Soon after his debut inStar Trek: The Next Generation’spremiere, Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) became one of the show’s most beloved and enduring characters. A highly advanced android created by cyberneticistDr. Noonien Soong (Brent Spiner), Data was an invaluable addition to the USS Enterprise-D crew. Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Data saved the Enterprise and its crew numerous times throughoutTNG’sseven seasons.
Despite all of theandroid abilities that made Data superiorto humans, he wanted nothing more than to be able to experience human emotions. Throughout hisStar Trekjourney, Data observed and learned from the people around him, eventually developing his own kind of humanity. Like Leonard Nimoy’s Spock onStar Trek: The Original Series,Data offered an outsider’s perspective on humanity.Because of this, and because of Brent Spiner’s brilliantly understated performance, many ofStar Trek: The Next Generation’sbest episodescenter on Data.
15"Descent"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 6, Episode 26 & Season 7, Episode 1
When Data,Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), and Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) encounter a group of Borg drones who behave strangely,Data experiences anger for the first time.Later, Data joins the Borg, who have been working with Data’s evil twin brother, Lore (Brent Spiner). Lore has found a way to use the emotion chip he stole to manipulate Data’s emotions, and he turns Data against the Federation.
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Although Data initially sides with Lore, his friends manage to reactivate his morality subroutines. In the end,Data sides with Captain Picard and the Enterprise crew,deactivating his brother. Data removes the emotion chip and considers destroying it, butLt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton)convinces him to keep it just in case. “Descent” may not be perfect, but it offers a fascinating look at Data’s character and his relationship with Lore.
14"Birthright, Part I"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 6, Episode 16
In thisStar Trek: The Next Generationtwo-parter, both Data and Worf embark on journeys to learn more about their respective fathers. When Data is struck by an energy discharge while working in engineering,he inadvertently activates a previously dormant dreaming programwithin his positronic brain. Data has a dream-like vision of his creator/father, Dr. Noonien Soong, and he spends much of the episode trying to figure out what it means.
In a crossover withStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) appears in this episode and is deeply fascinated by Data.
Data turns to other cultures and religions in search of answers and creates numerous paintings in an attempt to explain his dreams. Eventually, he decides to recreate the accident that triggered his first vision, andhe has a conversation with his father, who encourages him to keep dreaming.“Birthright, Part II” drops Data’s storyline entirely to focus on Worf, but Data’s dreaming later plays a role in season 7’s “Phantasms.”
13"Redemption, Part II"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 1
The first part ofStar Trek: The Next Generation’s “Redemption” two-parter focuses onWorf and his role in Klingon politics, and Part I ends with the Klingons on the verge of a civil war. In Part II, Captain Picard creates a blockade to prevent the Romulans from aiding the Duras sisters in the Klingon civil war.Initially, Picard does not put Data in command of any of the blockade ships,but when Data questions this, Picard gives the android command of the USS Sutherland.
Data proves to be an excellent commander.
Data’s first officer, Lt. Commander Christopher Hobson (Timothy Carhart), openly states that he doesn’t think an android can be a good starship captain. Hobson remains openly insubordinate, butData takes it all in stride, putting Hobson in his placewhile remaining perfectly composed and professional. Data proves to be an excellent commander, and he confidently uncovers the cloaked Romulan ships lying in wait, effectively ending the Klingon civil war.
12Star Trek: First Contact
Directed By Jonathan Frakes — Premiered July 05, 2025
Data plays a significant role in all fourStar Trek: The Next Generationfilms, butStar Trek: First Contacthas the strongest storyline for the beloved android.Star Trek: First Contactsees Captain Picard and the USS Enterprise-E follow a Borg cube back in timeto stop the cybernetic drones from altering history. While in the past, Data encounters theBorg Queen (Alice Krige), who tempts him by giving him human skin with the sensation of touch.
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The Borg Queen wants Data to give her the encryption codes for the Enterprise computer, but he only considers her offer for 0.68 seconds. While that may be"nearly an eternity"for an android,Data ultimately sides with humanity,helping thwart the Borg and ensure Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell) completes his historic warp flight. Captain Picard may be the true star ofStar Trek:First Contact,but Data gets some great moments and proves why he’s such a vital member of the Enterprise crew.
11"Thine Own Self"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 16
When Data is injured while on an away mission, he loses his memory and wanders into an alien village carrying a case of radioactive probe fragments.Garvin (Michael Rothhaar), the village magistrate, and his daughter Gia (Kimberly Cullum) take Data in,assuming he must be from some other part of their planet. When the villagers begin getting sick, Data realizes the radioactive fragments are the cause and concocts a cure, but the villagers still blame Data.
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The townspeople attack Data, appearing to kill him, and Garvin and Gia bury him. Before long Commander Riker andDr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden)arrive disguised as locals and beam Data back to the Enterprise. The android’s functions are all restored, buthe retains no memories of his time on the planet.Still, Gia considered Data her friend, and he left quite an impression on her, saving her entire village even without his memories.
10"Fully Dilated"
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5, Episode 7
In its fifth and final season on Paramount+,Star Trek: Lower Deckstook on a multiverse storyline that allowed characters from all over theStar Trektimelineto make an appearance. In “Fully Dilated,” Lieutenants Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells), and T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) encounter Data’s abandoned head from a parallel universe where everything is purple.Tendi reactivates Data’s head,and the purple android helps her work through some of her own problems.
Data previously lost his head in theStar Trek: The Next Generationtwo-parter, “Time’s Arrow,” which saw the android travel to 19th-century San Francisco.
Brent Spiner returns to voice purple Data, and it’s truly a delight to see the originalTNG-era android return. “Fully Dilated” borrows from many classicTrekepisodes, butData’s head steals the spotlight, delivering most of the episode’s best lines.Before Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) returns Data’s head back to his own universe, he points out that it’s a"missed opportunity"for their Enterprise to be gray"when purple is an option.“It’s hard to argue with that logic.
9"Elementary, Dear Data”
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 3
Data first learned about Sherlock Holmes inStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 1, buthe truly embraces his inner detective in “Elementary, Dear Data.“As the Enterprise waits to rendevous with another ship, Geordi La Forge suggests that he and Data partake in a holodeck adventure as Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes. Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diane Muldaur) accompanies them but does not believe that Data could solve a truly original mystery.
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When Geordi asks the Enterprise computer to create an adversary capable of defeating Data, the holodeck recreation of Holmes' nemesis Professor Moriarty (Daniel Davis) evolves far beyond his original programming. Moriarty wants to exist in the real world, and while this is not possible yet, Picard agrees to store Moriarty’s program until he can be made solid.“Elementary, Dear Data” is an incredibly fun outingthat solidifiesData and Geordi’s friendshipas one ofStar Trek’sbest pairings.
8"Surrender”
Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 8
InStar Trek: Picard’snostalgia-filled season 3, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard reunited with hisTNGcrew aboard the rebuilt USS Enterprise-D. Despite Data’s deaths inStar Trek: NemesisandPicardseason 1,the android returns inPicardseason 3 with a new golem bodycourtesy of Dr. Altan Soong (Brent Spiner). After Data’s new body is retrieved from Daystrom Station, Geordi tries to reactivate Data, but Lore’s personality keeps fighting for control.
This Data still has all of the qualities that made the original Data who he was, plus the ability to experience genuine emotions.
In “Surrender,” Geordi takes down the mental barrier between Data and Lore, allowing the two personalities to vie for control. AsData reminisces on all of the things that make him human— from his love of Sherlock Holmes to his cat, Spot — his personality eventually takes over Lore. Data then reunites with his old friends and helps take back the USS Titan. This Data still has all of the qualities that made the original Data who he was, plus the ability to experience genuine emotions.
7"Deja Q”
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 13
John de Lancie’s Q never failed to add a dash of fun to anyStar Trekepisode he appeared in, and “Deja Q” proved thatTNGshould have paired Q and Datamore often. When Q arrives on the Enterprise-D bridge without his powers (or his clothes),the formerly omnipotent being struggles to adapt to his newfound humanity.Captain Picard assigns Data to keep an eye on Q, and even Q finds himself affected by Data’s selflessness.
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Q doesn’t understand why Data would want to be human, buthe ends up learning a lot about humanity from the android.When Data is electrocuted saving Q, Q takes a shuttlecraft to draw his enemies away from the Enterprise in a surprising act of self-sacrifice. Q’s actions impress the Q Continuum enough for them to return his powers, and Q thanks Data by granting him a moment of genuine laughter.
6"Pen Pals"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 15
In one ofStar Trek’smost adorable episodes,Data befriends a young girl named Sarjenka (Nikki Cox)from an alien planet on the brink of destruction. Although Data technically violated the Prime Directive by communicating with Sarjenka in the first place, he notifies Captain Picard when he learns of her planet’s fate. Picard initially orders Data to end all communications, but he eventually realizes he cannot ignore the girl’s pleas for help.
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Unable to get her to safety on the planet, Data brings Sarjenka aboard the Enterprise, leading to some sweet scenes as she refuses to leave his side. In the end,Dr. Kathrine Pulaskiwipes Sarjenaka’s memories, butData knows that he will always remember her.Episodes like “Pen Pals” make it difficult to believe that Data is incapable of feeling, as he’s incredibly sentimental throughout the story, even leaving a memento with Sarjenka in the end.
