In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Offspring", the android Data (Brent Spiner) has decided that he would like to be a father. Using his own android body as a template, he builds an android child in a positronic lab, naming the new being Lal. At first, Lal (Leonard Crofoot) is a somewhat shapeless being with sharp, metallic features. Data feels that Lal should be able to choose their own gender and appearance. Lal decides to be a young woman (Hallie Todd). The bulk of the episode involves Data, with his own limited understand of human interaction, teaching Lal everything he knows. When Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) questions the ethics of an artificial life form like Data creating another without permission, Data easily defends himself. No one else on the Enterprise requires permission to reproduce, so why should he?
"The Offspring" was the first episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation...
"The Offspring" was the first episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation...
- 3/24/2025
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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