Data's Day 

Data tries to comprehend the complex emotions between O'Brien and Keiko, who are about to be married.

Director:

Robert Wiemer

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Harold Apter (teleplay by)

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Patrick Stewart	...	Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Cmdr. William Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Rosalind Chao	...	Keiko Ishikawa
Colm Meaney	...	Chief Miles O'Brien
Sierra Pecheur	...	Ambassador T'Pel
Alan Scarfe	...	Admiral Mendak
Shelly Desai	...	V'Sal
April Grace	...	Transporter Technician Hubbell

Storyline

Second officer Lt. Commander Data accepted to speak a complete record of a day in his functioning for the benefit of scientific android engineer Commander Maddox and concludes his programming must be improved concerning interaction with human emotions, most puzzling given human practices such as irony. Chief Miles O'Brien's human wedding is amply confusing, even for Worf, bride Keiko Ishikawa's gibbers even more illogical. Learning dances and which is appropriate from Dr. Crusher prove easy. Conan Doyle's logic of elimination Data soon masters, in time to solve a mysterious accident during negotiations with a Romulan admiral...

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Plot Keywords:

personal log | android | second officer's log | bride | zip the lips gesture | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 January 1991 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

46 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The running narration of this episode is a log entry recorded by Data for Commander Bruce Maddox, who wished to disassemble Data in a risky procedure to experiment on him in TNG: "The Measure Of A Man". After the trial on his right to choose, Data remained open to future collaboration, told Maddox to continue his work and said that he found some of what he proposed "intriguing." His reference to Maddox's "most recent letter" suggests that he and Data have had a continuing correspondence.

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Goofs

The appearance of the pads on the transporter platform is inconsistent throughout this episode. In some scenes, the border lines around each pad are more pronounced than they are during others. This is because the set was being redressed for use in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The thicker black border lines seen in that film were kept in for the rest of the series.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lt. Commander Data: Second Officer's personal log, stardate 44390.1 - Record entry for transmission to Commander Bruce Maddox, Cybernetics Division, Daystrom Institute. Dear Commander Maddox. In reference to your most recent letter, I agree that your study lacks sufficient primary source information on my programming and operation. Therefore, in response to your request, this correspondence will include a complete record of my activities during a normal day, with particular emphasis on my perceptions ...

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Connections

References Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Measure of a Man (1989)

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Soundtracks

Isn't It Romantic?
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart

User Reviews

Data Dances....and Smiles!

This episode reminded me of those MASH episodes where one of the characters would write to a relative about what was going on daily in their lives. In this one, Data writes to the Daystrom Institute to tell of his efforts to assimilate himself into the crew by exploring and donning human traits. He has bee chosen to be the best man at Chief Obrien and Keiko's wedding and he experiments with all the intricacies of that process, including the seeming cold feet of the bride. In one of the funniest moments of the series, Beverly Crusher is enlisted to teach him to dance. She doesn't know it's for a wedding and teaches him to tap dance. He is very adept because he need only follow her moves When she realizes he misunderstanding, she tries basic ballroom technique with varied success. He does get it, but is stiff and awkward. She tells him to smile and he gets this plastered-on, ridiculous grin as he dances, first with her and then with a holographic partner.

There is also a serious event going on. A Vulcan ambassador is on board the Enterprise, ready to beam over to a Romulan ship to begin negotiations, representative of the Federation. She is killed as she transports over and the Romulans accuse Picard of underhandedness. It is well worth watching to see how this all plays out.