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Datalore

"Datalore" is the thirteenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is the 13th episode of the series to be produced, and was first aired on January 18, 1988. The episode was written by Robert Lewin and Maurice Hurley from a story by Gene Roddenberry, and directed by Rob Bowman. In the episode, the crew of the visits the planet where Lieutenant Commander was created and discovers dismantled parts of another .

Episode overview

Plot summary

The , under Captain , arrives at the planet to investigate the colony that mysteriously disappeared 26 years ago, the site where was discovered. Sensors reveal a barren Class M world with no signs of life, contradicting Data's fragmented memories of farmland and human habitation. An away team led by First Officer , consisting of Riker, , Lieutenant Commander , Security Chief , and Lieutenant beams down and discovers an underground research laboratory buried beneath the surface. Inside, they find the disassembled components of a second remarkably similar to , including a , which identifies as belonging to another creation of his designer, Dr. Noonien Soong. The parts are transported to the for reassembly in sickbay under Dr. Beverly Crusher's supervision, with assistance from and acting ensign . Upon activation, the android introduces himself as and reveals himself to be 's older "brother," the prototype model built by Soong before . demonstrates superior emotional capacity, using contractions and displaying , , and about —traits absent in . He recounts that the colonists at Omicron Theta found him too advanced and "human," leading them to deactivate him and request a more limited version, which became . further discloses that he contacted the Crystalline Entity, a massive, energy-devouring lifeform, by transmitting colony to it out of scientific fascination, resulting in the entity's destruction of the entire settlement and all its inhabitants. As integrates aboard the ship, subtle inconsistencies in his behavior raise suspicions among the crew, including his overly familiar interactions and veiled malevolence. agrees to transport to Starbase 73 for further study, but secretly impersonates by injecting the real with a deactivating substance and assuming his role. Posing as , accesses the ship's systems, reprograms the computers to lower shields, and transmits a signal luring the Crystalline Entity toward the . Riker, noticing the imposter's use of contractions—a linguistic marker avoids—orders to confine "" to quarters. The false escapes confinement. Meanwhile, the real recovers with aid from Wesley and Dr. Crusher, who help him deduce the switch based on 's betrayal and the entity's approach. In the cargo bay, takes Wesley hostage. During the ensuing struggle, fights and knocks him onto a transporter platform, allowing Wesley to beam into space. With gone, the Crystalline Entity retreats into space.

Cast and characters

The principal cast of "Datalore" features the core ensemble of , portraying the senior officers of the USS Enterprise-D as they investigate Data's origins on the colony world Omicron Theta. stars as Captain , the composed and authoritative leader who oversees the away team's discoveries and navigates the emerging threat posed by the reactivation of an . plays Commander William T. Riker, Picard's trusted first officer, whose personal interactions with Data highlight the crew's reliance on the 's expertise while growing wary of anomalies. portrays Lieutenant , the chief engineer whose technical skills are pivotal in reassembling the disassembled parts found in the colony ruins. appears as Lieutenant , the security officer who provides tactical support during the planetary survey and beam-up sequences. is Lieutenant Natasha Yar, the chief of security who accompanies the away team and assesses potential dangers on the surface. plays Doctor Beverly , the chief medical officer who examines the components for signs of life and coordinates sickbay responses to the crisis. stars as Counselor , the empathic Betazoid who senses subtle emotional undercurrents among the crew amid the unfolding events. portrays Acting Ensign Wesley , the young prodigy whose intuition plays a key role in identifying deception during the episode's climax. A standout performance is Brent Spiner's as Lieutenant Commander and his brother , both Soong-type androids created by Dr. Noonien Soong. is depicted as the logical, curiosity-driven officer striving for human empathy, evident in his subtle attempts to mimic organic behaviors like practicing a , which underscores his vulnerability when confronted with . In contrast, embodies a more advanced yet malevolent counterpart, characterized by sarcastic wit, emotional volatility, and a superior attitude toward Humans, with Spiner differentiating the roles through distinct vocal inflections—Data's measured monotone versus 's mocking drawl—and physical mannerisms, such as 's exaggerated gestures and predatory smiles. The dual portrayal was achieved using split-screen techniques, with Spiner supported by photo double Ken Gildin and stunt double Brian J. Williams for scenes requiring simultaneous presence of both androids. Guest appearances include as Commander Argyle, the pragmatic engineer who assists La Forge in integrating the reactivated into the ship's systems, reflecting the technical challenges of interfacing alien technology. The episode also references 's human "mother," Juliana Tainer, through logs and artifacts in the colony lab, though she does not appear on-screen. Unique to "Datalore," exhibits rare emotional depth upon learning of his brother, displaying hesitation and protectiveness that challenge his programmed impassivity and deepen his bond with the crew. Riker's suspicion toward the new grows from initial camaraderie to outright distrust, informed by his experiences and instincts, straining his usual rapport with . The crisis amplifies crew dynamics, with Wesley's youthful perceptiveness contrasting the officers' caution, Picard's decisiveness clashing with engineering delays, and the team's collective reliance on evolving into a test of loyalty amid the androids' confrontation.

Production

Development and writing

The story for "Datalore" was developed by Robert Lewin and , with the teleplay credited to Lewin and ; this marked Roddenberry's final credited writing contribution to the franchise before his in 1991. The script underwent multiple revisions in 1987, culminating in a revised final draft dated October 26, with production number 40271-114 and direction assigned to Rob Bowman. Originally conceived as a romance storyline featuring a female as Data's love interest—a repair unit designed to handle hazardous scenarios akin to an troubleshooter—the concept shifted to the "" trope introducing as Data's male sibling. This change stemmed from input by actor , who proposed the brother dynamic to allow him to portray both roles and deepen Data's character exploration. Roddenberry's revisions further refined the narrative, incorporating elements of Data's origins that evolved from an initial alien creation to the work of human cyberneticist Dr. Noonien Soong. Central to the script's development were the introduction of as 's emotionally unstable brother, the revelation of Data's creation on the colony Omicron Theta, and the foreshadowing of the Crystalline Entity as a destructive force tied to the colony's demise. These elements established foundational backstory for Data while drawing on the biblical motif of to underscore the android siblings' rivalry, with Lore embodying jealousy and betrayal toward his "perfect" counterpart.

Filming and visual effects

Principal photography for "Datalore" was directed by Rob Bowman and took place from October 28 to November 6, 1987, at Paramount Studios in . This marked Bowman's fourth directorial effort on , out of 13 episodes he helmed during the series' run. portrayed both and his brother , presenting unique on-set challenges due to the dual roles. Spiner had to perform scenes imagining the presence of his "other self" in the frame for split-screen shots, and quick wardrobe changes were required between takes where both characters appeared. Body doubles, including stunt performer Brian J. Williams and photo double Ken Gildin, assisted in scenes necessitating simultaneous appearances of the androids. Spiner contributed creatively to Lore's characterization, suggesting distinct facial expressions, voice inflections, and gestures during rehearsals to differentiate the mischievous sibling from the stoic ; Bowman incorporated these ideas to enhance the performance. The episode's sets recreated the ruined colony on Omicron Theta and Dr. Noonien Soong's android assembly laboratory. Designers built underground tunnels and debris-strewn surfaces to depict the aftermath of the Crystalline Entity's attack, using practical elements like grated ceilings and painted backdrops to extend the illusion of vast subterranean spaces. The lab featured workbenches cluttered with positronic components and assembly tools, evoking a makeshift scientific outpost. Visual effects for the Crystalline Entity combined early with physical models to depict the snowflake-like spaceborne creature. was one of the series' initial forays into full 3D , integrated with practical lighting effects on scale models to simulate its approach and energy-draining capabilities. Associate producer Peter Lauritson, who oversaw aspects including effects integration, contributed to ensuring seamless incorporation into the live-action footage. Production encountered hurdles from a compressed , as "Datalore" was among the final first-season episodes filmed, wrapping just before the February 1988 . The script, still evolving during , exceeded the allotted runtime, prompting cuts to streamline scenes and maintain pacing. Bowman viewed the as a , motivated by the producers' about the episode's potential.

Broadcast and distribution

Original airing

"Datalore" premiered in syndication across the United States on January 18, 1988. As the 13th episode aired in the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, it followed "The Arsenal of Freedom" in the broadcast sequence. The episode garnered a Nielsen household rating of 10.3, translating to roughly 10.3 million viewers during its initial run. In terms of production, "Datalore" was the 14th episode completed for the season (under production code 40271-114), but syndication scheduling resulted in it airing as the 13th. This discrepancy arose from the flexible nature of syndicated , where stations could select episodes based on local programming needs rather than strict production order. Internationally, the entered syndication in various markets during 1988 and 1989, including on 26 September 1988 and the on 2 October 1989.

Home media and remastered releases

"Datalore" was first made available on home media through as part of the Japanese-exclusive Star Trek: The Next Generation - Log 1 , released on June 10, 1995, which collected episodes from the first season. The episode appeared on DVD beginning with the Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1 set, released on March 26, 2002, in Region 1, and was subsequently included in various complete series s starting that year, such as the 20-disc collection issued in 2007. A remastered Blu-ray edition of "Datalore" was released on July 24, 2012, as part of the Season 1 set, featuring enhancements from scans of the original 35mm negatives; these included a newly recreated model of the Crystalline Entity for improved visual fidelity and refined details in the Omicron Theta sets to better match the high-definition format. To promote the Blu-ray launch, a special one-night theatrical screening event titled Star Trek: The Next Generation 25th Anniversary Event took place on July 23, 2012, in theaters across the and , featuring "Datalore" alongside "Where No One Has Gone Before" in their remastered high-definition form. Since the 2021 launch of Paramount+, "Datalore" has been available for streaming in resolution.

Reception and legacy

Critical response

Upon its original airing in , "Datalore" received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its exploration of 's origins while critiquing the predictable plotting. Brent Spiner's dual performance as Data and the antagonistic was widely highlighted as a standout, with reviewers noting how it allowed Spiner to infuse distinct personality into the siblings, creating an effective dynamic between the earnest and his manipulative counterpart. The episode's script faced criticism for relying on contrived elements, such as the crew's obliviousness to Lore's impersonation of , which made senior officers appear incompetent and elevated Wesley Crusher's role in resolving the crisis. Pacing issues were also noted, with the narrative feeling sluggishly delivered and awkwardly structured despite strong and an intriguing setup involving the . The Entity itself, a destructive spacefaring lifeform responsible for the colony's destruction, was introduced as a compelling threat but left underdeveloped, quickly sidelined after Lore's defeat. Spiner echoed this appreciation in interviews, expressing enjoyment in portraying as a chance to "cut loose" from Data's restraint, though he acknowledged technical challenges in filming the dual roles. The broadcast's reception was contextualized by the first season's broader "," including uneven writing and character development as the series found its footing. Retrospective aggregated scores reflect this ambivalence: as of 2025, the episode holds a 7.6/10 rating on based on over 4,600 user votes. Jammer's Reviews awarded it 3 out of 4 stars, commending Spiner's work but deducting for the clichéd "" trope and plot contrivances. Similarly, Doux Reviews gave it 2 out of 4 "evil twin twitches," praising the sibling interplay while faulting the illogical crew behavior and unresolved subplot.

Themes and cultural impact

"Datalore" delves into profound philosophical questions surrounding android sentience and the essence of humanity, primarily through the contrasting characters of Data and his brother Lore, who embody the archetypes of the virtuous and malevolent twins, respectively. This duality underscores themes of family bonds among artificial beings, as the brothers grapple with their shared origins and divergent paths, evoking the creator-creation tensions central to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein." Biblical motifs further enrich the narrative, with Lore's jealousy mirroring the betrayal of Cain against Abel, highlighting moral choices that define familial loyalty and ethical integrity." "On a scientific level, the episode introduces the Crystalline Entity as one of the earliest depictions of non-carbon-based life in , portrayed as a silicon-based organism capable of and energy absorption. This concept expands the franchise's exploration of exotic , directly influencing subsequent stories such as "Silicon Avatar" (1991), where the Entity's nature prompts deeper inquiries into communication with silicon lifeforms." "Within Star Trek lore, "Datalore" establishes Lore as a recurring antagonist, whose malevolent influence resurfaces in "Brothers" (1991) and the two-part "Descent" (1993), complicating Data's quest for self-understanding. These arcs connect to broader narrative threads, including Data's family revelations in "Inheritance" (1993) and the examination of his positronic brain in Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023), reinforcing the episode's foundational role in android mythology." "The episode's portrayal of AI duality has resonated in popular culture, inspiring sci-fi tropes of sibling androids locked in moral conflict and prompting 2020s fan analyses that parallel contemporary AI ethics debates, particularly the risks of unchecked artificial intelligence as seen in Lore's actions. Post-ChatGPT discussions often reference Data and Lore to illustrate the need for ethical safeguards in AI development, emphasizing responsible programming to foster benevolence over harm." By 2025, these themes continue to inform media explorations of AI's societal integration, underscoring "Datalore"'s prescient commentary." "Brent Spiner's dual performance as Data and Lore not only defined the episode but also propelled his post-Next Generation career, enabling reprises in Picard that revisited the brothers' dynamic and expanded the Soong family legacy."

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