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Why do you love Lt. Cmdr. Data?

DataLoreSpock

Lieutenant Commander
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I love his quirkyness and his innocence.
He has the wonderment of a child.
His anecdotes are truly legendary.
 
actually I think he's pretty overrated as a character. His whole "I'm a super-advanced android who's been around Humans for years but can't understand idioms and figurative speaking" got old, as did his insistence that he had no emotions when he expressed curiosity, annoyance, and others rather frequently.

He often seemed to stagnate as a character, too. Spiner was a great actor, though
 
Data was pretty much thought up to replace Spock.

You really couldn't have another Vulcan in the same position, Spock is a tough act to follow.
 
Data was pretty much thought up to replace Spock.

You really couldn't have another Vulcan in the same position, Spock is a tough act to follow.


I think that's more of a surface similarity though. Yes they were both "unemotional" and "logical," with abilities beyond the Humans of the crew, but Spock suppressed his emotions by a choice of lifestyle, and had the whole "mixed heritage" identity crisis thing going. Data strikes me as more one note, he's basically Pinocchio, whereas Spock is much more complex.
 
I like Data a lot, but I think the series became increasingly focused on him, and that came at the cost of the "ensemble" dynamic among the other cast members. By the time we met his "mother," I was already asking "how many other ways will they put in Data's family of androids?"

That being said, there were many memorable and enjoyable moments featuring Data in the series, and I often enjoy watching him.
 
Data was pretty much thought up to replace Spock.

You really couldn't have another Vulcan in the same position, Spock is a tough act to follow.


I think that's more of a surface similarity though. Yes they were both "unemotional" and "logical," with abilities beyond the Humans of the crew, but Spock suppressed his emotions by a choice of lifestyle, and had the whole "mixed heritage" identity crisis thing going. Data strikes me as more one note, he's basically Pinocchio, whereas Spock is much more complex.
Very good way of putting it, sonak. I enjoyed Data as a recurring character, but the inconsistencies and lack of progress was annoying to bear. He was a difficult character to write for, and often the writers fell short... Anyway, I'm glad he was a part of TNG, but he could never compete with Spock.
 
I identify with him as a character trying to understand humanity from the outside. He is profoundly limited but constantly strives to improve himself. Granted, he's Spock-like in that...but he's also even more alone than Spock in that he's not a member of any biological race.
 
I identify with him as a character trying to understand humanity from the outside. He is profoundly limited but constantly strives to improve himself. Granted, he's Spock-like in that...but he's also even more alone than Spock in that he's not a member of any biological race.

I agree. I think Data is pretty awesome.
 
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I'm not sure if I love Data as a character (I do like him), but I do love many of the episodes that feature him as a main character. The Measure of a Man, Datalore, The Ensigns of Command, and Thine Own Self to name a few.
 
The dialogue in Unification between Data and Spock shows their key similarity and key difference. Anybody who claims that Data is overrated has obviously not seen TNG.
 
The dialogue in Unification between Data and Spock shows their key similarity and key difference. Anybody who claims that Data is overrated has obviously not seen TNG.


yes, obviously. How can one argue with logic like that?
 
Am I to rephrase the question in a manner that would befit the masses?
I guess I should.
Why do you like Lt.Cmdr.Data?
or
Why is Lt.CmdrData awesome in your opinion?
 
Data has always been my favourite character in Star Trek, but, unlike other people on here, I don't have a deep psychological reason why I do, I just do.
 
actually I think he's pretty overrated as a character. His whole "I'm a super-advanced android who's been around Humans for years but can't understand idioms and figurative speaking" got old

Agreed. I liked him well enough when TNG aired (some of my favorite TNG episodes are Data-centered: Data's Day, The Offspring, Brothers) but I kind of resented how the movies were all about Data as if none of the other members of the crew had any importance.
 
Well, I don't "love" Date, but I like him, because Spiner did a pretty good job with it. The character isn't all that original - it's an iteration of a trope.

Stewart was outstanding, but his supporting cast was weak. Spiner was one of the few actors who seemed to belong on the same set as Stewart.

People love Data because he is both innocent and wise. He flatters our ego because he wants to be like us and is fascinated with our nature. And yet because he is not flawed in the way humans are, he is a paragon of virtue (wise, patient, loyal, measured, etc.).
 
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