Datalore

Season 1, Episode 13, Aired
EDIT

Episode Summary

Stardate: 41242.4 ''''The crew of the Enterprise finds android parts that are identical to Data's while they are exploring his homeworld. A team of engineers and technicians reassemble the android, and Data's twin, Lore, is reactivated.
8.4
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Great
232 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate It

Watch Online

Netflix
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
Amazon Prime
Free Trial/Subsc...

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Fan Episode Reviews (11)

See All

  • Lore + Crystaline Entity = Superb

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By AvatarBlue, May 26, 2011 Report Abuse
    One of the v best episodes from all seasons. Brent Spiner is great juggling his main role and acting out the alterego of Lore.

    In some respect this plot needed a double episode. Id like to have had more happen on the abandoned space station. Thats classic Star Trek, the arrive, discover, battle prevail scenario. As it is there is enough here to excite anyone who is returning to repeats of the show or newcomers.

    Theres just something about the way BS can pronounce 'Picard' and overload the sound of the name with so much distain. Even Wesley has a role in this that had me rooting for him. A definite series classic.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 0

  • Data discovers his long lost brother - who has a twisted psyche.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By Celedorian, Apr 09, 2011 Report Abuse
    This episode is one of the more memorable episodes of the first season thanks to the double whammy of featuring Brent Spiner in a dual role and introducing a character who would return in later seasons. Spiner, not surprisingly, is brilliant and dazzles as both Data and Lore. It helps that the episode features one of the better scripts for the first season of TNG; it's the last one Gene Roddenberry wrote for the series, and he did a pretty good job though the writing of the show would improve even more in later seasons. (The handling of the Wesley Crusher character, in particular, would improve in the second season, where they would learn ways of using him beyond making all the adults seem stupid and rude while Wesley saves the ship.)moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0

  • An engaging re-make of 'The Enemy Within'

    7.5
    "Good"
    By Amoyaan, Nov 04, 2010 Report Abuse
    'Datalore' puts Data firmly in the spotlight and helps establish him as perhaps the show's most accessible and engaging character. I don't remember immediately falling in love with Data when the series began, I think for me it was more of a gradual liking I took to him. But this episode I feel helps cement him as one of TNG's greatest triumphs. The actors are finally finding their feet by now and the viewers have a much greater feel for who these people are.

    In many ways, this strikes me as a re-make of TOS episode 'The Enemy Within'. It's not as good, but it's still effective and allows Brent Spiner to sink his teeth into a dual role as both Data and his evil twin, Lore. it's an engaging episode with plenty to sustain the viewer's interest and benefits from Rob Bowman's striking directorial debut. Bowman, who would later become renowned for his work on The X Files, has a fantastic visual aesthetic to everything he directs and keeps the pace running smoothly.

    The only thing that mars this episode is the obviousness of the plot. The fact that no one realises what Lore is doing except Wesley strains credibility to just about breaking point and makes 'the adults' all look exceptionally stupid. That niggle aside, it's still a very solid episode and well worth a watch.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 1

  • Brotherly hate....

    8.5
    "Great"
    By uk6strings, Jan 04, 2010 Report Abuse
    "Datalore" is easily one of the best episodes of the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation - it is a gem amongst a pile of stones. The first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation is not bad, mind you, but it certainly is weak and not up to the high standard that the show would later reach. "Datalore" seems like an episode from the future that hid away in the first season: having good writing, tension, character development, good acting, and a great antagonist. The only difference between this episode and some of the better episodes of the later seasons is its lower production value.

    The episode basically comes down to a showdown between Data and his brother Lore, of whom the Enterprise has discovered on the planet that Data was discovered decades ago. The Enterprise crew has no idea what they are in for, however, because when they activate Lore they find that he is not an exact twin of Data but an evil version of him.

    Like I said before, the episode is well written and put together - its fun, exciting, and dramatic. Really the only problem with the episode, much like many episodes in the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, is that it decided to follow the formula of Wesley Crusher overcoming the stupidity of the adult crew and saving the day. Really, once was enough.... and that was one too many. The real highlight of the episode comes in the form of Brent Spiner (or should I say "forms?") who is in top form as both Data and Lore - the Data we all know and love and the evil swindling Lore. The final clashing of androids showdown at the episode's end is a great ending to all of the elments that make "Datalore" definitely worth watching.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0

  • One of the best episodes of the lackluster first season, as Data's evil twin is introduced.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By pharoahsdance, Feb 18, 2008 Report Abuse
    Along with "Conspiracy", this episode ranks at the top of the very weak first season of TNG. Having a real, dangerous villain aboard the Enterprise creates a level of tension and excitement that the show rarely had in its early days.

    Furthermore, I think that once you know what is going to happen, the early scenes (with the away crew beaming down to the planet) become even better, building up a nice combination of mystery and foreboding. The disturbing drawings by the colony's children were a very nice touch.

    That said, the episode flags a little near the end. That Lore could have tricked the Enterprise's crew -- very well. But if so, why would Wesley Crusher have been the only one to realize it? The final firefight between Data and Lore in the shuttle bay redeems things somewhat.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    2 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Data shows Doctor Crusher his "off" switch, located on his back above his right hip. In "Measure of a Man" in Season 2, Riker turns off Data near his left shoulder. Edit
    • If Lore had led the crystalline entity to the colony to destroy all the colonists, who disassembled him afterwards? It's established in "Brothers" that Dr. Soong had left Omicron Theta before its total destruction, and had dissasembled Lore beforehand, so even if the colonists put him back together after Soong's departure, how did he get disassembled again? Edit
    • At the end, when Picard asks Data if he is all right, Data responds with the contraction of "I'm fine, sir." Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • This episode marks the second and final appearance of Lt. Cmdr. Argyle. Edit
    • Data's evil twin Lore, who appears several times throughout the series, is introduced in this episode. Edit
    • Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi) does not appear in this episode. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Data: If you had an off switch, Doctor, would you not keep it a secret? Beverly: I guess I would. Edit
    • Picard: Number One, have you ever considered whether Data is more human or less human that we want? Riker: I only wish we were all as well-balanced, sir. Edit
    • Wesley: Sir, I know this may finish me as an Acting Ensign, but... Picard: Shut up, Wesley! Dr. Crusher: "Shut up, Wesley"!? Picard: Doctor... Wesley: And since I am finished here, sir, may I point out that... Dr. Crusher: Shut up, Wesley! Edit

  • Allusions

Show Forums

See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

Season 1 Episodes

See All
Ep 26
The Neutral Zone
Ep 25
Conspiracy
Ep 24
We'll Always Have Paris
Ep 23
Skin Of Evil
Ep 22
Symbiosis
Ep 21
The Arsenal Of Freedom
Ep 20
Heart Of Glory
Ep 19
Coming of Age
Ep 18
Home Soil
Ep 17
When The Bough Breaks
Ep 16
Too Short A Season
Ep 15
11001001
Ep 14
Angel One
Ep 13
Datalore
Ep 12
The Big Goodbye
Ep 11
Haven
Ep 10
Hide And Q
Ep 9
The Battle
Ep 8
Justice
Ep 7
Lonely Among Us
Ep 6
Where No One Has Gone Before
Ep 5
The Last Outpost
Ep 4
Code Of Honor
Ep 3
The Naked Now
Ep 2
Encounter At Farpoint (2)
Ep 1
Encounter At Farpoint (1)

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
BROWSE | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use