The Schizoid Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"The Schizoid Man" is the 32^nd episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Overview

A brilliant scientist, Dr. Ira Graves, attempts to cheat death by uploading his memories and personality into Data.

Plot

The Enterprise is en route to provide medical care for the recluse but respected scientist Dr. Ira Graves, who lives with only one other person, Kareen Brianon, on a remote planet. When the crew receives an emergency distress call from a nearby transport ship, Captain Picard elects to a risky near-warp transport of an away team, including Data, Troi, Worf, and Dr. Selar, to see to Dr. Graves while the rest of the crew attend to the transport.

The away team finds that the request for medical assistance was made by Kareen without Dr. Graves' knowledge, and though resentful, allows for Dr. Selar to examine him. Dr. Graves recognizes Data as Noonien Soong's creation, and claims he had taught Soong everything he knew. Selar reports that Dr. Graves has a terminal form of Darnay's disease, and only has three weeks to live. The team helps to collect Dr. Graves' research and records to take with them after his death. Dr. Graves, while working alone with Data, whistles "If I Only Had a Heart", which intrigues Data, and the two discuss the nature of the Tin Woodman and Data's android condition. Dr. Graves shows Data that he has developed a sophisticated computer that has the ability to transfer his consciousness, allowing him to live after his body dies, then finds out that Data has a shutoff switch.

Data returns to the away team and announced Dr. Graves has died. The away team and Kareen are picked up by the Enterprise, and a funeral for the scientist is held in space. Data provides a glowing eulogy of Dr. Graves at the ceremony, and whistles "If I Only Had a Heart" while working on the ship. The odd behavior piques the interest of the other crewmembers, and Picard decides that an examination of Data is required. Though a physical examination shows nothing wrong with Data's body, Troi's psychotronic stability tests suggests there are two personalities within Data, the one they know as Data, and one that is alien and dominant, and threatening to take over Data's personality. Picard realizes that Dr. Graves has transferred his mind into Data; meanwhile, Dr. Graves, in Data, reveals to Kareen the truth, but hurts her in anger when she rejects him. Picard attempts to talk to Dr. Graves to voluntarily give up Data's body, noting the harm he is causing to those he loves, but Dr. Graves uses Data's strength to knock the captain unconscious. When Picard awakes, he and a security team find Data in his quarters. Data is back to his old self, and Kareen finds that Dr. Graves had transferred himself out of the android's mind, leaving behind his knowledge on the Enterprise computers but willingly destroying his personality.

Notes

• The episode title is a clear homage to Patrick McGoohan's cult classic "The Prisoner."

• This is the first TNG episode dealing with a human mind transferred into an android. The second is the seventh season episode Inheritance.

References

• Star Trek The Next Generation DVD set, volume 2, disc 2, selection 2.

External links

• The Schizoid Man at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Schizoid Man" at TV.com
• The Schizoid Man at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
• The Schizoid Man at StarTrek.com
• The Schizoid Man at Ex Astris Scientia.
• The Schizoid Man rewatch by Keith R.A. DeCandido