tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post8618021998404696006..comments2024-03-29T09:13:52.064-04:00Comments on Doux Reviews: Star Trek The Next Generation: The Measure of a ManBillie Douxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-178575392007656262024-01-02T09:21:37.890-05:002024-01-02T09:21:37.890-05:00Wholeheartedly agree here. This is one of the grea...Wholeheartedly agree here. This is one of the greatest Star Trek episodes of any stripe ever. So much to contemplate, so interesting and well-acted, it's rare we get TV that is this deep and forces us to think about things beyond next week's episode. This is simply one of the best things I've ever seen on TV.<br /><br />And for me, I feel Data is a sapient being that should have full rights, and it should be his choice if he wishes to go through the procedure or not. In the 4X game Stellaris, I'd often play a science focuses race that would get AI early on and then give them full rights (as well as any alien immigrants to be sure), so when AI rose up elsewhere since they didn't have those rights elsewhere, my AI were quite content to be a part of my society! <br /><br />There's an interesting parallel between Maddox and the legend that is John Carmack. Carmack is definitely a genius and could be difficult to work with by all accounts (I own and have read 'Masters of Doom', and I've read/heard the same elsewhere), but if he found out he was wrong, he would swap to the correct side of the situation. And that's a rare trait in anyone, but especially in someone that intelligent.Morellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08852528242739450099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-23239168647517270672019-06-05T08:23:14.634-04:002019-06-05T08:23:14.634-04:00milostanfield - I think the point wasn't that ...milostanfield - I think the point wasn't that Data could be shut down, like you said humans can be similarly "deactivated". The catch is Data can be shut down and turned back on at will, like a computer or piece of machinery. Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03943327351499919454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-64160642468197984272015-03-13T00:37:19.283-04:002015-03-13T00:37:19.283-04:00Sorry. Meant to say "But couldn't a skill...Sorry. Meant to say "But couldn't a skilled surgeon do the same thing TO A HUMAN with a scalpel?"milostanfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12601982445850157037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-13349114908793242862015-03-12T17:38:37.335-04:002015-03-12T17:38:37.335-04:00Agreed that this was one of the best STNGs. Only &...Agreed that this was one of the best STNGs. Only "The Inner Light" equals "Measure" for emotional impact on a personal level for me.<br /><br />Two thoughts: It was simple for Riker to yank out Data's off switch. But couldn't a skilled surgeon do the same thing with a scalpel? Sure the connections are more complex but is there any real difference in the result? On is alive and off is dead.<br /><br />And: for me, being alive or sentient comes down to what you do, not what you are made of. Data is alive and sentient.milostanfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12601982445850157037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-48663953611187757852015-03-12T06:50:04.334-04:002015-03-12T06:50:04.334-04:00My favorite Star Trek-episode of all time! Even be...My favorite Star Trek-episode of all time! Even better than some of the feature films...Henrik Bennetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18446577900313568158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-46133765975020687732015-03-09T08:55:54.007-04:002015-03-09T08:55:54.007-04:00It always bothers me that Riker having to prosecut...It always bothers me that Riker having to prosecute Data is such a plot contrivance - there must be others around, or you could delay the trial, and Riker is clearly too close to the case to do this - but that doesn't stop this being an awesome episode. Plus is gave us 'Data is a toaster', and I'm pretty sure the slang term for Cylons in new Battlestar Galatica was not a coincidence!Juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00203399623895589924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-27319440093163968642015-03-07T23:17:15.917-05:002015-03-07T23:17:15.917-05:00Captain Picard is pretty much the perfect man. I h...Captain Picard is pretty much the perfect man. I had a thing for him at 13, and I still do!Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-37852200049324990322015-03-07T19:38:37.871-05:002015-03-07T19:38:37.871-05:00Great reviews, J.D. Along with 'Q Who', th...Great reviews, J.D. Along with 'Q Who', this is the only episode of season 2 worthy of being considered a classic. Mark Greighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12984193299389764649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-35570282162983468802015-03-07T11:01:22.438-05:002015-03-07T11:01:22.438-05:00I haven't commented on any of these Next Gen r...I haven't commented on any of these Next Gen reviews, because I don't remember most of the episodes that well, aside from vague impressions of select moments. But there are a few episodes that have stayed strongly in mind, even after all these years, and this is one of them.<br /><br />The complexity of the issues and the arguments, and the emotional stakes for all involved --- even emotionless Data --- really struck a chord with me. I was pretty young when this episode originally aired, and I doubt I had deeply considered the issues at the heart of the matter before, particularly the notion of sentience. I remember being completely devastated <br />when Riker did his job so well and cut Pinocchio's strings. That's Data! How could we reduce him to a mere machine? What is it that makes him more than that? An individual worthy of respect, dignity, and the freedom to make his own choices about what happens to his body? Fascinating questions for a young girl to begin exploring, and a transformative sci-fi moment for me.<br /><br />Thanks for the wonderful review, J.D. It really recaptured everything that made this episode so very outstanding for me.Jess Lyndehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165015932507376656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-83049458555413359262015-03-07T10:20:10.109-05:002015-03-07T10:20:10.109-05:00I, too, had a "thing" for Sir Patrick!! ...I, too, had a "thing" for Sir Patrick!! He was absolutely perfect in this episode.<br /><br />I also agree with J.D.'s assessment of Jonathan Frakes' performance, as well as how Riker was utilized. I remember watching the episode for the first time, and being devastated by the fact that Data had an "off switch."Barbara Kleinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-9248446860123065072015-03-07T09:51:29.357-05:002015-03-07T09:51:29.357-05:00Barbara, I absolutely agree. This is an excellent ...Barbara, I absolutely agree. This is an excellent episode. I think what I liked most about it was that they didn't try to definitively answer the question of whether or not Data was sentient. The possibility that he might be was enough. It was also the first of very many wonderful poker games, and I think it was also the first of many wonderful Patrick Stewart/Whoopi Goldberg scenes. I had a major thing for Patrick Stewart during the run of Next Gen, and what he did during the trial is why.<br /><br />Wonderful review, J.D.<br />Billie Douxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-77935374324726406982015-03-07T09:38:22.901-05:002015-03-07T09:38:22.901-05:00A perfect review for a perfect episode!
More bits...A perfect review for a perfect episode!<br /><br />More bits:<br /><br />Amanda McBroom wrote the song "The Rose."<br /><br />On Star Trek: Voyager there was an episode which delved into what happened to Zimmerman's "failed" efforts to create the holographic Doctor - servitude, slavery, and hard manual labor.<br /><br />Miles O'Brien was also at the poker game.<br /><br />One of the reasons Ms. Snodgrass's spec script was used is because the Writers Guild of America was on strike at the time, and only existing scripts could be used.<br /><br />Barbara Kleinnoreply@blogger.com