LogFAQs > #969538947

Episode 12: Datalore

Wanted to like this far more than I did. Having a Data origin story was inevitable. The only surprise is doing it so early. Evil twins are an occasionally decent device.

Usually I don't mind characters acting like idiots because I recognise that constant hyper competence can kill a story pretty quickly. However, when it harms character relationships or has someone act out of character, then, it becomes a problem.

Picard has some good moments. His and Riker's friendship is progressing nicely, knowing full well that he won't be allowed down on the planet. Stopping everyone from tiptoeing around the issue and reminding everyone that Yar's question is legitimate are pretty alright. Actually, he's quite decent to Data, even apologising after accidentally dehumanising him. What I don't like is his stupid dismissal of Wesley's concerns. Given how questions of whether either Data or Lore can be trusted had already been raised, it's expected that he would consider imposters. "Shut up, Wesley" is fun, but it would be better in another episode because the boy is seeming quite justified. Also, he is far too eager to go for a military solution.

Riker is a bit out of character, too. Similar to a previous episode, the one who is most friendly to Wesley is bafflingly the most dismissive of him and he becomes overly snotty in his command, only to be absolutely useless when he follows him.

La Forge almost seems like he's trying to make Data jealous. Doesn't seem well written, either. I'm kind of disappointed he didn't have more to do, considering their friendship.

Yar is quite tactless and I didn't much care for the overblown reaction shots to her question.

Worf gets knocked on his arse, but at least he's put off by those too eager to please.

Crusher is quite gentle and respectful of Data's wishes. Shes right to be outraged at how her son is being treated.

Troi has been empty chaired.

Of course, Spiner gets an episode he can really sink his teeth into. Fitting a comic actor, he communicates a lot just through his face alone and I'm not just on about Lore's twitches. From the start, with the brilliant not sneezing, it's clear we are in for a treat from him. It's actually amazing how a simple gormless expression can simultaneously convey Data's excitement and remind us that it's not a human experiencing the emotion.

As Lore, however, he really shines. He does a truly outstanding job of playing someone who's acting human, with just enough fakery and stiltedness that he comes off as more uncanny than Data ever could. What's interesting is that Lore is clearly more human than Data, in the sense of being like a human psychopath. One who has to act his way through social situations with a sort of glib charm. He has a near constant smile on his face and takes every opportunity to put people, especially his brother, down whilst keeping a friendly facade. There are loads of little touches to the portrayal i like. Singing, especially with the exaggerated mannerisms, should come across as a joke, yet it becomes menacing in Spiner's hands. The way he waggles his arm to shoo Crusher out of the room is delightfully robotic. His hamminess over his resentment of his human qualities is fun. An absolute tour de force by Spiner.

Should probably talk about Wesley. He was a little whiny in this one and the whole "it's because I'm a kid, isn't it" thing doesn't exactly endear him, yet the fact that he's right and is mistreated by the others wins him a lot of sympathy points. I didn't hate him. In fact, I may end up liking him before too long.

I've already mentioned how much of the cast need to be stupid arseholes in order for the plot to work and how it stretches my usually high tolerance level. Fun though he is, I don't quite get Lore's plan. There's clear resentment over how he feels he's been treated and designed and he mentions how he wants more memories to absorb, but it doesn't quite click with immediately wanting to kill the entire crew. Perhaps he can retrieve it out of the crystals, but the details seem a little too nebulous for such a simple plan. The crystal entity is truly beautiful, but it's existence feels a little unneeded and it gets resolved far too easily. A lot of setup is ignored and the facial twitch tell being removed seems almost cynical. Set design is great. Still got the stage play aesthetic from TOS, but unlike Hide and Q, it doesn't feel cheap. The soundtrack is astonishingly good. The score when they enter the lab for the first time is a particular standout.

There are a few interesting themes here, but they all feel half baked. There's the potential uncanny valley discussion that feeds into Lore's resentment, but it doesn't seem to go anywhere, though Spiner almost saves it by acting as an actual psychopath, arguably the most removed from humanity you can be whilst still being human. Similarly, there's Data's desire to be human versus Lore's belief that he's already superior to humanity. Again, the script is failing to support the impeccable acting because the obvious difference is that Data doesn't fully get humanity, but desires to understand, making him more human than he realises, whereas Lore is convinced he knows everything about them, but his superficial manner proves that he doesn't even grasp the basics. There was a perfect opportunity, during the last fight, for Data to have the final word and close out the themes, but nothing actually happens and the episode is left feeling incomplete in many different ways.

Tremendous acting can't salvage an idiot plot.

Haven't heard good things about Angel One, but maybe I'll be surprised.