It's also possible that Fajo assumes that Data isn't capable of cold bloodedly executing a man. When, in fact, Data realizes Fajo is as close to pure evil as they've encountered--cartoonish personality aside.
“The Most Toys” is a great episode but…
- Thread starter Draconarius King
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It's also possible that Fajo assumes that Data isn't capable of cold bloodedly executing a man. When, in fact, Data realizes Fajo is as close to pure evil as they've encountered--cartoonish personality aside.
What Fajo should be worried about is getting defeated by the most resourceful opponent he has ever faced: he has every right to know that Data is supersmart, superbly capable of innovating, almost supernaturally strong and fast, and immune to many types of counterattack. And never mind surprise tricks like perfect impersonation.
Basing his self-defense on a single simplistic assumption shouldn't allow him to sleep soundly. Admittedly, he's a veteran of blackmail, but there's little justification for feeling superior about that.
Save, of course, for the idea that radiating a feeling of superiority might work well against certain types of victim, including ones so seemingly insecure about themselves as Data. But this is an illusion: Data is analytical about himself, and perfectly capable of simultaneously arguing that his sneezes are not yet masterful AND that his ability to outmaneuver a bad guy is infinitely superior to that of any of his colleagues.
Timo Saloniemi
Basing his self-defense on a single simplistic assumption shouldn't allow him to sleep soundly. Admittedly, he's a veteran of blackmail, but there's little justification for feeling superior about that.
Save, of course, for the idea that radiating a feeling of superiority might work well against certain types of victim, including ones so seemingly insecure about themselves as Data. But this is an illusion: Data is analytical about himself, and perfectly capable of simultaneously arguing that his sneezes are not yet masterful AND that his ability to outmaneuver a bad guy is infinitely superior to that of any of his colleagues.
Timo Saloniemi
Exactly. Rubinek was great, no doubt, but we only know he was great because he was the guy who portrayed the character. It's all we know but to make claims that no one else could have been great is specious at best.
You're kidding right? This is your humor.
This is why I kind of like Rubinek's portrayal better. Rappaport is doing a fine job with his portrayal, but his choices are to primarily play him as ruthlessly harsh & dangerous at face value, perhaps because he's of diminutive stature, & wanted to character to be menacing despite that fact, to drive home the point that violent, evil, & dangerous men can come in small packages too, especially if they've been marginalized & have a grudge about it.
Rubinek plays him heartlessly selfish, to the point of dangerous, & throws in another aspect as well, blind arrogance & hubris. Only someone who is utterly full of themselves could be arrogant enough to think it's no trouble at all for him to capture & hold indefinitely an android Starfleet officer from his own ship.
There's a lot to unpack in how Rubinek plays Fajo. He's not just a garden variety tough guy villain. He sees himself as a genius, & unstoppable. He's more narcissistic than Rappaport's Fajo to my mind.
Exactly! We can see from their reactions, that they aren't sold on his explanation. Both of them know that comment was a dodge, & imho Data meant them to know exactly that. That's why I don't call it a lie. It's a subtext "Mind your own business".
Yes. Very much this. And I have no problem with it. The guy was evil in every way.
He even threatens he can do it again.
Oh my god, that voice modulation flattens and utterly butchers Rappaport's performance. Watch the comparison video instead!
While I think Rubinek's underplaying is ultimately more successful, Rappaport does a fine job....when some hack isn't obliterating his performance with cheap tricks.
I think the comparison video was already posted. Someone asked if there was a standalone Rappaport version, so they could better try to separate the two, which as I said is probably impossible at this point.
I know. I watched it. That's how I could tell that the modulated version obliterates what was otherwise a good performance.
That said, the make-up and costume he was given are utterly atrocious, among 90s Trek's worst efforts.
Amen. It undermines everything the actor is trying to do to be menacing because he looks so goofy. That much crap also detracts from & interferes with a good performance in the actor's face
Exactly. Impossible to take him seriously with all that nonsense on his head and his dorky purple pajamas.
I think the thing about Rubinek is that he strikes me as the kind of sociopath and narcissist that would be able to function in the Federation. He's certainly cheerful, amiable, and someone that you don't automatically ping as dangerous. Certainly the Enterprise has no reason to think he's a crazy kidnapper or murderer. Part of what I liked about "The Most Toys" is Data's slow realization (especially for an android) that he's genuinely irredeemably evil. So evil, in fact, the moral option is to kill him before he kills how many other innocent people.
Rappaport is going for pure menace, which is fine but I think a less interesting option. You wonder how this guy can live in the upper class of the rootbeer culture. He has no camouflage.
Still, I know a lot of fans were not sold on the former being the guy that Data is convinced, "Moral circuitry and logic tell me that you are someone who absolutely has to go."
Rappaport is going for pure menace, which is fine but I think a less interesting option. You wonder how this guy can live in the upper class of the rootbeer culture. He has no camouflage.
Still, I know a lot of fans were not sold on the former being the guy that Data is convinced, "Moral circuitry and logic tell me that you are someone who absolutely has to go."
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If Data was an Asimovian robot, the only way he could attempt to kill someone is if it was the only way to prevent him from killing more people but then Data would suffer irreparable damage.
If he were an Asimov robot then he'd obey Fajo.
I Think he said he would defend himself with lethal force. But it was hard to come to the conclussion he had to kill Fajo.
Im curious how long do you think Fajo went to prison for? Sentences in the federation tend to be short.
Im curious how long do you think Fajo went to prison for? Sentences in the federation tend to be short.
Well, if he's strictly Asimovian, Fajo isn't human...
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