3.16 The Offspring

Rating: 3.5

Data creates a ‘child’, an android with a positronic brain much like his own, and for many of the same reasons that a human creates a child – so his essence can live on if he ceases to exist. His creation chooses it’s own species and gender, and, as a young human female named Lal, begins to explore human knowledge and social skills. But Starfleet feels that Lal should be carefully observed and trained in a controlled environment, far away from Data. Data feels she is his child, and that he is most qualified to teach her. Siding with Data, Picard threatens to take the case to the highest court – but Lal, learning of her possible separation, experiences an emotional breakdown and, soon after, ceases to function..

Comments

The NextGen episodes improved a notch starting with Who Watches the Watchers, and they have continued to improve since that time. The show has really hit its stride now – the writing is very good.

This episode is directed by Jonathan Frakes.

‘Lal’, we are told by Picard, is a Hindi word meaning ‘beloved’.

When deciding what gender and race to become, Lal narrows the field from 16,000 choices to just four: an Andorian female (that would have been interesting), a human female, a human male, or a Klingon male.

When Admiral Haftel offers to help Data attempt to save the dieing Lal, and they are left alone, did anyone else think that this would have been a good time for Data to snap Haftel’s neck and then blame it on a bizarre laboratory accident? Man, that guy was annoying! But that was of course a tribute to his acting and the writing.

Nits

None, really, other than the big one: could Data really have created an android in his own likeness? Did he have the knowledge?

Memorable Moments

•    The scene in 10-forward when Riker is embarrassed by Lal’s kiss is extremely funny and a classic.

•    Most of the dialogue in this episode is excellent.

Quotable Quotes

Wesley: Data, it called you ‘father’.
Data: Yes, Wesley. Lal is my child.

Picard: Data, I would like to have been consulted.
Data: I have not observed anyone else on board consulting you about their procreation, Captain.

Data: I can give her attention, Doctor, but I am incapable of giving her love.
Dr. Crusher: Why do I find that so hard to believe?

"Father says I would learn a great deal from working with someone as old as you."
- Lal to Guinan

‘He’s biting that female!"
- Lal, observing her first human kiss

"Commander, what are your intentions toward my daughter?"
- Data, after observing Riker being kissed by Lal

"They’re living, sentient beings, their rights and privileges in our society have been defined – I helped define them."
- Picard to Admiral Haftel

"There are times, sir, when men of good conscience cannot blindly follow orders. You acknowledge their sentience, but you ignore their personal liberties and freedom. Order a man to hand his child over to the state…not while I’m his captain."
- Picard

Lal: I love you, father.
Data: I wish I could feel it with you, but I cannot.
Lal: Then I will feel it for both of us.