She didn't integrate anything specific into the program, she just added a randomization algorithm.
About The Doctor's holographic family in "Real Life"....
- Thread starter The Rock
- Start date
This episode carries some similarities to "The Offspring" Where Data, in his neverending quest to emulate all things human creates a daughter. "Lal" also dies at the end. I enjoy both episodes. I think the conflict in The Offspring which is "Villainous Starfleet Admiral seeks to steal away Data's creation" is a little contrived. They go after Lal right away.
So I think the conflict here is better. The Doc wishes to experience "real" life. It's really fun to see him all excited to show people his "creation," and funny how he invites B'elanna to come have dinner with the family. (Of course)The doctor created the idealized family and everything is perfect. He doesn't understand why it's not realistic. B'elanna, because of her own childhood and later experience, just can't handle it.
This is fantastic insight into both characters, and they don't dumb any of it down for us. She modifies the program and it creates the opposite extreme. The Doctor first gets overwhelmed, then decides to stick it out. He becomes even more invested in his family. He thinks he's solved the problems, only to learn they are deeper than he imagined. Then tragedy strikes, and you see that the kids(holograms or not) really do still love their parents and care, like real kids that become rebellious, or 12 year old girls that will start to act very much like the daughter does around that age.
We arent supposed to become invested in the daughter as a separate character, so that we mourn her loss or something. We are supposed to mourn for the Doctor and what he's going through. I was surprised that the daughter actually died when first seeing this.
I think maybe this episode is the better executed story than the beloved The Offspring. It's more grounded(ironically, as its all a simulation. But its as real for the doctor as anything we go through) The over the top rebellious son, and whiny daughter are not as contrived as the evil Admiral who wants to steal Data's kids so we can have a repeat Measure of a Man.
So I think the conflict here is better. The Doc wishes to experience "real" life. It's really fun to see him all excited to show people his "creation," and funny how he invites B'elanna to come have dinner with the family. (Of course)The doctor created the idealized family and everything is perfect. He doesn't understand why it's not realistic. B'elanna, because of her own childhood and later experience, just can't handle it.
This is fantastic insight into both characters, and they don't dumb any of it down for us. She modifies the program and it creates the opposite extreme. The Doctor first gets overwhelmed, then decides to stick it out. He becomes even more invested in his family. He thinks he's solved the problems, only to learn they are deeper than he imagined. Then tragedy strikes, and you see that the kids(holograms or not) really do still love their parents and care, like real kids that become rebellious, or 12 year old girls that will start to act very much like the daughter does around that age.
We arent supposed to become invested in the daughter as a separate character, so that we mourn her loss or something. We are supposed to mourn for the Doctor and what he's going through. I was surprised that the daughter actually died when first seeing this.
I think maybe this episode is the better executed story than the beloved The Offspring. It's more grounded(ironically, as its all a simulation. But its as real for the doctor as anything we go through) The over the top rebellious son, and whiny daughter are not as contrived as the evil Admiral who wants to steal Data's kids so we can have a repeat Measure of a Man.
Maybe...you never know.
