7.16 — “Thine Own Self”
Plot: Data experiences a mishap while recovering radioactive fragments from a downed probe on Barkon IV and loses his memory, wandering into a pre-industrial village. Meanwhile, Troi decides to stand for the Bridge Officer’s Test to become a full commander.
Thoughts: This is a pretty good script by Ronald D. Moore, by recent standards. I love the over-certain native doctor, who confidently pronounces Data an Ice Man and lectures about the elements of rock and fire hidden within wood. If she can’t tell that Data isn’t human, she’s not a very good doctor (not needing to breathe or eat is a tell), but at least the script is witty.
It feels like “Thine Own Self” has the first really independent B story we’ve seen in a while. Elements and structure of the episode feel like old school TNG, but a good version of it. There are a lot of guilty pleasures, like Data getting a spear driven through his chest.
I always wonder, wouldn’t all those blinky lights inside his head show through the skin? Especially skin that’s superficially indistinguishable from human skin, except for color? What function do the lights serve anyway? At least it’s an iconic look.
This tidbit from Memory Alpha is worth quoting: “The story pitch for this episode came from Christopher Hatton…. Hatton pitched his story as ‘Data as Frankenstein’, a concept that Jeri Taylor described as ‘irresistible’. Teleplay writer Ronald D. Moore joked, ‘He wanders into the medieval village, is befriended by the little girl, and villagers come out and chase him with torches!’”
Not only is Data playing the role of Frankenstein’s monster, he also manages to reinvent a few centuries’ worth of scientific advancement in a span of days. I’m going to charitably assume he had the aid of recovered memories to assist him.
This is the 10th TNG episode from the end of the series. Memory Alpha is starting to observe milestones. To wit, this is the last time Riker is seen playing the trombone! Also it is the last appearance of Troi wearing her maroon jumpsuit. Let’s try to hold it together, people.
What did you think? 3.5 of 5 improvised science labs.
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