I’ll start - S02E09 Measure of a Man
This is my favorite TNG episode for a couple of reasons. First, it shows that they didn’t need amazing effects and set pieces to drive the story - most of this ep consists of the actors sitting in a single set and talking, yet the story is still fantastic and the episode is riveting.
Next, this is my favorite because Data is my favorite Star Trek character overall, and I feel this episode is a key piece of his character’s development.
The Offspring has really grown on me as I have gotten older and become a parent.
The admiral coming out of the room and talking about Data’s hands, and how they were moving so fast he couldn’t see.
And man, her line about feeling for both of them. 😢
This one is also my favorite. The love without being able to express love. The growing pains Lal endures. And my favorite scene, when there’s a couple kissing on ten forward and Lal yells “he’s biting her!”. Just tickles me. Likewise, when Lal goes to try out kissing with Riker and Data asks “what are your intentions with my daughter?”, Great writing. Then the utter sadness in the end. This episode takes you on a beautiful rollercoaster of human emotions, yet they are just out of reach by Data.
Episodes that play with the structure of a show always appeal to me, which is a big part of the reason I love “Lower Decks”. It’s also just really well written and executed, offering up humour, drama, character development and tragedy.
Check out what just dropped https://youtu.be/lCQwncbQx04
So they didn’t listen to my letter writing campaign to make the show about the adventures of (the far superior) Delta shift? 😤
(Nice Pike drop btw.)
Measure of a Man is hands down the best episode of TNG.
LOL I started writing this having only seen your title. I happened to glance up and you beat me to it. You’re right that Data is the best vessel that TNG has to explore humanity. Data shows us things about ourselves that we tend to take for granted. This exploration of what makes sentience and consciousness really shaped how I think about AI and all the current debate we’re currently having. It makes me feel better that we don’t have it all figured out in 2023 since they were still debating it in 2365.
The whole concept of Riker being forced to argue against Data is excellent. It shows his character for so many different reasons. The conflict he feels as a Starfleet officer and also as Data’s friend, as well as the inner contradiction of needing to do his best to argue against his friend in order to save him, is some of the best Star Trek, IMO.
