Data (Star Trek TNG)

Overview[]

A Soong-Type Android created in the 24th Century, Data is a fully functional and sentient synthetic life form created in 2338 by Dr. Noonien Soong, a reclusive cybernetics genius. He became a dedicated and noteworthy Starfleet officer, rising to the post of Second Officer and Chief Operation Officer aboard the USS Enterprise-D and later the USS Enterprise-E. Often childlike and naive in certain respects yet possessing immense physical and intellectual capabilities accompanied with surprising wisdom; Data has an ongoing struggle to better understand and emulate human behavior and emotions.

Data first appeared on September 28, 1987 in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation premiere episode "Encounter at Farpoint". He was portrayed by Brent Spiner throughout the series run and a number of feature films focusing on the Next Generation cast. He was apparently destroyed in the feature film, Star Trek: Nemesis sacrificing his 'existence' to save the lives of his human crewmates in 2379.

Data is considered by many to be the main star of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the successor of the original Star Trek's Spock character who was an "outsider" who provided a unique perspective on humanity. One of the most popular members of the TNG cast, Data had a number of episodes dedicated towards him and several important plotlines in the series and feature films dedicated or revolved around him.

Background[]

Major Plots[]

Personality and Traits[]

Appearances[]

Films[]

TV Series[]

Star Trek: The Next Generation[]

Season 1

Encounter at Farpoint
The Naked Now
Code of Honor
The Last Outpost
Where No One Has Gone Before
Lonely Among Us
Justice
The Battle
Hide and Q
Haven
The Big Goodbye
Datalore
Angel One
11001001
Too Short a Season
When the Bough Breaks
Home Soil
Coming of Age
Heart of Glory
The Arsenal of Freedom
Symbiosis
Skin of Evil
We'll Always Have Paris
Conspiracy
The Neutral Zone

Season 2

The Child
Where Silence Has Lease
Elementary, Dear Data
The Outrageous Okona
Loud as a Whisper
The Schizoid Man
Unnatural Selection
A Matter of Honor
The Measure of a Man
The Dauphin
Contagion
The Royale
Time Squared
The Icarus Factor
Pen Pals
Q Who
Samaritan Snare
Up the Long Ladder
Manhunt
The Emissary
Peak Performance
Shades of Gray

Season 3

Evolution
The Ensigns of Command
The Survivors
Who Watches the Watchers
The Bonding
Booby Trap
The Enemy
The Price
The Vengeance Factor
The Defector
The Hunted
The High Ground
Déjà Q
A Matter of Perspective
Yesterday's Enterprise
The Offspring
Sins of the Father
Allegiance
Captain's Holiday
Tin Man
Hollow Pursuits
The Most Toys
Sarek
Ménage à Troi
Transfigurations
The Best of Both Worlds: Part 1

Season 4

The Best of Both Worlds: Part 2
Brothers
Suddenly Human
Remember Me
Legacy
Reunion
Future Imperfect
Final Mission
The Loss
Data's Day
The Wounded
Devil's Due
Clues
First Contact
Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors
Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree
Qpid
The Drumhead
Half a Life
The Host
The Mind's Eye
In Theory
Redemption: Part 1

Season 5

Redemption: Part 2
Darmok
Ensign Ro
Silicon Avatar
Disaster
The Game
Unification: Part 1
Unification: Part 2
A Matter of Time
New Ground
Hero Worship
Violations
The Masterpiece Society
Conundrum
Power Play
Ethics
The Outcast
Cause and Effect
The First Duty
Cost of Living
The Perfect Mate
Imaginary Friend
I, Borg
The Next Phase
The Inner Light
Time's Arrow: Part 1

Season 6

Time's Arrow: Part 2
Realm of Fear
Man of the People
Relics
Schisms
True Q
Rascals
A Fistful of Datas
The Quality of Life
Chain of Command: Part 1
Chain of Command: Part 2
Ship in a Bottle
Aquiel
Face of the Enemy
Tapestry
Birthright: Part 1
Birthright: Part 2
Starship Mine
Lessons
The Chase
Frame of Mind
Suspicions
Rightful Heir
Second Chances
Timescape
Descent: Part 1

Season 7

Descent: Part 2
Liaisons
Interface
Gambit: Part 1
Gambit: Part 2
Phantasms
Dark Page
Attached
Force of Nature
Inheritance
Parallels
The Pegasus
Homeward
Sub Rosa
Lower Decks
Thine Own Self
Masks
Eye of the Beholder
Genesis
Journey's End
Firstborn
Bloodlines
Emergence
Preemptive Strike
All Good Things...: Part 1
All Good Things...: Part 2

Star Trek: Enterprise[]

These Are the Voyages... (uncredited voiceover)

Trivia[]

The character of Data was based on several used and unused concepts by Gene Roddenberry. The first was from the titular character from a 1974 television movie The Questor Tapes who was an android who was seeking to become more human by finding his creator and a Vulcan character known as Xon from the 1978 Star Trek: Phase II project which was an early attempt to revive the original TV series. Intended to serve as a replacement for Leonard Nimoy's Spock character; Xon was actually a new graduate from the Vulcan Science Academy and a full blooded Vulcan as well as being an absurdly young prodigy who was very interested in learning about humanity itself and emotions.

Brent Spiner had to endure extensive makeup tests after being cast in the role of Data as the final appearance of the android was not yet determined. He was painted every palette color including bubblegum pink and battleship grey before they decided on his defining look of bright gold with yellow irised contacts.

Brent Spiner reported that he was originally opposed to the idea of being forced to wear makeup for the role of Data believing that: "My argument with Gene was, 'If you could make a creature that moves like this and looks like this and thinks like this, why can't you do the skin?' And Gene's response was, 'What makes you think what you have isn't better than skin?' And that's very difficult to argue with."

Data was originally intended to serve as the Enterprise's Science Officer, much like the character of Spock in the original Star Trek TV series. However, it was determined that the classic blue color for the uniform worn by officers of the Science and Medical Branch clashed with his makeup and it was decided to switch his post so that he was the Chief Operations Officer instead and thus wore the yellow of the Engineering and Operations Branch.

The character of Data was inducted into Carnegie Mellon University's Robot Hall of Fame on April 9, 2008. The Robot Hall of Fame includes such fictional characters as Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still; R2-D2 and C-3PO from the Star Wars Franchise; Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet; and the T-800 from the Terminator Franchise as well as real-life robots such as the Unimate, the first industrial robot created by General Motors and ASIMO, the first walking robot created by Honda Motors.

Quotes[]

"We are more alike than unlike, my dear Captain. I have pores; humans have pores. I have... fingerprints; humans have fingerprints. My chemical nutrients are like your blood. If you prick me―do I not... leak?" ―Data to Jean-Luc Picard; Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Naked Now"

"My friend Data. You see things with the wonder of a child. And that makes you more human than any of us." ―Tasha Yar's holographic farewell to Data; Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Skin of Evil"

"I am the culmination of one man's dream. This is not ego, or vanity. But when Dr. Soong created me, he added to the substance of the universe. If, by your experiments, I am destroyed; something unique, something wonderful will be lost. I cannot permit that. I must protect his dream." ―Data; Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Measure of a Man"

"We're all more than the sum of our parts, Data. You'll have to be more than the sum of your programming." ―Deanna Troi to Data; Star Trek: The Next Generation, "In Theory"

"There are still many human emotions I do not fully comprehend―anger, hatred, revenge. But I am not mystified by the desire to be loved―or the need for friendship. These are things I do understand." ―Data; Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Data's Day"

"I have often wondered about my own mortality, as I have seen others around me age. Until now, it has been theoretically possible that I would live an unlimited period of time. And although some might find this attractive, to me it only reinforces the fact that I am... artificial." ―Data to Geordi La Forge; Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Time's Arrow: Part 1"

"We've served together for a long time; and I think I've come to know you pretty well. I have to believe, if you ever reach your goal of becoming human... you won't become a bad one." ―Deanna Troi to Data; Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Descent: Part 1"