The douche, Maddox, is played as an extreme heel. His constant smirking is a reminder to us of just how smug he is. He is introduced abruptly as the guy that's here "to work on your android." Data already knows him, because he is the one that opposed Data's entry into Star Fleet on the grounds that an android is not a sentient being. He is incompetent in his work, and has yet to flesh out all the details on how the procedure will go. He blurts out charming things like that he's sick of hearing about people's rights. He walks into Data's quarters without knocking and starts rummaging around in his stuff. This guy is a douche, and that reality actually takes away from the episode. The question raised as to whether or not Data is a life form with rights, or a machine that is just property, is a legitimate one to ask. Maddox could have been played as a rational person with a different opinion, and frankly the debate would have been better.
In the end, Data wins his rights as a person because we are reminded that life, specifically sentient life, is difficult to define. The JAG officer that is presiding over the court (who by the way once court-martialed Picard sometime before or after sleeping with him) says that the question boils down to whether or not Data has a soul, and we don't even really know what a soul is, or if we as humans even have them. This debate reminds me of my favorite definition of life as presented in my college biology text: "That which is squishy." Data is not squishy.The other argument presented in Data's favor, and by far the larger point, has to deal with what would happen if Maddox was successful at duplicating Data. This process of creating an army of androids would have come directly as a result of ruling that the androids have no rights, and therefore is simply creating a new slave race.
I think that Data is clearly presented to us as sentient. He has desires and goals. The fact that he wanted to join Star Fleet is a good example. He wished to learn more, to grow, and even to serve. This is not how we think of computer programming working; this is much more. Data takes pride in his medals, and cherishes certain items that remind him of things (like that time he boned Tasha Yar). Data is special, but we knew that all along, just like we knew that there was no way Maddox was going to be allowed to kill him. So what did we learn here? Nothing, really. But it was still fun to see it play out.
One problem I have with this simple plot is that disassembling Data as a way of studying him makes no sense. They already have detailed schematics of him, as evidenced by Riker researching to find out how to remove his arm and to shut him off. Plus, Data has used the transporter, so the ship's computer already knows exactly how to construct him from scratch, molecule by molecule. People have made careers of studying Data, and he is a willing participant. Exactly what is to be gained by examining his disassembled parts that we don't already know?But Data is my favorite character, and it seems like a closer look into exactly what he is was overdue by the middle of the second season. So I think a show like this had to happen, but I still find the execution lacking. I know that this is regarded by many as a fantastic episode, perhaps the best Trek has to offer. I just disagree. The whole premise is flawed in that certainly the matter of Data's sentience was already settled when he joined Star Fleet. The Maddox character is not believable, with even his age being a bit off. The hasty trial fits the confines of the time limits of the show, but is not realistic either. And the larger questions still go unanswered. Sorry, but this one is only Adequate.
Published May 31, 2018
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