First Time Watching ALL of Star Trek - Episode 140: The Measure of a Man (TNG S2E9)

[@targetaudience]

This is a re-edited more cut down version of our reaction. ICYMI our original reaction video was blocked. This one might get blocked too, we'll see. The original edited version is available on our Patreon along with all of our KZbin videos moving forward for $1 a month. www.patreon.com/targetaudience

[@silkwesir1444]

Fingers crossed, the original one might get unblocked... EDIT: Just noticed this is kinda ironically fitting the episode as well. If only you had Picard to argue your case for you... 😆

[@Daniel-Strain]

@@silkwesir1444CBS, you say your mission is to seek out new viewers - WELL THERE THEY SIT!

[@RobGMun]

So are we only getting one episode this week?

[@silkwesir1444]

@@Daniel-StrainLove it! 😅

[@jamesbond99]

Fingers crossed, the original one might get unblocked...- i agree to this and the dumb thing is also the fact how old this show is

[@scrapperlock9437]

"Starfleet was founded to seek out new life. WELL THERE IT SITS!" One of my favorite lines in all of Star Trek.

[@greenbrown7776]

Gives me chills every time. Picard/Steward says it with such conviction and authority and passion.

[@jsharp3165]

If you google "There it sits", it goes straight to this episode. That's a pretty big testimony to the line's iconic status.

[@voxdraconia4035]

"Yes, Captain ... and now its time to open it up and check how that new life works...case closed. Mr. Data, you should be proud to help the Feeration Science Department!"

[@timothyserabian5103]

New comment: no matter how many times it’s re-uploaded, I will watch it! I got your backs!

[@jonbolton3376]

Same here!

[@chrissgchriss]

Yes. I even let the ads play to show algorithms we want this type of content. Oh the agony!!!!

[@johndb1860]

Here's my comment for Lord Algo

[@Emily-tb1cp]

Reupload of my comment: This episode shows why I love Star Trek so much: it doesn't need big special effects and action to tell a great sci-fi story.

[@robertfindley921]

Very true. Even when there are effects, there is almost always a cerebral storyline behind them. Some moral or social dilemma they are trying to tackle.

[@Anthyrion]

And it still annoys me, how the producers of the Picard series threw that story into a garbage bin at the first episode

[@Rabbithole8]

Yes, and it demonstrates what Nu-trek gets so wrong.

[@thewalliest3956]

Please tell Alex Kurtzman that.

[@TheElderBlotch]

TNG's first true classic. Picard's final speech defending Data is the stuff of Star Trek legend. "Starfleet was founded to seek out new life, well there it sits!" It was at this moment Picard became my favourite character on the show. One of my favourite reactions from you guys, hope this one doesn't get taken down!

[@professorbugbear]

I was talking to my roommate yesterday and I said that this was probably the first truly great episode.

[@rhaedas9085]

That line as well as the preceding "Do you?" questions...the way to win in court is to show there is uncertainty, and this is core Star Trek because it's more than just drama or scifi, it makes you think about the subject (even if they didn't/couldn't get into the deeper parts of the question due to time). That it planted that seed is why people still come back to this episode/scene again and again, even more so these days.

[@kerry-j4m]

What about when Picard couldn't answer Data's question in his ready room ??? Picard just dismisses him.

[@bensmith5064]

@@kerry-j4m he had to follow regulation at the time, the higher ups had his hands tied until he had a court case in action

[@kerry-j4m]

@@bensmith5064 Picard still could've answered Data's question,they were in a private setting with no one else around.

[@jerobriggs6861]

I think it's funny when fans tell me the first two seasons are unwatchable, and then there's masterpieces like this. Lol!

[@cashflowhustles]

I've been saying that from the beginning and these guys keep arguing and debating with me. It's crazy. I admit there has been an occasional stinker here and there but I don't skip entire seasons on anything from TOS all the way up until VOY. After that yes it gets difficult. 😂

[@kerry-j4m]

Not unwatchable,I just think their boring and bland.There're some good episodes in seasons 1& 2,but,most of them are boring-IMHO.

[@Robert08010]

I think after the first 2 or 3 seasons... after you fall in love with it, then the first 2 seasons look different. But the first time through I really disliked the first 2 or 3 seasons. I grew up watching TOS which was very heavy handed with its opinions. It was very "preachy". And I was young and very impressionable. So its presentation style that we're here to say important things was what I loved about star trek and it drew me to continue. Then with TNG, the first 2 or 3 seasons seemed to be much less opinionated. "Here's a topic. What to you think? We don't know..." And that disappointed me intensly. I appreciated TOS for being that preachy and for it to now be very wishy-washy, it was very very disappointing. I know its kinda counterintuitive, but it wasn't until Gene Roddenberry due to age or illness, had nothing more to do with the series that it began to get good in my eyes. Now of course, I can enjoy the first 2 seasons, but they took time to grow on me. But you're absolutely right that this was an exceptional episode.

[@randomlyentertaining8287]

@@Robert08010 "It was very preachy" Yeah, people with strong opinions like Roddenberry had tend to be preachy. And you are 100% right about the series getting good after Roddenberry was forced to step away. One of his original stipulations was there could be no inter-crew conflict because "humans would have evolved past that". Apparently, he struggled to realize that something like Slavery hadn't even been actually fully made officially illegal across the world until 1981 when Mauritania officially abolished the practice. Even then, slavery is still a big problem in many parts of the world. So despite the biggest nations having abolished the practice many decades, if not hundreds of year ago, humans still haven't evolved past that. And if that's not yet possible, human to human conflict, even just verbal, is never going to be "Evolved" out of the human system. Plus there's zero way Roddenberry would've ever approved of an episode like Hard Times from DS9, where Miles O'Brien nearly commits suicide after having killed a virtual being, that due to tech-tech he had seemingly spent the last 20 years with in a prison, over crumbs of food. Yet that's easily one of the best Star Trek episodes of all time due to its depiction of a sadly state of affairs for a lot of people and they go through it for much less dire of a reason than O'Brien did.

[@drewgonzales9027]

There's also "Code of Honor," haha so it's a fair point of view

[@blacbraun]

This episode reminds me of the line from Wrath of Khan. "Of all the souls I have know. His was the most human"

[@Michael-id9bw]

I believe that Marina Sirtis (Troy) said that this was her favorite episode in the series, even though she was not in it.

[@rhaedas9085]

She was though, in the party scene(s), there's the one where she laughs at him ripping up the wrapping paper, and a deleted scene as well (where Maddox crashes the party and Riker shows him the door.

[@Darkstar72SR]

I didn’t see the first upload (DAMN YOU CBS!!! 🖕) so my favorite scene may have had more included in it than this upload but it’s when Data is unwrapping his going away presents and is being overly meticulous in saving the paper. Wes says he’s “missing the point” so after a moment’s hesitation he rips the saved paper in half then crumbles it up. Troi and Riker’s reactions have to be authentic! Love it!

[@rburton76]

This is the perfect episode of what makes Star Trek great. It’s not space battles, or special effects, or fight scenes. It’s well written moral stories. Which is why The Measure of a Man is my favorite episode in all of Star Trek.

[@thegodlessvulcan]

The writers had the chance to somewhat mellow Pulaski's attitude toward Data in this episode. Wish she had been called as a witness for her to testify Data was more than a machine to her now.

[@greenbrown7776]

I agree, though I can't think of a scene I'd take out to work it in. This really could have been a two-parter. There's enough material. But maybe it's best they did it like they did.

[@Dmarcoot]

this is definitely the episode they nailed picard’s character just as they nailed riker’s in the klingon exchange

[@aircap]

An iconic episode of television, not just Trek. This episode gets discussed a lot in modern debates over AI.

[@JoeCensored]

I'm trapped in a time loop. It's like I've seen this live premiere before 😋

[@albertmartinez2539]

"Hey! Pig in a poke!"

[@destinycaptain247]

I’m rewatching to help with views

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

Glad you guys got to sneak this one through. A lawyer did a version of this video and his has been up for 2 years and uses more footage.

[@Jimmer93]

Because he's lawyer no doubt, so CBS know not to go after him because he'd probably kick their asses.

[@smartfox2295]

You mean the video from the channel leagle eagle, right?

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

@@smartfox2295 Yes. I just couldn't think of his name when I was typing the comment.

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

@@Jimmer93 I don't know about that...depends who's got the bigger lawyers...but at least his video is still up, so there's hope for this one.

[@KineticSymphony]

@@Jimmer93 Yup, he's big and has money and knows the law, he'd actually take it to court if CBS messed with him because he knows fair use would demolish them. But CBS is fine going after smaller creators that won't take it to court. The irony over this being a court episode...

[@FLanklinBadge]

You guys are really fun to watch, you don't deserve the corporate shenanigans.

[@-Hunter240x]

One of the best TNG episiodes IMO. Data is my most favorite character and this episiode really helped build his character.

[@TheLanceUppercut]

Data coming to forgive Riker at the end always gets me. Data is a real one. So is Riker.

[@LukeWarm05]

After Picard turns to the judge and asks, "Do you?", I always expect him to turn to the camera and ask us the same....then commercial break.

[@glowormrdr6183]

I think the point of Picard asking over his shoulder like that is, the question is also meant for us. I suspect the question of Data's sentience or humanity is one they wanted to address from the time Data was proposed as a character.

[@robertfindley921]

Top five favorite episodes. The ending scene between Data and Riker might be my favorite of STNG. They often cut it in reruns. Arrgghh! And Whoopi Goldberg nailed an essential scene Still, it seems odd that Data could choose to join Star Fleet, but not be allowed to resign. He wasn't created by Star Fleet.

[@_Some_Guy_]

This is undoubtedly a great episode that deals with some profound questions. But it always bothered me that it could be questioned whether Data was property of Starfleet, particularly at this stage of his career. Firstly, Starfleet did not construct him. He was found and activated by Starfleet personnel. Then a few years later he enrolled in Starfleet Academy, presumably on his own volition, and for the next 20 years or so he worked his way up the ranks until he was assigned to the Enterprise as third in command. Surely by this time his individuality and right to choose should have been firmly established.

[@Raja1938]

Since Data appears to have immediately joined Starfleet and not any other career after his discovery. He was basically Starfleet's to use as they pleased, so I think the question of his sentience was rendered somewhat of a moot point. It only became relevant when he decided to resign.

[@fakecubed]

I appreciate you re-uploading this with a new edit. It's more work for you, but having this available so the entire series reactions are on KZbin is important.

[@shawnhardee1929]

This is the best reaction video I haven't seen yet ever. Like

[@beesly01]

The ending scene with Data and Riker is my all time favorite Star Trek scene.

[@SWOLEX_1]

And there it is I've officially watched this reaction twice thank you gentlemen

[@majkus]

This was the episode that showed Trek could be just good damn television.

[@michaelpapp5518]

I got to see an extended version of this episode in theaters to celebrate the blue-ray release of TNG season 2. Shown after was a full cast interview hosted by Wil Wheaton included in that release’s special features.

[@r.j.sullivan2104]

As stated the first time, for me this is the first truly great TNG episode.

[@TonySalazar933]

One of the things Star Trek, particularly TNG, does so well is using different genres to tell its stories. You have the courtroom dramas (which IMO are always the best), medical dramas, mysteries, horror and even comedy.

[@AT4W]

I know you guys like season 1 more than most of us, but episodes like this are what we're talking about the elevation of material in future stuff. Season 2 still has a lot of awkward, meh, or bad episodes but this is one of the absolute best of the entire show and it raises the bar - one that future seasons will be more of a baseline like it. Not every one is going to be as good as this, but it's a higher quality to it, with the Picard speech, fantastic moral dilemma, and great use of continuity. TNG would still be episodic, but it knew how to draw some good from the bad parts like this - Yar's importance to Data and it won't be the last time it comes up.

[@drublood1807]

One of the greatest episodes to come out of any of the Star Trek franchise. Easily one of my top ten overall episodes period. Thanks for the reaction. Keep up the awesomeness 😊

[@j.rileyindependentproductions]

The funny thing is, this was one of the first explorations of robot sentience (at least not as an evil AI). All the movies you referenced were made about a decade or more after this episode's airing. In fact, one could say that Data was the first true concept of a humanoid android whose potential humanity is explored.

[@glowormrdr6183]

Not to get huffy, but; Isaac Asimov.

[@j.rileyindependentproductions]

@@glowormrdr6183 This is why I said "one of the first" not THE first.

[@ammaleslie509]

​@@glowormrdr6183Asimov was not on TV

[@Jimmer93]

I think this was probably the first time TNG got really deep! It's little wonder this episode is held so highly by the fanbase!

[@Sabrecho]

What gets under my shields is that Captain Levois had a completely idiotic ruling from the start. It would have made for a completely derpy, 20 minute episode, but she never even realized that Starfleet Command already made this decision for her. She called Data a "toaster", yet never in the history of everything was a toaster given Rank and Privilege over other officers. Not once would Starfleet have ever given The Medal of Honor with Clusters to a hand phaser, nor offered a tricorder The Star Cross. Tell me I'm wrong, I dare you. 😁

[@marqushio2752]

Just making a comment in the comments, to increase the number of comments. Plus the rewatch. Stay strong guys!

[@speedhuntr]

This one's fantastic. There's another courtroom episode in the future that, in my mind, is even better. I'm glad you two were able to get a version of this episode up.

[@BlindPidePiper]

I am so enjoying reviewing these episodes through your eyes without the knowledge of what is to come...

[@Chill1332]

Woo. I'm glad you got to put this back up. It's SUUUUCH a good episode. Glad you liked it.

[@seraphinaaizen6278]

This, I feel, is the first truly fantastic episode of TNG.

[@greenbrown7776]

I agree. "A Matter of Honor" came close, but "Measure" took the show up another level. I have a few down the road that eclipse "Measure," but not very many. This set a super high bar.

[@nicklee2505]

Missed it the first time. 😢 This episode is easily one of the best in all of Star Trek, so many great moments and a great moral that everyone can get behind 😊

[@colinwells2812]

I have been considering joining your patron. This whole thing was just the push I needed. I doubt I was the only one. Sometimes good things come from bad events. I’ll still watch on KZbin, and support on Patreon as well.

[@legionaireb]

2:43 - Have they noticed yet that Maddox is calling Data 'It'? 9:40 - I have no doubt that the choice of Guinan's wardrobe in this scene is intentional.

[@sigzil1985]

That bit where Picard **almost** looks directly into the camera and asks "do you???". With AI where it is now its definitely a question we should be asking. What if we do accidentally make something with consciousness? Are we ready for that responsibility?

[@randomlyentertaining8287]

The truly scary thing? When Maddox says if Data was a box on wheels he wouldn't face this opposition...he's 100% correct. Data would be seen as barely one step above the ship's computer. And I'm liking the fireball. My boi.

[@headoverheels88]

You're right to be moved: this is widely considered one of the most important Star Trek TNG episodes in the entire series as it captures the tone and main thrust of the run... how rapidly transformative science and discovery poses huge questions about ethics, morality, and what it means to be human. TNG ran during the late 80s through the 90s, a time when humanity-rocking technologies and events (the internet, the personal computer, cellphones, DNA sequencing, globalization, the fall of the Soviet Union) were reinventing society and culture a rapid pace. So many people remember TNG fondly because it captured that anxiety of change, while reminding us that with compassion, understanding, and a bit of guts, we'd all get through it together.

[@jan-rs6im]

There it sits!!! best line ever! thanks for re-posting - wishing you both all the best

[@mgk920]

Data-the ultimate poker face!

[@Warped9]

This is my favourite episode of TNG.

[@ChemicalCrash]

So glad you liked this episode. Hopefully this second time around will stick!

[@jonelliott7319]

Saw the original, I’m really glad this is back up. Keep up the good work, fellas.

[@leytonjay]

Loved your reaction to him turning on the Tasha hologram. Great video guys.

[@bcn1gh7h4wk]

1:05 I just realized that's probably what inspired Seth MacFarlane for the cafeteria of the Orville.

[@damiantedrow3218]

"5 card stud. nothing wild, and sky's the limit." *sobs uncontrollably*

[@SWOLEX_1]

Yes! Thank goodness. Thank God you guys caught on to the O'Brien enthusiasm immediately he's a goat

[@SteveBrant55]

"And now a man will turn it off." I know how much it pains Riker to do this. And this scene as well as the last scene where Data tells Riker he knows it hurt him to prosecute him always make me cry.

[@WEB_78O]

As I said the first time around, the ending scene between Riker and Data is my favorite scene. Now hopefully this video gets left alone. We appreciate the work you put into this journey

[@Robert08010]

Did you ever ponder the notion that someday, A.I. may be making the same decisions about us, whether we are sentient, whether we qualify as life forms? Think about Pluto for a moment. It wasn't until we sat down and decided to create a formal definition of a planet that we realize it didn't really fit within that definition. One day, A.I. might determine that "sentience" requires something new that all A.I.s have but we don't. Therefore by the new definition, we are excluded.

[@johnmackendrick5173]

If so, I hope they are more forgiving of our faults than Nomad or V-Ger.

[@greenbrown7776]

@@johnmackendrick5173 Or those sand crystal creatures who think we're "ugly bags of mostly water." They hurt my feelings.

[@kingleong8593]

Oh goodie, great to see it back

[@greenbrown7776]

Watched it again. Liked it again. Next time on Star Trek: "The Next Generation": "We'll Always Have Klavdia III"

[@M3TR01DFANBOY]

I really appreciate the reupload.

[@elizabethpalladino8301]

One of my favorite Star Trek episodes ever! Data has always been my favorite character of any Star Trek programs. I loved your reaction to this episode so much that yesterday I watched the version on your Patreon website and watched it again on KZbin!! P.S. I was so disappointed when this reaction was blocked, as I was so looking forward to your reaction as you love Data and Brent Spiner's performance so much,

[@DanielGarrett0123]

Very lively and engaging reaction!

[@bobmathis-friedman6742]

My second favorite episode of the entire franchise!

[@Amamizu82]

Caught this the first time, totally going to watch it again. Love this episode, your reactions were great as always

[@tracymaxwell11]

My favourite scene was the beautifully written exchange between Guinan and Picard where she helps him (and the audience) realise what's really at stake.

[@timothyserabian5103]

Re-upload original comment: You KNOW they liked it when they could barely speak during the episode lol. I’ve said it before: this is one of the best of ALL Star Trek. So glad to see you loved it!

[@darrelllane796]

Colm Meaney remains one of the best engineers.

[@Lumibear.]

Aw, guys, this was your best reaction yet, and not just at the end, when Data packed away his little holopic I remember having the same reaction, great episode eh, great writing.

[@Sure_Ruse_User]

06:06 "If it were a box-on-wheels, I would not be facing this opposition!" Mate, try doing this to the box-on-wheels(hover-propulsion?) that is K-9 from Doctor Who, and every dog lover would fry you up. Even vaguely animal-shaped objects seem to trump humanoid ones for our bonding instinct.

[@sampew1605]

A classic. There's a lot of heart to this episode. Glad you enjoyed it

[@brocktree4]

Fingers crossed! Thank you both!

[@michaelpapp5518]

My favorite episode of Star Trek. Period.

[@manservantchris]

Does each time I watch this count as an individual view? If so I may run this several times today. Let's blow up this view count shall we.

[@Lexi_Zone]

"He's not allowed to resign." Then why was he allowed to apply?? They can't let you go through the academy, graduate, become a freakin' _officer_ and then decide he doesn't have rights.

[@glowormrdr6183]

That's true. They would have had a hearing on this question back then. Otherwise, he'd just be Starfleet equipment.

[@more-reasons6655]

Wow, just the greatest reaction in the history of ever, 10 / 10 will react again

[@ammaleslie509]

The scream when they first see the Tasha hologram is a peak moment!

[@Bardic_Knowledge]

This is one of my favourite Next Gen episodes.

[@ThatGeekyMaker]

Glad to see this back up! I had been waiting on this one since you guys started TNG, then it got taken down. I'll be joining Patreon. Keep up the good work!

[@JacobStJules]

This is in my top 10 favorite episodes of all of Trek. Great reaction, guys! Thank you.

[@walkir2662]

I think that's the first time I've seen a post-copyright claim reupload done as a premiere.

[@targetaudience]

Lol, we premiere all of our Star Trek videos now. People seem to enjoy discussing during the video. I see the irony though.

[@Vulcanerd]

Maybe same for me, but let's get them the numbers they should have had the first time around!

[@walkir2662]

@@targetaudience Call it Studio Cut (now with X minutes less!) or Reduced Edition or something next time ;)

[@excalibur2024guy]

​@@targetaudienceI feel like Picard fencing in the holodeck. I feel like Picard fencing...

[@moviemetalhead]

​@@Vulcanerdthey were up to 5.7k views when it got blocked. So hopefully it shouldn't take much longer to eclipse that number.

[@jerobriggs6861]

So glad to see this. Didn't think it would be up here. Don't know it Patrick Stewart actually bumped into the door or not, but I do remember seeing a lot of bloopers, and many of them did have the actors running into the doors. The effect was done just like I TOS.

[@jerobriggs6861]

Some typos in my comment. My apologies.

[@jcortese3300]

Recommenting here: So much of this episode is hinted at in the opening poker scene about bluffing. In both cases, Riker had to put forth a position he knew was wrong to get to what was right. Now that I think about it, even Louvois had to do the same -- going all "Data is a toaster" to get Riker to cooperate so that justice could be served. The whole thing was about working the process, even when it was distasteful. No accident this episode was written by a lawyer.

[@lbthingsstuffmore9513]

❤❤ I'm so glad you've found Star Trekk. New sub!

[@starryeye6511]

I never understood why Data couldn't stay on the ship as a guest, they allow that for others all of the time.

[@aaronwells6608]

Re-watching, re-liking, repeating. :)

[@AbsoluteApril]

Rewatching the reload, glad you guys got it up again

[@Thomas_Leo]

Thank goodness! I missed the original upload and thought I wouldn't be able to see the reaction to it.

[@peregrine5327]

One of the most legendary episodes of Star Trek.

[@Solo_Traveling]

Reupload of my original comment: One of the best episodes of TNG. And Data is my fav character in the whole of Star Trek so this is a personal favorite.

[@iansmith4023]

This is securely in my Top 5 TNG episodes. An excellent idea, powerfully put across - and a barnstormer performance from Patrick Stewart.

[@Erekose2023]

DAta has a lot of character building. One bit I really liked when I first saw it, is later one, when he gets t5o actually understand a (very simplistic) pun spoken to him.

[@charlesballiett6800]

Hopefully it doesn't get blocked With out a doubt, this is the single most looked forward to episode of S2, I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GUYS " SEE " I got home from work mon eve ( 11a.m to 8pm ) looking forward to watching, & from here you already know the rest of the story I'm so sorry you guys got blocked ( it's nonsense ) you'll be getting my $ dollar $ As always Take care Best wishes Watch FARSCAPE / do reaction videos for that ( THEY PROBABLY WON'T BLOCK YOU )

[@Senkoau]

I can't watch that Pinochio is broken moment without picturing Picard shooting Maddox with a phaser set on stun and saying he's been turned off.

[@carlosvergara4132]

Honestly, still images of crude stick figures with subtitles would suffice, I'm sure most viewers already know the episode inside and out.

[@excalibur2024guy]

My favorite season 2 episode. This reminds me of the TOS episode "Court Martial". They are both in my top 10 episodes, respectively.

[@adam92682]

I never understood why Data didn’t just take over the ship and run away.

[@DeltaAssaultGaming]

This is one of the two really good episodes from Season 2. Season 3 is when TNG finally becomes great.

[@txheadshots]

One of my favorite of all TNG episodes

[@redpointt]

This is TNG. What an episode , wow, bravo!!

[@MoonjumperReviews]

Glad to see you back up and running. A powerful episode for sure, one with far reaching implications for the rest of the franchise. The one thing that has always bothered me was the weird legal process. Why would she insist that two non-lawyers prosecute and defend? (Starfleet has actual lawyers and JAG officers!) Furthermore, she would never choose someone with a clear conflict of interest to prosecute. That makes zero sense. (Of course JAG prosecutor Areel Shaw had an enormous conflict of interest while prosecuting Kirk-but at least she was actually a lawyer!!). However, still a powerful hour of television nonetheless.

[@johnmackendrick5173]

They pay these two actors well. Best to use them to their fullest.