Although writers can turn B-4 into Data, I don't think they should. I agree with those above that would want B-4 to remain who he is and--if you want Data back-- give him a new body (perhaps ala Maddox). For an argument against Data slowly taking over B-4's programming, perhaps it would be useful to revisit Picard's pleas in The Schizoid Man.
Would B-4 turn into Data?
- Thread starter Triskelion
- Start date
From what's in the script, I don't think Data would take over B-4:
Unless Data has somehow forgotten that he gave his memories to B-4, he must mean that B-4's personality cannot be overwritten by Data's
DATA: The B-4 is physically identical to me, although his neural pathways are not as advanced. But even if they were, he would not be me.
PICARD: How can you be sure?
DATA: I aspire, sir, to be better than I am. B-4 does not.
PICARD: How can you be sure?
DATA: I aspire, sir, to be better than I am. B-4 does not.
Unless Data has somehow forgotten that he gave his memories to B-4, he must mean that B-4's personality cannot be overwritten by Data's
Agreed. Data's memories should only act to inform B-4's personality and understanding. His mind should be capable of change, but since he already has an established, if simple, personality, and probably lacks certain arbitrary, top down goals ingrained in Data, the ultimate personality should be different.
We also have the earlier episode where the scientist wants to dissemble Data, so Data and Picard have to prove Data's personhood, rather than him being Starfleet property. An important scene is one where Data says that even though his memories will survive the process perfectly, he might lose the essence of those memories anyway. That makes sense if Data's mind works like a human mind, where memories don't exist as discrete islands, but are given meaning by their contextual connections to other memories, thoughts, facts, and opinions. Without those connections, his memories could just be a jumble of meaninglessness.
When B-4 sings the song from the wedding, we see the memory lacks any meaning to B-4. It is a random thought which occurred to him, one likely creating new meaning in the context of his personality.
I just like the idea that, post-Nemesis, while Data's journey ends, B-4's is a fresh beginning. Sure, he might follow his brother into Starfleet. But it's a nice, very Star Trek-ky thought that he'd forge his own path, be his own person, and (assuming followup TNG movies) it would've given Brent Spiner the chance to still be involved without being stuck in the same character he'd long gotten bored of playing. And I'm sure he would have been able to make B-4 as distinct a character from both Data and Lore as Lore had already been from Data. 
I find the "data overwrite" (or should that be the grammatically correct 'Data overwrite'?
) supposition somewhat distasteful.
I find the "data overwrite" (or should that be the grammatically correct 'Data overwrite'?
) supposition somewhat distasteful.
The scene is very poignant for that reason. Picard knows what it means, but B-4 doesn't.
I bet Data's head is floating around out there. Did they bother to look?
I mean, it always turns up somewhere.
I mean, it always turns up somewhere.
B-4s hardware and software are too primitive to run Data's OS. maybe extract some memories?
It's always in the last place you look.I bet Data's head is floating around out there. Did they bother to look?
I mean, it always turns up somewhere.
(Well, of course it is, because after you find it you stop looking.)
Ok, here's the plan. Find a star and time travel back to, say 2344 with the Enterprise E (or better yet, a cloaked ship). Hop onboard the Enterprise C at Narendra III. Travel through the rift to the Enterprise D. Ask to borrow Data along with Tasha Yar for the return trip through the rift (where the E-D essentially gets destroyed anyway). Make sure you tell Guinan what you are doing so she can tell you about the alternate timeline later (ok, this part of the plan is sketchy depending upon what she "remembers"). Transport back to your ship with Data, allowing Tasha and the E-C to go down for the Klingons--sorry Tasha, you're having a non-optional field trip to Romulus. Time warp back to post-Data's death. Do a system update, uploading all Data's current timeline and post "Yesterday's Enterprise" memories. And there you have an instant younger Data.
No. It was a terrible plot point just so the PTB could include a Soong-type android in any further TNG films and cheapened the death/end of a Data at his most human (sacrificing himself for his friends).
Maybe was the backup of Data was sleeping in B-4 and just waited to be downloaded into anew body.
I think it would be more fitting if B4 eventually became his own person because of Data's help. He wouldn't necessarily have to go into Starfleet like Data did, but he could replace him nevertheless as an example of sentient artificial life in the Federation. If he truly becomes capable of making choices for himself and developing his own personality separate from Data's, then he may choose some other profession than a Starfleet officer.
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