About Data in the episode "Rascals."

[The Rock]

I always found it funny in this episode how Data would let three measly Ferengi take over the ship. The other crew members I could understand since they are, well, soft and human-like.

But Data has immense strength and lightning fast reflexes! Couldn't he have just disposed of those three Ferengi quite easily? It was always strange to me how he just willingly became a hostage. It was as if the writers forgot that he was a robot with superhuman abilities.

Still a decent lil episode though.

 

[Tosk]

The whole ep is much better if judged by "Trek comedy episode" standards. (ie: Much lower than usual.)

 

[Qonundrum]

The high concept episodes tend to be hit or miss. Especially when simpler details have to be overlooked - three Ferengi must have had something special not discussed during the takeover for everyone to actually go along with it.

Worse, for how many episodes in a row was the plot rolled out via the trope "transporter boo-boo"?

The Ferengi were pretty much engaging in an act of war, so it's rather amazing nothing else came from the episode.

And to give the story credit, Data and his abilities would wrap up too many episodes about half an hour early. Plus, given Picard threatening him with being disassembled in the same season (which Maddox would simply adore having happen...) Or was that from season 4's "Clues"?

It's actually a decent episode when all is said and done despite its flaws. YoungGuinan and YoungRo do get some nice character details. And seeing YoungPicard clutch OldRiker the same way a puppy clings to its owner, what's not to like? Apart from a couple plot points, but ideally having a strong middle complementing a strong start and finish... but that's not always possible. I rolled with it and enjoyed enough of it but could it have been better? Yeah...

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Yeah, it’s absurd in that episode how they surrender the ship because the Ferengi have one phaser on one person. When it’s established that they would blow up the ship before allowing it to be captured.

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

What's also absurd is that the Enterprise absolutely cannot hold its own against Birds of Prey. It was beaten here by Ferengi using them, and destroyed TWICE by them in Yesterday's Enterprise and Generations. It had the worst track record ever against those little ships.

 

[Timo]

Not so little: in both "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "Rascals", the VFX makes clear these ships are bigger than the Enterprise herself...

In the former episode, they are specified to be of the K'Vort class; in the latter, B'Rel. We may debate whether these are just two different names for the same thing in two different timelines, but they're still both distinct from the small "D-12" ship that against all expectations destroys the Enterprise in Generations.

The Duras sisters are adamant that their little ship can't win - but enter Soran and his advanced doodads. In contrast, our heroes never think they can win against the bigger BoPs. Surely the enemy is entitled to ships that can defeat Starfleet's finest?

The bigger issue is why the Ferengi would be able to acquire these giants. Perhaps they are being phased out in favor of the similarly sized but more modern Vor'chas?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[gakelly]

What's also absurd is that the Enterprise absolutely cannot hold its own against Birds of Prey. It was beaten here by Ferengi using them, and destroyed TWICE by them in Yesterday's Enterprise and Generations. It had the worst track record ever against those little ships.

The reason the Enterprise gets beaten against pretty much any enemy ship is because Picard or Riker or whoever is in command is constantly more concerned about damage reports than firing back at the other ship.

ship gets hit by enemy fire...bridge shakes...Riker yells out damage report...Worf responds shields down to 64%. Troi...I am sensing some hostility from the enemy vessel....Picard...hail them....Worf...no response...Another weapon burst hits the Enterprise...Worf...shields are down to 39%..Picard...evasive maneuver Delta, fire phasers...a short burst of phaser fire...Worf...slight damage to the starboard nacelles...two more enemy hits on the Enterprise...Mr Worf...shields are down to 8%....one more hit and we will not survive.

No name ensign at the back of the bridge...Captain, I know I haven't been trained in the Starfleet way to fight enemies, but perhaps if we kept firing at them instead of asking for reports we might win the shootout.
Riker...you're out of line mister. Get him off the bridge.

 

[Nakita Akita]

The reason the Enterprise gets beaten against pretty much any enemy ship is because Picard or Riker or whoever is in command is constantly more concerned about damage reports than firing back at the other ship.

ship gets hit by enemy fire...bridge shakes...Riker yells out damage report...Worf responds shields down to 64%. Troi...I am sensing some hostility from the enemy vessel....Picard...hail them....Worf...no response...Another weapon burst hits the Enterprise...Worf...shields are down to 39%..Picard...evasive maneuver Delta, fire phasers...a short burst of phaser fire...Worf...slight damage to the starboard nacelles...two more enemy hits on the Enterprise...Mr Worf...shields are down to 8%....one more hit and we will not survive.

No name ensign at the back of the bridge...Captain, I know I haven't been trained in the Starfleet way to fight enemies, but perhaps if we kept firing at them instead of asking for reports we might win the shootout.
Riker...you're out of line mister. Get him off the bridge.

Exactly!
But you forgot where No Name Another-Officer's control panel exploded in front of them and they flew back about 15 ft.
But other than that, spot on.

 

[Tenacity]

I wonder what would have been the result if Data had been beamed with the others at the beginning of the episode? Would he have been the same, or would we had gotten a child-sized Data?

 

[Kor]

I wonder what would have been the result if Data had been beamed with the others at the beginning of the episode? Would he have been the same, or would we had gotten a child-sized Data?

Perhaps he would have been at an earlier stage in his construction, like a metal skeleton with no fake yellowish skin and eyes.

Kor