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Captain Jean-Luc Picard

"The Offspring"

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Yes I agree...and very well done.

 

The Funny thing is....The Main Character in this one doesn't have emotions....Poor Data.....maybe after he got his emotion Chip he finaly Grieved In a Human way

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Excellent episode. Picard's suggestion that Data should have consulted him, and Data's response that other crewmembers do not consult him when they wish to procreate was classic. A very emotional ending, when Data announced that Lal was now a part of him.

 

Data does a great job of showing emotion without, well, showing emotion. :bow:

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Brent Spiner was great (as usual) in that episode and Hallie Todd was so good as Lal. Jonathan Frakes' first shot at directing was a winner. :)

 

I love the way Data was looking at Picard in that scene Indy described - when Picard has his head in his hands and is shaking his head and Data is trying to look at him. Poor Riker when Lal kisses him and Data asks what his intentions are with his daughter or when Lal tells Guinan that "father says I would learn much from someone as old as you" or Lal watching the light in the turbolift. :bow:

 

It was such a touching, emotion episode but still had humour. I cry every time Lal suffers the cascade failure. It is one of the best TNG episodes made. :)

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The Funny thing is....The Main Character in this one doesn't have emotions

That's why Brent's uch a great actor (ok, not WHY...more like more eveidence THAT...) and why Data's such an amazing character, I think. It was definitely one of the most emotional epiosdes, and probably my favourite ever (at least at the moment...I'm very flighty in this way, but they're ALWAYS Data eps!).

 

I watched that episode about 20 times the first two days after I taped it :bow: ...I would finish it, rewind, and watch it again. I loved everything about it (except, as I said, Troi's one line...grrrrrrr. Alright, I'm done).

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I love it (of course) too, but have you seen "Dark Page"? I cry like a baby for that one too.

 

I think at the end where Lal tells Data she will feel it for both of them, he looks like he so badly wants to tell her he loves her too. It rips my heart out!

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Agreed. The last time I watched Dark Page I was blubbering away like a baby. :bow: She was great. Even though it was such a serious episode Lwaxana still got to be Lwaxana at times. I loved that exchange she had with "Mr. Woof" and Riker in 10 Forward about telepaths.

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The Offspring was such a great episode! I cry every time at the end. Even more when you can see that he wants to tell her that he loves her! She was just a baby! Both Brent and Hallie were excellent in it, and you musn't forget Leonard Crofoot who portrayed Lal in her early stage(he did so well, when you think of how much he had to go through to get into that make-up!)!

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Another Great Part in this episode was when Data and Picard were having their little talk in his read room when he found out aboutr Lal,lol

 

I can't remember the whole scene, but it was great.

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I believe the scene you are referring to is where at one point Data asks if it would be wise to deactivate Lal, and questions Picard's reaction to his newly created daughter and his reasons to be against her.

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Yeah the offspring is definately high on my favorites list- in the top five. I cry everytime at the end-

Data: "I am unable to correct the systems faliure, Lal."

Lal: "I know father

....I feel"

Data:"What do you feel Lal?"

Lal: "I love you father"

Data"...I wish I could feel it with you"

Lal: "I will feel it for both of us, thankyou for my life

..............flirting, laughter, painting. family, female, human"

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Here's the scene I was Talking about :bow:

 

It's Straight From The Script, so there may be minnor Differences

 

 

PICARD

Data, what you have done has very

serious ramifications and I am

dismayed that you did not inform

anyone of what you were doing.

 

DATA

I am sorry I did not anticipate

your objections, Captain. Do you

wish me to deactivate Lal?

 

PICARD

It is a life, Data. It cannot

be activated or de-activated

simply. It is a stupendous

undertaking. Have you any idea

what will happen when Starfleet

learns of this?

 

DATA

I have followed all Starfleet

regulations to the best of my

ability, Captain... I expected

they would be pleased...

 

PICARD

We'll see.

(beat)

My foremost concern is for the

safety of this ship and crew.

You are faster, stronger, and far

more knowledgeable than any

human...

 

DATA

I can assure you Lal's programming

includes psychological inhibitor

safeguards to prevent any threat

to the Enterprise.

 

PICARD

And in the event of a malfunction?

 

DATA

A malfunction is of course a

possibility, Captain. But Lal's

program is equipped like mine --

it will shut down before

deleterious behavior can begin.

 

Picard shakes his head, still fuming...

 

PICARD

You've taken on quite a

responsibility, Mister Data...

 

DATA

(acknowledges)

To prepare, I have scanned all

the available literature on

parenting. There seems to be much

confusion on the issue. One

traditional doctrine insists

"spare the rod and spoil the

child", suggesting a punitive

approach... another more liberal

attitude would allow a child

enormous freedom...

 

PICARD

(trying to interrupt)

Data...

 

DATA

And what the Klingons do to their

children...

 

PICARD

(interrupting)

I'm not talking about parenting.

(beat)

I'm talking about the

extraordinary consequences of

creating new life.

 

DATA

(confused)

Does that not describe becoming

a parent, sir?

 

Not wanting to get into this --

 

PICARD

You are seeking to achieve what

no one, other than your own

creator, has been able to achieve

-- to make another sentient,

functional android. To make

another Data.

 

DATA

That is why I must attempt this,

Captain. I have observed that

in most species, there is a primal

instinct to perpetuate themselves.

And while I have not been

programmed with instinctive

behavior patterns, I do understand

that I have been, until now, the

last of my kind. If I were damaged

or destroyed, I would be lost

forever. But if I am successful

with the creation of Lal, my

continuance is assured. I believe

I understand the consequences. And

I am prepared to accept the

responsibility.

 

On Picard's reaction...

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The part where it said that Picard was shaking his head and Data is twisting his head to try to figure out what Picard is doing - I love that! It was soooo Data and just another example of what Brent Spiner brought to that character!

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The part where it said that Picard was shaking his head and Data is twisting his head to try to figure out what Picard is doing - I love that! It was soooo Data and just another example of what Brent Spiner brought to that character!

I loved that scene, and Data's attempt to see what Picard was doing was just so cute and true to himself!

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