Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) The Offspring (1990) User Reviews

Can androids have offspring?

[liquidassets81 · 9/10 · 22 March 2010]

This episode expands the show's primary theme of exploring what comprises being human, in this case, parenting. Other reviews have summarized the plot well. This was an ostensibly simple, but very emotionally powerful, episode that elicited universal emotions, since we all come from parents. The most poignant scene for me was near the end when Lol thanked her "father", Data, for giving her life. With one of my own parents, my mom, currently in the final stages of her life, this story was a good reminder that for all their faults and imperfections, parents virtually always mean well in bringing us into the world and giving us the gift of life, and that even their selfish hopes and dreams for us have a certain nobility.

Great writing, and acting by all the cast, especially Brent Spiner as Data, and the actress playing Lol. Piccard's evolution on the situation was interesting, and his decision to disobey a direct order from a superior was consistent with the moral integrity his character is noted for. Editing could have been a bit tighter, but really I may be reaching, as this episode is nearly perfect in it's loving portrayal of humanity at it's best, ironically told in this allegory about an android and his offspring.

More proof that Frakes is a better director than actor

[M_Exchange · 9/10 · 25 January 2017]

Despite a lot of this episode's themes' inherent creepiness, it is is definitely one of my favorites. It has a great story, great acting (as episodes in which Brent Spiner and Patrick Stewart are handling the bulk of the acting usually do), and solid directing from Frakes, who is much better off behind the camera instead of in front of it. Yet another bullish Starfleet admiral makes for a great antagonist, and yet another good actor portrayed him. There are also deep philosophical questions about AI that we are facing NOW and in our near future that even Next Generation's cast and crew could not have possibly foreseen happening so quickly when they made this episode in 1990.

A daughter for Data

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 21 January 2010]

When Data summons his friends to his lab they are rather surprised with what he has to show them; an android similar to himself although this one is at the time genderless and less well formed. We soon learn that this is because he wishes to let it decide its owns sex and appearance. The android, named Lal, selects the appearance of a female human and when the final modifications are made looks far more human than Data. Data considers Lal to be his daughter and sets about teaching her about human behaviour, school is a problem as she is too clever to be in the junior classes but not socially away enough for the senior classes. School might not have worked but she learns more about human behaviour by helping Guinan in the bar, although there is an amusing misunderstanding along the way involving Commander Riker. There is a problem though, when Star Fleet hear about Lal they insist that she is taken to a research station away from Data, something the captain is willing to make a stand against as he believes Star Fleet has no right to take a child from its parent... sadly before the situation can be resolves Lal begins to fail and Data must struggle to save her.

This is a superior episode which has a genuine tear jerker ending made sadder by the fact that Data can't feel emotions yet his dying child can. Brent Spiner was good in his role as Data and Hallie Todd was delightful as his doomed child Lal.

Very touching episode.

[russem31 · 18 April 2006]

ST:TNG:64 - "The Offspring" (Stardate: 43657.0) - this is the 16th episode of the 3rd season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

This episode continues the Data's family theme began in the second season episode "The Schizoid Man" (in that episode you see Data's grandfather Dr. Ira Graves). In this episode, you see Data creating another android like himself - an android that takes the shape of a female, his "daughter", named Lal (which means beloved).

Soon, when Starfleet wants to take Lal away from Data because they feel they can "raise" her better than Data, Picard comes to his rescue arguing that Data is her father and can raise her better. He even brings up how he helped define the rights and privileges for androids in "The Measure Of A Man" and that Lal has the right to make her own choices.

Soon though, it turns out that she outperforms Data - by looking more human, using contractions - but all good things must come to an end.

Trivia note: Data does a neural transfer of his positronic brain into Lal (just like he would into B4 in Star Trek: Nemesis). Also, you see the Original Series aliens called the Andorians as a Holodeck recreation.

And, also, Picard for the first time in the series, goes against an admiral's orders (just like he would in force in Star Trek: Insurrection).

Star Trek The Next Generation--The Offspring

[Scarecrow-88 · 10/10 · 11 May 2013]

Magnificent, emotionally rich episode of Star Trek The Generation (further re-iterating just how superb the third season was in producing one special episode after another, this one coming after "Yesterday's Enterprise") has Data actually creating a sentient being after attending a cybernetics conference, and, in essence, becoming a father. The android chooses a female human as its "look" and "The Offspring" follows her transition and awareness of human behavior, even eventually transcending Data's own programming (using contraction "haven't" and actually feeling fear).

Admiral Haftel (Nicolas Foster) and Starfleet feel Lal (Hallie Todd) would be better served on a starbase in a proper environment to be the object of research and equip "her" with all the tools needed to further advance her "life" and development. But Data, observing and studying parental behavior and cultural norms regarding raising children, considers Haftel's position as removing a child from her father before the proper time (interfering with her maturation process). That is what drives the whole story: what is best for Lal and should she be taken away from her father so soon? Actually, the question Picard soon offers is "What does Lal want?" Lal is a free sentient being (Data's consideration as a free, sentient being in "Measure of a Man" determined he was) and should be treated as such. The conclusion when Lal suffers a malfunction as she starts to experience "cascade failure" is akin to a father losing his daughter and I'll tell you unashamedly that I was shedding tears. Just heartbreaking. A great moment for Foster (I assume many will kind of have contempt for his way of bullying past the desires of the likes of what Data and Picard believe is the right thing to do in favor of what he thinks is best for Lal) has him describing how hard Data tried to save Lal to Troi, Wesley, and Geordi, and you can sense the anguish and sadness from every pore (I think he properly conveys how a father feels when trying to save his daughter and not being able to do so despite the best efforts). Picard willing to put his career on the line, telling Data not to obey Haftel's orders to tell Lal she's coming with him to the starbase, is quite a crowd-pleaser worthy of applause because it is not only quite a stand for his officer's rights as a father, but also in favor of Lal's independence and rights. Guinan is once again utilized well as a form of guidance for Lal in the terms of learning love, affection, and other human behaviors and actions.

Riker (Frakes is not seen much mainly because he directed the episode) has a hilarious moment where he is the "victim" of a kiss from Lal, jerking him over the Ten Forward bar (she had seen a couple kissing and was curious)! How Data involves Troi, Beverly (she has this nice moment with Data when he seeks her advice because of her success as a mother) and Wesley is important in how he tries to learn how to properly raise Lal. Parenting is the theme of this episode and under the guise of science fiction, "The Offspring" has a lot to share. As a parent, this episode hit an emotional button that resonates.

This is the Episode That Made Me a Star Trek Fan

[darthramious · 10/10 · 2 April 2016]

A little back story: Through my teens I was an ardent fan of films and sci-fi (primarily Star Wars), and Star Trek always piqued my interest, but I was too intimidated to invest the time to acquaint myself with a franchise that stretched over television and film since the 1960s.

That being said, I came across this episode while scanning TV channels and was immediately drawn to the character of Data, an singular android who dedicates his improbable existence to evolve and grow in order to be more "human." His quest in this episode included creating a new android in the hopes of improving upon his own limitations through his designated "offspring" (as most true parents do), including having this android eventually find a way to develop authentic emotional reactions.

However, when Starfleet grows impatient with the development of Data's new android, they threaten to confiscate it, instigating a surprisingly emotional struggle over the philosophy of sentient rights and acceptance that ultimately becomes overshadowed in the face of tragedy. It's all the more astonishing to consider the most emotionally devastating moments of the episode feature characters who can't project any emotions at all.

Brilliantly written, performed, and directed, this is one of the finest hours of television that succeeded in appealing to an outsider of the franchise and making them a fan for life.

Beautiful Episode of Giving and Losing Life

[drew_engman · 10/10 · 1 June 2009]

Data explores his humanity by an act of creation, 'birthing' a new android life form, with intelligence and freewill like himself.

I cannot improve upon the the comments of the main reviewer, but wanted to say this episode is a must see.

It deals with the issues of giving life or becoming a parent, raising a child, and coming to terms with that child growing up, becoming independent, and ultimately, the loss of that child. The emotions of the crew serve to represent our human emotions felt in sympathy to Data's loss.

A beautiful, emotional episode that I love.

I would recommend this episode to anyone who is not yet convinced that Star Trek, and SF in general, has come of age, and can deal with human topics in a touching and full way.

I prepared myself to watch this episode

[smiledaydream · 10/10 · 20 February 2022]

I prepared myself to watch this episode. I didn't want to react emotionally so I sort of built a wall and did not go there. My husband on the other hand I cried even though it was the fourth time seeing it. It is an excellent episode and nothing is wrong with it.

Another Jackass Starfleet Leader

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 17 August 2014]

Data begins to realize his expertise and knowledge of positronics. After attending an educational session, he decides he needs a project. What he does is build an android to specifications based on his own being. At first it is kind of an amorphous thing that talks and absorbs information. Data, through his constant investigation of things human, believes that he needs to propagate his species, to leave a child in case he were to be killed or destroyed. He chooses a female designation and names her Lal. It is funny watching this fully grown being gaining information, childlike in her actions. She is a source of amusement for others on the crew, but she persists and Data considers her a daughter, although he can't really know love or affection. Picard is angry at first because he wasn't consulted and knows that Starfleet will not look kindly on this. This proves to be the case as an Admiral tells Picard that Lal is to be taken to a facility to be altered and made even more complex. It has already been determined that Androids have the same rights as the other indigenous species and Data refuses to give his permission to have Lal removed. The remainder of the episode has to do with a budding emotionalism and the clash between Picard and the Admiral. A very touching episode.

Here's to all the heroic dads out there

[marcusq22 · 10/10 · 18 May 2018]

One of my favorite Star Trek Next Gen episodes is 'The Offspring', where Data creates a child (named "Lal"). I first saw it when I was a twentysomething with no wife or kids. I watched it again as a family man, and I had a very different perspective on it, now that I have daughters of my own.

When I first watched it, I never understood the closing scene following the death of his child, where Data comes onto the bridge. Picard expresses the crew's condolences, and then Data sits down at his station, expressionless, and does his job. They played this triumphant fanfare as he sat down, and I didn't get why.

I get it now: Even when his world is falling apart, the dad still has to go to work, put on a face, and do his job. The music was celebrating this small act of heroism. The irony is that Data, who tries so hard to be human, but never quite succeeds, showed that he could do this better than any human could.

Data becomes a bit like Dr. Frankenstein...

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 16 November 2014]

Data's newest attempt at being human is a doozy. Now, to make his life more human, Data has decided to have a child! Of course he cannot procreate in the traditional sense, so he builds an android child! And, since it's an android, he allows it to choose its own gender and appearance. While this girl, Lal, looks more human than Data, she turns out to be amazingly slow compared to her 'father'. She cannot pick up on social queues as well, is clumsy and seems, at times, kind of stupid. Because of this, a bigoted Admiral is now pushing to have Lal raised by someone other than Data--and to be raised apart from Data. The WHY of this never really makes any sense--especially in light of an earlier episode which established Data's legal status as a sentient being. And, it makes little sense in light of the Federation's supposed attitude of tolerance and niceness--and this explains why I dropped the score just a bit.

As I mentioned above, in some ways this show is a bit like the story of Frankenstein--with Data creating a being like the doctor. However, unlike the irresponsible doctor, Data tries very hard to be a good father and not abandon her to some Federation jerk. Overall, this is a very good episode...and one that might surprise you with how sadly it ends. You might just want to have a box of Kleenex handy.

Better than ALL of Westworld in-one-episode.

[omegawolf1 · 10/10 · 6 March 2020]

This is the best episode of STTNG.

Brilliantly written, acted, and directed. If you don't cry at the end, you might need a shrink.

Touching, but simplistic

[frankelee · 7/10 · 29 August 2020]

This episode of Data creating his own daughter is touching and engaging, but it's the recurring story with TNG: a good premise in search of a worthy story to tell it. Instead of finding a reasonable antagonistic force within the world they've created they instead must step on their own premise and recast the culture of the Federation as backwards, ignorant, bigoted, and without concerning for the legal rights of the sentient beings within it. One week the Federation is this, the next week the Federation is that, and while the stories are often good, they lack substance when watched as a series because there is no verisimilitude or coherent internal logic between them. The antagonistic forces are always so convenient and simplistic that you can't help but remember you're watching a TV show, full of actors pretending there are stakes, unconvincingly.

And so some admiral decides to take Data's daughter away without any legal recourse or consideration, because they live in a military dictatorship now? Good writing in comparison with say, Alf, but it does not hold up well decades later.

A Senior Trekker writes....................

[celineduchain · 5/10 · 11 January 2022]

New uniforms, new credit sequence and Doctor Crusher returned to us but was Season 3 of The Next Generation really as good as we remember? Some of that enthusiasm may have have been generated by relief that the series had not been cancelled but the 1990's also heralded an era of considerably more stability behind the scenes. Senior Trekker will continue to score every episode with a 5.

An interesting episode to look back on after we have just seen the new Star Trek series, Picard, explore the theme of android development to it's fullest extent. Spoiler: it doesn't go all that well.

Here, while serving on the Enterprise, Data secretly experiments in order to create a "daughter" with mental powers greater than his own. In order to enjoy this story we have to overlook a whole constellation of plot holes and some pretty egregious continuity errors. Others will no doubt have listed them better than I can: Data's unauthorised use of ship's resources, the rarity of Soong-type androids, Data's breach of discipline, Lal endangering children in the classroom, the Federations ambivalent attitude towards androids........I could go on but to do so would be pretty irrelevant, it's just fiction, after all.

As a stand alone, it's a very good Science Fiction story about the innocence of a newly created life, beautifully captured by petite actress, Hallie Todd. Her interactions with the crew are delightfully handled and her premature death is a full on "three handkerchief" weepy. The ethics of the situation are given only a cursory examination and the question of why an experiment that came so close to success was never repeated isn't addressed.

Data procreates, Picard defends Data's family from Starfleet Research

[matthew-51842 · 9/10 · 17 November 2017]

Stop what you're doing and spend less than an hour on Netflix to appreciate some of the finest Sci-Fi ever in Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 16 (S3:E16) "The Offspring", an episode rated 8.5/10 on IMDb.com. Gene Roddenberry's health was declining during Season 3, and this amazing episode was the first directed by a cast member, Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Riker, 1st officer, aka "Number One".)

Commander Data, so well played by Brent Spiner, procreates after returning from a conference. Data's daughter Lai was artfully and convincingly played by Hallie Todd. Lai was created covertly in a lab by Data, which at first upsets Picard as he would have preferred to have been consulted first. Data had Lai choose her race and gender among several thousand samples he prepared in the Holodeck. She chooses the form of a human female. In a period of only a few days Data downloads his entire 'positronic network' to his human looking daughter.

Data reads every book on parenting, literally thousands, but needs to seek advice from Guinian (Whoopi Goldberg), Counsellor Deana Troi (Marina Sirtis), and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). Lai was not adjusting to human school with young school children. As an adult human female, the children laughed at her because they felt intimidated.

Wisely Counsellor Troi suggests to Data that Lai could learn human interactions if she worked in the 'Ten Forward' bar under Guinian's supervision. Unlike Data, Lai had achieved one of the 'holy grails' of AI, emotion. Unlike her father Data, Lai spoke using contractions, a less significant accomplishment.

Captain Picard appropriately hits high notes of contained anger in several scenes while defending Data's daughter Lai from being taken away for study by Admiral Anthon Haftel (Nicolas Coaster) from 'Starfleet Research'. Coaster's portrayal of the power-hungry Startfleet Research admiral was very convincing.

Picard points out that sentient life forms, including android, have rights in the Starfleet charter and that he helped define those rights. He says the admiral's demand that Data turn his young daughter over to Starfleet Research won't happen with Picard as his commanding officer. The stand-off between Captain Picard and the power-hungry Starfleet Research Admiral Haftel is intense.

The stand-off is diffused when Lai learns that the admiral is going to separate her from her father (Data) and she feels intense fear which manifests as organic, not programmed in. Lai is confused, and repeatedly taps her stomach in front of Counselor Troi saying 'it hurts'. She wanders back to Data's quarters as she was programmed when experiencing a malfunction.

Despite valiant attempts by Data to save her, with the admiral assisting, she dies as her positronic brain suffers a 'cascading failure' triggered by the experience of intense fear, but not before a very touching scene (like none other I've seen in Sci-Fi except in Blade Runner) in which Data informs Lai she is not going to make it, and she says, "Father, I love you." When Data responds, "I'm sorry I cannot feel that with you", Lai responds, "I'll feel it for both of us."

Where do I start? First, as Data is an android, when he procreates, the ethical issues raised are profound. The character of Captain Picard has impeccable ethics and he defends Data and his daughter's rights like he would any of his crew members. Since Picard had been involved in getting android's rights in the Starfleet Charter, Picard's unwavering defense of Data and Lai's rights is reminiscent of what one would expect from a father defending his own family.

Second, this is the first time I've seen the depiction of PTSD in an android. Lai could not handle the fear of separation from her dad, and she died from it. It reminds me of the aboriginal children taken in the 'sixties scoop' and 'Residential Schools'. Forcibly separating aboriginal children from the families to make them 'White-raised' was unethical, created great distress, emotional harm, and PTSD in the children and inter-generational trauma we see today.

In this TNG episode Gene Roddenbury portrayed sentient being rights abuse in an otherwise close-to-utopian future. Kudos to Jonathan Frakes (Cmdr. William Riker) for directing this excellent episode, again the first TNG (or any Trek TV Series) directed by a cast member. Roddenbury did humanity a favour in creating Star Trek, from its original series through The Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, and the numerous movies. The humanity themes he highlights, often through metaphor like in this episode, make the world a better place.

Foreshadowing ST: Picard - The Offspring

[dmacklin2055 · 9/10 · 2 February 2020]

This is one of my very favorite ST: TNG episodes and one I felt compelled to revisit after watching the first two episodes of the new series ST: Picard.

In this taut, cleverly written and profoundly moving episode, we learn along with Data's good friends Jordi, Deanna and Wesley, that he's been up to something since attending a cybernetics conference. Something is a red gold metallic creation with a positronic brain, just like Data's.

What follows is an often humorous tale about how adults are turned into parents by their toddlers. Except this toddler, who has chosen her physical form (human female) emerges from her Dad's lab fully formed, pre-loded with her personal version of the Encyclopedia Galatica with batteries included. Just one thing, essential social skills do not come as an add-on packet. They have to be acquired through interactive experience.

As ST: Picard is an expansion of the themes raised in this TNG episode, it is well worth watching to consider what may have happened at Star Fleet and within the Federation during the 25 years between the two series. Actor/producer Hallie Todd's performance , from an early point in her long career, will break your heart. Clearly this is one the essential stories in Star Trek lore.

Masterpiece episode number 2

[MsMoebius · 9/10 · 1 March 2022]

I really enjoyed this episode. It shows us how human androids may eventually be.

With the excepction of the ability to love (which is even put in doubt by Guinan), androids might procreate, raise offspring, learn, ask questions, suffer and die as we do.

The final part in which Data admits to keep part of his creation in his mind rather than in his heart was overwhelming.

Absolutely wonderful

[clouseau-4 · 10/10 · 27 January 2012]

Data surprises everyone by creating an android "daughter". What's so wonderful about this episode is many things, foremost the excellent performances by Data (Brent Spiner) and Lal (Hallie Todd), interesting philosophical and ethical issues brought up in the episode, as well as excellent dialog between the characters.

The ending is also very, very touching. Perhaps one of the most tender moments in Star Trek history.

At the heart of the story is one of the main concepts that Star Trek has always conveyed: that certain rights are universal, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, etc. Star Trek just adds a few new dimensions we do not have to deal with: unusual alien sexualities, inter-species relationships, inter-planetary issues, and with Lt. Cmdr Data, the rights of sentient artificial life-forms.

What I thought made this episode so superlative is the conversation that Captain Picard had early on with Data. Picard is chewing Data out for creating another life-form without first consulting him when Data points out that other crew members do not consult Captain Picard with their plans to procreate.

Captain Picard's reaction is a typical one of someone being faced with something he doesn't want to deal with and doesn't understand and he reacts accordingly. However, over time, Captain Picard learns that he in fact is wrong about his judgment of the situation. This journey from ignorance to enlightenment is exactly how an educated, thoughtful person can evolve their positions when more facts are discovered.

It helps that Data is absolutely objective since he has no emotions. Captain Picard cannot argue with Data because Data always argues from facts and logic.

In the trivia section, there is mention that Guinan changed a line of dialog describing human affection as between a man and a woman to between two individuals. This obviously ties in nicely with something that wasn't as much of a national issue in the US back in 1989 but is a big issue today, namely gay marriage and gay rights. There is a nice parallel here with Data and Lal and same-sex couples. Someone like the Admiral who wants to take Lal away for study simply cannot imagine a parental bond between the two. This is similar to those who simply cannot imagine a bond between a same-sex couple today and don't wish them to have the same rights as opposite-sex couples. The hope is that more and more people will be like Captain Picard and evolve their positions over time. Evidence shows that is happening.

A potential classic with one slight misfire

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 21 June 2021]

Data creates another android to be his daughter.

Despite some issues and contrivances in how this episode is written, it is very well made and compelling to watch.

The plot very effectively focuses on various aspects of humanity. Lal is in the earliest phase of her assimilation to a human society and Data is experiencing parenthood for the first time. All the scenes dealing with the two characters struggling and experiencing human behaviour and emotions are very well done.

This is a great step in the overall character arc of Data, as parenthood is one of the biggest challenges faced in life. It not only shows some of the everyday situations all parents can identify with, but also some of the worst fears imaginable and portrays them all with great heart.

Lal is a great idea for guest character and her observations on life and behaviours are presented in a way that invokes both humour and sympathy.

Unfortunately there is an aspect of the plot involving its antagonist that takes the story in an unnecessary direction. Personally I found the concept of Data's daughter to be quite captivating without the need to force a conflict into episode. When you hear how little rationale there is behind Admiral Haftel's position, it feels like it has been included for little other than additional drama. The problems are further compounded as it forces Captain Picard into a position of having to argue the rights of sentient beings again, which takes up screen time with dialogue that covers the same ground as second series episode 'The Measure of a Man'.

Personally I think this could have been one of the greatest episodes of all time if it focussed solely on the very real dramas of Lal and Data trying to fit into life and what becomes of her.

I enjoyed the visuals, particularly some of the sight gags and special effects used in the technical design of Lal.

Brent Spiner and Hallie Todd are superb in their roles. They managed to realistically portray androids and at the same time evoke emotion. Patrick Stewart is brilliant as ever. Caryn Johnson gives that perfect sense of wisdom to Guinan. Nicolas Coster does remarkably well with a fairly contrived character.

Change 2 things and it becomes the best ST episode

[ThunderingTim · 8/10 · 16 October 2016]

You will read the title and shout "Blasphemy!" but I'm dead serious. This could have been the best episode of TNG, maybe even Star Trek. I know The Inner Light, Duet, Waltz, City on the Edge and Far Beyond the Stars are better contenders but this could have been the one.

GOOD STUFF Spiner is so good in this episode he outperforms Stewart, whose defence of Data is fantastic (in fact, out of all AI and robots in all scifi I feel Data/Spiner is the best portrayed). Spiner has the impossible task of playing a man who desperately wants to love his daughter but simply can't, and does so beautifully. The viewer wants him to show emotions but must accept that it's impossible, which makes us like Data even more. Lal is sweet; Guinan has some great scenes.

THINGS I DESPISE 1)I hate Starfleet and the Federation. Sounds weird but every single time we are reminded that both are open minded liberal institutions that are friendly, not racist or sexist, kind to other cultures and respectful of rights. And every episode in every ST proves the exact opposite. Q is quite right in his criticisms, as is Quark. Just think of all the time officers are racist toward the Ferengi, Klingons, Cardassians, Romulans, even Vulcans. Whenever a species is on the verge of warp flight they make contact, which must be utterly overwhelming, and offer membership. When any other race does this they are enraged, calling it conquering and annexing.

2)I hate TNG's need to end shows with happiness. If there was ever any episode that needed a camera panning to Troi in tears it was this one, but it's the usual techno-babble solution and let's warp outta here.

CHANGE THIS 1)Boot the admiral. Starfleet is outraged that a loyal, sentient, fully righted officer dares to have a child and sends the worst admiral they can find to show how arrogant and criminal they are. They accept Data's rights and want to steal his child for no reason, an act of utter barbarity. The hypocrisy is so enraging here. Data himself asks whether any other officer asks permission before reproducing and he's absolutely right. Even the IMDb synopsis poses "Data creates an offspring without regards to the ramifications for Star Fleet". Total BS. Starfleet has neither to fear ramifications nor feel the need to meddle. Again, a loyal officer has a child: Oh no!!! Let's ignore both their rights and confiscate the child.

2)The ending sucks and the worst part is they had the perfect ending in another episode. Change the ending of "The Offspring" and "In Theory"; it would have been unbelievably strong and telling if Data had deleted the program because it was flawed, sit there alone in standby mode, and be glad to see Spot. He's not a dick for liking Spot as much as Lal, but that is the full extent of his love for anyone. It would have been such a deep ending, again forcing the viewer to accept Data's limitations.

WHAT TO DO WITH THE FREED TIME (sans admiral) Include a scene with Troi in which Data talks about his need to love her and his inability to do so; have him talk with LaForge about his achievement, how proud Soong would have been, how much it means to him to no longer be alone.

Conclusion A fine TNG episode with brilliant work from Spiner and Stewart (TNG's two finest actors); more depth to TNG's most beloved character; Starfleet as annoying as ever; the ending as annoying as ever. "I will feel it for both of us" one of the best lines by a guest actor. A wonderful episode that could have been the best.

8/10 but it could have been a solid 10/10.

Daddy Data

[Samuel-Shovel · 6/10 · 16 October 2019]

In "The Offspring" after returning from a conference, Data creates an android using part of his own hardware. He names his offspring Lal and begins to introduce her to the ship and how humans work. But when Star Fleet gets wind of this new lifeform, the head of R&D shows up wanting to take Lal away for their own purposes.

While this is a well made episode, I find a lot of this to be a boring rehash of "The Measure of a Man" which covered this ground better. The slight difference is the inclusion of Data as a father figure instead of the focal point of the issue. Star Fleet arguing to take Lal away really doesn't make sense due to the precedent set by Data's court case. How and why this is even an argument is a bit puzzling.

But this is a bit of a curio just because it is the first time we get Frakes behind the camera. He shows himself to be a steady hand and will go on to make many more episodes as a director.

One of the key prequel episodes for Picard Series

[davepetri · 9/10 · 26 November 2021]

In this episode we see Data's attempt at becoming a parent. It will be nearly 3 decades later before we find out that his desire for procreation ultimately was successful.

Human function

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 26 May 2020]

This TNG story concerns Data trying to perform a human function that of procreation. Bent Spiner reasons that if he can do this in ship's laboratory he will have taken his creator Nooyan Sung to its highest fruition.

Spiner creates Lal played by Hallie Todd. She's an adolescent of varying age and indeterminate sexuality. She learns quickly, maybe too quickly.

In any event Admiral Nicholas Coster wants her for the Dengstrom Institute and this all puts Patrick Stewart ub a dilemma.

Truly brilliant concept and performance from Hallie Todd.

Yet another triumph of feels over substance

[zac-warsteiner · 3/10 · 19 August 2020]

In selfishly deciding to just begin the process of mass-producing artificial life forms, Data goes insanely out of character. Picard is used to try to remind Data of what a terrible idea unilaterally acting in this manner is. However, after the fact. Of course, all this is supposed to be ignored and instead focus on how sweet and wonderful anything at all can now be considered a child, and love conquers all. Even tho' Data exists to explain he does not feel love. Finally, of course, the bad ol' evil military man shows up to ruin everything. Except the inevitable business as usual reset at the end, making all of it pointless. Except of course Data's growth that doesn't actually happen until First Contact. This episode is all hugs and NO brains.

Great Episode

[robertm-85323 · 10/10 · 2 November 2023]

This is an amazing episode that shows that in ONE EPISODE the characters and the guest star that plays Lal could get into the viewer and make them feel the loss when she passes away at the end.

I understand why they had to have the Admiral involved, but I really hate that someone would think they know better than someone else and push them around. This kind of stuff I'm sure happens today.

The ending was beautifully done.

Lastly, why coulnd't Star Trek Discovery do this? When they have the last episode right before the crew goes to the year 3000 or something, you just don't care! The writers of Discovery should take notes of this and other great TNG episodes, and dump that pathetic idiot Kurtzman. Maybe we'd see some good Trek there. (Note, he wasn't involved in the 3rd season of ST:Picard and it was much better)