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Star Trek: The Next Generation
S5.E11
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  • User reviews
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IMDbPro

Hero Worship

  • Episode aired Jan 25, 1992
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 46m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
Brent Spiner and Joshua Harris in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Sci-Fi
Data rescues an orphaned boy named Timothy from a damaged ship. As a way to repress his own pain, Timothy begins to mimic Data's personality.Data rescues an orphaned boy named Timothy from a damaged ship. As a way to repress his own pain, Timothy begins to mimic Data's personality.Data rescues an orphaned boy named Timothy from a damaged ship. As a way to repress his own pain, Timothy begins to mimic Data's personality.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Patrick Stewart
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Joe Menosky(teleplay by)
    • Hilary Bader(story by)
  • Stars
    • Patrick Stewart
    • Jonathan Frakes
    • LeVar Burton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Patrick Stewart
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Joe Menosky(teleplay by)
    • Hilary Bader(story by)
  • Stars
    • Patrick Stewart
    • Jonathan Frakes
    • LeVar Burton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos34

    Brent Spiner and Joshua Harris in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Patrick Stewart, and Joshua Harris in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Joshua Harris and Steven Einspahr in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Joshua Harris and Steven Einspahr in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Brent Spiner and Joshua Harris in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Gates McFadden, Brent Spiner, and Joshua Harris in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Brent Spiner and Joshua Harris in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Patrick Stewart
    Patrick Stewart
    • Capt. Jean-Luc Picardas Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
    Jonathan Frakes
    Jonathan Frakes
    • Cmdr. William Rikeras Cmdr. William Riker
    LeVar Burton
    LeVar Burton
    • Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forgeas Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
    Michael Dorn
    Michael Dorn
    • Lt. Worfas Lt. Worf
    Gates McFadden
    Gates McFadden
    • Dr. Beverly Crusheras Dr. Beverly Crusher
    Marina Sirtis
    Marina Sirtis
    • Counselor Deanna Troias Counselor Deanna Troi
    Brent Spiner
    Brent Spiner
    • Lt. Cmdr. Dataas Lt. Cmdr. Data
    Joshua Harris
    • Timothyas Timothy
    Harley Venton
    • Chief Hutchinsonas Chief Hutchinson
    Sheila Franklin
    Sheila Franklin
    • Ensign Feltonas Ensign Felton
    Steven Einspahr
    • Teacheras Teacher
    Rachen Assapiomonwait
    • Crewman Nelsonas Crewman Nelson
    • (uncredited)
    Lena Banks
    Lena Banks
    • Starfleet Ensignas Starfleet Ensign
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Braveheart
    • Crewman Martinezas Crewman Martinez
    • (uncredited)
    Tracee Cocco
    Tracee Cocco
    • Ensign Jaeas Ensign Jae
    • (uncredited)
    Gerard David Jr.
    • Operations Division Officeras Operations Division Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Debbie David
    Debbie David
    • Ensign Russellas Ensign Russell
    • (uncredited)
    Elliot Durant III
    • Starfleet Ensignas Starfleet Ensign
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Patrick Stewart
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Joe Menosky(teleplay by)
      • Hilary Bader(story by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A scene near the end of the episode shows the children in a room singing "Row Row Row Your Boat" along with an unseen adult. The voice of the adult singer is actually Brent Spiner.
    • Goofs
      Data refers to Lieutenant Commander La Forge as "Lieutenant La Forge". Lieutenant Commander may be shortened to Commander, but not Lieutenant.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Commander Data: I have often wished to be human. I study people carefully, in order to more closely approximate human behavior.

      Timothy: Why? We're stronger and smarter than humans. We can do more than they can.

      Lt. Commander Data: But I cannot take pride in my abilities. I cannot take pleasure in my accomplishments.

      Timothy: But... we never have to feel bad either.

      Lt. Commander Data: I would gladly risk feeling bad at times, if it also meant that I could... taste my dessert.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Star Trek: Lower Decks: I, Excretus (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
      Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

    User reviews11

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Android fatherly figure
    As one of the most heartwarming episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Hero Worship" follows the Enterprise investigating the mysterious destruction of science star-ship, the Vico, which was last seen en route to investigate a large black cluster in space. The sole survivor of the tragedy is a traumatized nine year/ ten year old boy named Timothy. The android Data rescues Timothy from the ruins of the Vico, transporting himself and the boy onto the Enterprise.

    While Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Worf and Geordi La Forge try to figure out what exactly happened, Timothy, who has lost both of his parents, looks up to Data as a potential father figure. As a way to ease, even suppress, his pain and survivor's guilt, Timothy begins to pretend that he is an android, going so far as copying Data's movements and speech patterns (from the quick, bird like neck movements to the stoic "That is correct" and "That would be acceptable" quotes). Following the instructions of Counselor Deanna Troi, The stoic and logical Data finds himself bonding with Timothy as he teaches the orphaned boy to be "the best android he (Timothy) could possibly be." in his own, wholehearted android ways.

    In the end, it is Timothy's recollection and Data's observational intellect that helps Picard and the Enterprise crew find out what caused the Vico's destruction. The episode ends on heartfelt note that although Timothy has finally come to terms with his parents' deaths, he still considers Data as a friend.

    The interaction between Timothy and Data is the heart and soul of this episode. In the past, there were episodes where Data showed a fatherly side to his emotionless personality - In "The Offspring", he created and cared for Lal, an young female android. In "Pen Pals", he answers to the intergalatic distress call of an alien girl named Sarjenka who is concerned about the strange natural disasters that are happening to her planet. But here, Data is a fatherly figure to someone who is neither android nor alien - but a human.

    Affected by a tragedy that took his parents, Timothy finds himself looking up to his android rescuer as the older brother he never got to have and the father he didn't have anymore. Data finds himself looking after a boy as he tries to make him (Timothy) the best andorid he could possibly be. He learns about parenting (in the scene where he grooms Timothy's hair to look like his own hair and is befuddled by Timothy's constant jerking head movements) and that his presence as an "adult" is key to a child's recovery from trauma. It also makes him self-examine his own identity as an android and his ruminations of what being human is like (hence when he says, "I would risk feeling bad over anything, even if it means tasting my dessert").

    This episode is truly something worth watching.
    helpful•13
    0
    • nbrettel
    • Apr 23, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 25, 1992 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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