"The Most Toys" - forgot how much I loved it

[StarryEyed]

Fajo's proximity device prevents anyone from touching him and it can be used as a weapon. If Data does not fire then Fajo can charge at him and knock him down and then confiscate the distruptor. Data is unable to use the escape pod because the hanger door is shut and even if he did escape, Fajo's ship could easily destroy his pod or lock onto it. It is also important to remember that Data believes that the Enterprise is convinced that he is dead. Data has two choices: surrender to Fajo or kill him.

The Next Generation teaches that all life forms have a right to life, Fajo represents one of the most violent challenges to that philosophy in the series. Data has the opportunity to end Fajo's tyranny, and an opportunity that may never come again. Data chooses to overcome his moral code for the sake of achieving something necessary. It is an unenviable position but, for what it's worth, I agree with his decision.

I posted that I thought that Data lying to Riker was shocking to me but it is not really when you consider what happened in The Measure of a Man and The Offspring. In the first episode Starfleet wished to make a law that Data was their property and they could dismantle him and in the next one they went after his daughter. Data must have believed that Starfleet would exploit any pretext to get the chance to dissasemble him and that killing Fajo could qualify as one. In Clues in Season 4, an episode about Data lying, Picard tells Data that Starfleet will have him stripped down to his wires because of his apparent insubordination. In Measure of a Man, Data tells Maddox that he cannot submit to his procedure because he is the culmination of Dr Soong's dream and if he dies something unique and wonderful will be lost. Data lies to his commanding officer in order to protect himself.

Riker knew he was lying, he could have ordered an investigation into this alleged transporter malfunction - after all if phasers were to suddenly discharge during transportation that would be disastrous for away missions. But Riker recognised Data as a comrade, a brother, he knew he was lying but he also knew that he had a reason.

Excellent analysis.

 

[Start Wreck]

The Next Generation teaches that all life forms have a right to life, Fajo represents one of the most violent challenges to that philosophy in the series.

Perhaps I need to watch this episode again, but doesn't he actually only kill one person?

Again, though, it's the "right to live" part that means Data should not have fired. Two wrongs don't make a right. The situation wasn't a critical one and his actions weren't in self defence or protection of another.

 

[Alrik]

Perhaps I need to watch this episode again, but doesn't he actually only kill one person?

Again, though, it's the "right to live" part that means Data should not have fired. Two wrongs don't make a right. The situation wasn't a critical one and his actions weren't in self defence or protection of another.

Perhaps you do need to rewatch the ep, although I highly doubt it, or anything that anyone else has to say, will change your mind. It appears that your heels are dug in in support of the opinion killing, for any reason, cannot be justified. If that's the case, so be it. But if you put yourself in to Data's possition, here are the options that were presented to him. A lifetime of slavery to a sadistic, coldest of cold blooded killer, or freedom.

Data didn't order beam out because he had no clue that Enterprise was there. He thought Enterprise had written him off as dead. From Data's POV, it was him against Fajo. It was Enterprise that actually grabbed him at the last second.

 

[Start Wreck]

I can accept Data killing someone under certain conditions, but I don't think those presented in the episode satisfy those conditions.

For example, I can accept that Data would kill someone to protect the life of another in a critical situation. Eg. someone is about to be killed there and then and it is in an act of protection.

Lower down the ladder of acceptance, there is self-defence. Now, I would like to think that Data places the lives of others above his own, but we know that Data has a sense of preservation, so I can accept that he would kill to protect his own life if, again, the situation is a critical one (ie. he is about to die that very moment). However, even in these circumstances, I would expect Data to take every action to avoid killing where possible.

At the bottom of the ladder is Data killing due to imprisonment, even if the captor is a criminal and potentially dangerous. It's too big a leap for me. I can't accept it under self-preservation and I can't accept it under an obligation to justice. It's just out of character.

It doesn't spoil what is otherwise a great episode, though. It is at least intentionally ambiguous.

 

[ALF]

"Mr. O'Brien said that the weapon was in a state of discharge."
"Perhaps something occurred during transport, Commander." - Riker and Data after Data fired on Kivas

...and some stuff about the episode I wasn't aware of, thanks MemoryAlpha. I wish there were CSS options to turn you into LCARS.

• The title of this episode comes from a phrase occasionally used to justify greed of varying levels: "He who dies with the most toys, wins."
• In a deleted scene, Fajo sends Varria to test Data's sexual abilities (in which Data references his only sexual encounter from TNG: "The Naked Now"), however, Data learns of Fajo's intent, leaving Varria utterly humiliated which would later fuel her desire to betray Fajo in the climax.

 

[Anji]

Rubinek and Spiner did a great job in this episode. They built the tension between the characters beautifully all the way up to the point in the transporter where you wonder "did he or didn't he???" A standing ovation to the director who got the timing spot on.

 

[Amaris]

I watched this one the other night. Excellent episode.

I agree with the general statement that Data was justified in his attempt to kill Fajo. It has already been shown in the episode through various examples that Fajo is absolutely cold blooded, even psychopathic. He kills at a whim. He is a threat to every innocent life that is around him, and he must be dealt with before he has the chance to kill again, which is likely considering his state of mind and ability to casually take another life.

Data was on his own, or so he thought, and I'm certain many possibilities passed through his positronic brain, but considering the security surrounding Fajo and the unlikelihood of apprehending him with any appreciable level of success, Data did the only thing that remained a viable option. I am firmly against death as a punishment, and I still agree with his decision.

 

[Admiral Shran]

At the bottom of the ladder is Data killing due to imprisonment, even if the captor is a criminal and potentially dangerous. It's too big a leap for me. I can't accept it under self-preservation and I can't accept it under an obligation to justice. It's just out of character.

Potentially dangerous? Maybe you should rewatch the episode. Fajo was clearly a threat and a danger to anybody around him.

I agree it is a rather drastic action on Data's part. But that's what makes it so great. Data is willing, and able, to raise above his programming to deal with Fajo the way he deserves to be dealt with. It moves him closer to his goal of being a flawed Human Being.

 

[alte]

Re: "The Most Toys" - forgot how much I hated Donny

I think Data was having a better
time than he let on...