Hero Worship 

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.

Director:

Patrick Stewart

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (created by), Joe Menosky (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	...	Lt. Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Cmdr. Data
Joshua Harris	...	Timothy
Harley Venton	...	Chief Hutchinson
Sheila Franklin	...	Ensign Felton
Steven Einspahr	...	Teacher

Storyline

A Starfleet ship has a disaster in the largest black cloud ever observed, an astronomical phenomenon which gravely distorts gravity itself. Data is able to rescue a single survivor, the young boy Timothy, who lost both his parents on the starship and suppresses the unspeakable trauma, yet may have invaluable information about what happened and how the Enterprise is best to handle the black cloud itself. Troi encourages savior Data to spend time with Timothy, who decides to 'become' an android, physically and mentally superior to humans, like his mentor. When the Enterprise reaches the black cloud, the bridge officers prove unable to handle it in any known way like the other ship, Data and Timothy must make the difference...

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Plot Keywords:

adrift | palm beacon | starship schematic | boarding party | flashlight | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The landscape scene Data paints was in fact one created by Dan Curry in central California.

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Goofs

When Data has finished waxing Timothy's hair, just before he turns Timothy to show him the new hairstyle, there is a visible tuft from the boys head on his right side (our left). As Data stands up to turn the chair, the tuft of hair has been waxed down properly.

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Quotes

Lt. Commander Data: I have been told that imitation is the highest form of flattery.

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Connections

References Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

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Soundtracks

Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User Reviews

Data daddy.

There is some sort of huge black cloud in space (and I HATE episodes involving clouds as they are a DULL enemy indeed). Somehow a Federation ship was destroyed in it and they find a lone survivor--a child named Timothy. However, the kid is naturally traumatized and the kid cannot talk about what happened in order to help them understand what happened. In fact, the boy has adopted an interesting coping mechanism--he's decided to be an android like Data, as Data does not experience pain. So, to avoid the pain of his parents' death, the boy lives in denial and spends a lot of time with Data. Can they eventually learn what destroyed the ship so that the Enterprise, too, doesn't suffer the same fate?

It's kind of cute seeing the boy interacting with Data--and Data acting like a surrogate dad. But, the whole cloud thing is pretty dull and the overall episode is middle of the road at best.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 January 1992 (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