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.
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.