Data and Troi child loss comparison

[Granola Gwen]

It's interesting that both of them created/produced children on their own without the need of a mate and sadly both of them didn't last long. For Data, he'd been creating his daughter Lal for some time. She was a complex and sophisticated android that somehow even gained human emotions towards the end of her life. Data couldn't feel her loss feelings wise, but kept her thoughts in his memory.

On the other hand, you have Deanna who quickly gave physical birth to Ian and was emotionally heartbroken like many mothers when he was gone. But he still lived on as his original alien form.

I'd say that both scenarios are tragic in their own ways. But which one do you think was more sorrowful?

The alien who impregnated Troi and thus became her child as well, had little feelings for her when he went back to his original form (at least from what I remember). Ian felt somewhat not real to me. At least Lal tried her hardest prove her individuality.

 

[Kilana2]

Re: Data and Troi child lost comparison

Ian also didn't feel `real´to me. But the alien impersonating him didn't mean harm to Troi.

Spoiler: Troi Titan novels

In the Titan novels we can see Troi becoming a real mother. Little Tasha feals real and Deanna was desperate to have a child that she disregarded her physical well-being for it.

Contrary to Data and Lal. Everybody was sad when she `failed to function´, even Admiral Haftel. This moment was more touching for me.

 

[FormerLurker]

Due to the fact that Ian was literally his own father, he was never really Deanna's son to begin with. Add in the maturation rate of a mayfly and no, he didn't seem real. While I'm sure Deanna has always felt pangs of loss and regret over the whole situation, over time he may not have seemed real to her, either. This may in itself have caused some feelings of loss as well.

Tugging the heartstrings is a tricky, delicate business that only the truly faithful and honest should endeavor. Those that play at it with no sense of commitment are monsters in my book.

 

[T'Girl]

Due to the fact that Ian was literally his own father, he was never really Deanna's son to begin with.

Without it being mentioned on screen, I have always assumed that Ian's creation involved one of Deanna's ovum. If this is so, then Ian would very much be Deanna's actual son.

 

[Lance]

Lal's mommy was Tasha Yar, whereas Ian Andrew Troi's daddy was a floating christmas tree decoration.

It's all very complicated.

 

[2takesfrakes]

I don't consider Ian tragic, although THE CHILD was blatant in its use of the Reset Button. Pulaski declares that "you would never know that Deanna had ever been pregnant." And this was not long after it even happened. The way that Ian was responsible for a convenient mishap that could've ONLY been caused by him was poorly handled and too coincidental.

His rapid development did a lot to underscore the fact that this kid's got NO future on this show. And Deanna's just so blissful in her motherhood that she doesn't question anything, she just goes with it even when Picard and Pulaski are like breaking out their crucifixes, practically, to ward the kid off. It was just a very poorly thought out/written episode and not a good show to start a season on.

BUT ... but ... it did serve, at the time, to reassure Marina that "they" weren't after her job and that her character's placement was secure. I love Marina and TNG wouldn't be the same without her. Data's daughter was the same thing ... set up just to give Data another chance to simulate The Human Condition, with it perfectly obvious she's got no future in the franchise. Don't make the fact so obvious if you want people to be emotionally vested in these themes - you know?

 

[Karzak]

Lal's life and death/story in : "The Offspring" was infinitely more tragic than Ian Andrew Troi's in "The Child."

While neither gets mentioned ever again, we do have that emotional punch to the gut at the end when Data reveals he transferred her memories to his own neural net, thereby preserving her (if only for himself).

I'm a teary mess every time I watch that one, lol.

 

[Granola Gwen]

Lal's life and death/story in : "The Offspring" was infinitely more tragic than Ian Andrew Troi's in "The Child."

While neither gets mentioned ever again, we do have that emotional punch to the gut at the end when Data reveals he transferred her memories to his own neural net, thereby preserving her (if only for himself).

I'm a teary mess every time I watch that one, lol.

Actually Data has a painting of Lal he shows to Juliana Tainer in "Inheritance".

 

[Mojochi]

The Offspring is a textbook tragedy. The Child is not. Lal's memories are stored or whatever, but she is denied life after only just beginning to discover the wonder of it. I didn't get anything that profound from The Child

 

[Taelon]

Deanna's alien violator didn't ask her permission before impregnating her and making her have it as a child.

Data chose to create Lal.

Very different situations.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Deanna's alien violator didn't ask her permission before impregnating her and making her have it as a child.

Data chose to create Lal.

Very different situations.

Agreed.

 

[HIjol]

The Offspring is better, IMHO, in every way there is, compared to The Child. We can debate back and forth, but I always felt that there was some "Mother Juice" in the Alien Presence that made Troi mellow and loving towards Ian. It didn't make any sense to me otherwise, but I acknowledge that it is not one of my favorite episodes.

 

[Karzak]

Also important to note: Data wasn't basically raped in his sleep in order for Lal to be born (i.e. the way Troi was in "The Child") which I think we can all agree puts "The Offspring" a significant step above "The Child."