Data The Megalomaniac?

Embracer Of Darkness · Post by **Embracer Of Darkness** » 2004-03-05 01:31pm

I was just watching "Gambit" Pt. II, the episode where Riker and Picard are held captive on a mercenary ship looking for the ancient Vulcan mind weapon. The thing that strikes me is that in this episode Data was given command of the Enterprise, and that Spiner seemed to play his character in a much more serious fashion, specifically when Data was almost angrily bollocking Worf for questioning his order.

I decided to think nothing of it, but then I remembered the episode "Redemption" Pt. II, when the Federation uses a task force to generate a tachyon detection grid in the hopes of discovering cloaked Romulan vessels. During this operation Data is given command of the Sutherland, and I clearly remember the same "serious and almost angry" way in which Data is played by Spiner.

I don't know if this is an accident or purposeful, but the question arises... Using an "in-universe" point of view, is Data a megalomaniac? Does Data have a particular fondness for power?

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » 2004-03-05 01:43pm

No. His very nature, according to Riker, "omits ambition." He isn't drunk with power. In both episodes Data had the unfortunate situation of being faced with insubordinate officers - Hobson for being a bigoted dick, and Worf for being a beligerent dick.

Data remained rational and logical throughout, and he only got seriously pissed at Hobson when he whinged for like the hundredth time about having to follow Data's orders, or at Worf who was openly criticising Data in front of everyone (without offering sound advice). And at worf, Data chastises him in his ready room rather than in front of the crew. Data, even when he has to be the bad guy, nevertheless realises Worf is a friend who deserves dignity. And it works, because Worf realises his error and apologises for it, and becomes a constructive XO afterwards.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-03-05 01:48pm

considering data was never able to show any real emotion until he got his chip implanted, it's likely he was just putting up a show to show everyone else that he was serious about what he was doing. after all, he did act in plays in the holodeck in attempts to understand humanity better, so it's plausible that he had a decent idea of how to show appropriate responses by then.

Embracer Of Darkness · Post by **Embracer Of Darkness** » 2004-03-05 01:53pm

I see your point, thanks for your input Stofsk. However, I still stand by my claim that Data appears almost angry in both incidents, something which (like ambition) he shouldn't be capable of. He remained rational and logical, yes, but he definitely did not remain calm.

When I say he didn't remain calm, though, I'm using it in the lightest possible manner. We're talking about an unfeeling machine here, and I think he was as furious as a machine could get without actually being emotional.

I don't know. Maybe it was Spiner's way of making Data's character seem less flat, or maybe I'm imagining it (probably the latter).

Embracer Of Darkness · Post by **Embracer Of Darkness** » 2004-03-05 01:55pm

Darth_Zod wrote:it's likely he was just putting up a show to show everyone else that he was serious about what he was doing. after all, he did act in plays in the holodeck

Actually, this just reminded me of something... In the episode "Gambit" Pt. II, Data did Picard's "pull down your shirt" thing after he was grilling Worf. Maybe Data was imitating Picard all along.

Major Diarrhia · Post by **Major Diarrhia** » 2004-03-05 02:58pm

Embracer Of Darkness wrote:
Darth_Zod wrote:it's likely he was just putting up a show to show everyone else that he was serious about what he was doing. after all, he did act in plays in the holodeck
Actually, this just reminded me of something... In the episode "Gambit" Pt. II, Data did Picard's "pull down your shirt" thing after he was grilling Worf. Maybe Data was imitating Picard all along.

That's probably it but I think I've seen other do the shirt pull. I think Data was just using calculated stress to give him a more commanding presence. When not being a captain just working at a station, he doesn't need that presence.

Trogdor · Post by **Trogdor** » 2004-03-05 05:57pm

TNG showed examples where Data seems to display mild emotions all the time before he got his chip. From the desire to procreate and building another android without perfect knowledge of how, to giving himself a beard to look dignified, Data showed a lot of emotion. It really wouldn't surprise me if he really was a little pissed at them.

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2004-03-05 08:12pm

Embracer Of Darkness wrote:I see your point, thanks for your input Stofsk. However, I still stand by my claim that Data appears almost angry in both incidents, something which (like ambition) he shouldn't be capable of. He remained rational and logical, yes, but he definitely did not remain calm.

When I say he didn't remain calm, though, I'm using it in the lightest possible manner. We're talking about an unfeeling machine here, and I think he was as furious as a machine could get without actually being emotional.

I don't know. Maybe it was Spiner's way of making Data's character seem less flat, or maybe I'm imagining it (probably the latter).

Data is a learning computer he probably was using information gathered from the actions of other commanding officers and duplicated it. Duplication doesn't mean he actually FELT it.

TheDarkling · Post by **TheDarkling** » 2004-03-05 09:39pm

Data was simply being stern because he realised that acting in that manner is the appropriate way for a commander to get his people to shut up and respect his orders and authority.

That being said Data was capable of some rudimentary emotions, he could feel a sense of loss, loyalty, inquisitiveness and even pride of a sort.

The Silence and I · Post by **The Silence and I** » 2004-03-09 10:28pm

I think there may be some credibility to your idea; Data's character has a few hidden/forgotten layers which have caused me to ask some questions about him (I think most are mistakes on the writers' part, but hey

). For example in the early episodes (read: Encounter at Farpoint) Data acts far more like Lore, who demonstrates complex emotion, he has repeatedly shown rudimentary emotion (pointed out by TheDarkling), he has seemed angry while at command. Then there are his varying abilities... supposedly he cannot lie, yet he has made 'mistakes' no computer can be excused for--in Pegasis he claims a shuttle cannot navigate the asteroid, then claims it will crush the Enterprise from it's own gravity (ludricrous!) all with the result that Picard is forced to use the phase cloak; did he have a hidden agenda? Sensors could not perceive the Pegasis inside the roid, yet he claimed there were disturbances within... I doubt sensors showed anything unusual, he was curious in the cloak. Then in Shades of Grey, Home Soil and Legacy he demonstrates superior reflexes--grabbing a vine-thing very quickly, keeping one step ahead of a drilling laser at point-blank range, dodging a phaser at 10 feet--in Brothers he effectively takes over the entire ship in minutes, yet he often operates at abysmal speed. In Rascals Worf reacts to Ferengi boarders before Data does! I believe Data had pulled the wool over the eyes of his crew mates. I am not sure what his agenda was, but I think the best explaination is that he has one and it doesn't always intersect with the humans on board--it kinda adds a sinister aspect to his character, which I think is evident in Spiner's portrayal of Data. I mean, don't you remember those episodes where Data is almost scary? Just so far beyond human it is hard to relate to him? Then there are the other 600+ episodes where he is little more than a pale guy at a consol who asks the same questions about humanity and emotion every other episode. Accident? Perhaps. Other explainations? Yes.

EDIT: Woot! 300 posts!

Jason von Evil · Post by **Jason von Evil** » 2004-03-11 05:48am

He probably wrote a "command" program comprised of the command styles of various SF captains, like Picard and Kirk. Yeah, Data had alittle bit of Kirk in him in Redemption part 2.

Data would've made a great captain, ranking up there the big boys.

The Silence and I · Post by **The Silence and I** » 2004-03-13 12:16pm

Ditto. I would have liked to see more of that. Spiner played his character with great skill and versatility.