The Offspring

The Enterprise is a family ship, and today we welcome the newest addition: a five-foot android with heuristic learning systems and the strength of ten men. Meet Data’s child. She’s Lal, and she’s a chip off the old positronic brain. Starfleet would really like a crack at this technology though, and Admiral Haftel is sent to split father from daughter. This week, The Offspring goes into the Mission Log. I think Star Trek did ok but not enough regarding homosexuality issues considering the times and the fact that they did not have major network backing. I felt later in DS9, they did better w Trill issues. Dang CmdrR, you beat me with the FIRST post!! I always was disappointed that Data did not just make another android. I know, I know, the series one and done, format is to blame. Ugh, what a bummer. Regarding the jerk Admiral Haftel, I now suspect he was under orders/influence from…..Section 31!! Retcon at it’s finest, but android operatives would be a great asset to Section 31! The gender selection issue to me seems so different now after 25 years have passed. So interesting, as I watched it, I thought, hmmmm, maybe she could stay neutral, but the reality is that even in the 24th century, there could still be feelings of isolation if neutral were chosen. What a shame Andorians, Tellarites and so many others were all but forgotten in TNG. Zakdorns, Bolians, Pakleds, Talerians, so many were just intro’d but not fleshed out adequately in my opinion. Heck even the Vulcans appearances were so few and far between in TNG. This was the first time I saw the episode since becoming a father of a now 3 year old and 1 year old girl. Deep. Never thought about the future implications, this episode would have on me back in 1990. I was sad Data was about to capitulate to Admiral Jerk-Tel. But happy, Picard laid down the law. nope, you should try! yes, I agree w the effort, the journey being of benefit. Cardio, lower weight, cholesterol etc…As a 17 year old when I saw this episode in 1990, I really took the “purpose of life” definition as so simple yet profound. contributing in a positive way…so many jerks out there just don’t get it… And as barking mad as Haftell was, I always thought he came away at the end of the episode as having more respect for Data after seeing the superhuman lengths he went thru to save his daughter. One last thing. I always thought it was really creepy that Data stole Lal’s memories after she was gone. As humans we’re entitled to have our memories of our loved ones. We’re not entitled to their memories of us. This means Data has a memory of kissing Riker. and if the accumulation of memories and experiences are what caused her positronic brain to overload, won’t that now happen to Data? It seemed like Haftell got away scott-free despite the obvious fact that his threatening to take Lal, caused emotional distress that ultimately killed her. I think Starfleet JAG should be contacted for wrongful death…If Troi had repeated Lal’s statements…”An admiral from Starfleet is going to take me away…” Wow, do you gotta be so pedantic Ken? At a certain. Point you just have to accept what the writers are telling you about Data not having emotion and let it go. ouch! well, I think I have to be reigned back in sometimes and it is science fiction. When Data’s threw a character (can’t remember what episode) and his facial expression shows concern for injury…I think it was “Contagion” and Geordi got electrocuted…concern seems like an emotion. but oh well…if Brent Spiner had just “Terminator”‘d it, I think the super flat affect would not have gone too long w/o complaints, when in fact that would have been the more accurate way to play Data… I’m a little surprised that John didn’t mention in trivia that Hallie Todd is the stepdaughter of Guy Raymond, who played the bartender in The Trouble With Tribbles. While there were some wonderful moments in “The Offspring”, and it was a real triumph for J. Frakes as a director, I felt that th