| "Data's Day" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Trek: The Next Generation episode | |||
| Episodeno. | Season 4 Episode 11 | ||
| Directed by | Robert Wiemer | ||
| Story by | Harold Apter | ||
| Teleplay by |
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| Featured music | Ron Jones | ||
| Cinematography by | Marvin Rush | ||
| Production code | 185 | ||
| Original air date | January 7, 1991 (1991-01-07) | ||
| Guest appearances | |||
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| Episode chronology | |||
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| Star Trek: The Next Generationseason 4 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"Data's Day" is the 85th episode of the Americanscience fiction television seriesStar Trek: The Next Generation, the 11th episode of thefourth season. This episode introduces bothKeiko O'Brien andData's pet cat,Spot.
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of theStarfleet crew of theFederation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, asData contemplates the impending marriage of his friend Keiko Ishikawa to Transporter ChiefMiles O'Brien, he learns about the peculiarminutiae – such as last-minute jitters andballroom dancing – that surround human nuptials. At the same time, he investigates the apparent death of theVulcan ambassador whom theEnterprise was ferrying to theNeutral Zone in order to conduct treaty negotiations with theRomulans.
Transporter ChiefMiles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) andcivilian botanistKeiko Ishikawa (Rosalind Chao) are about to be married, andData (Brent Spiner) has been asked to give the bride away. After Keiko calls off the wedding, Data seeks advice fromGeordi (LeVar Burton) andCounselor Troi (Marina Sirtis). He attempts to convince Keiko to go through with the wedding. To prepare, Data asksDr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) to teach him how to dance. She instructs him intap dance andballroom dancing.
Meanwhile, theEnterprise is takingVulcan ambassador T'Pel (Sierra Pecheur) to a secret meeting with aRomulan ship inside theneutral zone. T'Pel asks Data about theEnterprise's defense capabilities, but claims she was merely testing Data's security safeguards. During theEnterprise rendezvous with aRomulan warbird, the Devoras, T'Pel is seemingly killed during a transport accident. Picard and the Romulan captain agree to both leave the Neutral Zone.
However, Data deduces that T'Pel was not really killed, and that the Romulans beamed her away and staged the accident. Picard returns to the Neutral Zone and intercepts the Romulans. He learns that T'Pel is actually a Romulan spy using theEnterprise to return to the Romulans. Multiple warbirds enter the neutral zone and Picard retreats intoFederation space.
Keiko agrees to proceed with the wedding. She and Miles are married by Captain Picard. Data notes that he understands theemotions oflove and belonging.
This was the first episode with Data's cat, Spot.[1] The cat is not actually named until a later appearance.[2]
WIRED magazine ranked "Data's Day" as one of the best ofStar Trek: The Next Generation in a 2012 review.[3] They praise masterful acting byBrent Spiner as Data throughout the episode, offering what they call a "Pinocchio perspective" on the plot.[3] In 2019,ThoughtCo ranked "Data's Day" as the 7th best episode of this series, pointing out its special and emotional view of a day aboard the Enterprise-D.[4]
In 2019,Den of Geek noted this episode for featuring romantic elements, pointing out the wedding of Chief Miles O'Brien and Keiko.[5] This episode was noted by theChicago Tribune in 1996 for introducing the character of Keiko as played by actress Rosalind Chao, she was also featured as a reoccurring character onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.[6]
This episode was noted inTo Boldly Go: Essays on Gender and Identity in the Star Trek Universe for featuring the marriage of Keiko and O'Brien, which was the only successful long term relationship in the entirety of Star Trek.[7] They also note that their stories are continued onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, and that they go on to have two children, Molly and Kirayoshi.[7]
In 2019,Screen Rant ranked "Data's Day" the seventh funniest episode ofStar Trek: The Next Generation.[8]
In 2020,Gamespot recommended this episode for background on the character ofData.[9]
In 2021,Tom's Guide said this was a more "personal" episode that helped give theStar Trek universe "a new sense of reality".[10]
Tor Books gave it 7 out of 10.[11]
"Data's Day" was released in the United States on September 3, 2002, as part of theStar Trek: The Next Generation season fourDVD box set.[12]
On April 23, 1996, this was released onLaserDisc in the United States, paired with "The Wounded" on one double-sided 12 inch disc.[13]
