#lieutenant d'sora

[astralbondpro]

Star Trek: The Next Generation // S04E25: In Theory

[monotremer]

Data bringing flowers to Lieutenant junior grade Jenna D'Sora, a/k/a the absolute fool who ended up rejecting him.

(Source)

[askdatageordi]

Hi! Obvious one for you. When did you get together as a romantic couple?

Geordi: Thanks for the question! *Smiles.* The day after Lieutenant D'Sora broke up with him.

Data: Twenty-two hours and six minutes after that decision was made.

Geordi: I'll admit that I definitely thrown by the timing. He actually asked me like thirty minutes after the break-up. So, I needed a day to process it.

Data: When taking into consideration the length of time and the insights I sought before engaging in the relationship with D'Sora, I understood.

Geordi: *nods and leans into Data*.

[theodorebasmanov]

I’ve rewatched “In theory” (Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 4, episode 25). (Spoilers!) It’s a “Data accidentally got a girlfriend and tries to be a perfect partner” he goes around seeking for advice like Wesley did in one of the earlier seasons. Really – he asks Geordi, Guinan, Worf and Riker, they all give very different information, Data tries to follow Riker’s. He also reads romance books and generally tries to be there for her. The problem is, he can’t “feel” her: she got in a relationship with him after she broke up with her boyfriend because he wasn’t empathetic enough and didn’t give her the emotions “back”. Data tried to comfort her through her break up and she thought that she can start the relationship with him. He agreed, he created a whole new romantic program for her, but she still felt that he wasn’t acting naturally, they even quarrelled, however, it was also programmed by Data. At the end of the episode, she collects all her thoughts and breaks up with Data, realizing that his kindness and caring aren’t enough for her. P.S. Of course, there’s some actual sci-fi story going on, but it feels so much on the background and unimportant, I’m not even going to talk about it.

[muppetmolly]

Data has... game?

Holy shit Data TOTALLY has game. My boy gets ACTION.

[stra-tek]

My mind is blown I grew up knowing Linda Hamilton fell in love with Data in the Next Gen episode "In Theory"

And here I am decades later and IT'S NOT HER. Lieutenant D'Sora was played by Michelle Scarabelli.

I think I'm in the wrong timeline someone help

[oldschoolsciencefiction]

I knew Martha Kent looked awfully familiar on the CW's "Superman and Lois".

That's Canadian actress Michele Scarabelli who played Lieutenant Jenna D'Sora on Star Trek: The Next Generation. She also portrayed Tenctonese Susan Francisco on Alien Nation.

[st-tng]

04.25

"Lieutenant D'Sora gave me what could be considered a very passionate kiss in the torpedo bay."

[phantom-le6]

Episode Reviews - Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4 (6 of 6)

To round of my look into season 4 of Star Trek: The Next Generation, here are my reviews of that season’s last two episodes.

Episode 25: In Theory

Plot (as adapted from Wikipedia):

Lt. Commander Data and Lt. Jenna D'Sora are in the torpedo room configuring several probes with which the Enterprise will explore a nearby nebula. D'Sora explains that her ex who she just split up with has asked her to dinner, prompting Data to remind her why they broke up as part of a standing agreement between the pair of them. Later they play together in a chamber concert along with Keiko O'Brien. D'Sora complains of her abilities as a musician, but Data insists that he could not hear anything wrong.

 Later, on the bridge, Data is reviewing the information from the probes sent into the nebula. He theorises that life might have evolved differently in the nebula because of the volume of dark matter detected. Captain Picard orders the ship to the nearest planet within the nebula. Data and Jenna configure further probes, when she kisses him on the cheek and then on the lips, before leaving the room. Data seeks the opinion of his friends, specifically Picard, Guinan, Geordi La Forge, Commander Riker, Counsellor Troi and Lt. Worf. Data decides to pursue the relationship and goes to Jenna's cabin with a bunch of flowers, where he informs her that he created a romantic subroutine for the relationship.

 Meanwhile, the Enterprise is approaching an M-class planet within the nebula. Picard enters his ready room and finds his belongings scattered on the floor. He calls in Worf, who cannot explain their displacement. Jenna arrives at Data's cabin where he is painting. She tells him to continue, but is then annoyed when he does so, causing him some confusion. The ship arrives at the coordinates for the planet but finds nothing there. Then it suddenly appears as the ship's computer warns of a depressurization in the observation lounge. The crew investigate and find all the furniture piled in one corner of the room.

 Data visits Jenna, but she seems unhappy and he is acting erratically in order to find an appropriate response to make her happy. It becomes evident to the crew that the nebula is causing distortions in space; Picard orders the ship into warp to leave the nebula as quickly as possible but this speeds up the distortions. Whilst investigating them, Lieutenant Van Mayter is killed when a distortion embeds her into the deck. Data discovers that dark matter is causing the distortions. The ship can detect the pockets at short range, but not in enough time to move out of the way. Worf proposes using a shuttle to lead the Enterprise out, and Picard insists on piloting it alone.

 Picard pilots the shuttle through the field of distortion pockets; he is initially successful, but the shuttle is damaged near the perimeter of the nebula. Chief Miles O'Brien transports the Captain back to the ship before the shuttle is destroyed. However, the Enterprise is now near enough to the edge of the nebula to no longer need the shuttle to scout ahead, and they quickly depart. Afterwards, Jenna reveals to Data in his quarters that she broke up with her boyfriend because he was emotionally unavailable and then pursued Date because he was the same. Data realises that she is breaking up with him and explains that he will delete the subroutine. Jenna departs and Data is seemingly unperturbed, although his cat, Spot, jumps into his lap as if to comfort him.

Review:

This episode was Patrick Stewart’s directorial debut on the show, following on the heels of fellow cast member Jonathan Frakes taking a shot at directing during the previous season.  Like Frakes, Stewart was handed a Data episode to do, and in some respects it’s a good episode.  In others, it’s less brilliant, specifically having a techno-babble B-plot thrown in because TNG was very much enslaved to the idea that the character always had to have an enemy or an anomaly putting them at risk, regardless of whatever else might be going on.  This plot doesn’t inter-connect with the A-plot except for both things happening in the same episode, and it includes Picard playing shuttle pilot when he’s not really the TNG character of note by way of piloting skills.  In fact, TNG and DS9 never really had a definitive helm officer in the way that the original series had Sulu and Voyager had Tom Paris, which when you have to do an episode with this kind of B-plot is a bit of a must.

 However, the meat of the episode is Data making forays into the world of romantic relationships, and to some degree I appreciate how some of his behaviours in this area are quite autistic.  His asking around the majority of the main cast and Guinan for advice, his inability to pick up relationship skills ‘on the fly’, and his emulation of stereotypical romantic interactions rather than just being himself are all things I can see someone on the spectrum doing.  Hell, I’ve done them all in my own unique way, and I can’t help but cringe a little reflecting on that.

 However, Data is only able to go so far both with his relationship and with his representation of the autistic mindset in this scenario because he lacks emotion.  I understand that this was meant to be the point; according to Memory Alpha, a lot of original series fan mail for Spock was from women who felt they could reach the character’s suppressed emotional core.  This episode was born of a fascination with this aspect of fandom, only it was written to see if a romantic relationship could work with a being who was hard-wired not to feel any emotion, to really explore the ‘ghost in the machine’ concept through Data.

 This, for me, is where the episode’s main plot really loses efficacy, because by definition a romantic relationship requires emotion, and as such Data was never going to succeed.  Frankly, I’d rather have seen them hold this plot off until the films when Data is finally given license to have emotions.  It would have been great to see Data have a romantic relationship then, because it would have been a more complete, well-rounded exploration of his status as an autism metaphor within the world of Trek.  As it is, characters like Voyager’s Doctor and Seven of Nine end up serving better in this capacity.

 It’s also disappointing to see that, not unlike some of my own early experiences in romance, Data isn’t being approached out of a genuine romantic interest on the part of Jenna.  To her, he’s basically a re-bound fling; she’s struggling with being single again, keeps having to be reminded why this is so, and tries to make something happen with Data to ‘fill the void’.  It’s not unlike how some girls used to pretend to go out with me to test, and mock, my gullibility, and for me it’s right up there with people who go out with someone just to avoid being single (done that), or to get something else like a roof over their head or cash.  To my mind, no one should ever do anything like this; if you want a romantic relationship with someone, it should be real romance or nothing.

 If you want a fling, a rebound or anything similar, then you seek out something more casual like friends-with-benefits, and you say that’s what you want up-front.  Leading people on is never ok, and it seems to me it only happens because of neurotypical selfishness and unwillingness to talk about you want before anything happens. The model of discussion-first-action-second is something that already exists within certain forms of sex play, and it’s probably going to gain wider and wider use over time for consent in general, and it’s exactly the kind of thing that would not only make all relationships more autism-friendly, but it would also vastly reduce the potential for being misled.

 What would have improved this episode, aside from Data actually having emotions, would have been to see the female guest character seek him out just from general attraction with no recent ex being mentioned, and perhaps having the B-Plot put the A-Plot characters in danger more directly.  That would have helped the B-Plot gain some additional worth and would have created a dramatic scene that would have more conclusively answered the ‘ghost in the machine’ question around Data.  As it is, it’s a middling episode and a poor showing for something Data-centric; I give it 5 out of 10.

Episode 26: Redemption (Part 1)

Plot (as adapted from Wikipedia):

Captain Picard and the Enterprise are asked to attend the installation of Gowron as the Leader of the Klingon High Council, as it is Picard’s final duty as the Arbiter of Succession. Gowron intercepts the Enterprise en route and informs Picard that the House of Duras will challenge Gowron's position, which may lead to a Klingon civil war. Picard states he cannot intervene beyond his role as arbiter, and asks Worf to escort Gowron to the transporter room. There, Worf informs Gowron of the truth about his discommendation; Gowron thanks Worf for killing Duras, but explains that he cannot clear Worf’s name because he needs the support of the council, many of whom are loyal to Duras. Worf then requests a leave of absence from Picard to visit his brother, Kurn, who controls a small fleet of Birds of Prey, and to urges him to back Gowron. Worf plans to use this support as leverage so that once installed as the Leader, Gowron can reinstate their family name.

 Interrupting the ceremony, the Duras sisters present their deceased brother's illegitimate son, Toral, who has the lineage to challenge Gowron. Picard is called on to determine Toral's candidacy. Relying on Klingon law, Picard comes to the conclusion that Toral is too inexperienced to be Leader, and secures Gowron's candidacy. This, however, prompts a majority of the council members to abandon Gowron. Gowron returns to his ship to meet with Worf, who offers his brother's fleet's support in exchange for the return of his family name to honor. Gowron initially refuses, but they are attacked by two ships loyal to the House of Duras. Worf and the arrival of Kurn's fleet dispatch the attackers. Picard completes the rite and installs Gowron as Leader; Gowron restores Worf's family honor.

Gowron and the Enterprise crew learn that the Duras sisters are assembling a fleet to incite a civil war. As the Federation cannot get involved in internal affairs of the Klingon Empire, Worf resigns his commission from Starfleet to assist Gowron and Kurn. As the Enterprise evacuates the area before fighting begins, Toral and the Duras sisters consider Picard a coward, but their Romulan ally, a woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to the late Tasha Yar, emerges from the shadows and warns them that Picard may return.

Review:

Apparently, this episode was originally planned as the season 3 cliff-hanger finale, but had to be delayed because those working on the show who wanted this episode really had to fight for it.  Apparently, Gene Roddenberry didn’t want to do any kind of war stories, even if that war was internal to the Klingons and not something the Federation got involved in.  Granted, I don’t think this episode could be as good as it is without everything leading up to it, and part of that groundwork lays here in the fourth season as well as the third and second.  Nevertheless, it seems that once again Roddenberry was taking his idealism one step too far, and I’m guessing him having to step back from production of the show due to increasingly ill health around this time was the only reason we got this episode.

 Being only one part of a larger story, of course, the episode loses out a little for not being quite as self-contained as it otherwise would be as a one-part episode.  However, it delivers a lot for part 1 of a two-part narrative; we finally see Worf get his discommendation lifted and Gowron take command of the Klingon Empire, only to then see Worf resign his commission when Picard won’t wade into the civil war, even though we all know by now Picard should realise it’s not even remotely an all-Klingon affair.  Picard and Worf are well aware that the Duras family are thick as thieves with the Romulans, and they’ve had the recent events of ‘The Mind’s Eye’ to illustrate to them that dividing the Federation and Klingon Empire is high on their agenda.  Surely Picard should have been able to put 2 and 2 together in this part and sided with Gowron outright, rather than appearing to cling to the Prime Directive.

 This is where TNG, and Trek as a whole, falls down a little; it can’t seem to come up with a consistent approach to the Prime Directive.  Some episodes it gets broken, others it gets adhered to, and at times you’ll get a non-adherence for a situation that in a later or earlier episode saw the rule being upheld. Back in season 1, Picard was willing to dare the wrath of the Edo’s ‘god’ to save Wesley Crusher from execution, but in this episode, Picard won’t act to save Worf when Gowron’s ship gets fired upon. Both times someone from the Enterprise was in danger, so surely Picard should take the same actions, but he doesn’t. I can’t tell if this meant to be a follow-on from ‘The Drumhead’ and they stupidly cut out some exposition where Picard says ‘we have to be extra careful now to avoid another Satie-style witch-hunt’, or if it’s just a lack of attention to continuity.

 For me, this episode really relies on Worf and Gowron to carry it, as Picard’s so-called ‘tightrope walking’ just makes him look decidedly unheroic and not a little ruthless.  Honestly, this episode would have benefited from a more Kirk-ian/Sisko-esque style of captain.  Overall, I give it 7 out of 10.

[spocks-evil-godmother]

Worf: Lieutenant D'Sora serves under my command.

Worf: If she were to be mistreated...

Worf: I would throw that android's dick in a blender.

Worf: sir.

[dreamlandhotel-room222]

Data starring in: The Little Android

There you see him Sitting there across the way He doesn't got a lot to say But there's something about him And you don't know why But you're dying to try You wanna kiss the android Sha la la la la la Don't be scared You better be prepared Go on and kiss the android Sha la la la la la Don't stop now Don't try to hide it How you wanna kiss the android Go on and kiss the android, kiss the android

Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data

Michele Scarabelli as Lieutenant Jenna D'Sora

Season 4, Episode 25: In Theory 

Star Trek: The Next Generation

[ramajmedia]

Star Trek TNG: 5 Relationships Fans Were Behind (& 5 They Rejected)

Unlike it's predecessor, which ran for only a few seasons, Star Trek: The Next Generation was able to follow the exploratory adventures of the starship Enterprise for seven seasons, stopped only by the notion that its chronicles would be better continued on the big screen. Much time and care was taken to develop the interpersonal relationships of the crew succeeding Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and all the recognizable torch-bearers of the Star Trek franchise.

As these characters sought out new life and new civilizations among the stars, they developed feelings for one another. Space was a lonely place, and a commitment to Starfleet often meant months or even years away from friends and family. The relationships that developed were either  celebrated by fans or ultimately rejected, based on criteria of chemistry, personality, and character development. Here are the 5 relationships fans rejected, and 5 they supported.

10 SUPPORTED: RIKER AND TROI

The romance between Commander Riker and Counselor Troi took the entire series (and several feature films) to develop. They'd been an item before Will's commitment to Starfleet took precedence, and Troi didn't want to spend her life playing second fiddle to his career ambition.

Once they ended up serving together aboard the Enterprise, he matured in his attitude, and she learned to view him as someone she could talk to about her problems (and vice versa). They were there for each other, and learned that the romance that lasts requires a foundation of friendship.

RELATED: 5 Reasons The Next Generation Is The Best Star Trek Series (& 5 Why It Will Always Be The Original Series)

9 REJECTED: WORF AND TROI

One of the most awkward and forced relationships on the series occurred between of all people Counselor Troi and Worf. It began in Season 7, when Worf experienced an alternate reality, and took root when he and Troi were placed together on an away mission.

The stumbling block of having to ask Commander Riker for permission to date Troi was just one of many cringeworthy moments in this multi-episode pairing. Worf's departure to Deep Space Nine inevitably saved viewers from being tortured any more.

RELATED: Star Trek: 5 Reasons Why TNG Is The Best Spin-Off (And 5 Why It's DS9)

8 SUPPORTED: CRUSHER AND PICARD

Beverly Crusher and Jean-Luc Picard have known each other a long time, ever since her husband was under a young Captain Picard's command. He had to break the news of his death to Dr. Crusher and her young son Wesley, ensuring they would share a bond in grief for life.

The series danced around the possibility of Picard and Beverly eventually becoming a romantic couple, and one-off episodes explored that reality with gusto. In their day to day lives, they continued to have morning tea and breakfast, consult each other's opinion on tasks, and share a deep respect for one another.

7 REJECTED: CRUSHER AND RONIN

In one of the most absurd romances to be introduced on the series, Beverly Crusher was involved in a relationship with a specter. She had finished attending her grandmother's funeral on a remote space colony (made to resemble 17th century Scotland), and once faced with dealing with the family estate, discovered a strange curse that haunted only the female members of the line.

After an episode devoted to creepy corridors, candlelit vigils, and jump scares, we finally meet this specter; Ronin. He tries to seduce Crusher, and nearly succeeds in making her give up her entire Starfleet career to be with him. Luckily she manages to resist and escape his thrall.

RELATED: Star Trek TNG: 10 Hidden Details About The Costumes You Didn’t Notice

6 SUPPORTED: WORF AND K'EHLEYR

Prior to K'ehleyr making her grand entrance onto the Enterprise, Worf was the sole source of Klingon information. With her aboard, new facts about Klingon customs and perspectives could be revealed, especially through the perspective of an astute female.

K'ehleyer was only half Klingon, and embraced her Klingon lineage far more than her human one. She had known Worf since Starfleet, and when they reunited again, their chemistry was palpable. She was headstrong, highly intelligent, and could keep the stoic Klingon on his toes. Fans were sad to see her get so few episodes.

5 REJECTED: LWAXANA TROI AND PICARD

While Counselor Troi's mother Lwaxana "Daughter of the Fifth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed" Troi was an amusing personality to have on board the Enterprise whenever she needed to use it as her own personal taxi, she wasn't a good fit for Captain Picard.

Still, they tried to dance around a possible relationship between them, though it was almost exclusively one-sided. Where Picard was private and dignified, Lwaxana was shameless in her sharing of personal information and crass.

4 SUPPORTED: CHIEF O'BRIEN AND KEIKO

Chief O'Brien and Keiko represented one of the most wholesome couples on TNG. True, the only time they ever got to have a little passion injected into their idyllic pairing was on their wedding day (when Keiko almost called it off), but what they lacked in excitement they made up for in stability.

The transporter chief and the exobotanist made a sensible match, and showed a different side of life aboard a starship, especially when their daughter Molly was born. It wasn't just the main crew of the bridge on away missions - it was also the bonds of family.

3 REJECTED: DATA AND LT. D'SORA

Besides his one-night stand with Tasha Yar, Data's only other major brush with romance occurred with Lieutenant D'Sora. They occasionally shared shifts together, and after a string of unlucky leads on love, her thoughts turned to Data. If men were so fickle, perhaps an android would make a better mate.

Data tried to accommodate her (he was curious about romance in general), and built subroutines to better facilitate being a model boyfriend. But he could never really care about her the way she needed him to, because she wasn't even sure what that looked like. It was better the two remain friends rather than awkward lovers.

2 SUPPORTED: PICARD AND VASH

It was while taking some much deserved shore leave that Captain Picard encountered Vash, a beguiling archaeologist on Risa, the Federation's "pleasure planet". Their shared love of ancient societies and pre-warp cultures drew the two together. Her fiery passion for adventure, sparkling wit, and apparent beauty drew Picard in immediately.

Vash helped reveal to fans a side of Picard they'd previously never seen. He could be giddy, excitable, and surprisingly warm, which was a treat to watch. Unfortunately she revealed herself to be a treasure hunter doing illegal tomb raiding, and while it stopped their romance at that point, it was picked up again in other episodes.

1 REJECTED: WESLEY SALIA

No on except adolescents took a shine to Wesley Crusher on the series, so shockingly no one was in a hurry to see him start down the path to romance. He was engineered by Gene Roddenberry was a sort of "Boy Wonder", and he fit the trope - he was irritatingly intelligent, and annoyingly right about anything he set his mind to.

Having a boy genius wasn't just insufferable for the other adults on board - it was difficult to imagine a teenager being allowed to serve on the bridge of the Federation's flagship. When a pretty young emissary comes aboard, his attempts at wooing her are flat and meandering, leaving fans glad when the storyline was dropped.

NEXT: 10 Things From The Original Star Trek TNG That Haven't Aged Well

source https://screenrant.com/star-trek-tng-5-relationships-fans-behind-5-rejected/