DATA IN LOVE... In Theory (TNG S4E25) | Star Trek Journey 206

[@targetaudience]

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[@jeptheywaddill2021]

Girl should've taken the easier route. Honey, get a "Toy" and learn to be alone for awhile.

[@pauld6967]

​@@jeptheywaddill2021You should probably move your comment to the general area rather than having it here on a plea for compassion & assistance.

[@BintyMcFrazzles]

Data going round the entire bridge crew asking for advice is one of the funniest things I've ever seen in Trek. Riker's predictable relationship advice is hilarious.

[@WereMike]

Brent Spiner as Data really knows how to express an emotion while acting unemotional. It really is an extraordinary piece of acting.

[@sneeson]

For me, the real brilliance of this episode is how authentic and genuine the relationship feels. There's no writer contrivances that feel forced or artificial. This is exactly how Data would approach a relationship and watching Jenna realise that this was a bad idea from the start is beautifully handled.

[@stillhuntre55]

I LOVE the ending o this episode, because at the very end - it makes US Jenna. You spend the whole episode yelling at Jenna through the screen, "he can't love you! He's an Android! You can't expect emotion from him! You know he's an android!" Then at the very end YOU as the viewer look to Data for an emotion.... and get nothing. Because he's an Android. We knew that. And suddenly you identify with Jenna and how she could trick herself into thinking there could be emotion in there for her... because we did. And there wasn't. Because he's an Android.

[@koalabrownie]

I took the ending to mean that Data was sad but Spot, recognizing it, comes over to him to console him.

[@jamesbuchanan1913]

Yeah, I think Spot coming to him his nearly proof that data has emotion. Cats have Betazoid like abilities.

[@Dmarcoot]

this is something i only understand 34 years later now that i have a cat

[@Drawkcabi]

This is how I always took the ending. But also, Data was sad but didn't understand that he was sad.

[@ShamrockParticle]

Like my cat tries to console my computer when it shows the big blue screen 😂

[@JayEey]

Data has all the emotions, he’s more human than some humans, but because he believes he’s incapable he doesn’t recognise what he thinks/feels/does as being human.

[@IggyStardust1967]

The most important thing that this episode teaches us, is that when you're dealing with something emotionally damaging.... your cat will always be there for you. Even if you allegedly don't HAVE emotions. Also...... that crewperson who ended up falling through the deck, reminds me a LOT of the movie "The Philidelphia Experiment". Which, if you haven't seen.... you really should.

[@winkles2314]

The tonal whiplash of Data being cute with a lady and a woman being eaten by the floor is peak TNG lol

[@ThammuzBabylon]

Imho Data petting Spot at the end felt more like melancholy, not apathy. Data was being consoled by Spot.

[@jamesalexander5623]

The Cat has more Feelings than Data!

[@wisconsinfirenerd]

"Then I shall delete the appropriate program" is a heartbreaking final line for the relationship; I appreciate the acknowledgement that at this point he still doesn't have emotions, he hasn't magically gotten more human. He has developed more elaborate theories for dealing with us, but he's still not us.

[@Sage2000]

Data was cleary hurt

[@Laurie473]

If only we ....humans..., could delete the appropriate programme !

[@RubesGoodBrainCoffee]

As far as the ending goes, I found it more heartbreaking that he didn't even know what he didn't know -- which deepened the tragedy.

[@Exarathas]

I like the tragedy of it and it even made me emotional but I wish there were more learnings for Data. He just deletes the specific programs but I’m not sure whether his character grew from this experience.

[@menolikey_]

Data's connection with spot highlights his ability to have basic affection. I think the episode did a good job at hinting at that. Data just has a long way to go to match human love.

[@RubesGoodBrainCoffee]

​@@menolikey_Yes. I think what's unspoken is how much we all do similar things, although we tend to be more subtle about it -- such as how we're better at dealing with our pets than we are other people.

[@TimelyAbyss]

I thought the ending was more: “Data can’t love…” then you see him clearly showing affection to his cat demonstrating that it’s not that simple.

[@peterkoester7358]

38:15 "Data doesn't give a s#*t," is EXACTLY the impression you are supposed to get at the end of this episode. The entire relationship meant nothing to him once he deleted the subroutine. He's a machine and does not feel anything for Jenna as soon as she confirms their relationship has ended. The fact her walking out meant no more to Data then the attention he got immediately after from his cat was precisely the point!

[@SupremeCleave]

I love that line. "We are more than the sum of our parts, Data. You will have to be more than the sum of your programming."

[@voxymandias441]

It's so fascinating to see Data getting experience from a human in a situation that's low-key toxic. She doesn't see Data, she sees what she wants. "Oh, so I'm just a variable in a new computation?" -- "Yeah, lady, I'm an android."

[@silikon2]

Lady impaled by the freaking deck. This is like The Motion Picture being a rather relaxed instalment but drops in the transporter accident, one of the most horrifying events ever to occur in Trek.

[@patsk8872]

And also it's a woman in a yellow uniform. Did one of the script passes have Jenna dying and that would lead to a very different ending? I always wondered.

[@ShamrockParticle]

​@patsk8872 in TOS it'd be a red shirt. Red and yellow were swapped for TNG because "red shirts", forgetting that it's "security"

[@ThePendragon1998]

Imaging being the ensign responsible for having to cut her corpse out of the deck.

[@dupersuper1938]

"What we got back didn't live long...fortunately."

[@silikon2]

@@dupersuper1938 What’s wild is the camera spends a whole lot of time on this woman. This is one of those things TNG got away with that I strongly suspect would have been greatly toned down back in the day had a network controlled the show.

[@JMUDoc]

I was waiting for two reactions: Stewart's directing credit, and the phased crewmember. The lads didn't disappoint😁

[@pigs18]

"It's not you; it's me." Data: "Agreed."

[@pinsentweebly]

Having known this series now for over 30 years, the two of you have made it funny again. I just grin ear to ear when you get laughing at the show. It’s a joy, thanks for that!

[@targetaudience]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@paul_andrews]

"Lieutenant D'Sora just gave me what could be considered a very passionate kiss in the torpedo bay" - please! This is a family show!

[@jamesalexander5623]

You got that, I got that, I don't think Kids would get that! ..... That Humour is actually quite Marxian!

[@xxlCortez]

Funny how his relationship with Spot works perfectly.

[@allthingsnerd.4484]

Data’s love for Spot is a recurring theme, even into current Trek.

[@dupersuper1938]

Spot knows she's not his mother.

[@RubesGoodBrainCoffee]

Getting an early start dropping this one in the wee hours of the morning! What a gift! Thanks, TA!

[@targetaudience]

Enjoy!

[@AbsoluteApril]

The way Data says "hello spot" and then goes back to looking up at the door, to me, was the expression of realizing something was gone, but almost like he doesn't quite understand what but realizes it. edit to add but it was very subtle

[@Vulcanerd]

Alex cringing hard when Data laid it on thick was one of the many great things in this episode

[@mb2000]

17:18 Riker should remind Picard of what happened the last time he left the ship in a shuttlepod while they were trying to escape an anomaly (“Time Squared”)

[@dcsignal5241]

Moral of the story, "Life may shit on you, but you can always rely on your Cat."

[@VoltesWithElias]

That scene where the crew member is stuck in the ground has traumatized me since I first saw it back in the 90s.

[@greenbrown7776]

Same here. To the point I just can't with this episode. And it was treated so casually. That's the part I hated the most. This is the only episode I skip. I hate it irrationally.

[@msgSharke]

9:00 lol😂at your response to Riker. My same reaction 😂❤

[@star_man]

Star Trek episodes sometimes like to leave you on a poignent moment like in The Mind's Eye. American TV shows of the time always seemed to want to wrap things up decisily in a nice neat bow with everything answered, so it was refreshing that Star Trek was brave enough to sometimes leave us to come to our own conclusions about the aftermath of some episodes.

[@ericmishima]

"Then, I will delete the appropriate program" HURTS me every time!

[@bobm2027]

I think you missed the point of the ending. The “blurred line” was not missing. It was there. It was Data picking up the cat and petting it which is an emotional reaction, one that even Data himself is not aware of. His “non emotional” reaction to Jenna rejecting him was a sort of denial, a self defence mechanism that’s all too human, and petting the cat was an unconscious way to seek comfort from the hurt that was lurking underneath his conscious mind. It was very subtle. Nuanced direction from Patrick Stewart. Great reaction. This episode really elicited a lot of thoughtful discussion from you guys. Lots to ponder from Ron Moore and Joe Menosky.

[@ericmishima]

@bobm2027 yes, yes, yes, denial. I am willing to admit that I may be projecting, but Data has a hard time believing that he IS more than the sum of his parts.

[@bobm2027]

@ Yes, that’s exactly how I saw it. And that very denial, makes him even more human like than he realizes. It’s just so brilliant.

[@Xerxes2005]

I disagree. Data petting the cat is a resume of the whole relationship with Data. Spot comes to Data and wants to be pet. So, Data takes the cat and pets it. Jenna went to Data and showed signs of attractions towards him. So, Data tried to be a good lover. Data does not feel any emotions, but he is learning how to speak the language of emotions. He's giving a performance and tries to give others what they want or expect. When he's petting Spot, he's also giving a performance and runs the "Spot program."

[@ericmishima]

@Xerxes2005 thanks, that's an interesting take.

[@bobm2027]

@@Xerxes2005 That makes sense to me too, but why bother running the “Spot program” with no one present to see it?

[@BiggestDawgEver]

I love this episode. Even though it's one of my favorites, I would still give it an 'A' though. That dead crewman who phased through the floor deck plate was one of the most horrifying and coolest deaths in the series to me. Alao, pretty cool hearing Peter Cullen(Optimus Prime) doing the VO on the episode sneak preview.

[@greenbrown7776]

I cannot stomach the episode because of that death. I skip it.

[@RubesGoodBrainCoffee]

15:17 -- One of my favorite Data lines, including '...you're not my mother!'

[@Drakoni23]

Somehow the "Data is awkward in a relationship" episode has one of the scariest visual effects in TNG. That moment of the woman being phased through the ground stuck with me for a long time. On Data's side it just shows how little he still knows, despite everything he's learned. It's fun, charming and awkward until they hit us with that final line of how tragic it actually is.

[@hollywoodguy70]

I just realized that this one off inspired like the whole sub-plot on The Orville

[@theendistheend123]

Love this episode because of Datas reaction at the end. "Then I will delete the appropriate program." They didn't betray his character just because they wanted a happy ending

[@Darkstar72SR]

Paramount went all out, getting Optimus Prime to do the voiceover for the”NEXT TIME ON STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION” promo

[@libertubey2199]

You know, I never paid attention. That is Peter Cullen. Wow. Perhaps the only time a TNG promo is not done by neither Ernie Anderson nor Don LaFortaine. It's like a Goodson-Todman game show from the 1970's-1980's where neither Johnny Olsen nor Gene Wood is the announcer.

[@allthingsnerd.4484]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@libertubey2199your referencing of Johnny Olsen and Gene Wood’s voiceover work on the Goodson-Todman games shows of the 70’s means that we are now officially best friends. Sorry, it’s mandatory.😆🤣

[@seraphinaaizen6278]

I'm awake at 7:30am after being awake all night thanks to a painful reaction I'm having to whatever my mom made for dinner last night. So seeing an unexpected reaction drop is a nice little salve on my pain. Thanks, guys. One and a half pins is Lieutenant Jr. Grade. It's also weird that two of the funniest jokes in the whole series ("Don't look at me" and "my timing is digital") happen between Data and Guinnan.

[@targetaudience]

Hope you feel better soon

[@JamesC1981]

if one cant trust what ones mother makes for dinner who can one trust

[@vincentpuccio3689]

It wasn’t a Jumanji reference. It was the a Philadelphia experiment reference.

[@stevejoshua9536]

The U.S. Navy's ill-fated attempt at developing a cloaking device, allegedly on October 28, 1943.

[@heather9857]

My thought exactly.

[@JAYWALKER1000]

Yes, they recast the cat. So the fan theory is that the cat is used to check calibration on the transporter.

[@russellharrell2747]

We just assumed the cat was an earth cat, but perhaps it’s an extraterrestrial cat-like being that shape shifts, but only into small feline forms.

[@kerry-j4m]

You mean the cat is used as kitty cannon fodder ???

[@mitcharcher7528]

My fanon is that Data can’t tell one cat from another, so he’s constantly trading with crew mates on his deck.

[@EmbassyNerdcore]

In the fine tradition of Montgomery Scott experimenting with dogs

[@j.jennings1722]

Data just sitting there alone, looking goofily at the closed door, with only Spot as a companion, is heartbreaking to me, realizing he would probably always be alone.

[@ice-iu3vv]

guinan's 29 appearances make her almost exactly as much of a regular character as nurse chapel was on tos.

[@Manitsas]

I remember feeling when this episode was first broadcast that Data's moments with Spot at the last scene was a sign that Data and Spot had a true relationship and affection for each other, and Spot was comforting him. As with our pets, they love us as we are.

[@keithbk]

The woman in the deck is one of the most shocking, disturbing images in all of Star Trek, IMO. I love this episode. Spiner really pulls it off. I understand why it may not hit "S," but it's really close. Oh, and HATS OFF to Alex for connecting Spot's escape with the "phasing..." I never put those two incidents together! I just thought, "Oh, the cat got loose. Don't know how, but it's just a topic of conversation." Now I see it! As to the ending, I think it's one of the most bittersweet endings with Data just "deleting" the relationship, and it is no more a part of him. If only it were that easy in real life when a relationship falls apart...

[@keithbk]

A little bit of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," deleting a relationship so you don't have to (or simply cannot) deal with it.

[@thomasplummer8103]

As a cat owner, I can confirm that Cats have an innate ability to phase through objects.

[@TopGunZero]

I think there's a couple things here on the ending. First I'd say, I swear there is a look Data gives at the end that suggests he is dealing with the failure of the relationship while he is holding Spot. Second, I think what's great about this episode is the dichotomy of feeling sorry for Data, but also envious of him. He isn't in love with Jenna, at least not in the way humans feel love for each other, but we know he is able to create relationships with meaning, so it's sad that it doesn't work out for him and knowing as you said that it may never work out for him. Where we become envious of Data is the ability to simply delete the program of someone you were affectionate for. I think all of us would love the ability to just delete a past relationship after it didn't work out rather than to hold on to it for a long time if not forever. My head cannon here is that Data recognizes the failure, but does not "feel" the failure, but the recognition of the failure is a small percentage of his day, just like how kissing Jenna was only a small percentage of his focus. Where I'm curious about Data isn't just how this would go if he were acting like himself, but how it would have gone if he increased the percentage he thought about her or at least decreased his multitasking about other things while he was with her. I think that's something that a lot of us our guilty of in our relationships. Finding the right balance, making sure we're not being just a gardner or the flower, but having equal effort and focus. I think Jenna was guilty of getting into a relationship she thought would be convenient and thought she could control. She knew Data was an Android and while she was willing to "meet him half way" she thought she could essentially program him into being the perfect man, but then realized she didn't like how artificial it was. I think a lot of people would hate her for that, but she's just human and we make mistakes especially in weak points in our lives. I thought this was good writing. I'd love to see how their relationship works as friends and coworkers now. For Data it would be easy, but for her? More head cannon but I feel like she had to leave the ship.

[@johndb1860]

What an interesting time to leave an episode. Good thing some of us are night owls.

[@radwolf76]

I have no idea if this is even close to being right, but I'm going to put this down to the move they've been talking about.

[@andyb2977]

They probably just only selected the date of release and forgot to change the time from the default.

[@Singe0255]

I think the pinned comment is more likely the case. Early release to get the word out on the gofundme for their viewer. When you're in a tough bind, every hour matters

[@kenlundegard8203]

They're making up for the late Friday release by releasing this one early 😂

[@Musicita]

I’m sick and up because I can’t sleep, was happy to find a new episode!

[@MusikCassette]

46:30 Agreed with that guy . The Ending was just perfekt.

[@Helbore]

Of course Data has emotions and was upset at the end. His cat came over to comfort him. Cats can sense these things.

[@Vulcanerd]

So a black,”half pin” is a mid-step in a grade/rank. An ensign’s pip would be a regular gold or silver lip. An additional half pip would make them a lieutenant junior grade. A full lieutenant would have two “regular” pips. Similarly, a lieutenant commander would have two regular pips and a half pip until you have a full commander at three full pips. I don’t know that I’ve heard of any reason there isn’t a 3.5 pip rank other than there is no “sub-step” to a captain’s rank.

[@MrSheckstr]

So from what i have been able to gather…. At some point the ranks aboard a ship were Ensign, Lieutenant, Commander, and Captain ….. with each rank adding a a single thick stripe. At some point Commander and Lieutenants ranks were divided by thinning the stripes of a percentage of the junior most of each rank …. So its not that a Lt Captain or Captain Junior grade is “missing” its just that it was never deemed necessary to add it because in real life there are only a few times in the US Navy where a ship’s command structure has multiple officers of the rank of O-6 Captain , that being on one of the 11 Nimitz/Ford Class super carriers where it is common for the captain, Executive Officer, Flight commander, and often chief engineer to all have Risen to the 0-7 rank , but since all have a specific POSITION on the ship there is little confusion

[@RoseBunneh]

one solid rank pip with one that isn't is a Lieutennant (Junior grade) two solid pips is full lieutennat.

[@frankandstein8618]

It doesn't help that they refer to her as a cadet in the promos.

[@t.j._fury]

I just have to say, even though there's already over 200 comments; that I am just reveling in your exuberant delight at this episode! Your joy is contagious, so thanks for that! 😀 I don't know if I'll ever watch it again without thinking about this reaction. 😁

[@davidbourhenne8540]

When you ran the next episode preview, the guy says a new cadet... she's a Lieutenant Junior Grade. Looks like ol' Sir Patrick didn't check over the preview. 😂😂

[@schizowallflower]

This looked like the most genuine reaction from you guys thus far, you seemed to really enjoy watching this episode.

[@jamesalexander5623]

"Honey I'm Home!" is a recurring line from THE Classic 50's Sit-Com "I Love Lucy"! .... Lucille Ball was the Star and she is also is the Person who Green-Lit Star Trek TOS

[@cleverlydevisedmyth]

Data's relationship with Spot reminds me a famous quote from the French philosopher Montaigne who once wrote : "The only thing in the world I am very unsure of is this- am I playing with my cat, or is my cat... playing with me?! Which one of us truly owns and is master over the other?" My cat is the same. I thinks she owns me, for sure LOL

[@Dimas.79]

@targetaudience this has been one of your best reactions of all of them so an "S" for your reaction I was laughing with you guys, this episode is a guilty pleasure, thanks for making me rediscover Star Trek TNG under another eye even if I've watched this series countless times. Keep it up!

[@majkus]

Re: 'film' - it's funny how some phrases fossilize. We still call making a digital video recording 'taping' or even 'filming'. And collections of songs are called 'albums', even though they do not come in a book of sleeves as 78RPM records were.

[@targetaudience]

Saying “Cut” because they used to literally cut the film

[@EricTheSaylorman]

This episode was my sister's first interaction when she was 7 or 8 with Star Trek. The crewman phased into the floor traumatized her. Ironically, Wrath of Khan was my introduction to Star Trek about the same age, and the whole Checkov ear worm scene traumatized me.

[@hunrahel]

Data remains prime Ace or Autism rep, but before the language for it existed.

[@belkyhernandez8281]

People did know about autism back then. What wasn't in common use was the idea of the spectrum. The public assumed autism was non verbal. Almost like RAIN MAN.

[@RG-zv7tb]

Bring on Redemption!😃

[@zotaninoron3548]

I don't think it makes sense for Data to be hurt in the end. Beyond being an Android his investment wasn't quite his own. He was exploring an opportunity for himself to attempt an aspect of the human condition, but the whole point was he never quite integrated it. She sort of forced the relationship into being on her own. He didn't ever seem to have any great investment into her specifically. So him moving on was much like him moving on when told to return to his painting.

[@dekulruno]

Maybe Data needs a Vulcan girlfriend, not having emotions would be perfect :P

[@MiningForPies]

Vulcans do have emotions. They just suppress them.

[@zotaninoron3548]

There wouldn't be logical value in a romantic relationship with Data for a Vulcan woman.

[@dekulruno]

@@wolfofthewest8019 it seems like Vulcan relationships are mainly a partnership to achieve goals, if the Vulcan woman doesn’t care about children or is infertile I could see scenarios where they would have a benefit from it

[@xxlCortez]

Vulcans didn't make a move on Data though. Still I could imagine one walking up to him with a straight face saying: I believe we could both benefit from establishing a companionship.

[@MrSheckstr]

Think a KLINGON mate would be more appropriate….

[@SuStel]

This is basically the episode where Data changed from an artificial life form to a computer in a robotic body.

[@dupersuper1938]

??????

[@SuStel]

@dupersuper1938 !!!!!!

[@ShamrockParticle]

8:28 Worf's channeling Khan! 11:09 Q says "yo!" 11:43 that's just it, Data is treated more like a robot and it's only the human who has reverence? 13:51 "Honey, I'm using contractions! Am i contracting? How many minutes apart between contractuonws, and I'm so sentient I'm not noticing my using them!" 😂 Ah yes, this one is "Soap Trek, The Next Opera" 😂. Also: 2:39 no burp? 😂 C+. It's A for the sci-fi stuff and direction, D- for the contrived relationship nonsense.

[@MarkPerigard]

Both Frakes and Stewart chose a Data-centric episode for their directing debuts, because they knew Brent Spiner can knock it out of the park.

[@davidchandler9195]

Spot is very important to Data's emotionally, that is the real relationship

[@TheRealVolk]

I lol’d when you said that you expected things. Just adorable.

[@LilQSlice]

We may need a tier-ranking of all of the S-tier episodes this season.

[@DanJonesHypnosis]

This is another one of those Data episodes that I can relate to from an autistic perspective. It reminds me of my teens and early twenties and dating, where I tried to learn exactly what sentences I'm supposed to say and behaviours I'm supposed to do and would ask people to tell me exactly how I'm supposed to behave. Also the interactions where, like Data, I go from being me, who the girl asked out to not being me because I'm now in a relationship and so I try to be the person I think they want and over analyse everything, like where do your arms go when hugging, how tight do you hug, how long do you hug for, do you hold hands, how do you instigate this, how tight do you hold hands, how do you hold hands, when do you hold and release, how do you know when to kiss, how to kiss, how much pressure do you apply, how long do you kiss for, etc. I even related to the end. I spoke about the ending of my first marriage in my autobiography where I pointed out that when my wife said she felt we shouldn't be together I asked her whether she was sure, she said she was, so I said okay and walked away from the relationship. I've spoken about my brain unconsciously compartmentalizing where it is like I delete a program. At the time my best friend felt I wasn't grieving the end of the relationship correctly by being sad or angry or going out drinking or sleeping around etc. I loved and cared about my first wife and for the last 23 years have loved my second wife, but once I wasn't with my first wife and she said she didn't want to be with me I was fine walking away. My wife is aware if I say I love you, it is because it means something to her, if I hug her or hold her hand it is because it is important to her. I know that until I wrote my autobiography and started publicly sharing the inner experience, people were surprised as to most people they think I'm calm, confident, caring and considerate and have a very different opinion of me than what is really going on. Like Data, I used to do better if I want technically in a relationship with someone because I would interact with them with a different set of programming than once we are together, when I try to develop a relationship program for how I should behave, what rules I should use etc.

[@MrJerks93]

That phased crewman is peak horror. Hopefully, there was no one walking by on the lower deck!

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

Somehow the least cringe moment in the episode.

[@brad8549]

what is that water bottle lol I thought you were chugging dishsoap after your "good luck data" comment😂

[@LiveFreeOrDieDH]

When I was a kid watching this, that death scene was absolutely terrifying!

[@RetroRobotRadio]

When Data started doing his angry voice immediately started sounding like the character Puck he played on Gargoyles, a mischievous magic being. There are a lot of TNG voice actors on that show... Ryker, Troy, Worf, Data, etc.

[@bri55118]

A human having a relationship with a machine is an interesting trope, TNG did an amazing job with it. It's like the vision and scarlet witch's relationship from Marvel.

[@rhaedas9085]

Close, but Vision is also tied to the Mind Stone and isn't purely mechanical. White Vision is the contrast. I however don't know the comic path so maybe there's something more.

[@dupersuper1938]

@@rhaedas9085 Yeah, Vision in the comics has nothing to do with the mind stone. Over in DC Comics, Red Tornado has a wife and adopted daughter.

[@losdef1283]

Being a cat owner and seeing spot jump in his lap. It made think of what my cats would do when they sense some is sad. They will become very affectionate but that could be me projecting 😅

[@CarnifexRex]

First time ive watched to the end credits, thats a banger song! Would be a great intro, but i understand it being an incentive to watch to the end

[@JuanSanson73]

One of my all time favorite TNG episodes

[@ssjwes572]

Data just chillin at the end.

[@atrus3823]

That lady half-way through the floor really stuck with me as a kid. I had forgotten the rest of the episode 😂

[@ssjwes572]

I still remember the promo for this episode. I was so hype because he got mad and yelled.

[@markwarren9200]

I think the ending with Data and Spot was meant to show that Data can have a caring relationship; he just has to be himself. His relationship with Spot is about naturally being in the moment and actually enjoying Spot's company, rather than experimenting with different ways to enjoy Spot's company. Brent Spiner's delivery of "Hello, Spot" at the very end was infused with genuine fondness.

[@RLucas3000]

I wish Jenna had been the one to pilot it at the end. Would have added tension as we wouldn’t know she would survive.

[@hunrahel]

@28:47 a good point about "you had to realize....": Data is the only creature in the alpha quadrant that literally does come with a manual.

[@brain015]

I always took the ending to mean that Data does love, it's Spot who actually teaches him how to love

[@philburton2223]

I have been waiting for you to get this episode forever. I knew you would like it. I thought you would give it a S but notheless I knew you would like it a lot. It' s one of my favorite episodes 😊

[@BoomGiggity]

Riker: live long and get some.

[@heather9857]

Interesting to hear Alex and Josh's perspective on the ending. I always thought the ending hit hard, in the sense that Data didn't have to delete the program, but he made the choice to delete it. I can't see him deleting anything if he and Geordi ever parted ways. And you know that he has a deep fondness for Riker, Picard, Tasha, etc. I found it so sad that the encounter meant nothing to him. But it wasn't a relationship he initiated or in the end even wanted. It's a stellar ending imo showing Data to be deliberate and complicated.

[@richtea615]

The writers keep forgetting Worf was raised on Earth with human parents, but for some reason knows little about human culture or history.

[@ThomasReeves-s7u]

Maybe he only knows Russian culture. Shame him and Chekhov never met if so.

[@Xerxes2005]

@@ThomasReeves-s7u He was quite adamant that Minsk is the perfect place to raise a family.

[@JoeMama410]

Every once in a while the writers seem to hint that he was intentionally ignorant of Earth as part of embracing his Klingon identity. Not that they executed it particularly well.

[@hagbardceline7118]

Patrick Stewart wasn't behind the direction chair, he was in it. Flakes was behind the directing chair when he was directing often cause that's how he sits down.

[@harrysarai3947]

the first time i noticed Data use contractions, i dont remember the name of the episode, but his line was "it's me" when asked which was the real Data, when there were 3 of him from different time periods, and he had to drop a box into a energy beam, to fix time. and i like the Xmen reference, we get to see Prof X and one of his future Xmen next season.

[@ScooterBond1970]

The ep you're thinking of is "We'll Always Have Paris". /nerd

[@monkeymox2544]

I really take the 'hello Spot' moment at the end differently. I think that's a moment of Data expressing affection in his own way, and perhaps of dealing with the end of the relationship in his own way. It's a little human moment (after all, it makes no rational sense to say 'hello' to a cat).

[@kisanajodhia5538]

it was Spot knocking over things...

[@jonbolton3376]

I'm glad you guys gave this A as well, and i 'm not alone.

[@allthingsnerd.4484]

Rank pips during this time in Starfleet: 5 in a rectangle - fleet admiral 4 in A rectangle- admiral 3 in a rectangle - vice admiral 2 in a rectangle - rear admiral 4 - captain 3 - commander 2 gold 1 black - lieutenant commander 2 - lieutenant 1 gold 1 black - lieutenant junior grade 1 - ensign

[@derekm79]

And 1 black = enlisted personnel (other than chief O’Brien), right?

[@vicolin6126]

Data should have been given a shot with a Vulcan - now THAT would have been interesting to see!

[@mjbull5156]

The crew woman in the floor is more likely a reference to "The Philadelphia Experiment".

[@CowabungaWo101]

I completely disagree with you guys about the ending. In fact, it’s one of my favorite subtle Data moments: The whole breakup scene hinges on the fact that Data doesn’t have emotion, and is incapable of love. The episode shows that one of the biggest issues, is that Data was trying to force it and compensate for that fact. “In Theory” refers to the fact that, in theory, the things Data is doing should work for a relationship but aren’t. It’s because Troi was right, he WAS viewing it as an experience/experiment as opposed to a genuine connection. All that comes to a head in the breakup. Data can’t show emotion, Data can’t love, the relationship can’t work…but in the last second of the episode he picks up Spot and, with clear love and gentleness in his voice, says hello while he pets his cat. That’s the moment you guys said was missing. That subtle moment of Data showing emotion right after we reiterate that he can’t. Data’s relationship didn’t work because “he can’t feel the emotional connection”. But there he is, visibly showing his cat genuine love and affection.

[@sunkorg]

"It betrayed the character in my opinion." Consider that he has the ability to process a lot of things thousands of times faster than any human could possibly process them. A human will go through a period in which they'll be depressed and then they'll recover. For an android, that all happens inside of the course of 2-3 seconds, all while also processing the appropriate feline supplement, the latest warp core settings, a self-diagnostic, a hot Yar fantasy, the latest subordinate lists, the optimum ambient room temperature to accommodate key systems, etc.

[@star_man]

07:43 You've used Data as a rebound?! This I want to know more about! 🤣

[@XRos28]

Data is so funny in this episode, amazing! 🤪