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[DISCUSSION] In TNG's "The Most Toys" (s3e22), did Data lie about firing the disruptor?
(lemmy.world)
Episode premise:
Kivas Fajo is determined to add the unique Data to his prized collection of one-of-a-kind artefacts and, staging Data's apparent death, he imprisons him aboard his ship.
We know that Data is later logically coerced to lie in "Clues" to protect the crew, but this appears to be a decision all his own. Or did he not in fact actually fire the weapon?
I'm sure Data subscribes to the Vulcan logical philosophy of the needs of the many over the few. Vulcans also abhor violence until it becomes a logical necessity, so this applies here. Fajo put Data into a corner where firing had become the only option left, with Data not knowing the Enterprise was coming.
I do wish they had written it differently, although I can't come up with a better line than to just admit his hand was forced. Or just omit him firing, but then it makes the buildup pointless as we never see Data pushed to the limit, or it's left assuming he would never fire. Along with some other things in the episode, it's why it's a middle grade one for me compared to so many others. Good, but not great.