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REVIEW – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds “Subspace Rhapsody”

Star Trek has officially done a musical episode! It’s very exciting and was the episode I was most excited about this season. The latest edition to Season 2 is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds “Subspace Rhapsody” . Before we get into the quality of the job that director Dermott Downs and writers Dana Horgan & Bill Wolkoff did, we need to acknowledge what a gambit this was. There have been many experimental episodes and out-there concepts, with something like “Spock’s Brain” being the worst example.

Even as far as crossovers like the one earlier this season go, a musical episode is still very, very risky. In a season full of crazy ideas, this stands out a lot, and that says something. So how much did this risk pay off? Is “Subspace Rhapsody” an instant classic or an episode that’s best left ignored? All of this and more in this review for the latest episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds .

WARNING: This review contains full spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 Episode 9 – “Subspace Rhapsody” . If you’ve not seen the episode, please turn away now!

NOTE: This is being written amidst the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes . Without the work of those on strike, this episode could not exist. Any praise for this episode should be considered praise for the writers, actors, and other artists involved. As far as I can tell, independent reviews like this (made without the use of studio-provided screeners) are not against strike rules. I fully support both unions’ fight for fair working conditions and adequate compensation. Do not support studios during a strike.

I’m not much of a musician, but know enough to know that the music here was amazing. The soundtrack isn’t due for release until tomorrow, but I’ll definitely be streaming it for a while. It’s full of a really good mix of songs, from show-stopping ballads to hilarious smaller numbers. I loved it, especially considering most of the cast aren’t known for their musical talents. The voice training they went for with the entire cast, even with the smaller characters paid off in droves. There’s scarcely a note off-key.

The biggest exception to the “not a musician” rule is La’an ( Christina Chong ). She has released some music recently that I find myself obsessed with. Her number in Strange New Worlds “Subspace Rhapsody”, entitled “How Would that Feel”, had my jaw on the floor. I knew she had an amazing voice, but wow. It managed to pack in so much emotional power into a few minutes. By far, it’s my favourite of the episode. It was equal parts exhilarating and emotionally devastating, with all the punch of one of the ballads from Falsettos. I loved it.

Songwriters Tom Polce and Kay Hanley really knocked it out of the park. I appreciated how distinct all the songs were, with none of them feeling the same. There’s flashes of all sorts of genres, but the Klingons stand out the most. I’m also fairly certain they managed to integrate Bruce Horak into that scene, which was amazing. The integration of science-fiction nomenclature was also fun, this being the only musical I know of to do that. There’s a variety here that, much like this season, is of very high quality.

Spock and Christine

I’ve made no secret of how I feel about the romance between Spock ( Ethan Peck ) and Chapel ( Jess Bush ) this season. That being said, this episode really put everything in perspective, carefully explaining why Spock is so hurt by Christine. We finally get word of the as-of-now unseen Dr Korby accepting Chapel into his fellowship program. We know from The Original Series episode “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” that she ends up engaged to him. I wait in anticipation for his appearance, and the actor they choose to portray him.

Their breakup here felt a little forced, but also understandable. I’m not a fan of their relationship at all, still, seeing the silence between them at the end was gutwrenching. As funny as all the maths jokes were in “I’m the X”, Peck did a great job, considering he got broken up with through song. Vulcans are said to only express strong emotions like this, which made it all the more devastating. Him getting broken up with through song was pretty sad, but also a little on the funny side.

I’m curious to see what Chapel joining Dr Korby does to Spock. Compared to my previous indifference, I’m now incredibly invested in their relationship. With how quickly they broke up, it’s as if every awkward moment between them in TOS is completely recontextualised. I’ll never be able to watch the older episodes the same way, and I love that. It really is astounding that all these characters are in the same place, years before the events of T OS. Seeing the change in relationship dynamics over that time is equally astounding.

Una ( Rebecca Romijn ), outside of a lovely musical number mostly plays second fiddle to the other characters in Strange New Worlds “Subspace Rhapsody”. She’s there to support Jim, who’s beamed over from the USS Farragut trying to move up the ranks. And then she’s there to support La’an through her breakup. Although I guess it plays into what she sings about, getting closer with her officers. Even though this was a thing that was shown gradually onscreen over the past two seasons, it’s nice to have it in the form of song as well.

The song also plays into her obsession with Gilbert and Sullivan, which gets namedropped here. The song, while less opera, it definitely has more in common with something like The Pirates of Penzance than Wicked . It’s probably the most distinct song in the musical in this way, and I think I mostly enjoyed it. Seeing Romijn, who can also actually sing, perform something like this is awesome.

While most of the cast aren’t experienced singers, having people like Romijn, Chong, and Gooding sing to their known strengths was a great choice. It’s a side of the actors’ skillset that most Star Trek fans may not be aware of, so it’s great outlet for them to show off that side of themselves. Strange New Worlds “Subspace Rhapsody” also created a musical universe in this anomaly, something that they could easily revisit in another series years down the line for more fun. That being said, this should definitely remain a one-off for a while.

Kirk and La’an

After “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” put La’an in a relationship with an alternate Kirk ( Paul Wesley ), I’ve been intrigued to say the least. I wasn’t sure what to make of it initially, but I finally see what they were going for. A bit like the relationship between Spock and Chapel, it feels like a lot of the plot points this season has introduced are being closed off. The scene between them was sweet, and I’m glad it didn’t descend into song.

It’s pretty much the only scene of the episode that did this, to the point where the conversation they had stands out as one of the few traditional scenes of the episode. As much as it turns out Paul Wesley has a nice singing voice, I’m glad this scene remained pretty serious. I’m also glad that they chose not to add another romance into the fold, with the series feeling a little crowded in that department already. As nice as it is to have closure, it’s gutting for La’an, to the point where I’m wondering where she goes from here.

We know that she’s not in TOS , is it possible that she resigns after Kirk takes command?They also referenced Carol Marcus. We here at Trek Central thought this might happen before the season even came out. While she didn’t appear, I did appreciate the nod. There’s no big need for the character to appear, just knowing that Carol’s out there and pregnant (with David) is enough for me. It’s as far as they need to go, and for Kirk to keep the ‘deadbeat dad’ reputation for The Wrath of Khan , it’s probably as far as they can.

The journey of Uhura ( Celia Rose-Gooding ) this season has also been a lot of fun. The character finally feels like she’s coming into her own. I think the crossover episode, “Those Old Scientists” , in which she met both Boimler ( Jack Quaid ) and Mariner ( Tawny Newsome ) changed her for the better. The second she heard she was considered a legend, her confidence has increased tenfold. Watching her as more of a phone operator this week was the ultimate sign of this, working quickly, effectively, and well… confidently.

It ties in to how we see her in TOS , where she was played by the brilliant Nichelle Nichols . The series has built on a lot of her most iconic moments from the series. I guess that also includes the singing talent that she displayed during “Charlie X” . This was on such a bigger scale, turning every musical number the series had ever done up to 11. Honestly, my biggest complaint is the lack of references to songs and musical moments like that.

It’s safe to say Uhura was not as much of a character in TOS . She was there, but was never really the focus for more than the occasional scene. It’s great to have her more fleshed out. Seeing that she has the capability to inspire the whole of the crew to sing as one, in a moment that was absolutely awe-inspiring. It’s the song that’s going to get stuck in your head, probably more so than Uhura’s solo number. They’re able to cram so much into an hour of television, so many songs and yet still recognisable as an episode of Star Trek .

It didn’t surprise me to learn that the director this week, Dermott Downs, has prior experience with special musical episodes. He’s also had a lot of experience with the scale of science-fiction, directing a lot for the superhero genre. One of these episodes he previously directed was “ Duet ” for The Flash . Interestingly, it featured a similar premise – the series regulars being dragged into a musical before fighting their way out. However, I consider this to be the superior product of the two, by far.

While both episodes are enjoyable, this one’s less of a novelty and the songs actually drag the plot forward. As well as this, Downs has clearly become more experienced when it comes to spectacle. The way the Klingons were framed when singing was amazing, and the shots of the dancers moving around the hallway during the final number was nothing short of epic. It was all amazingly well choreographed, even the ships spinning in time with the music was such an inspired choice.

If the franchise were ever to do anything similarly theatrical, I’d expect him to at least be considered for the director’s chair. That being said, I hope this doesn’t happen again. I loved it, but we don’t want to risk Star Trek becoming too much of something its not. Variety is a great thing, especially with the shorter episode count that these newer series have. However, adding musical to the list of formats that the series uses regularly isn’t special.

This exceeded even my expectations. It was so much fun. I loved how, unlike musical episodes like The Flash ‘s “Duet” , and Buffy the Vampire Slayer ‘s “Once More with Feeling” , this was really special. “Subspace Rhapsody” in no uncertain terms propelled the plots forward, inching the characters closer to their TOS starting positions. It did this and also had a lot of fun singing, dancing, and prancing around the Enterprise. Lots to love here.

I mentioned a few times now, not just in this article but over the last few weeks, that Strange New Worlds “Subspace Rhapsody” was the episode I was most excited for. What can I say? I’m a fan of musicals, of course I was going to love this. Whilst the format isn’t for everybody, and can even be a bit of a turn-off, I had a lot of fun here. It’s essential viewing, especially for the novelty component. That being said, I wouldn’t call this my favourite episode of this season. Although with how strong it’s been, that’s hardly a criticism.

I’m glad this came in the series when it did. If it were done at the other end of the season, it wouldn’t have succeeded as much as it did. It definitely worked better when we knew what to expect from the characters, and what sort of dramatic moments would happen. It managed to get a laugh and smile out of me more than your regular episode. This was well worth the hype and secrecy, it was so much fun and was just the lighter pick-up I needed after last week’s very dark episode.

Where to Watch

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds  streams Thursdays via  Paramount+ in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, South Korea (via Tving), France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland & Austria. As well as CTV Scifi / Crave in Canada, & TVNZ in New Zealand. And on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and Central and Eastern Europe.

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Interview With Songwriters Tom Polce Kay Hanley On “Subspace Rhapsody” From ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’

One year ago last August, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds made history with “Subspace Rhapsody,” the franchise’s first musical episode. To celebrate the milestone Anthony and Laurie are joined by musicians Tom Polce and Kay Hanley, who wrote all the songs for the episode (and Laurie can hardly contain herself). They talk about what the songwriters were asked to do, how it changed along the way, and get into the details on each of the individual songs. Kay and Tom also talk about working with the actors, squeezing technobabble into song lyrics, and play a bit of an early demo. They answer burning questions like “Is Akiva serious when he says he wants to bring ‘Subspace Rhapsody’ to Broadway?” and “Who was the most nervous about doing a musical episode?”

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• Show All Access Star Trek - A TrekMovie.com Podcast
• Frequency Updated Weekly
• Published August 30, 2024 at 9:30 AM UTC
• Length 57 min
• Rating Clean

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Star Trek: The Musical

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So there really needs to be a Deep Space Nine musical. The opening number could be Good Morning Terok Nor (“Good Morning Baltimore” from Hairspray)

"The voles on the street all dance round my feet They seem to say, “Captain, it’s up to you” So, oh, oh don’t hold me back 'Cause today all my...

So I got really excited and this happened.  Image credit to Clarinetgirl23

The 10 Best Captain Picard Episodes in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' Ranked

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Star Trek: The Next Generation isn’t just one of the best installments in the Star Trek franchise, but one of the greatest drama shows of all time . While the original Star Trek series was sadly canceled after the end of its third season, Star Trek: The Next Generation was given the chance to keep pushing the story forward for over seven years.

Although there are many beloved characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart’s performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard turned him into the greatest hero in the history of the Star Trek saga . Stewart crafted a complex, vulnerable hero who was defined by his dedication, principles, and willingness to hear both sides of any given dispute; he’s simply a character that everyone should aspire to be like. Here are the ten best Captain Picard episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Star Trek: The Next Generation

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10 “The Measure of a Man”

Season 2, episode 9 (1989).

There are few relationships in the Star Trek franchise that are more profound than the dynamic between Picard and Data ( Brett Spiner ), the android who serves as one of the most important officers on the U.S.S. Enterprise. “The Measure of a Man” featured Picard serving as Data’s defender in a legal case in which he must defend his right to exist. The discussion about the merits of artificial intelligence is just as relevant today as they were when the episode first aired in 1989.

“Measure of a Man” showed that Picard was willing to stand up for the rights of those that were mistreated , as Star Trek has always been an incredibly progressive franchise when compared to other science fiction properties. This episode solidified the fact that Picard was willing to risk his own livelihood if the safety of one of his crew members was ever placed in danger.

9 “The Best of Both Worlds”

Season 3, episode 26 & season 4, episode 1 (1990).

“The Best of Both Worlds” is one of the most important episodes of any Star Trek series, as the first installment of the two-parter that ended the third season had a massive cliffhanger that had viewers screaming at their televisions. The episode featured Picard being captured by the Borg, with his replacement Captain William T. Riker ( Jonathan Frakes ) put in a position that could end his life.

“The Best of Both Worlds” was the first instance in which Picard felt completely vulnerable , as it was feasible that he could get killed off and replaced by Riker for the rest of the show. Although Picard ended up surviving the incident, his feud with the Borg as a result of his torture left him with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder that he continued to deal with for the rest of the series.

8 “Family”

Season 4, episode 2 (1990).

“Family” was a critical episode that helped to humanize Picard and showed what his family life looked like for the first time. Although Picard rarely discussed his personal motivations and background with members of his crew during the first three seasons of the show, “Family” saw him returning to visit his family farm after his traumatic encounter with the Borg in “The Best of Both Worlds.”

“Family” was an important shift in tone for Star Trek: The Next Generation that helped follow up the action of “The Best of Both Worlds,” and did a great job at showing how Picard was dealing with his personal mental health in the series after such a frightening incident. Stewart is arguably at his most profound and emotional in “Family,” as the episode strips away all the duties of command from Picard and examines what it is like for him to live a normal life outside of Starfleet.

7 “The Drumhead”

Season 4, episode 21 (1991).

Star Trek has always been a very political franchise that touches on hot-button issues, and “The Drumhead” explores a scary situation about the denial of truth that has proven to be just as relevant today in an era of political divisiveness and fake news. After a member of his crew is accused of being a traitor, Picard is forced to prevent a representative of Starfleet from badgering everyone under his command and impeding their civil liberties.

“The Drumhead” plays out like a legal thriller, and feels just as exciting as the courtroom dramas that dominated the 1990s . While it is relatively light on action compared to some of the more intense episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “The Drumhead” proved that the series was capable of developing nuanced ideas about what the future would look like under Gene Roddenberry ’s vision.

6 “Darmok”

Season 5, episode 2 (1991).

“Darmok” is perhaps the most intimate episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation , as it sees Picard being trapped in a primitive world where he can only communicate with the native species using rudimentary language. The episode shows just how effective of a hero Picard can be, even if he seems to enjoy being in the company of a crew that supports him.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is well known for making interesting genre deviations, and “Darmok” feels like the closest that the series ever got to a Western adventure story . Although some viewers may have felt the same exact confusion and frustration that Picard did when the premise was first established, “Darmok” ends with one of the most powerful emotional revelations about the ability that Picard has to inspire others in all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

5 “Conundrum”

Season 5, episode 14 (1992).

“Conundrum” is one of the most imaginative episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation , as it takes place after a mysterious alien virus forces the entire crew to forget their memories, leaving them helpless in the middle of space. This was an episode that essentially showed how the Enterprise crew could be built again from the ground up, as Picard is the first one to assess the parameters of the mystery and start developing a solution to keep everyone safe.

“Conundrum” was one of the best episodes that showed Stewart’s generosity as an actor , as even though it is Picard’s moment to shine as a leader, every single member of the cast is given a standout moment. The success of “Conundrum” in combining the emotional with the practical is a major reason why the fifth season is often cited as the best that Star Trek: The Next Generation ever aired.

4 “Cause and Effect”

Season 5, episode 18 (1992).

Time travel is notoriously a concept that is very difficult to capture on screen in a compelling way, as it is very easy to get so confusing that viewers struggle to understand what the stakes are supposed to be. However, “Cause and Effect” presented a brilliant time travel storyline in which Picard and the crew of the Enterprise are trapped in a recurring loop that could doom them for eternity.

“Cause and Effect” was a great example of Star Trek: The Next Generation showing Picard’s abilities as a strategist . While many of the captains established in other shows and films in the Star Trek franchise earned their rank through military conquest, it's Picard’s intelligence and ability to make rational decisions while under pressure that make him such an all-time great character. “Cause and Effect” succeeds because Stewart understands this fundamental truth about the character.

3 “The Inner Light”

Season 5, episode 25 (1992).

“The Inner Light” is perhaps the most emotional episode of the entire Star Trek franchise, and would have earned Stewart a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series had the Television Academy not been so notoriously biased against science fiction and other genre shows. The episode takes place entirely in Picard’s mind, as he begins to live out different fantasies about what an alternate life could look like when he is unconscious.

“The Inner Light” revealed truths about Picard as a character , showing how his unflinching willingness to perform his duty against mitigating circumstances put a severe detriment on his ability to start a family. There isn’t another episode more tear-jerking as “The Inner Light,” as Stewart reveals how Picard is dealing with the burdens of his sacrifices, and how it has been taken for granted by those who serve under him.

2 “Tapestry”

Season 6, episode 15 (1993).

“Tapestry” was an integral episode that revealed that Picard himself was flawed , as his encounter with Q ( John de Lancie ) allows him to travel back to moments from his past and reflect on the mistakes that he made as a young man. Essentially serving as a coming-of-age story about Picard’s youth, “Tapestry” showed that even someone that noble had elements of their past that they had buried deep within their minds.

The dynamic between Q and Picard is one of the show’s most interesting, as the two have completely different outlooks on humanity and its potential. While Q uses the mistakes that humanity has made as evidence that they are beyond reason, Picard argues that humans are capable of being empathetic, compassionate, and willing to redeem themselves. It’s Picard’s faith in others and general optimism about the future that makes him such an inspiring character.

1 “All Good Things…”

Season 7, episode 25 (1994).

There aren’t many shows that end on a perfect note, as many acclaimed programs like Game of Thrones , House of Cards , Killing Eve , and Battlestar Galactica had such underwhelming series finales that fans questioned why they were ever loyal to the shows in the first place. However, Star Trek: The Next Generation ended on a perfect note with “All Good Things…,” an episode that featured a profound moment where Picard was able to thank every member of the crew for their dedication to the Enterprise .

“All Good Things…” showed that Star Trek: The Next Generation was more interested in developing great characters than overwhelming the viewers with action, as it takes a far more philosophical approach to a series finale than some may have expected. A final shot of Picard playing cards with various crew members was the perfect way to wrap up the show.

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10 most human things data did on star trek: tng.

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10 Times Star Trek: TNG Was Funny Because Of Data

14 episode details you missed in star trek: tng's “the measure of a man”, picard almost let a planet be destroyed to preserve star trek: tng's prime directive.

On Star Trek: The Next Generation , Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) wanted nothing more than to be human, but he was often more human than he realized. As an incredibly advanced android created by Dr. Noonien Soong (Brent Spiner), Data was superior to humans in many ways. His strength and agility were better than any human, and he could do complex calculations and recall vast amounts of information thanks to his positronic brain. As the operations officer on the USS Enterprise-D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Data proved himself an invaluable member of the crew.

Despite all the advantages Data had as an android, he spent much of his time observing the humans around him and trying to be more like them. Data was often compassionate and even sometimes sentimental; he had diverse interests and sought to connect with those around him. And he accomplished all of this without the emotion chip created for him by Dr. Noonien Soong , proving he never needed it in the first place. In his quest to be human, Data became a shining example of all of the best things about humanity, and the android did many human things on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Data received the ultimate upgrade in Star Trek: Picard season 3, complete with a new synthetic body and the ability to experience emotions, but he had long been human in all the ways that mattered.

I Wish Star Trek: TNG Had Never Introduced Data's Emotion Chip

Star Trek Generations failed Data, making me wish Star Trek: The Next Generation had never introduced his emotion chip.

10 Data Enjoyed Making Art & Music

Various episodes of star trek: the next generation.

Data's desire to better understand humanity leads him to take up music and painting. Although Data can download the knowledge necessary to play the violin or copy a Monet painting, he chooses to continue practicing. He also combines styles of music and art in different ways, in much the same way human artists experiment with tones and styles. Data can be seen playing the violin or painting in several episodes of TNG, often seeking out the opinions of those around him regarding his work.

The very act of creating unique art is human in and of itself.

Throughout history, humans have used art and music as a way to express their emotions, so it makes perfect sense that Data would seek to emulate humanity in this way. Data also tried out several other human hobbies, including writing poetry, playing poker, and performing in plays. Data may have felt that his techniques in these art forms lacked creativity, but the very act of creating unique art is human in and of itself.

9 Data Told Jokes & Worked to Develop His Sense Of Humor

Star trek: the next generation season 2, episode 4 ("the outrageous okona") & others.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "The Outrageous Okona," Data tries to understand the nuances of humor, seeking advice from Ten Forward bartender, Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) . Thanks to his android logic, Data often takes things literally, failing to understand sarcasm and human idioms. This also makes it difficult for him to understand jokes and the many random things humans (and aliens) find funny.

Data struggles with humor more than most of the other human endeavors he attempts, which makes sense, in a way. Even among humans, humor is subjective. What is funny to some may not be funny at all to others. Still, Data does his best, and in the end, he manages to make the Enterprise crew laugh, even if it takes him a beat to realize why his remark was funny.

The android Lt. Commander Data may not always understand humor, but he was often the funniest character on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

8 Data Had A Pet Cat Named Spot

Introduced in star trek: the next generation season 4, episode 11 ("data's day").

As Data recounts the details of a day on the USS Enterprise-D in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Data's Day," he spends some time with his cat, Spot. Data dotes on Spot just as many humans do with their pets, taking time out of his day to entertain and train the orange cat. Data designed at least 221 different types of food for Spot, trying to figure out the one that she liked best (supplement 25), and he looked after her closely when she became pregnant.

Although Spot was initially referred to as a male cat, she was later confirmed to be female when she gave birth to a litter of kittens.

When Data needs someone else to look after Spot, he entrusts his cat to Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn ) with the advice: "You must talk to him. Tell him he is a pretty cat, and a good cat." Worf responds that he will feed him, although the Klingon later discovers that he is allergic to cats. The desire for a pet is very human and it's difficult to argue that Data doesn't love Spot. The android even composes a poem for his furry friend entitled "Ode to Spot," which he recites in TNG season 6, episode 5, "Schisms."

7 Data Became A Father To Lal

Star trek: the next generation season 3, episode 16 ("the offspring").

In one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's best episodes , "The Offspring," Data creates a daughter named Lal (Hallie Todd) using the cybernetic technology Dr. Soong used to create Data. Throughout the episode, Data teaches Lal about humanity and she learns quickly. As Lal's programming begins to surpass even Data's, Starfleet takes an interest in her and wants to take her to a Starfleet science facility.

Captain Picard stands up for Data's right to keep custody of his daughter, but the argument becomes moot when Lal malfunctions. Lal begins experiencing emotions for the first time, fearful that she will have to leave the Enterprise. These emotions overwhelm Lal's positronic brain , causing a cascade failure. Data fights to save Lal's life just as hard as any parent would, but he is unable to save her. Data then downloads Lal's memories into his own neural net, so that she will continue to exist in some way.

When Data seeks parenting advice from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), he laments that he cannot love Lal, but Beverly finds that hard to believe. This is one of the many instances when characters express their skepticism about Data's supposed lack of feeling.

6 Data Had A Best Friend In Geordi La Forge

Many episodes of star trek: the next generation.

Data considers Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) to be his best friend, as he states outright in "Data's Day." Not only do Data and Geordi both share an interest in science and engineering, but they also spend much of their free time together, going on holodeck adventures as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Although Geordi is the one who works on Data when he needs repairs, the engineer never treats Data as anything less than human.

La Forge is sometimes awkward around other people, particularly women, so his friendship with Data makes perfect sense. The two can discuss complicated engineering problems without having to worry about social niceties. Geordi also helps Data throughout his journey to be human, and Data even states that he "never knew what a friend was until [he] met Geordi," in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5, episode 24, "The Next Phase."

5 Data Fought For The Right To Make His Own Decisions

Star trek: the next generation season 2, episode 9 ("the measure of a man").

In the excellent Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "The Measure of a Man," Data's right to make his own choices is called into question. When Dr. Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy) visits the Enterprise asking to dismantle Data for further study, the cyberneticist claims that Data is the property of Starfleet. Data, of course, does not wish to be dismantled, and Captain Picard helps the android fight for the right to make his own choices.

"The Measure of Man" was one of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Here are 14 details you missed.

The desire not only to survive but also to remain in control of our own lives is one of humanity's most basic instincts. Although the acting judge Captain Phillipa Louvois (Amanda McBroom) cannot say whether or not Data has a soul, it's clear that he deserves the opportunity to, as she puts it, "explore that question himself." The events of "The Measure of a Man" continue to resonate within Star Trek today, and it remains a shining example of Data's obvious humanity.

4 Data Learned To Dance From Dr. Beverly Crusher

Star trek: the next generation season 4, episode 11 ("data's day").

"Data's Day" contains numerous examples of Data acting human, from his conversations with Geordi and Worf to his ruminations on his own desire to "become more than what I am." As Data prepares for the wedding of his friends Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) and Keiko (Rosalind Chao), he discovers that he may have to dance at the ceremony. Data then goes to Dr. Beverly Crusher and asks her to teach him to dance.

Throughout "Data's Day," Data seeks advice from his friends on how best to help Miles and Keiko on their wedding day . Data wants to ensure that his friends have a perfect wedding, a very thoughtful and human thing to do. An unfeeling machine would not care about any of these things and would have no reason to learn how to dance. Despite being arguably superior to humans, Data never looks down on those around him and is always willing to seek out advice.

3 Data Reacted With Anger When He Was Mistreated

Star trek: the next generation season 3, episode 22 ("the most toys").

Another Data-centric Star Trek: The Next Generation episode that puts the android's humanity on full display, "The Most Toys" sees Data kidnapped by a cruel and obsessed collector named Kivas Fajo (Saul Rubinek). Fajo fakes Data's death and takes the android to his private collection of rare and valuable objects. Fajo does not see Data as a person, but rather as a thing to possess. Despite this, Data remains calm even as he defies Fajo's orders.

To force Data to comply, Fajo kills one of his assistants, threatening to kill more. Meanwhile, Geordi and the Enterprise crew have discovered Fajo's ruse and returned to retrieve Data. Just as Data is beamed back to the Enterprise, he appears to fire a deadly weapon at Fajo. Until this point in TNG, Data has never been driven to true anger. While "The Most Toys" leaves it ambiguous as to whether Data really fired the weapon, it's clear he experienced a strong reaction to Fajo's cruelty and disregard for human life.

2 Data Saved A Little Girl & Her Planet

Star trek: the next generation season 2, episode 15 ("pen pals").

When Data intercepts a message from a young girl named Sarjenka (Nikki Cox) on the planet Drema IV, he begins a conversation with her. After learning that her planet will be destroyed due to geological activity, Data tells Captain Picard about his conversations with Sarjenka. Although Picard initially refuses to prevent the destruction of Drema IV due to Starfleet's Prime Directive , he changes his mind after hearing Sarjenka's cry for help.

Data helps Captain Picard see that even Starfleet's most important rule sometimes needs to be broken on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Data then visits the planet's surface and returns to the Enterprise with Sarjenka in tow. The frightened little girl refuses to leave Data's side and all of their interactions are incredibly sweet. Data's initial decision to answer Sarjenka's plea is one of the most human things he has ever done. Even though Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) erases Sarjenka's memories of Data, the sentimental android leaves a singing stone with her as a memento.

1 Data Sought A Connection With His Family

When Data is first introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation, he knows very little about his origins. As the only android in Starfleet , Data cannot help but wonder if there are others like him . After learning he has a brother named Lore (Brent Spiner) in TNG season 1, episode 13, "Datalore," Data tries to connect with him only for Lore to try to kill the Enterprise crew. Later, in TNG season 4, episode 3, "Brothers," Data runs into Lore again and also meets his creator, Dr. Noonien Soong.

After Lore wounds Soong and leaves him to die, Data laments that he cannot mourn his creator. Soong, however, knows that Data will grieve for him, "in [his] own way." Data later dreams of his creator, learning that Soong wanted Data to learn and grow, and perhaps one day achieve his own form of humanity. Data was always the best of the Soongs, but he found a true family full of people who care about him in the crew of the USS Enterprise-D on Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Star Trek: The Next Generation

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Deep Space Pride: A Gay Star Trek Podcast

110 - the one with the snw/ld crossover.

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Jul 31, 2023

We fast forward past a few SNW episodes to talk about a recent favorite, "Those Old Scientists!" Mike and Johnson are both huge fans of this episode, which features Boimler and Mariner visit the Strange New Worlds crew. From the constant references to physical comedy, this episode is somehow able to blend the spirit of both shows successfully. We're huge fans!

But first some news items, which includes a look at the final season of Discovery, a trailer for the next season of Lower Decks, and the announcement of a musical episode of Strange New Worlds!? Mixed feelings on that one.

About the Podcast

Welcome to Deep Space Pride! Mike Thurlow and Johnson Lee are two self-professed gay geeks who love to obsess over Star Trek - join us as we talk about some of our favorite episodes, revel as yet another new series is announced, and ramble on about some off topic content. And maybe once in a while, we'll simply talk about living as two gay guys in New York City.

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Home › downthetubes News › Look-In cover art by Arnaldo Putzu offered at auction

Look-In cover art by Arnaldo Putzu offered at auction

By John Freeman on August 26, 2024 • ( 0 )

Nestling inside the next Ewbank’s Entertainment & Memorabilia Premier Live Auction , which includes a staggering mix of music, film and TV collectibles are several Look-In cover artworks by Arnaldo Putzu .

The artworks were given to fellow artist John Stockie by Arnaldo, who he worked alongside at Downton Pulfords premier film advertising agency, whose portfolio of clients included Rank, British Lion, Universal, United Artists, RKO, Look-In magazine, and numerous other publications.

Eric Pulfords innovation was to bring young talented artists to London, including Arnoldo Putzo and Renato Fratini.  

When the time came for Arnoldo Putzu to return to Italy, he gifted several of his artworks to his friend, John Stockle.        

Arnaldo Putzu is perhaps one of the “Junior TV Times ” magazine’s best known cover artists, as well as being well known for his film poster work, and more.

• Ewbank’s Entertainment & Memorabilia Premier Live Auction 29th August 2024 , starts 11:00am | VIEWING TIMES: Tuesday 27th August: 9am-5pm / Wednesday 28th August: 9am-5pm / Day of Sale | View the catalogue

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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer , published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine .

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine , Babylon 5 Magazine , and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

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Magnet Fishing Gone CRAZY - This Was NEVER Supposed To Be Found…

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My Hero Academia: You're Next

Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he once admired. Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he once admired. Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he once admired.

• Tensai Okamura
• Yôsuke Kuroda
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• Kaito Ishikawa
• Kenta Miyake
• 1 User review

• Shoto Todoroki

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• Izuku Midoriya
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• Trivia This is the final My Hero Academia movie, as the manga ended a few days after the film's release.
• Connections Spin-off from My Hero Academia (2016)

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• October 11, 2024 (United States)
• Official website
• 我的英雄學院劇場版：You're Next
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• $19,003,869

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• Runtime 1 hour 50 minutes

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