Another episode designed to expand the universe of "The Next Generation." The episode begins with a tragic episode where a child has played a practical joke on his brother and put his life in danger. He has to get to a star base to get medical attention. While the Enterprise makes its way to the star base, Data suddenly goes out of control. He jams up all the systems on the Enterprise including creating force fields throughout the ship. He sends that ship at Warp 9 to some unknown destination. The crew can't do a thing and don't even know where they are. The access codes were compromised which puts a damper on almost everything. At some point, the ship comes to a stop and Data beams down to the surface. In a house on an unnamed planet is Data's creator, Dr. Soong (played by Spiner) who is the cause of all this deception. He has decided that before he dies, he will implant a tiny emotion chip in his creation. Unfortunately, who should show up but Data's "brother" Lore. He preceded Data and was a bit of a failure, having actually precipitated the "death" of Soong (or so people thought) by betraying him to the Crystalline entity. The action at the house is wonderfully engaging. Once again, an episode to set up future conflicts, but also to explain the whole story of Data and Lore.
18 Reviews
Daddy issues...
planktonrules17 November 2014
This episode starts with a big shock. Without any warning or explanation, Data commandeers the Enterprise. The crew is helpless to stop him as he isolates them from control of the ship and they can only wait to see where he takes them. Eventually, Data lands on a distant planet--and finds his maker, Dr. Soong. Apparently, Dr. Soong had activated a homing mechanism which forces him to return-- and with all due haste. However, there's a bit of a surprise with this homecoming, as soon Lor also arrives! There, the three talk about old times and Data learns the truth about his creation.
All three major roles in the show are played by Brent Spiner--and they make up almost all the show. This is an interesting sort of experiment, though when I read the IMDb trivia, it indicated that they had considered Keye Luke for the role of Dr. Soong--and this would have been really interesting! Still, despite a teeny, tiny bit of overacting as Dr. Soong, Spiner did a nice job in this odd and demanding triple role. As for me, I am just happy that Lor returned, as he was a wonderful villain--and there's sure to be more of his evil shenanigans in upcoming episodes.
All three major roles in the show are played by Brent Spiner--and they make up almost all the show. This is an interesting sort of experiment, though when I read the IMDb trivia, it indicated that they had considered Keye Luke for the role of Dr. Soong--and this would have been really interesting! Still, despite a teeny, tiny bit of overacting as Dr. Soong, Spiner did a nice job in this odd and demanding triple role. As for me, I am just happy that Lor returned, as he was a wonderful villain--and there's sure to be more of his evil shenanigans in upcoming episodes.
The Brent Spiner show
snoozejonc5 July 2021
Lieutenant Data forcibly takes control the Enterprise on a personal mission.
This is an enjoyable episode due to an impressive three character performance by Brent Spiner.
The story is nothing particularly memorable but it gets us to where we need to be for the great character moments. It starts well with Data having some very cool moments whilst making his big move, but as it cuts back to the quite forced subplot about Willie Potts I found myself getting a bit bored.
For me it's all about Brent Spiner's acting and the clever filmmaking that makes his three character interactions work in all his scenes. It is an important episode for the general arc of Data's character.
The rest of the cast give good supporting performances.
For me it's a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.
This is an enjoyable episode due to an impressive three character performance by Brent Spiner.
The story is nothing particularly memorable but it gets us to where we need to be for the great character moments. It starts well with Data having some very cool moments whilst making his big move, but as it cuts back to the quite forced subplot about Willie Potts I found myself getting a bit bored.
For me it's all about Brent Spiner's acting and the clever filmmaking that makes his three character interactions work in all his scenes. It is an important episode for the general arc of Data's character.
The rest of the cast give good supporting performances.
For me it's a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.
The family theme continued - great performance by Brent Spiner.
russem3120 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
ST:TNG:77 - "Brothers" (Stardate: 44085.7) - this is the 3rd episode of the 4th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation and one of my favorites for the series.
The episode concerns Data, who suddenly has a program override, thereby commandeering the Enterprise, taking it to a distant planet. When he beams down (after encrypting the Bridge so no one can override his commands), he finally emerges from his override to see he's in the presence of his "father" Dr. Noonian Soong. The reason he called Data here is because he has a last gift for him - an emotion chip (which will not be integrated into him until Star Trek: Generations).
However, also beckoned by the signal Dr. Soong sent out is Lore (whom we last so in the 1st season episode "Datalore"). And of course, this is where things go wrong.
This episode marks Brent Spiner's strongest performance in the series (and perhaps the movies too) because he plays THREE characters - Data, Lore, Dr. Soong and manages to make each different and unique, thereby making US believe these 3 are interacting with each other. Brilliant to say the least.
Trivia note: Data still can't whistle the song from the pilot episode "Encounter At Farpoint".
The episode concerns Data, who suddenly has a program override, thereby commandeering the Enterprise, taking it to a distant planet. When he beams down (after encrypting the Bridge so no one can override his commands), he finally emerges from his override to see he's in the presence of his "father" Dr. Noonian Soong. The reason he called Data here is because he has a last gift for him - an emotion chip (which will not be integrated into him until Star Trek: Generations).
However, also beckoned by the signal Dr. Soong sent out is Lore (whom we last so in the 1st season episode "Datalore"). And of course, this is where things go wrong.
This episode marks Brent Spiner's strongest performance in the series (and perhaps the movies too) because he plays THREE characters - Data, Lore, Dr. Soong and manages to make each different and unique, thereby making US believe these 3 are interacting with each other. Brilliant to say the least.
Trivia note: Data still can't whistle the song from the pilot episode "Encounter At Farpoint".
One of the all Time Classic episode !
nicofreezer3 November 2021
A Masterpiece from Star trek Next generation,
"Brothers" is my third 10/10 rating so far, (with the measure of a man and best of both worlds part 2 )
This is the most Underated épisode of the next gen with only a 7.8/10 from the viewers.
The first 15 minutes is a full action exciting sequence then 25 last minutes are an emotional roller coster , with data beeing Data , the best character in this show, A classic, 9.5/10.
The first 15 minutes is a full action exciting sequence then 25 last minutes are an emotional roller coster , with data beeing Data , the best character in this show, A classic, 9.5/10.
REVIEW 2022
iamirwar2 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Perfect. I always liked the Data-based stories and this is one of the better ones. As season four goes, this is already shaping up into an exciting series.
Due to an implanted homing signal in his positronic brain, Data takes command of the Enterprise, turns off the life support system on the bridge necessitating all other members of the crew to escape, and then makes sure not even the captain can re-gain access to the bridge or issue commands to the ships computer by doing further naughty things whilst in a somewhat trancelike state.
Data proceeds to take Star Trek across the universe so that nobody else on board knows where they are. Having reached a particular planet, Data beams down to its surface where he comes face to face with his father, Dr. Noonien Soong, the cyberneticist who constructed Data. It would appear that Dr. Soong is alive because he had the good sense to run away from a giant snowflake.
The story only gets better because the same homing device that brought Data to find his father also had the misfortune of alerting Data's older brother Lore, on the same errand.
It would seem that Lore was the first Data-like android created by Dr. Soong, but that he had too many flaws, that encouraged the good Doctor to dismantle him and built Data himself. We also learn that apart from Lore's older-jealous brother syndrome, he and Data are really alike. But clearly it was only Data that got the good circuit boards.
Anyway, go watch the episode, that's what I recommend.
I would certainly rate this one as highly as I would the 'The Best Of Both Worlds' episodes as we get to learn so much more about Data.
Due to an implanted homing signal in his positronic brain, Data takes command of the Enterprise, turns off the life support system on the bridge necessitating all other members of the crew to escape, and then makes sure not even the captain can re-gain access to the bridge or issue commands to the ships computer by doing further naughty things whilst in a somewhat trancelike state.
Data proceeds to take Star Trek across the universe so that nobody else on board knows where they are. Having reached a particular planet, Data beams down to its surface where he comes face to face with his father, Dr. Noonien Soong, the cyberneticist who constructed Data. It would appear that Dr. Soong is alive because he had the good sense to run away from a giant snowflake.
The story only gets better because the same homing device that brought Data to find his father also had the misfortune of alerting Data's older brother Lore, on the same errand.
It would seem that Lore was the first Data-like android created by Dr. Soong, but that he had too many flaws, that encouraged the good Doctor to dismantle him and built Data himself. We also learn that apart from Lore's older-jealous brother syndrome, he and Data are really alike. But clearly it was only Data that got the good circuit boards.
Anyway, go watch the episode, that's what I recommend.
I would certainly rate this one as highly as I would the 'The Best Of Both Worlds' episodes as we get to learn so much more about Data.
Big Ole Family Reunion
Samuel-Shovel26 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
In "Brothers" Dr. Soong turns on a homing beacon to bring Data to him so he can install an emotions chip. Unbeknownst to him, he's also summoned a reassembled Lore.
After watching the one and only TNG episode not to feature Data, this one makes up for lost time! Spiner is all over this ep and has all the heavy lifting with three different parts with three very different acting styles. You really have to hand it to him for this feat.
The McGuffin of this episode is two young brothers with a rivalry and a prank going too far. With one on death's door and requiring medical attention at a starbase, there is suppose to be a ticking clock but you never quite feel it completely. A few more scenes with Crusher could have done wonders for the tension.
It all wraps up rather quickly as well. Where did Lore go? Why is the chip bad for his circuitry? Why was Doing dying? None of these questions are satisfyingly answered. All we get is Crusher telegraphing the message at the end that Data should forgive Lore. It's a bizarre final 10 minutes that needs a heavy rewrite. Still... I enjoy Data/Lore episodes and had a fun time with this one.
After watching the one and only TNG episode not to feature Data, this one makes up for lost time! Spiner is all over this ep and has all the heavy lifting with three different parts with three very different acting styles. You really have to hand it to him for this feat.
The McGuffin of this episode is two young brothers with a rivalry and a prank going too far. With one on death's door and requiring medical attention at a starbase, there is suppose to be a ticking clock but you never quite feel it completely. A few more scenes with Crusher could have done wonders for the tension.
It all wraps up rather quickly as well. Where did Lore go? Why is the chip bad for his circuitry? Why was Doing dying? None of these questions are satisfyingly answered. All we get is Crusher telegraphing the message at the end that Data should forgive Lore. It's a bizarre final 10 minutes that needs a heavy rewrite. Still... I enjoy Data/Lore episodes and had a fun time with this one.
"Looks like we have ourselves a..., family reunion."
classicsoncall15 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
All this time since the series began, we had been led to believe that Dr. Noonien Soong, creator of Data, had died during some planetary disaster, revealed in this story as the Crystalline Entity. Surprise, surprise! Soong is still alive, and had originally planted a homing beacon in Data's programming to return to him at a given time and place, even if it meant overriding all of the Enterprise's computer functions and possibly putting the entire starship at risk. It reminded me of the original series story in which Spock hijacked the Enterprise in order to save the life force of Captain Christopher Pike on the planet Talos IV. 'Menagerie: Parts I and II' were masterfully written episodes, some of the best of the original series.
Adding to the surprise here also was the second appearance of Lore, Data's 'brother' so to speak, Dr. Soong's original creation considered a misfit because he was unstable and developed a massive superiority complex. It's still the same old Lore, but this time, he uses his virtual 'identical-ness' to trick Soong into implanting a chip in his programming that would allow emotions to surface. He doesn't stick around very long, leaving Data to witness Dr. Soong's very real death from advanced old age. I was surprised to learn that Brent Spiner portrayed the character of Dr. Soong here along with Data and Lore, a strong performance that could have stood alone without the secondary drama of the two young brothers at odds with each other at the story's opening. Maybe that was the overall point of the show, to demonstrate how siblings could get along with each other, even after a major falling out. Except in Data's case, it left him wondering as the closing credits began to roll.
Adding to the surprise here also was the second appearance of Lore, Data's 'brother' so to speak, Dr. Soong's original creation considered a misfit because he was unstable and developed a massive superiority complex. It's still the same old Lore, but this time, he uses his virtual 'identical-ness' to trick Soong into implanting a chip in his programming that would allow emotions to surface. He doesn't stick around very long, leaving Data to witness Dr. Soong's very real death from advanced old age. I was surprised to learn that Brent Spiner portrayed the character of Dr. Soong here along with Data and Lore, a strong performance that could have stood alone without the secondary drama of the two young brothers at odds with each other at the story's opening. Maybe that was the overall point of the show, to demonstrate how siblings could get along with each other, even after a major falling out. Except in Data's case, it left him wondering as the closing credits began to roll.
Family Reunion
bkoganbing29 May 2020
This TNG story is a tour de force for Brent Spiner whio for long periods of time is on the
same screen playing Data, brother Lore and their creator Noonien Sung. A Sung
family reuinon.
Without knowing he has pout a sick child in danger who needs to get to a star vase for medical attention, Data takes over the ship in response to a homing beacon his creator implanted in him. Said beacon also brought Lore in and neither Dr. Sung or Data knew he was active.
Seeing Brent Spiner in all three parts at the same time is a treat.
Without knowing he has pout a sick child in danger who needs to get to a star vase for medical attention, Data takes over the ship in response to a homing beacon his creator implanted in him. Said beacon also brought Lore in and neither Dr. Sung or Data knew he was active.
Seeing Brent Spiner in all three parts at the same time is a treat.
Showcases Data's limitless capabilities
imdbisforme21 April 2022
Oh, brother.
thevacinstaller21 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Um, why wouldn't Singh have made or attempted to make contact with data in the previous 20 years? Huh?
Whatever, moving right along.
I do find some enjoyment in Data and Lore emulating humanity in opposite ways but Lore is such a Villain that I ultimately do not find his character satisfactory.
The start of the episode is fun ---- watching Data seize control and thwart the enterprise crew is just a great time. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief in this one ---- Why not just hail the enterprise and make contact with Data and let him know there is an emotions chip for him? Why not make contact 10-15 years ago with the homing beacon? Ugh, my brain.
At least explain it? How about it took singh 20 years to invent this magical homing beacon and perhaps he had no idea where data was after he fled the crystaline entity?
I'm just not a fan of Lore / Data episodes except in how much enjoyment I get from watching Spiner ham it up as a psychopath robot.
Enterprise should have just left lore in pieces.
Whatever, moving right along.
I do find some enjoyment in Data and Lore emulating humanity in opposite ways but Lore is such a Villain that I ultimately do not find his character satisfactory.
The start of the episode is fun ---- watching Data seize control and thwart the enterprise crew is just a great time. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief in this one ---- Why not just hail the enterprise and make contact with Data and let him know there is an emotions chip for him? Why not make contact 10-15 years ago with the homing beacon? Ugh, my brain.
At least explain it? How about it took singh 20 years to invent this magical homing beacon and perhaps he had no idea where data was after he fled the crystaline entity?
I'm just not a fan of Lore / Data episodes except in how much enjoyment I get from watching Spiner ham it up as a psychopath robot.
Enterprise should have just left lore in pieces.
Think about it for a sec.
uninviteds5 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Two crew members leave their sons on the Enterprise under seemingly no supervision under the promise they will "stay out of trouble". During a game of laser tag, the older brother puts a ballon filled with red pain to make is annoying little brother believe he killed him. The little brother runs away and decide to eat a fruit he found on the ground out of guilt or something. Turns out the fruit is super poisonous and because apparently they have accessible poisonous fruits and unsupervised children, but not antidotes on the Enterprise, they change course to go to a medical facility. Everyone one blames the older brother and constantly guilts him for potentially killing his brother. It doesn't help that Dr. Crusher is probably drunk because all she seems to be able to do is inappropriate jokes straight out of Gaucho's sketch when 2 episodes ago she succefully reversed the Borg assimilation process on Picard. Meanwhile, Data takes over the Enterprise, putting to much stress on the engines, putting everyone's life at risk because a signal sent by Dr. Soong triggered a homing program and everyone is like "Oh that Data!, Bwhap Bwhap". This episode truly highlights how much Data actually has emotion and is another great exemple of Worf's incompetence. He lets more than enough tim for Data to raise that force field. Later when they find Data deactivated by Lore, Worf just carries him back like a bride over a threshold. It takes Riker to reactivite him by... turning a switch in his bacl like he's C3PO. Sometimes I swear if Tasha hadn't died, every episode of the series would've been over in 3 minutes.
Good episode, bad start though
robbm67426 October 2020
The kid who pulled the prank on his brother... was being a NORMAL CHILD. The real fault is the kid who purposefully ate something he knew he shouldn't. Then the little brat plays THE VICTIM the rest of the episode? WTF?
I liked the other parts of the episode, but the writer clearly doesn't have kids.
I liked the other parts of the episode, but the writer clearly doesn't have kids.
Interesting.
Blueghost19 May 2023
I had a friend who used to say "For the greater good" to describe why he refrained from dating; he had anger issues and bipolar. And one of the characters he designed for a role playing game had the exact same armor suit getup as Lore; black with black armor plates.
Imagine his near schizophrenic freak out reaction when he saw this episode. Well, he actually didn't freak out, but furled his brow and uttered "what the heck?" Oh well.
Lore, Data's evil twin brother, gets wrapped up in some sort of political dogma and acts out. Data puts him in his place, and things go on from there, as they say in the US Navy's psyche ward.
Lore allegedly has issues with his design and programming, and after being dealt with somehow keeps coming back ... like all good arch-nemesis.
I'm not sure what happened to my friend, his character sheet, and his "for the greater good" utterances, but this episode really made him scratch his head. Me, I shrugged at it. It was another non-action episode that relied on a lot of talking to address lore with some action hijinks from Data.
It was a bit more watchable than other episodes, but still hokey--my friend and his personal experience not withstanding.
To be honest Lore feels a bit contrived, wasn't used often enough, added some menace to the show without the writers falling back on another Holodeck catastrophe, but felt like a stock villain to me. I can't say why, it just felt like it; i.e. The opposite of the brother who is all good.
It was interesting for what it was, but again the episode was marred by the slow story format that relied on a lot of dialogue. Still, it was interesting. Check it out and see what you think.
Imagine his near schizophrenic freak out reaction when he saw this episode. Well, he actually didn't freak out, but furled his brow and uttered "what the heck?" Oh well.
Lore, Data's evil twin brother, gets wrapped up in some sort of political dogma and acts out. Data puts him in his place, and things go on from there, as they say in the US Navy's psyche ward.
Lore allegedly has issues with his design and programming, and after being dealt with somehow keeps coming back ... like all good arch-nemesis.
I'm not sure what happened to my friend, his character sheet, and his "for the greater good" utterances, but this episode really made him scratch his head. Me, I shrugged at it. It was another non-action episode that relied on a lot of talking to address lore with some action hijinks from Data.
It was a bit more watchable than other episodes, but still hokey--my friend and his personal experience not withstanding.
To be honest Lore feels a bit contrived, wasn't used often enough, added some menace to the show without the writers falling back on another Holodeck catastrophe, but felt like a stock villain to me. I can't say why, it just felt like it; i.e. The opposite of the brother who is all good.
It was interesting for what it was, but again the episode was marred by the slow story format that relied on a lot of dialogue. Still, it was interesting. Check it out and see what you think.
Yet another Data gone wrong episode
syncopatedrhythm2 February 2022
A Senior Trekker writes....................
celineduchain20 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Season 4 contains the 80th episode of The Next Generation, at which point it surpassed the output of the Original Series. A number of extended themes played out during this season delving into both the political backdrop and the personal lives of the crew. These continuing storylines proved extremely popular, however they did not detract from the use of Science Fiction to tell interesting stories. Senior Trekker continues to score every episode with a 5.
This is a laudable attempt by Brent Spiner to perform three different roles with all the technical challenges of having them interact with each other. It works pretty well but I'm not sure all that "cleverness" makes for the best storytelling. The character of Noonian Soong is so important in the continuing Star Trek universe and his death scene so affecting that the distraction of all that ageing make-up may not have been the best choice for the part. An older actor with the ability to get the voice and mannerisms right might have worked out better.
I have never been a fan of the Lore character. He was a prototype for Data but he has a much more developed personality? He was shut down and put in storage by his creator but is now virtually indestructible? Would he not have been more use as spare parts? Data now has a homing device AS WELL AS an off-switch? How did he get through Star Fleet academy to a command position without anyone noticing? The writers backed themselves into tighter and tighter corners with this and they stretched the suspension of disbelief far beyond my fail-safe setting. If Mr Spiner had wanted some variety in his character so badly, why not just have had Q make him human for a few episodes?
The wrap-around jeopardy of the two brothers in sickbay was necessary for the plot requirements of the time. You know, the "how are we going to narrowly miss blowing up the ship this week?" type of thing. It does, however, give Dr Crusher some opportunities to show a kindly bedside manner. Neither of the child actors appear to have remained in the business.
This is a laudable attempt by Brent Spiner to perform three different roles with all the technical challenges of having them interact with each other. It works pretty well but I'm not sure all that "cleverness" makes for the best storytelling. The character of Noonian Soong is so important in the continuing Star Trek universe and his death scene so affecting that the distraction of all that ageing make-up may not have been the best choice for the part. An older actor with the ability to get the voice and mannerisms right might have worked out better.
I have never been a fan of the Lore character. He was a prototype for Data but he has a much more developed personality? He was shut down and put in storage by his creator but is now virtually indestructible? Would he not have been more use as spare parts? Data now has a homing device AS WELL AS an off-switch? How did he get through Star Fleet academy to a command position without anyone noticing? The writers backed themselves into tighter and tighter corners with this and they stretched the suspension of disbelief far beyond my fail-safe setting. If Mr Spiner had wanted some variety in his character so badly, why not just have had Q make him human for a few episodes?
The wrap-around jeopardy of the two brothers in sickbay was necessary for the plot requirements of the time. You know, the "how are we going to narrowly miss blowing up the ship this week?" type of thing. It does, however, give Dr Crusher some opportunities to show a kindly bedside manner. Neither of the child actors appear to have remained in the business.
Too much Spiner
drgarnett15 October 2020
Unlike some reviewers, I think having Brent Spiner in the three main roles was a weakness.
The true weak premise of this story is that Soong implanted a compulsion into his creations that made them an unconcious threat to those around them -- the inventor's monomania.
The true weak premise of this story is that Soong implanted a compulsion into his creations that made them an unconcious threat to those around them -- the inventor's monomania.
You couldn't send a card or e-mail first?
amusinghandle10 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Well, whether you enjoy this episode will largely depend on what you think of the character of Lore.
Despite Lore being a hilarious marvel level of villainy, I simply cannot take him seriously in a star trek episode ---- perhaps a Saturday morning cartoon would be more fitting.
Sometime in the distant past, Dr Soong hit his heard very hard when lifting his head from positronic research and came up with the idea to implant human emotions in an android ---- what could possible go wrong with that, right?
To the episodes favor ---- It did actually tie-in the two subplots into the 'brother's' theme of the episode. Unfortunately, I don't know these two little rascals and I am not invested in that story. It feels like an idea that was cobbled together five minutes before the actual performance took place.
I don't love the idea of Spiner playing all the main characters ---- I can appreciate the range of the actor but I simply cannot stop from thinking about the mountain of makeup on Soong. The explanation that Soong designed the androids from his own image works well enough though.
Despite Lore being a hilarious marvel level of villainy, I simply cannot take him seriously in a star trek episode ---- perhaps a Saturday morning cartoon would be more fitting.
Sometime in the distant past, Dr Soong hit his heard very hard when lifting his head from positronic research and came up with the idea to implant human emotions in an android ---- what could possible go wrong with that, right?
To the episodes favor ---- It did actually tie-in the two subplots into the 'brother's' theme of the episode. Unfortunately, I don't know these two little rascals and I am not invested in that story. It feels like an idea that was cobbled together five minutes before the actual performance took place.
I don't love the idea of Spiner playing all the main characters ---- I can appreciate the range of the actor but I simply cannot stop from thinking about the mountain of makeup on Soong. The explanation that Soong designed the androids from his own image works well enough though.
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