Actually, analyzing this from an ethical point of view, the situation depicted here is not as straightforward as it may initially seem. The scriptwriter clearly intended to make this a heartwarming moment. A moment of a machine, an android, essentially saying "she will always live in my memories", making him more human than he even realizes, and giving everybody else a warm and fuzzy feeling. A truly emotional and inspirational event. However, when people say "she will always live in our memories" what they really mean is that they will always remember her and appreciate what she was like as a person, what she did, and what impact she had on the lives of other people, and what good things she achieved. They don't literally mean downloading her brain patterns and implanting them into the brain of another person. If you think about that for a moment, it actually starts becoming a creepier and creepier of a thought, the more you think about it. The very essence of what she was, her brain patterns, her actual memory bit patterns, were actually physically copied from one neural network to another. A copy of her, as a sentient entity, was copied to another "brain". It's not just that Data _remembers_ and _appreciates_ her. He literally _copied_ her brain into his own. Some questions could be raised about how ethical this actually is. This is not just a heartwarming "I will always remember her". This is a much creepier "I physically copied her brain patterns into my own, making her part of my brain", which is a rather different proposition from an ethical perspective.

Lal has been assimilated. Her distinctiveness has been added to the Data collective.

Data: "She died of a critical malfunction." Picard: "i cri" Data: "No, it is alright, I installed her on my own syst--" *dies of a critical malfunction*

The real brilliance of Data: First, he has no emotion. Second, he is immersed in tragic, poignant circumstances. And not just here. In several episodes. Third, his lack of emotion renders him unable to appreciate the full extent of the tragedy. Fourth, that fact makes them even _more_ tragic and poignant for everyone else.

I always interpreted this scene as the people who leave us are still a part of us and live through our memories. Just like how lal lives through data's memory.

This episode made my grandmother a Star Trek fan, she was hooked from then on.

"We're all very sorry for your loss, Mr Data. Now, back to work, please."

I like how Data has his own way of looking sad

He should have given Riker a wink remembering their kiss.

God damn. I've owned these on video, dvd and blu-ray and now I get the irresistible urge to watch the whole lot again on Netflix. Greatest show in the history of television. Data: the greatest character.

The writers of this programme gave data such nobility.

I love Ron Jones's score at the end. It's like the music is feeling all the emotion Data can't.

This also expresses datas uniqueness as a species in a sense. Two separate entities fused back into one as a natural part of a life cycle? Were there more androids built under the same pretense, they'd eventually create a transient culture where one being ultimately enhances the next. It's something that would be really fun to explore sci-fi wise. Also I think eventually it'd put the borg to shame.

This was the first episode of Star Trek I ever saw. My dad saw it was airing on the Sci-fi channel and showed it to me. Needless to say it was a great introduction to what is now my favourite tv series of all time.

0:38 When you look at picard's reaction, there's like a moment of pause that's like... "That might be creepy data, but we're gonna move on...."

data was truly someone special, in many ways, he was more human than most people

After my grandmother passed I watched this with my mom and it made the episode go from one of my favorites to something extremely special. It's a well written episode and is everything I find best in Star Trek.

Amazing how well Data plays the role of front man in the scam of making A.I. etc all warm, fuzzy, cool, and nice. Whereas in fact it's anything but.

I so enjoyed watching Data grow, from trying to whistle in the first episode, to becoming a father here. Fighting for his life in 'Measure of a Man'. And, what better way to learn about the human condition that to study Shakespreare? My favorite TV character ever, and so well played by Brent Spiner.

0:35 " Captain, Lt. Cmdr. LaForge here! Data is suffering complete system failure. It's like he's been infected with a virus of some kind. Don't know what's causing it. He even flirted with Commander Riker. Told Data he'd have to think about it. Makes me so jealous. LaForge out."

When my dad died, I realized that he is HERE. (I'm pointing to my heart.)

"She's not really dead you know. So long as I remember her."

I wanted Data to say, "She's here," like the little girl in poltergeist.

Stuff like this is why Data is my favourite TNG character. It’s also why I’m so stunned that I don’t hear a whole lot more about the back catalogue of work that the , frankly “legendary” actor Brent Spinner must have in his resume? Maybe he doesn’t like to talk about his past triumphs? I dunno

It’s interesting because this sequence shows Data doing something very human within his “machine” self. Transferring her memories into his head is just like us keeping someone “alive” by remembering our time with them. He has in many ways made it an Android method of the same action. He has turned her memories into his, just as we wonder how someone else felt/thought about an event, but he is able to actually “know” the answers. So in many ways he remembers her more completely.

'We are saddened by your loss. Now, get back to work!' I feel like a better segue should have been written. Maybe its just me since other people were hit in the feels, but it felt too abrupt.

I always believed that Data felt all the same emotions as humans, but the linkage between his emotions and his conscious awareness was not complete. He expressed his emotions in his behaviors, and sometimes behaved in ways he did not understand himself, but could never consciously recognize or express what he felt. You can see it in his relationships with Lore, Lal, Geordi, Tasha, Spot, and others.

Data: I put her brain into my brain. Picard: Get back to work.

Even as a machine, as Data looks out into space from his console, it’s clear the loss of Lal has had an effect on him.

This was BY FAR the best STTNG episode of them all

Ah yes. Data sits there with his new memories of making out with Riker.

Did anyone notice how when Data sits down, the front turbolift door is open, revealing the set behind?

Not sure if it's the KZfaq algorithm, perfect timing, or my phone listening but this episode was on today and now it's in my recommendations, and I only saw a few minutes since I work nights and had to go to sleep.

The episodes where DATA is trying to emulate some aspect of humanity in some fashion are always first rate. And this one is among the top 3, for sure. Thanks for the post.

"He is Data. Android. He cannot cry, so we cry for him."

That show had so much heart.

That had to be one of the saddest moments for data

Worf: Captain, Starfleet Command is informing us that they want Lal's memories - all copies. They are invoking their 'every time anything changes even slightly we refile' rule. Data: Captain, I ask that you advise them to seek self-pleasuring to the point of physical expiration, and thereafter, if there is the theorized afterlife, to seek then the harshly warmer ends of it.

Data placed his daughter's memories back inside his own memories.

"Til death do us part." Commander Data: "You can't get rid of me that easily."

“Why did she die?” “I don’t know... it’s as if she lost the will to live.”

He worked faster & faster, his hands a blur as he tried to stay ahead of each failure...but even even Data was always 1 step behind...

A very sad episode

There is a novel bringing her back. It was...pretty awesome. Explained a lot, but I loved how it explained Lal's issues especially.

It’s not fair. It’s just not fair.

I am minded here of something Keanu Reeves said when asked by Stephen Colbert "what happens when you die." Keanu replied "I know the ones who love us will miss us."

Lal’s “critical malfunction “ was brought on by the Admiral trying to take her away from her father, her family. He should be put under arrest. If through your actions you cause the death of another...By federation law he is guilty at the very least he’s out of Starfleet and away from where he can do more damage.

Probably one of my favourite episodes so far. I'm watching the lot on Netflix and I'm currently a few episodes in to series 4. I'm glad that i discovered this series late and get to watch them all now and not when i was younger. I feel like i can enjoy and appreciate them more.

My favorite episode of the entire series. It is excellent.

He may not feel love but data knows what love is and that is better than most people

One of the saddest episodes.

Lt. Commander: My kid died at 1300. Captain: We are all sad. Lt. Commander: Thanks, but she will live on in my memories. Captain: Great, get back to work. NO FUCKING TIME OFF FOR A FAMILY DEATH IN STAR TREK!!!!

one of the saddest moments in the series, and also one of the happiests

Well at least the memories of data's daughter are still preserved in his memories.

EPIC MUSIC at the end! surprisingly so.

When Data died, so did ST.

I hear Spock's line from TOS, "For the first time in my life, I was happy."

That takes stalking to a level where no one has gone before...

There was something missing at the end when captain Picard tells crusher to lay in a course and then engage he didn’t tell him at what speed...

Never noticed that randomly open, dark turbolift door in the background before.

This episode just wrecks me every time I watch it.

"I have transferred her memories to me." Picard: "Get back to work you lousy bot!"

Of course, you realize that Data now knows what it feels like to passionately snog Riker.

1:12 - Ludicrous speed, GO!

Lol so data remembers kissing the beard

the readyroom door is wide open and thats all I can think about

Crewgirl, shaking her head as she walks of the bridge, "grumble grumble and that little twerp gets to stay at his station grumble effin nepotism..."

So much expression in a perfectly blank face.

If a loss isn’t tragic, it doesn’t matter.

Data: I have transferred her memories to me. That means he knows what it's like to make out with Riker. Interesting....

troi did not seem happy with what data had done.

This episode makes me weep

Data and Lal's relationship was so very beautiful, filled with tender love and compassion... except for the time Data caught Lal smoking crack and beat the shit out of her

How lucky Data is to be able to electronically put Lull’s memories into his own.

This is my favorite Star Trek episode from all of the shows. Very well written and very well acted.

“She is here.” And now, the space-chick who was at Ops, is not.

"Mr Data, that is fucking weird. Don't share that shit with me again. Now please take your position."

Being that Lal developed emotions, does that mean Data can remember her emotional states and not feel them? Wouldn't that within itself, having her memories cause a problem within him?

0:52 the Ensign who was just relieved must be the actress who played Lal. The hair is distinctly longer than normal. The face hidden from camera.

Single silliest episode.

Data has begun assimilation.

I remember seeing this the first time it was on. My mum wept

Every time I watch this episode my allergies start acting up.

That poor extra when Date took the con never got to show her face or say a word.

They should have made Data think he was a normal human for years and then do an episode where they all tell him he has no parents, like an intervention.

Putting someone’s personality on a new host is tricky. Even a single error in the copying procedure would make them a completely different person.

I've never really liked Picard's response. "Data, will you take your position?" It feels like Picard would have, and should have, offered him some time to grieve. Sure, technically Data "does not have emotions", but he should still be entitled to the time...he's obviously been deeply impacted by it. Another funny quirk about it, is the ole "but to an android, it was an eternity" aspect.

The famous right-eye twitch. Data displays emotion. ;-)

I am Still Here. I am Human... Even I had to Rest.

This was sad to me until I realized that this means that Data knows what kissing Riker is like

This is what Star Trek is about: Pushing the frontiers is existence.

Dude's got inside him: the colonists, Lal, Lore, that dead scientist guy, hundreds or thousands of personalities from 'Masks' ..any more?

Important to note that a large part of what Data assimilated was her emotional intelligence - she had the ability to feel emotion and affect which he (at the time of her death) didn't to the same degree; this is evident in their speech as she dies. So as sentimental as it is, he's also absorbed a large part of the 'humanity' which he is otherwise denied/denies himself in the form of complex emotions.

Would have been more touching if Captain Picard and Troi were more visibly saddened. I think the actors missed a good opportunity there...but, thats just me.

If it wasn't for that admiral then she could have been a recurring guest star at the very least, I've always hated that she died

So this means Data knows what it's like to lip-lock Riker.

It is a pity his do not try again to create another child, his creator did not give up when he failed

0:32 This seems like a serious security violation (impromptu reprogramming an active Starfleet officer), among other things.

This is the android equivalent of a surgeon losing his daughter, so he cuts the memory centers out of her brain and implants them in his own brain.

I wish they would have addressed her again in Picard. But then again considering the season finale.