Great Moments: Troi / Data

[Star Treks]

Eleventh in a series of threads exploring great moments, scenes, episodes, or lines between two main TNG characters. I'd argue that every single main-character pairing has at least one very good moment somewhere in TNG, and I'd also argue that TNG is underrated for its character development and great moments of interaction.

This time, the pairing is the seemingly emotional, empathic Counselor Troi and the seemingly emotionless, naive Data. Can you think of any interesting moments between these two? Personally, I think this one qualifies as fairly difficult; none spring instantly to mind. But I'm sure y'all can think of some.

 

[WillsBabe]

There are some nice Data/Troi moments. Ones that spring to mind are from Descent when a troubled Data comes to Troi to talk about his emotional reaction to the Borg and she responds along the lines of "if you do ever achieve your goal of becoming human I can't believe you will become a bad one".

Another memorable moment for me is at the end of Generations when they find Data's cat. (That always makes me cry.)

I like the scene in The Child where Data helps Troi to Sickbay and asks her loads of questions about being pregnant in relation to her empathy.

There are some nice moments, too, in Loud as a Whispher.

Also, there is a scene, from an episode I can't remember that ends with Data and Troi looking out the briefing room window together.

And the final one that springs to mind is from Connundrum when Data loses the chess game and makes good on the forfeit to make Troi a Samerian Sunset.

If someone can remind me where the scene is from that I can't recall the epsidoe name of I'll be really pleased.

ETA: I've just had another thought. There's a nice moment in the turbo lift between Riker, Troi and Data where Troi reminds Riker of how Data described his sensations of becoming accustomed to, and then missing, people. Riker then tells Data that they will miss him - not strictly a Data-Troi moment but near enough.

Another moment from Phantasms when Data stabs Troi with the brace is quite distrubring.

 

[Star Treks]

Well thank you, WillsBabe! Great list. TNG was full of great moments like these. Not sure of the episode you're looking for, but I'm sure someone else on here will know. I tend to get the names confused, even when I remember the plots pretty well.

 

[WillsBabe]

Glad you like the list, Star Treks. I think the writers did well over the years with some nice Data-Troi moments. I think it's a bit like the Riker-Picard moments, where you think there aren't that many of them until your memory is jogged. Maybe it's just me and I'm a bit fixated on these character moments, they're often my favourite bit of my favrourite shows to be honest!

I forgot to say that the scene in the lift with Riker, Troi and Data is from Time's Arrow. Another moment I like (although it's not particularly remarkable) is from Night Terrors when Troi is trying to make sense of her dream and Data is helping her with the "two moon circle" thing. They are sat together at the science station on the bridge. I like that scene because it's not often the two of them interacted in that kind of way, also he's helping her for once when usually it's Troi who's the one who does the aiding and assisting.

 

[Jimmy_C]

The time Data stabbed Troi was certainly interesting! ;-)

 

[Lilith]

There's also the eps where Data grows a beard and asks Troi what she thinks, who quickly makes up an excuse because she has to laugh. (I think it's The Schizoid Man, but I'm not sure.) That eps has a few other Data/Troi moments though, when she's trying to determine what's wrong with him.

The episode with the window you were talking about WillsBabe is Tin Man.

In A Fist full of Data's, doesn't one of the altered character come on to Deanna?

I also like the brainstorming session between them in The Loss, their interaction in Power Play (though I guess that isn't really Data/Troi)and I'm sure there are manymore scenes. The scenes between them are always more subtle of sorts. Sort of tucked away charactermoments that typically don't draw a lot of attention. Not like, say, Picard/Data scenes.

Edit: speaking of Phantasms, I like the bit where she brings out a Data-cake as well *g*

 

[Whoa Nellie]

Glad you like the list, Star Treks. I think the writers did well over the years with some nice Data-Troi moments. I think it's a bit like the Riker-Picard moments, where you think there aren't that many of them until your memory is jogged. Maybe it's just me and I'm a bit fixated on these character moments, they're often my favourite bit of my favrourite shows to be honest!

What WillsBabe said. Those character moments are what makes Trek for me!

Another moment I like (although it's not particularly remarkable) is from Night Terrors when Troi is trying to make sense of her dream and Data is helping her with the "two moon circle" thing. They are sat together at the science station on the bridge. I like that scene because it's not often the two of them interacted in that kind of way, also he's helping her for once when usually it's Troi who's the one who does the aiding and assisting.

They use the same dynamic in "Generations." If you watch the saucer crash scene in "Generations" (which I just did to make sure I was remembering correctly), Data protects Deanna through that whole rough landing. When she is thrown from her chair, he picks her up and puts her back in the chair holding her there. He moves behind her chair and holds on to it and her. When they are all thrown forward, Data protectively covers Deanna with his body (maybe figuring that the duranium that makes up his skull could withstand the forces better than her human skull). Once the saucer stops, Data looks down at her concerned until she mumbles that she is okay, then he sits up.

I vaguely remember years ago reading in the archives at Trekiverse a really cool Data/Troi fic based on that. I have no clue what the title or author was though.

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[WillsBabe]

If you watch the saucer crash scene in "Generations" (which I just did to make sure I was remembering correctly), Data protects Deanna through that whole rough landing. When she is thrown from her chair, he picks her up and puts her back in the chair holding her there. He moves behind her chair and holds on to it and her. When they are all thrown forward, Data protectively covers Deanna with his body (maybe figuring that the duranium that makes up his skull could withstand the forces better than her human skull). Once the saucer stops, Data looks down at her concerned until she mumbles that she is okay, then he sits up.

Thanks for mentioning this! I can't believe that I didn't remember it. I love that interaction between the two of them. It's one of my favourite TNG moments, actually, and other than you mentioning it here, I've never heard anyone refer to it before. It's another of those subtle character moments that often go unremarked (but obviously not unnoticed! )

The episode with the window you were talking about WillsBabe is Tin Man.

Thanks for reminding me! I'm going to go and watch it. It's a lovely moment.

their interaction in Power Play (though I guess that isn't really Data/Troi)

I think this is such an underrated episodes and one of my favourites.

 

[Rhaenys]

They use the same dynamic in "Generations." If you watch the saucer crash scene in "Generations" (which I just did to make sure I was remembering correctly), Data protects Deanna through that whole rough landing.

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

Yes, I remember that, too... And I find it really strange that the writers or director or whoewer decided that he protects her in that scene.

There is a nice scene in Data's Day I think, when Data asks Troi advice on what to do with Colm and Keiko, and then thay talk about mariagge. He says her that he would like to marry one day and that he thinks he has lot to offer. She is surprised a first, but then she sits near him and puts her arms on his shoulders and says: "You do have a lot to offer." A very nice scene between Data and Troi.

 

[Blueicus]

Darmok, when Data and Troi brainstorm the meaning of Darmok and Tanagra.

 

[Red Ranger]

All good ones.

My favorite moments are from Phantasms, where Data suffers from nightmares, which turn out to be his subconscious trying to alert him to an invasion of lifeforms that are eating away the ship and its crew. Like when he dreams he's cutting into the cellular peptide cake with mint frosting that turns out to be Counselor Troi.

Or the part after he's consulted with the holographic Dr. Sigmund Freud, he mentions this to Troi and she says, "Next time, Data, see me before you see Sigmund."

And the end of the ep, where Troi "returns the favor" and invites Data to eat a cake in his shape. He wonders what the significance of eating oneself is, and she says, "Data, sometimes a cake is just a cake!" That cracks me up every time!

Red Ranger

 

[WillsBabe]

Here are a few stills to illustrate our thread:

From Generations:

From Tin Man:

From Darmok:

 

[Star Treks]

Nice.

 

[WillsBabe]

And a few more:

The Child:

Descent:

Night Terrors (who knew Troi could look this bad? )

 

[Michael]

Night Terrors (who knew Troi could look this bad? )

I think she actually looks better without the heavy make up. The befuddled look on her face is a bit strange though.

 

[Rhaenys]

Here's another one from Data's Day:

 

[K-Star]

I LOVED the scene between them in The Child, where Data's with Troi during labor and delivery. I know it's been mentioned already but I really love that scene! I also liked how Pulaski was like "She needs a human touch, not the cold hand of technology," and Troi says that she'd be just fine with Data by her side.

Another nice, short one that no one's mentioned: Data gets his memory back at the end of Thine Own Self and notices that Troi had just been promoted to Commander.