‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Retro Recap – ‘Data’s Day’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

There are a great many reasons as to why Trekkies (or Trekkers if you prefer) adore the Star Trek Universe and everything it stands for. In fact, the reasons are so vast, that even attempting to outline them here would be foolish at best, since the list would stretch out for light years if properly assembled. No instead, rather than attempt that daunting task, it is best we focus on one of the biggest reasons that we love this franchise so. In that, it has a tendency to pique our curiosity and ignite our imaginations, when it comes to what life in the future might look like.

Simply because we know it wouldn’t resemble our current world in the slightest since the 23rd Century and beyond, at least… up to The Burn, is devoid of hunger and worry and a lot of the issues we currently deal with. Which also leads us to narrow our focus down further and wonder, what day to day life looks like in the Federation. Because the people of this time aren’t rushing to a job they cannot stand or dealing with traffic, they’re enjoying a life we’ve never understood and thankfully once in a while, the franchise would take the time to explore those types of curiosities. As evidenced by the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

For ‘Data’s Day’ allows for us to hang out with Lieutenant Commander Data for the day so we can finally enjoy that 'day in the life' snapshot we've been eager to see and well, as Data navigates his schedule and prepares for the wedding of Miles and the soon to be Keiko O’Brien, we are indeed treated to some fascinating insight. Such as how the crew communicates between shifts, and how everyone treats drama as something temporary that will pass when tempers cool. Plus, they work toward community and bettering one another through friendship and sharing and this was just… an incredibly uplifting look at life in the 24th Century. One that truly reinforces the fact that life has changed for the better during this time period in a manner that we should strive for. 

But while it is wonderful to spend a little time observing an idyllic life that we simply do not understand, this episode was also quick to remind us that the future isn’t 100% perfect. For the Federation and its way of life aren’t appreciated by all and because of that, there are tests out there in the stars, the kind that will push mankind's better angels and that exploration was accomplished by way of a mission involving a mysterious Ambassador from Vulcan who was eager to open negotiations with the Romulans… simply because she was a Romulan spy. One that played the Federation like a fiddle and almost brought both governments to war over the crafty way she returned to the Romulan Star Empire and that definitely hammers home the flaws of the future. But oddly enough, this particular twist also harbors some serious depth, since it also offers up quite the inspiring message.

Because a great deal of us want to see a better future for mankind and leave behind a better world for our children and that plot twist serves to remind us to keep pushing for that, regardless of the roadblocks that get in our way. Because eventually, we will get around them and get what we want and that makes this a genuinely delightful episode when all is said and done. One that keeps your attention from beginning to end, despite its simplistic nature. Simply because it really does offer the viewer the insight, they’ve sought for ages on end in regard to life in the 24th Century, with an inspirational kicker. And hopefully we get to enjoy more episodes in this vein as we continue this grand rewatch, because this really was an uplifting treat. Until next time.  

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