Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) The Schizoid Man (1989) User Reviews

Definitely one of the better Next Generation episodes - great comedy

[M_Exchange · 8/10 · 29 December 2016]

Data gets "possessed" by a brilliant scientist, and hilarity ensues.

Actually, it's the proper blend of hilarity with a convincing amount of creepiness. I've never laughed harder at Next Generation than at the scene in which the possessed Data lavishes excessive praise on the recently deceased scientist during his eulogy. Brent Spiner does a superb job in this one. During his long career as Data, he seemed to nail the character's comedic aspects better than his stodgy, stiff aspects.

I also loved my introduction to the gorgeous Barbara Alyn Woods, whose career is apparently in decline in recent years. But she had a much better run than the majority of the other minor players who have appeared in this series.

The Schizoid Man

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 13 May 2012]

Here is a bonafide "Jekyll/Hyde" episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where the great William Morgan Sheppard makes the most of his ten or so minutes as Dr. Ira Graves, a renowned scientific mind working on bridging the gap between human and machine, dying of a painful disease that will kill him in a manner of hours. He is secretly in love with his assistant, the much younger, and adorable Kareen Brianon (Barbara Alyn Woods), and has discovered a way not only to incorporate his knowledge but his whole personality, the entire self into cybernetic form, "stealing" Data's body for his own! This episode allows Brent Spiner (Data) to really mimic and portray the character conveyed by Sheppard during his limited time on screen. I imagine that was a joy for Spiner, too, really being able to inflict Graves' persona on an Enterprise crew not prepared for it. Graves may be a genius, but he's riddled with arrogance and self-congratulation, admiring his intellect and superiority towards most opposite him because of his heralded intelligence. But his Achilles Heel is Kareen and while being able to take control of Data's body, his own personality becomes a detriment and the power he now is in charge of could be Graves' very downfall. Accidentally fracturing Kareen's hand with a grip out of anger because she wants no part of being transferred into an android body, Graves is ill-equipped to continue on inside the body of Data. Suzie Plakson has a guest role as Vulcan Medical Doctor, Lt. Selar, the one who diagnosed Graves' condition. Sheppard really shows us the agony his character experiences and certainly leaves a distinct impression of his character; it allows us to get a feel for who he is so when the real Graves leaves and Data takes his place, you know that the personality has changed. The use of "If I Only Had a Heart" from Wizard of Oz is especially noteworthy as it pertains to the personality change. Seeing Data and Picard at odds with each other makes for great dramatics. This episode is fun, and it is a good progression of the Data character arc of his desire to be human. The scene with Data wearing a beard should earn quite a few laughs.

Don't trust Grampa.

[thevacinstaller · 7/10 · 8 March 2021]

I always enjoy William Morgan Sheppard in his roles ---- It it that distinctive voice? That expressive face? The great timing? He's a great performer and sells Dr. Ira as a troubled genius.

The episode makes a commentary on the fall out of unrestrained desire. In this case it leads Dr. Ira to usurp Data's body and pursue the forbidden love he has for that beauty Kareen. It is a bit of a head scratcher how Dr. Ira thought this would work out well for him but hey --- Passion makes people do some crazy things.

Spiner is in fine form here. He makes an AMAZING android but one can forget just how versatile and great of an actor he is.

Picard saves the day with a impassioned speech about how Data is a life form and Ira is committing a reprehensible action in taking over his body. The theme of 'what is defined as life?' has come up in several recent episodes and I wonder if this was planned as a theme throughout the season or just a coincidence?

Solid episode.

To know him is to love him is to know him.

[russem31 · 14 April 2006]

ST:TNG:31 - "The Schizoid Man" (Stardate: 42437.5) - this is the 6th episode to air in the second season of The Next Generation. This is another Data episode, delving further into his past. In this case, he encounters his "grandfather" - an Ira Graves (played by W. Morgan Sheppard), who was the cybernetics scientist who taught Data's creator Dr. Noonian Soong. Graves is dying and in an act of desperation and love, he transfers himself into Data, thereby creating a "shizoid man", Data now having two personalities (himself and Graves). You get to see Brent Spiner having fun here as Data, because he gets to portray more human feelings than is otherwise possible - including with a beard! Also, Suzie Plakson makes an appearance as Dr. Selar - although she will never be seen on screen again, she is mentioned quite a lot as the series progresses (also the actor will portray many Star Trek characters including Federation-Klingon Liaison K'Ehleyr in TNG, as well as the Female Q in Voyager and Tarah in Enterprise).

Data's "Eulogy for Grandpa"

[nanonta · 7/10 · 18 December 2021]

Data's speech is absurd, but not really funny (Data always has trouble with understanding "funny") . Since Data has been presented as a sympathetic character so often on TNG, the conceited tone of the eulogy (coming from a Data with Grandpa's brain) would be cringe-worthy if one tried to take it seriously. This reminds me of Polonius's advice to Laertes in Hamlet. "This above all: To thine own self be true And it must follow, as the night the day Thou canst not then be false to any man." This is ironic for Polonius, who uses Ophelia for his own benefit. Both "To know him is to love him" and "To thine own self be true" at first hearing may sound elegant and moving, but context belies both.

Women aren't people - they're women

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 30 May 2021]

Enterprise visits an eccentric scientist to provide medical care.

This is an entertaining episode with a silly premise but a number of humorous character moments from Data and Dr Ira Graves.

The plot is predictable and lacks plausibility but contains some good dialogue between Data and Graves. Graves character has some classic lines before and after death. It also contains some decent themes on what defines existence, as in several Data focussed episodes and is a good presentation of personality disorder.

I did not find anything to be particularly cinematic, as for me the enjoyment comes from the outrageous displays of arrogance, misogyny, jealousy and general character assassination of Graves by the actors and writers.

Performances are mostly strong, such as Brent Spiner and W Morgan Sheppard. Unfortunately Barbara Alyn Woods is so terrible as Kareen I found her to be quite distracting.

This is a 6.5/10 for me but I round upwards.

Visiting Grandpa

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 14 December 2017]

The Enterprise answers a distress call from Barbara Alyn Woods who is the late life trophy companion of Dr. Ira Graves played here by William Morgan Sheppard a curmudgeonly iconoclast. Patrick Stewart beams down Worf, Data, and a member of the medical staff Suzie Plakson who is a Vulcan. It is determined that the old iconoclast is suffering from an irreversible and fatal disease.

I did love the way each of the Enterprise away team reacted to the surroundings. When the isolated Ms. Woods calls Worf a Romulan, Michael Dorn holds that Klingon temper and makes allowances. Plakson whose Vulcan logical ways makes her just totally immune to Sheppard's barbs. I would love to have seen more of her.

However when Brent Spiner learns that Sheppard mentored Dr. Sung who built him and his twin he starts referring to him as Grandpa. And Sheppard has a plan to stick around after his physical body dies and it involved Brent Spiner.

Let's say that Sheppard's personality and social skills don't wear well on Data in every sense of the word.

Nicely done TNG story.

Data Stars Again!

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 5 August 2014]

Our favorite Android finds a worthy companion in Dr. Graves, one of the most brilliant beings in the galaxy. He has a masterful scientist, actually being the mentor of Data's creator, Dr. Soong. Unfortunately, his great career is about to end. He has an incurable disease that is fatal. In a comic, but touching scene, the old man insists that date refer to him as "Grandpa." They talk for long periods of time. The acerbic old goat is condescending and sarcastic and will not go gentle into that good night. He refuses to recognize the illness but it has obviously taken a foothold in his body. Things get interesting when Graves dies and his demise is announced by Data. From this point forward, Data changes completely. He becomes an android Graves. A hilarious scene is when they have the burial service and Data delivers a eulogy that is hilarious. However, the new android/Graves begins to become dangerous and could also be compromising Data's programming. Violence begins to dominate, not the seeking for knowledge that Grave's imagined, particularly when it comes to a young woman that he has raised and loved his whole life (a May/September situation). This whole episode is played with aplomb and is very entertaining.

Just going to ignore your right to exist and party down.

[amusinghandle · 7/10 · 5 January 2024]

It cannot be a coincidence that a man close to death is named Dr. Graves. Clearly, the writer is having some fun.

This is a solid episode but it makes me ponder how the episode would have unfolded if Graves was a bit more likeable or they created a Tuvix situation where is became a moral dilemma to remove Graves from Data. As it stands now, Graves is written as a leering old man with a God complex and I was happy when he was removed from Data. I guess he gets a bit of redemption for leaving Data on his own accord?

Graves and Data both deliver great performances throughout. "Hello dying cybernetics expert --- I am an android who will not die and I have an off switch...." well, it works to get the plot going I guess.

Emotional data?

[gritfrombray-1 · 10/10 · 4 June 2007]

Was still warming to this new Star Trek series but had already taken to most of the cast. In this the Enterprise receives a distress signal from one of the Federation's greatest scientists Doctor Ira Graves. His assistant has sent the signal because of his ill health. When the party beam down they are greeted acerbically by Doctor Graves and the Vulcan Doctor tells him that he is in the final stages of Darnees Syndrome. A terminal illness. Ira Graves instantly recognizes Data as a creation of his former pupil, Doctor Noonien Soong. Data develops a relationship with him and Graves even insists that Data call him Grandpa! Now here is where Brent Spiner once again shows off his talents as Graves transfers his personality into Data upon his death! Data begins to show a little irrationality and even a little jealousy. The crew dismiss this at first believing that it was just the death of Graves affecting him. But there seems to be a little more than this affecting the android. It soon surfaces that it is indeed Graves personality inhabiting Data! After some upsets and even a little violence Graves transfers the wealth of his knowledge into the Enterprise's computer. Fans should know, Suzie Plakson who played Lieutenant Selar, the Vulcan in this later played Keyhler Worf's love interest. Originally a love story was supposed to be between Worf and the Vulcan which would have been far more interesting......

"Call me grandpa."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 23 October 2023]

This is Brent Spiner's episode all the way, as he demonstrates several personality changes throughout, beginning with that beard and mustache routine at the outset of the story. It seems his character Data will become the perfect vehicle for a dying, yet arrogant and brilliant scientist to take over his android body when he finally succumbs to Darnay's disease, diagnosed by medical officer, Lieutenant Selar (Suzie Plakson). In a way, Data brought that upon himself when he mentioned to Dr. Ira Graves (William Morgan Sheppard) that he had an on/off switch, thereby allowing Graves a way to take over his android programming. At which point, Data becomes outwardly insufferable to the point of challenging Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), who he feels is making time with Graves' pretty assistant, Kareen Brianon (Barbara Alyn Woods). The difference in age between Graves and Brianon precluded a romantic relationship, but in his new guise, Graves felt he had a chance at romance. Brianon would have none of it though, if it meant having her personality transferred to a machine for eternity. For me, the resolution to the story seemed a little too pat, as Graves simply gave up his android body to coexist in the Enterprise's computer banks. You would have thought he'd want to continue in corporeal form, with or without a chance at a relationship. Nevertheless, the episode has its humorous moments, particularly each time Data gets too verbose in his attempt to define or identify something for the Captain. At which point, Picard might have been thinking about that on/off switch himself.

Brent Spiner gets to have some fun with this episode.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 12 November 2014]

The Enterprise landing party meets Dr. Ira Graves after his assistant sent out a call for help. She thinks he's dying and he refuses to have any help in his final days. It turns out that he is dying--and he knows there is no hope. You'd think he'd have regrets or fears about death, but instead he's STILL a crotchety old guy who has an ego nearly as big as a planet!

Of the landing party, Dr. Graves has little interest in the doctor or the other humans. Instead, he's drawn to Data for many reasons. The obvious one is that Graves' work contributed to Dr. Soong's building Data. So, in a way, he's like Data's granddad! As for his other reason for being happy to see Data,...well, you'll just have to see what's next!

This is an amusing episode with Data--and not forced like in "The Outrageous Okona". This time, the humor worked and the script allowed Brent Spiner (Data) to have some fun and expand his character. Well worth seeing to see the 'new Data'!

If you really care, the title, "The Schizoid Man", might be misunderstood by some. Despite the root 'schiz', this is NOT a reference to schizophrenia but to a schizoid personality. Such a personality is typified by an individual who has no desire for the company of others. Some, while acting gruff and distant, actually secretly long for friendships and intimacy. A true schizoid personality is perfectly happy being alone and might consider others to be a bother! This is a reasonable description of the main character in this episode, Dr. Graves. Although Graves is a gifted genius, he has no desire to live among people but on his own little planet in the middle of no where. His only companion is a pretty young assistant--a woman with which he has a distant and somewhat cantankerous relationship. She is there to help him in his work...not be his lover or friend. However, although a good argument could be made that Graves has a schizoid personality, the fact that he had deep hidden thoughts about his pretty assistant and secretly wants her would indicate that he's most likely an avoidant personality--a person who PRETENDS to hate people but who, very down deep, wants them or at least one person.

It is also possible that the 'schiz' is referring to the literal interpretation--a split mind. However, this is NOT the same as Multiple Personality Disorder and could refer to Data's mind becoming fragmented. Okay...psyc 101 lecture over for today!

Data Gets His Body Hijacked

[Samuel-Shovel · 5/10 · 23 July 2019]

In "The Schizoid Man" the Enterprise goes to give medical attention to a reclusive, brilliant scientist who lives with only his young, female assistant doing research. Unbeknownst to the crew, Dr. It's Graves figures out how to upload his consciousness into Data before he dies and takes over the android's body. But the irascible doctor's plan to live forever receives hate from the assistant he's in love with. A speech from Picard is able to convince him to give Data his body back. The doctor uploads all of his practical knowledge into the computer's memory banks before dying for good.

This episode was a bit on the boring side. There's no real subplot to speak of unless you count the rescue mission we never get to see. The best scene is probably the cold open in which we see Data showing off his new beard to Troi and Geordi. It plays for laughs and it works well. Besides this, this episode is pretty mediocre. Nothing about it is super awful or offensive, but it never really gets going.

Female Spock !

[nicofreezer · 8/10 · 2 September 2021]

This episode feature a Female looking exactly Like Mr. Spock , Incredible, she is a Vulcan I believe.

This episode is very Solid, entertaining, and one more épisode on Data. Who is Really the main character in Season 2 so far.

8/10.

Outstanding episode on the nature of Life

[jseph1234-262-617488 · 9/10 · 17 July 2022]

This was a quite enjoyable episode and I must say it was nice seeing the Lovely Lieutenant Selar M. D. grace the screen.

Aside from that the story is quite intriguing it Brent Spinner was his outstanding self as always in this episode.

24th Century Schizoid Man!

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 4 July 2012]

This excellent Episode has the great character actor W. Morgan Shepherd (Mostly known for his small role in Max Headroom and as the Klingon warden of Rura Pente Prison in Star Trek VI who spouts the "Bridge on the River Kwai" Speech to Kirk and McCoy) as Dr. Ira Graves, the Robotics specialist who had taught Data's Creator, Dr. Noonian Soong.

The Enterprise sends an Away Team to his planet while they warp out to a nearby emergency, this is the first (and only) time they use a "Near-Warp Transport." Data, Troi and the Vulcan "Dr Selar" (Played by Suzie Plakson before she appears as Key'lehr later in this season) are almost "Beamed into a Stone Wall." Graves won't let Selar use a medical tricorder on him, but he is distracted by Data, who gives him a sharp turn, in turn giving Selar the opportunity to sneak up from behind and scan him. Graves has a terminal degenerative disease and has not much time.

Graves has been snapping at his associate, Kareen (Barbara Alyn Woods from "One Tree Hill"), and she send the emergency broadcast because of it. Because Graves is considered the "Greatest Living Mind" by the Federation, they were compelled to respond.

While they wait for the Enterprise to return, Graves spends most of his remaining time with Data, and as he had taught Data's "Father" Dr Soong "All he knew," he tells Data "This makes me your Grandfather." He tells Data that all of his vast Knowledge will not be lost, he has found a way of scanning and digitizing his memories and transferring them to a Computer.

This gets Data talking about his "Off" switch, and that he does not look forward to having it flipped. Graves says, "Now where would Soong put such a thing - Don't tell me, let me Guess."

Graves dies before the Enterprise returns, Data says "He died in My arms" and insists to Picard that he be allowed to make the Funeral Speech for Graves. Ergo, "To Know him was to Love him, and to Love him was to Know him. Those who knew him, loved him, those who did not know him, loved him from Afar," — making Picard tell Data to shut up once more (Picard never does tell Data to actually "Shut Up" until "Nemesis").

But Data starts acting very strangely, and he takes an unwarranted interest in Kareen. Picard orders Data to be inspected by Crusher, and she diagnoses Data with Dissociative Disorder. At that time, Data/Graves tells Kareen that he had moved his memories into Data, but she reacts and he tries to grab her, injuring the woman he loves. At first, Graves does not want to Vacate Data.

But after several more injuries he causes, he moves his memories into the Enterprise Computer Core, and his consciousness leaves Data's Positronic Net.

It is a shame this was not pursued in later episodes, they could have recreated Graves in the Holodeck and moved the memories in there, that way, Moriarty would have had a friend to talk to in the years of his inaction.

All in All, great acting from both Shepherd and Spiner, and Plakson made a great Vulcan, it is a shame that they never had Selar come back, although the character was part of Crusher's medical staff until the end of the series.

A Senior trekker writes.................

[celineduchain · 5/10 · 2 January 2022]

The Second Season of Star Trek the Next Generation has often been downplayed due to multiple production and writing staff problems, and several major cast changes. Although of mixed quality, it does contain some outstanding and brilliant episodes. Senior Trekker is extremely grateful to all those people who worked so hard under difficult circumstances to keep it on our screens.

Another "possession" episode, giving Brent Spiner all sorts of split-personality, quick-change characterisation to do. The trouble is we know he can do it, we've seen it before and we're not sure how soon we want to see it again. Never mind, it's well written, we see two unforgettable guest actors and the jokes are a great deal funnier than any of the forced attempts at humour we heard a couple of episodes back.

Both Suzie Plakson as Dr Solar and William Morgan Sheppard as Dr Ira Graves have appeared in Star Trek on multiple occasions. Both are instantly recognisable; she for her incredible, statuesque good looks and he for his deep gravelly voice. However, despite this potential disadvantage, they inhabited their many different characterisations so seamlessly they have both become part of the Star Trek family. Suzie Plakson works mainly in music and theatre these days, while our beloved Mr Sheppard, who seemed to find the time to appear in every Sci Fi series we've ever loved, finally left us to Go Beyond the Rim in 2019.

(Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5)

If I Only Had a Brain

[rmeade-78279 · 8/10 · 3 May 2022]

When the doctor whistles a tune (the one Data whistles later), he explains that it's called "If I Only Had a Heart." But it's the Scarecrow's song from The Wizard of Oz, "If I Only had a Brain."

Data is the best character in this show!

[tomasariasbertolini-51226 · 8/10 · 14 June 2020]

Watched this series! Is great. Your comedy is great. And is a chapter antirascism.

Self-aware machines are NOT life forms

[loyalcitizenship · 8/10 · 7 August 2019]

This episode is one of many that explore the essence of a man and his personality vs. an android and his "persona".

The protagonist, Dr. Graves, is an expert in cybernetics. Living alone on a planet with a young woman associate, he has been exploring methodology aimed at adding a human persona to computer and android mechanisms.

The Enterprise is summoned by calls for help by his female aid, Kareen, because Dr. Graves is dying, as subsequently diagnosed. The Enterprise crew arrives to find Graves in pain and displaying bitterness, arrogance and regret over losing his life and the realization of many personal dreams.

The doctor makes particular effort to become close to Data, treating him as a grandson and telling him of his life and dreams. It becomes apparent that he has always loved Kareen and regrets the age difference that has prevented the possibility and consummation of a relationship.

After passing away, it becomes apparent that the doctor has transferred his persona into Data and has co-opted his body completely, suppressing Data's "persona" to an inactive state.

As his behavior in the body of Data becomes increasingly emotional, arrogant and erratic, the Enterprise staff figure out what has happened. The co-opted Data pursues Kareen and after being rejected accidentally injures her. This is followed by additional altercations and injuries to crew members, leading up to a plea from Captain Picard that the doctor relinquish control over Data's body thereby, according to the Captain "depriving another being of his life".

Once again we are confronted with the question of whether only a man can be considered a life form or whether an artificial machine with self-awareness should also be thus categorized and have his "right to life" protected.

As in previous reviews, I must once again point out the irrationality of such arguments and the degrading attitude they project on the human soul.

To my mind, all arguments about self-awareness defining a life form are absurd and reflect utter ignorance of computers and their programming.

No matter how much artificial intelligence, ranges of decision parameters, creative options and even random ideas that you program into an artificial mind, you can NEVER create anything like a human persona that has unlimited thoughts and feelings fashioned by his unique soul and identity.

The reason is simple: the android's programming - even if self-awareness is included - is never more than the programmed reaction possibilities written by the programmer. And the programmer is a human being who, along with all of mankind, has only limited understanding of himself and the human soul/mind.

More so, a program is just that - a preset rule-book of inputs and reactions - even if broad in possibilities, it remains totally preset and limited to an infinite degree, thus precluding any possibility of attributing such an android's decisions, words and actions to a unique persona of its own. The possibilities - however broad ranged - can never breach the bounds and idiosyncrasies of the program. Period.

Therefore, the android has no feelings and no independent identity, only reactions executed by the lines of code in the program.

The moral implications of comparing such an android to a human being are frightening and no less than a degradation and threat to the dignity and rights of true life forms.

Underlying this philosophy is a malevolent ulterior motive to neutralize the imperative of moral behavior, rendering all absolute human values relativistic.

"Obviously" it is claimed, any moral limitations and value judgments can be shown to be parochial and non-binding on others, by pointing out that these artificial "life-forms" can be programmed to simulate human life, with no acceptance of any or all human conventions and values. You can build a "Data" to do any vile or immoral acts with no compunctions about them, by simply programming him to lack all such values.

The goal of such a philosophy as appears in these episodes is precisely aimed at tearing down all societal expectations and moral absolutes, creating a "wild west" without human values - since "life forms" without such can be created - and where everyone can do exactly as he pleases as long as he has sufficient political backing to sanction his group's morality (or lack thereof) as a "valid" system.

Data Just Forgot

[anarchistica · 5/10 · 24 March 2020]

Data told Beverly about his off-switch In "Datalore", pressing her to keep it a secret. Here he volunteers the information to an unstable stranger. You can guess how the rest of the episode plays out. While we do get different perspectives, the episode once again lacks a b-plot to help with, for instance, pacing. Now both of the transfers that take place happen jarringly sudden and the hijacking plotline carries on for too long.