The evolution of Data (Brent Spiner) in Star Trek: Picard season 3 is a welcome fix of the mistake Star Trek Generations made regarding the android’s emotion chip. Data died in Star Trek: Nemesis and he was laid to rest at the end of Star Trek: Picard season 1, but Picard season 3 resurrected the android in a new synthetic body similar to Admiral Jean-Luc Picard’s (Patrick Stewart). Recovered from Daystrom Station, the new and improved Data is the dominant persona who shares his mind with his brothers Lore and B-4, his daughter Lal (Hallie Todd), and Dr. Altan Inigo Soong.
Star Trek Generations paid off a long-running story from Star Trek: The Next Generation by allowing Data to install his emotion chip. This Data subplot was mandated by the studio, Paramount, to give the popular android his own story in the first TNG feature film that featured the historic meeting between Captain Picard and Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), which culminated in Kirk’s death. Now infused with emotions, Data quickly learned he couldn’t handle a constant influx of feelings, and it affected the android’s performance aboard the USS Enterprise-D. In Star Trek: First Contact, however, Data simply deactivated his emotion chip, and it wasn’t brought up again in a significant way.
Picard’s Evolved Data Fixes Star Trek Generations’ Emotion Chip Subplot
Star Trek: Picard season 3 brought back Data, emotions and all, but the way the newly synthetic former Starfleet Officer handles his newfound feelings is vastly superior to Star Trek Generations. At first, Data battled Lore for control of his mind, but after Data became the dominant personality, he began the complex task of sifting through constant, myriad emotions in a more compelling way than in Generations. Data was able to express his feelings of affection for his friends Jean-Luc Picard and Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), and he even followed his ‘gut’ to successfully pilot the USS Enterprise-D into a Borg Cube. Data emerged as a more complete person than ever before while remaining the same lovable Data.
Star Trek Generations played Data’s emotions for cheap comedy at first, like his mascot “Mr. Tricorder,” but the android’s forced laughter was louder than the audience’s. Unfortunately, Data’s issues with having emotions didn’t have a suitable payoff in Star Trek Generations, and it was evident his subplot went nowhere when it was dropped early in Star Trek: First Contact. Star Trek: Picard‘s evolved Data deftly utilized the vast talents of Brent Spiner in a more robust way. Whether Data realized that he “hates” the Borg, unloaded his endless array of observations about his emotions to poor Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), or scored big laughs when he suggested to Geordi, “I hope we die quickly!”, Star Trek: Picard season 3’s evolved Data achieved what Star Trek Generations wasn’t able to.
What Happens To The More Human Data After Star Trek: Picard?
Data’s future after Star Trek: Picard season 3 is a big question mark. The yellow-eyed synthetic wore a Starfleet uniform in Picard season 3 but his actual status in Starfleet is unclear. Data was essentially used as a tool by Section 31 to involuntarily serve as the A.I. security of Daystrom Station. Now back to being an independent, sentient being, Data is free to determine his future, and perhaps he may simply follow where his emotions take him. Data may not choose to return to Starfleet active duty and pursue retirement like many of his crewmates from the USS Enterprise-D.
With any luck, Data will reappear in Star Trek: Legacy, if Star Trek: Picard‘s proposed spinoff sees the light of day. Data has settled his issues with Lore, but he still has a bit of unfinished business. First and foremost, Data must formally meet his ‘daughter,’ Soji (Isa Briones), which was initially planned but cut from Picard season 3. Perhaps Data can also visit the planet Coppelius and see the race of synthetics built from his positronic neurons. Of course, Data would be welcome anytime on the USS Enterprise-G in Star Trek: Legacy. Data has been through death and life since Star Trek Generations, and he has evolved past the mistakes made by the first Star Trek: The Next Generation film.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 is available to stream on Paramount+.
