Data’s Pre-Warp Friend

Story: Pen Pals
Written By: Melinda M. Snodgrass
Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Year: 1989

Data has been chatting with some little girl online. That is a creepy synopsis I know…but it is actually a good episode. It is about the good ol’ prime directive. Data has been in contact with this child from a pre-warp civilization, and when her planet is going to be destroyed, the Enterprise is sort of stuck…prime directive says they can’t help…but Data has become somewhat attached.
I think it raised some decent issues and executed a solution well. It really puts the Prime Directive into perspective, a perspective that gets warped by the time Voyager roles around.

The B-Story with Wesley getting some command is a lot less interesting. But it does have some strong points.

I would say there are enough good points in this story to make it worthwhile, it is not the best, but it is of the quality that in the 3rd season on would be “The Average TNG” Episode.

NEXT TIME: The Collective