a fine performance of King Henry, the android reveals he has been studying the performances of famous thespians, to which Picard chides him, “You must discover it through your own performance, not by imitating." When recommending ways to improve his poetry, Geordi advises, “Next time, don't worry so much about rhyme and meter. Some of the world's greatest poets didn't pay attention to rules.” Spender and Geordi might suggest that Data needs to listen to his own proverbial voice.

It is when Data imitates — when he does not show confidence in his own art (voice) and own voice (song) — that his art doesn't quite reach the levels he hopes. The paintings and poems aren’t really failures, though, because artistic endeavors are never really failures. Indeed, it is Data’s desire to try to be an artist that is most important. Data is inspired to learn about humanity through art. And when Data looks at his artistic expressions and endeavors, he too can claim, as Spender does, “What failures there are!”

This article was originally published on August 28, 2016.

Maria Jose and John Tenuto are both sociology professors at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois, specializing in popular culture and subculture studies. The Tenutos have conducted extensive research on the history of Star Trek, and have presented at venues such as Creation Conventions and the St. Louis Science Center. They have written for the official Star Trek Magazine and their extensive collection of Star Trek items has been featured in SFX Magazine. Their theory about the “20-Year Nostalgia Cycle” and research on Star Trek fans has been featured on WGN News, BBC Radio and in the documentary The Force Among Us. They recently researched all known paperwork from the making of the classic episode "Space Seed" and are excited to be sharing some previously unreported information about Khan's first adventure with fellow fans.

Stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details! And be sure to follow @StarTrek on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

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Star Trek Captains (In star trek timeline)

1. scott bakula.

Actor | Quantum Leap

Scott Stewart Bakula was born on October 9, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Sally (Zumwinkel) and J. Stewart Bakula, a lawyer. He is of German, as well as Czech, Austrian, Scottish and English ancestry. He comes from a musical family. In the fourth grade, he started a rock band and wrote songs for ...

Captain Jonathan Archer - Star Trek Enterprise

2. Sean Kenney

Actor | Star Trek

Sean Kenney was born on March 13, 1944. He is an actor, known for Star Trek (1966), Terminal Island (1973) and The Assassin's Apprentice: Silbadores of the Canary Islands (2023).

Captain Pike - Star Trek TOS

3. Jason Isaacs

Actor | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Jason Isaacs was born in Liverpool. He studied law at Bristol University but fell in love with the theatre and directed, produced and appeared in dozens of productions there, at the National Student Theatre Festival and at the Edinburgh Festival. He graduated in 1985 but then attended the Royal ...

Captain Lorca - Star Trek Discovery

4. Anson Mount

Actor | Crossroads

Anson is an American actor, born in Mount Prospect, IL and grew up in White Bluff, Tennessee. His mother is Nancy Smith, a former professional golfer. His father Anson Adams Mount II was one of the original contributing editors to Playboy magazine. Anson has an older brother Anson Adams III and a ...

Captain Pike - Star Trek Discovery

5. Bruce Greenwood

Bruce Greenwood was born on August 12, 1956 in Noranda, Québec, Canada. He is an actor and producer, known for Star Trek (2009), Thirteen Days (2000) and I, Robot (2004). He has been married to Susan Devlin since 1985. They have one child.

Captain Pike - Star Trek reboot movies

6. William Shatner

Actor | Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

William Shatner has notched up an impressive 70-plus years in front of the camera, displaying heady comedic talent and being instantly recognizable to several generations of cult television fans as the square-jawed Captain James T. Kirk, commander of the starship U.S.S. Enterprise. Shatner was born ...

Captain Kirk - Star Trek TOS and Original Cast movies

7. Chris Pine

Chris Pine was born in Los Angeles. His parents are actors Robert Pine and Gwynne Gilford , and his maternal grandparents were Max M. Gilford , a president of the Hollywood Bar Association, and actress Anne Gwynne . His sister, Katherine Pine , has also acted. Chris's ancestry is Russian Jewish (from ...

Captain Kirk - Star Trek reboot movies

8. Patrick Stewart

Actor | Logan

Sir Patrick Stewart was born in Mirfield, Yorkshire, England, to Gladys (Barrowclough), a textile worker and weaver, and Alfred Stewart, who was in the army. He was a member of various local drama groups from about age 12. He left school at age 15 to work as a junior reporter on a local paper; he ...

Captain Picard - Star Trek TNG

9. Avery Brooks

Actor | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Avery Franklin Brooks was born on October 2, 1948 in Evansville, Indiana to a musically talented family. His maternal grandfather, Samuel Travis Crawford, was a tenor who graduated from Tougaloo College in Mississippi in 1901. Crawford toured the country singing with the Delta Rhythm Boys in the ...

Captain Sisko - Star Trek DS9

10. Kate Mulgrew

Actress | Star Trek: Voyager

Katherine Kiernan Mulgrew, or Kate Mulgrew, was born on April 29, 1955. She grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, the second oldest child (and oldest girl) in a large Irish Catholic family. When Kate expressed an interest in acting as a child, her mother, Joan, encouraged her to audition for local theater ...

Captain Janaway - Star Trek Voyager

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‘Star Trek’: Rachel Garrett, the First Female USS Enterprise Captain, Will Be Part of the ‘Section 31’ Movie

Christian blauvelt.

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“ Star Trek ” fans got a couple fascinating details in a March 27 report by Variety on the future of the franchise on Paramount+. The biggest for sure is that the character of Rachel Garrett, the first female captain of the USS Enterprise, will be appearing in the “Section 31” direct-to-Paramount+ movie that’s going to star Michelle Yeoh .

The actress Kacey Rohl will be playing Garrett, who was the captain of the Enterprise-C in the first half of the 24th century and was the subject of one of the most beloved “Next Generation” episodes ever: “Yesterday’s Enterprise” (she was played by Tricia O’Neal in the original episode).

This is the episode where, once they’ve agreed to face their doom, Picard says, “Let’s make sure history never forgets the name Enterprise.” If Kirk didn’t believe in a “no win” situation, she faced one head-on, making Garrett an especially valiant captain.

In the “Star Trek” timeline, she’s the first female Enterprise captain. In order, the timeline goes: Jonathan Archer of the pre-Federation Enterprise NX-01, James T. Kirk of the Enterprise NCC-1701 and Enterprise-A, Alan Ruck’s John Harriman of the Enterprise-B (this writer chooses to believe that since the lore does say Harrison came from “a prominent family,” that he is in fact a descendant of Connor Roy, thus winning the ultimate succession: the Enterprise captain’s chair), and then Garrett.

One other interesting detail emerged in that report: That the “Starfleet Academy” show, which IndieWire told you a year ago must logically have a 32nd Century setting as a follow-up series to “Discovery,” is in fact confirmed to be set then, but, surprisingly, is being targeted to a “tween and teen” audience.

Jonathan Frakes, who’s directed episodes of every “Trek” series since “Next Gen” in addition to playing Riker on that series and beyond, is quoted in the Variety piece as saying that he thinks the franchise’s audience is older. Franchise mastermind Alex Kurtzman seems to hope that a show like “Starfleet Academy” may reach a new audience altogether.

Reps for Paramount+ did not respond to IndieWire’s request for comment about confirmation of these details.

Early life [ ]

Liam Shaw was born sometime in the mid- 24th century in Chicago , Illinois on Earth . ( PIC : " No Win Scenario ")

Starfleet career [ ]

Early career [ ].

Early in his Starfleet career, Ensign Shaw served as an engineer – a " grease monkey " as he put it – aboard the USS Constance prior to, and during its involvement in the Battle of Wolf 359 . He was the tenth among the ten lucky survivors to be ordered onto the last remaining life pod . Like some other survivors , Shaw pinned the blame for the tremendous loss of life at Wolf 359 on Jean-Luc Picard , who had been assimilated by the Borg and transformed into Locutus , calling him "the only Borg so deadly, they gave him a goddamn name". That resentment would linger for more than thirty years. ( PIC : " No Win Scenario ")

In 2367 , Shaw was awarded the Federation Star for Distinguished Service . ( PIC : " The Last Generation ")

He eventually transferred to the command division and rose to the rank of captain . During this time, as a lieutenant , he was recognized with an award for exceptional performance of duty ; later, as a commander , he was awarded the Grankite Order of Tactics , Class of Excellence, for "recognition of outstanding maneuvers in battle". ( PIC : " The Last Generation ")

In 2396 , he was given command of the USS Titan -A and used the authorization code : "Shaw-12-11- bravo - delta ". ( PIC : " The Next Generation ", " Seventeen Seconds ")

Vadic , who had read Shaw's official Starfleet psychological profile, was glad that he remained "functional" considering his prior mental health challenges stemming from previous trauma. ( PIC : " Disengage ")

Shaw was well versed on the nature of Changelings . He also read about the USS Stargazer 's encounter with the Borg and considered it "weird shit." ( PIC : " No Win Scenario ", " The Star Gazer ", " Farewell ")

Commanding the Titan -A [ ]

Shaw commanded the Titan -A over the course of five years, during which he and the Titan -A completed thirty-six missions.

Shaw was going over logs when now- Admiral Picard and Captain William T. Riker came aboard for an "inspection". ( PIC : " The Next Generation ")

Visit to the Ryton system [ ]

When Riker prepared Admiral Picard for his eventual meeting with Shaw, Picard admitted not knowing who Shaw was; Riker described him as "not a friendly face". Indeed, Shaw's opinion of Riker and Picard was low, considering them "boys", and referring to their careers as being filled with "wildly exciting and equally irresponsible adventures", after regarding their past instances of " blowing things up . Taking or engaging in fire. [And] crash landing , expectedly or unexpectedly . " During their stay aboard the Titan -A, Shaw assigned Riker and Picard to the indignity of sharing a bunk bed . ( PIC : " The Next Generation ")

Liam Shaw was severely injured when the Shrike attacked the Titan -A

Following the unsanctioned trip to the Ryton system , Shaw was severely injured when the Shrike attacked the Titan -A in the Ryton Nebula . During the battle with the Shrike , Shaw transferred command of the Titan -A to Captain William Riker, pro tem , as Shaw was seriously injured. He was taken to sickbay where he learned he was suffering from internal bleeding. ( PIC : " Seventeen Seconds ")

He had recovered significant enough that he was able to walk again but with the use of a cane . ( PIC : " No Win Scenario ")

Following the death of Vadic, Shaw retook control of his ship and allowed Seven of Nine to give the command to destroy the Shrike . ( PIC : " Surrender ")

Borg takeover [ ]

Picard informed Shaw that they needed to get to the Sol system to warn the fleet, to which he replied that the fleet would attack them like a knife on a dartboard . He, nevertheless, ordered the ship to the Earth, where it was first taken over by the fleet formation mode, then the younger crew members who were assimilated into the Collective.

" You have the conn, Seven of Nine. "

As he and the older officers escaped the bridge aboard a turbolift they viewed a transmission from the Excelsior and realized it was broadcasted via a maintenance channel and knew to divert to the maintenance section, to escape via maintenance shuttle. On the maintenance deck, they fought off more assimilated crewman, as Shaw offered to stay behind to allow the shuttle to escape, before he suffered a fatal wound. As he died, Shaw passed command to Hansen, referring to her by her preferred name Seven of Nine. ( PIC : " Võx ")

Personal interests [ ]

One of his first actions upon taking command of the Titan -A was to purge the system of Captain Riker's jazz library, which he described as " bebop ", as Shaw considered himself someone who liked "structure", " meter ", and "keeping tempo and time ."

With regards to his alcohol of choice, he described himself as "much more of a Malbec man", after being gifted a bottle of Chateau Picard . ( PIC : " The Next Generation ")

Relationships [ ]

Seven of nine [ ].

Shaw and Seven of Nine on the bridge of the Titan -A

Shaw was openly disdainful of Seven of Nine , referring to her (as well as Picard) as an " ex-Borg " and refusing to allow her to use her Borg designation, preferring that she use her Human name, Annika Hansen, for which Captain Riker chastised him. ( PIC : " The Next Generation ")

When Shaw found out that Hansen had diverted the Titan -A to the Ryton system and helped Picard and Riker steal the shuttle Saavik without him knowing about it, he told her that she had loyaltied her way to the end of a career. ( PIC : " The Next Generation ")

The discord between Hansen and Shaw continued when the former tried to convince Shaw to help Picard and Riker, but he had her dismissed. ( PIC : " Disengage ") However, their relationship improved after the Titan -A was retaken from Vadic's forces, with Shaw allowing Seven to give the command to destroy the Shrike . ( PIC : " Surrender ")

Before dying, Shaw handed over command of the ship over to Seven, addressing her as Seven of Nine for the first time rather than as Commander Hansen. ( PIC : " Võx ")

Captain Tuvok revealed a recording Shaw made prior to his death, recommending Seven of Nine for promotion to Captain.

Following the destruction of the Borg , Tuvok revealed that Shaw had sent Seven's officer review to Command before setting course for the Ryton system . In the review, Shaw called Seven reckless, unrelenting and stated that she doesn't care about protocol or procedure. However, Shaw called Seven brave and loyal continuing that "the book that she writes is gonna be great. And the rules that she breaks... maybe they were broken to begin with." As Seven watched with tears in her organic eye, Shaw recommended that Seven be promoted to Captain upon their return to port. Following Shaw's recommendation, Tuvok promoted Seven to Captain of the rechristened Enterprise -G. ( PIC : " The Last Generation ")

Awards and honors [ ]

Key dates [ ].

2367 : Serves on the USS Constance during the Battle of Wolf 359
Promoted to Lieutenant
Promoted to Commander
Promoted to Captain
2396: Appointed captain of the USS Titan -A
Temporarily transfers command of the Titan -A to Captain William Riker
Stardate 78186.03: Command of the Titan -A is transferred back from Riker to Shaw.
Killed in action on Frontier Day .

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

" The Next Generation "
" Disengage "
" Seventeen Seconds "
" No Win Scenario "
" Imposters "
" The Bounty "
" Dominion "
" Surrender "
" The Last Generation " (recording only)

Background information [ ]

Liam Shaw was portrayed by Todd Stashwick . His first name was first revealed in an okudagram in the series end credits, and first used onscreen by Vadic in " Disengage ". In the aftershow for " No Win Scenario ", Stashwick stated that he was named for English actor Robert Shaw , who had played Quint in the 1975 film Jaws , and that Liam Shaw's recollection of Wolf 359 was inspired by Quint's speech about the USS Indianapolis in that film.

According to the Star Trek: Picard Logs , Shaw took command of the Titan -A when the ship was launched in 2402 . [3] However according to Terry Matalas , this was an error and the vessel was actually launched in 2401. [4]

Shaw's five-year command of the Titan also covered the period where he oversaw the refit of the ship. [5]

According to the crew roster posted by Bill Krause , Shaw was assigned to alpha shift . [6]

External link [ ]

Liam Shaw at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
2 Star Trek: The Next Generation
3 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-G)

Alex Kurtzman says he'd greenlight Star Trek: Legacy if it was "all on him"

Star Trek: Legacy is not an official series in the franchise, but that's not for lack of trying on part of the fans. Named Legacy by Star Trek: Picard's showrunner, Terry Matalas, the series would follow Captain Seven of Nine, who took command of the new Enterprise, at the end of Picard, and her crew into new adventures...at least, that's what we're hoping for anyway. Well, that, and a few familiar faces from Star Trek: The Next Generation showing up as well. But right now, the series isn't even close to being on Paramount's schedule as far as we know, but the future of the potential series isn't hopeless, either.

According to Alex Kurtzman, in an interview with Den of Geek , he'd give the series a go if he could, but the decision isn't his. In fact, he calls it "beyond my paygrade."

“If I had a magic button, a magic ‘greenlight button,’ for Star Trek: Legacy, and it was all on me, I’d push that button today. Right now, it’s beyond my paygrade.”Alex Kurtzman

Knowing Kurtzman wants the series is a big plus for those of us who want Legacy more than any other Star Trek series at the present. As he's made it clear, though, the decision isn't his. Yes, the fans are being heard, but ultimately, whether or not Legacy moves forward, probably isn't up to anyone we know by name.

Star Trek: Legacy could be a great show. The potential for stories is endless, and, of course, all the characters we love would be aboard, but it looks like it's going to remain a hope for a while longer. But at least we do have that hope. Though Kurtzman doesn't have the control to greenlight the series, he is behind it, and that is definitely one in the win column for the fans!

This article was originally published on redshirtsalwaysdie.com as Alex Kurtzman says he'd greenlight Star Trek: Legacy if it was "all on him" .

Who Is Rayner In Star Trek: Discovery Season 5? Kelleruns Explained

Callum Keith Rennie, Star Trek: Discovery

A new face has joined the ensemble for the final season of "Star Trek: Discovery," along with a seemingly familiar set of pointy ears. A character named Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) is poised to board "Star Trek: Discovery" for the show's last voyage on Paramount+, and at first blush, this new player appears to be a Vulcan or similar alien species. A TrekMovie interview with series co-showrunner Michelle Paradise, however, has revealed that Rayner isn't Vulcan or Romulan after all: he's actually part of a lesser-known "Star Trek" species called the Kelleruns.

"He's a Kellerun," Paradise told the outlet after also reportedly confirming the character's background to SFX Magazine. "We were looking for a species that not a lot had been done with them. We definitely wanted another non-human on the ship and taking care of things." Currently, Doug Jones' Kelpien executive officer Saru is the most obviously alien member of the Discovery crew, but the majority of the team is perhaps unrealistically human. This brief yet seemingly benign character description is itself a surprise, as the "Discovery" season 5 trailer sort of makes Captain Rayner look like a potential villain. He's initially seen screaming with fury right after a voiceover notes that the item the Discovery crew is after this season "could be very dangerous in the wrong hands."

The Kelleruns made an appearance in Deep Space Nine

While we may not know too much about Rayner himself yet, the Kelleruns themselves aren't an entirely new species. They've appeared in just one "Star Trek" episode ever, the season 2 "Deep Space Nine" outing "Armageddon Games." Like most societies portrayed in "Star Trek," the Kelleruns were neither straightforwardly heroic nor totally villainous. They survived a centuries-long war against a rival alien group called the T'Lani, and once peace was accomplished, both sides wisely decided to dispose of the deadly bio-weapons (gene-disrupting viruses called Harvesters) they'd created during the conflict.

However, their attempt to protect future generations from a dangerous weapon crossed into dangerous territory itself: the Kelleruns tried to assassinate Bashir (Alexander Siddig), O'Brien (Colm Meaney), and other scientists with knowledge of their bio-weapons in order to completely eliminate the threat of future war. By the end of the episode, it's clear that the T'Lani were also in on the assassination attempt, and the story ended with a lack of closure for both groups as the scientists in their crosshairs ultimately escaped.

Rayner will be both heroic and antagonistic

If the Kellerun seems like a random species to bring back into the "Star Trek" fold, that might be by design. "Kellerun is one that had not been explored a whole lot," Paradise explained. "So we were able to also build some backstory for him and for his planet that we'll come to learn more about later." Since "Trek" canon only includes a brief window into the Kelleruns' history, with very little cultural detail or context, the race functions as a sort of blank slate that the "Discovery" writers can use to tell whatever story they want.

As for whether or not Captain Rayner is a baddie, Paradise told ScreenRant that he's on the right side of history this time. "I don't want to say too much about [Captain Rayner] except that he is a bit of an antagonist with Burnham [but] not in the bad guy sense at all," Paradise informed the outlet. "He's a good guy character."

We'll learn more about Reyner and the Kelleruns when "Star Trek: Discovery" returns for its final season on Paramount+ on April 4, 2024.

Screen Rant

Data's star trek: insurrection story was set up in tng.

Data befriended a young girl in Star Trek: The Next Generation and saved her planet, setting up his story with a Ba'ku boy in Star Trek: Insurrection.

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

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Who STAR TREK's Data Was, and Where He Is Now
Data
Star Trek
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Data (Star Trek)
Data remains the most iconic 'Star Trek' character: These quotes prove

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Enterprise-E Data
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Unsmooth Data does not understand (Star Trek: TNG)
Data Reboots
Data
Data Rescue Captain Picard

COMMENTS

Data
Lieutenant Commander Data was a Soong-type android, the first and only such being to ever enter Starfleet. Data was created some time in the 2330s and was killed in 2379, sacrificing himself to save the crew of the USS Enterprise-E. (TNG: "The Measure Of A Man", "Datalore", "Silicon Avatar...
Episodes in which Data is captain
Timo Fleet Admiral Admiral. Joined: Aug 26, 2003. In addition to "Brothers", there's "Redemption II" where Data gets to command the Sutherland against the objections of her top officers, and "Gambit II" where Data commands the E-D when both Picard and Riker go missing. And then there are umpteen episodes where Data commands a shuttlecraft...
Data (Star Trek)
Data is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise.He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) and the first and third seasons of Star Trek: Picard; and the feature films Star Trek Generations (1994), First Contact (1996), Insurrection (1998), and Nemesis (2002). Data is portrayed by actor Brent Spiner.. Data was found by Starfleet in 2338.
Every Time Data Commands A Starship In Star Trek: TNG
Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) takes command of a starship on five separate occasions in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and he proves himself to be an incredibly skilled commander every time. For seven seasons on TNG, Data serves as the second officer on the USS Enterprise-D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).
Star Trek Confirms Data Is Among Its Best Captains Ever
Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek #6! Data has finally become a captain in the Star Trek universe - and he is one of the best ever. As the franchise's God War rages across the galaxy in IDW Publishing's flagship Star Trek title, Captain Sisko must lead a dangerous mission to the God City of T'Kon - and leaves Data in charge of the Theseus. ...
Data Becoming Captain After Picard Would Fulfill His Lost Destiny
Star Trek: Picard season 3 saw Data (Brent Spiner) finally return with an upgraded synthetic body, and now that he has the potential to rejoin Starfleet, he could become the Captain he was always destined to be. Throughout the seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Data grew into an excellent Starfleet officer.He had multiple opportunities to act as Captain over the course of the ...
Data
Data in 2379. Towards the end of the year, Data sacrificed himself to rescue Captain Picard and destroy the Reman warbird Scimitar thereby preventing the deaths of the Enterprise-E's crew.(TNG movie: Star Trek Nemesis) Following his death, the copy of his neural net he uploaded to B-4 failed to take hold and Data, including his memories, were lost.
Data's Entire Backstory Explained
Star Trek: The Next Generation gave Trekkies a whole host of new and incredible characters, from Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Geordi La Forge to William Riker and Deanna Troi. But perhaps the most ...
Who STAR TREK's Data Was, and Where He Is Now
The Enterprise years. After nearly two decades in Starfleet, Data rose to the rank of Lt. Commander, and became the second officer on board the Enterprise-D. Captain Jean-Luc Picard became more ...
The Best Data Episodes Of Star Trek: The Next Generation
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 ...
The Measure Of A Man (episode)
Picard must prove Data is legally a sentient being with rights and freedoms under Federation law when transfer orders demand Data's reassignment for study and disassembly. 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 ...
star trek
In "Quality of Life," Data refuses to unlock the transporters, though Riker commands him to. In "Interface," Data helps Geordi to defy orders, essentially breaking Picard's order himself. In "Redemption, part 2," Data disobeys Captain Picard's fleet command in order to reveal the hidden Romulan vessels. -
Star Trek: Picard: how Data died, and his appearance in Picard
Released in 2002, it starred Tom Hardy as Shinzon, a clone of Picard who stages a violent coup and becomes leader of the Romulan Empire. At the end of the movie, Data sacrifices his own life to ...
How is Data in 'Star Trek: Picard' if he died in 'Star Trek: Nemesis?'
Yes. "Star Trek: Nemesis" is the 10th film in the Star Trek movie franchise and the last to feature the cast of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." It features a clone of Jean-Luc Picard called ...
Data and His Artistic Pursuits
The characters of Star Trek: The Next Generation engage in artistic endeavors in many of the show's 179 episodes.. Commander William Riker plays jazz music, while Captain Jean-Luc Picard has his interests in Shakespeare and Ressikan music. Dr. Beverly Crusher directs plays and Worf enjoys Klingon opera. This constant attention to art and creativity in the narratives of The Next Generation ...
star trek
When Data makes an inquiry about this discrepency, Picard relents, and gives Data command of a ship. On the ship itself, one of Data's crewmen attempt to be reassigned, not wanting to be under the command of an Android. Data refuses his request, and the crewman continues to doubt Data's ability.
Every Star Trek Ship For Captain Data After Picard Season 3
After the events of Star Trek: Picard season 3, the newly-upgraded Data (Brent Spiner) might have the option to rejoin Starfleet and become a Captain. As the first android to join Starfleet, Data faced prejudice and sometimes had difficulties understanding the humanoids around him. Despite this, he became an exemplary Starfleet officer and ...
Jean-Luc Picard
Jean-Luc Picard was a celebrated Starfleet officer, archaeologist, writer, historian, diplomat, and philanthropist, who served throughout much of the 24th century. The highlights of his career were centered around assignments as commanding officer of the Federation starships USS Stargazer, USS Enterprise-D, and the USS Enterprise-E. In these roles, Picard not only witnessed major turning ...
Star Trek Captains (In star trek timeline)
Bruce Greenwood. Actor | Star Trek. Bruce Greenwood was born on August 12, 1956 in Noranda, Québec, Canada. He is an actor and producer, known for Star Trek (2009), Thirteen Days (2000) and I, Robot (2004). He has been married to Susan Devlin since 1985. They have one child. Captain Pike - Star Trek reboot movies.
Star Trek: Alex Kurtzman Explains Why He Hasn't Greenlit Picard Legacy
For the first time in a few years, the future of the Star Trek franchise isn't as clear as it has been in recent memory. Though Paramount has a Section 31 film in the works and has hired a new ...
Star Trek: First Female Enterprise Captain Will Return to 'Section 31'
In the "Star Trek" timeline, she's the first female Enterprise captain. In order, the timeline goes: Jonathan Archer of the pre-Federation Enterprise NX-01, James T. Kirk of the Enterprise ...
What Is Star Trek's "Lost Era" & What We Know
Star Trek's "lost era" lasts for almost 70 years, taking in two starship Enterprises and some key events that would influence the Star Trek: The Next Generation era.While Captain James T. Kirk ...
Sonequa Martin-Green Explores Her Character's Evolution in 'Star Trek
*The fifth and final season of "Star Trek: Discovery" premieres on April 4, and we caught up with the remarkable Sonequa Martin-Green to discuss her character's transformative journey. The ...
Liam Shaw
Star Trek. Captain Liam Shaw was a Human Starfleet officer who served during the late 24th and the early 25th centuries as the commanding officer of the USS Titan-A. Liam Shaw was born sometime in the mid-24th century in Chicago, Illinois on Earth. (PIC: "No Win Scenario") Early in his Starfleet career...
Why Data Is So Important To Picard (Despite Not Being Close On TNG)
By Star Trek: Nemesis, the new dynamic between Captain and android was crystalized and Picard handpicked Data to be his new Number One when Captain Riker (Jonathan Frakes) left to take command of the U.S.S. Titan. And, of course, Data sacrificed his life to save Picard and the Enterprise from Shinzon (Tom Hardy) at the end of Nemesis.
Alex Kurtzman says he'd greenlight Star Trek: Legacy if it was ...
Named Legacy by Star Trek: Picard's showrunner, Terry Matalas, the series would follow Captain Seven of Nine, who took command of the new Enterprise, at the end of Picard, and her crew into new ...
Who Is Rayner In Star Trek: Discovery Season 5? Kelleruns Explained
A character named Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) is poised to board "Star Trek: Discovery" for the show's last voyage on Paramount+, and at first blush, this new player appears to be a ...
Data's Star Trek: Insurrection Story Was Set Up In TNG
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 ...

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Episodes in which Data is captain

FTV Cadet Newbie

Lt.Cmdr.LaForge Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

Timo Fleet Admiral Admiral

Finn Bad Batch of TrekBBS Admiral

Dane_Whitman Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

dave_R_treker Captain Captain

Red Ranger Admiral In Memoriam

Jefferies Captain Captain

darkshadow0001 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

john titor Captain

captcalhoun Admiral Admiral

Anwar Admiral Admiral

RaymondJames Captain Captain

SiorX Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

Bonzo the Fifth Commander Red Shirt

Crewman47 Commodore Newbie

Vanyel The Imperious Leader Premium Member

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The Best Data Episodes Of Star Trek: The Next Generation

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

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

'Hero Worship' explores the pros to being an android

'The Quality of Life' asks some heavy questions

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

Brent Spiner shows off his acting chops in 'Brothers'

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

'In Theory' is a heartbreaking Star Trek episode

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

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

'The Offspring' is definitely Data's saddest episode

Star Trek: Picard: how Data died, and his appearance in Picard explained

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Star Trek Captains (In star trek timeline)

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