‘HERO WORSHIP’ (TNG)

Please feel free to comment on my review.

This ‘TNG’ episode is all about me! No really, it is! This episode is about me meeting Data from the Enterprise and wanting to be like him. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to guest star in this TV tale. 😀

By the way, this episode was directed by Patrick Stewart. I believe this was Patrick’s second ‘Star Trek’ contribution as a director. The previous episode he directed was ‘In Theory’ and that was a Data story.

In this episode, the Enterprise investigates the disappearance of a research vessel called the Vico. They find the Vico inside a gaseous part of space called the Black Cluster and is left adrift outside this cluster.

It is assumed the ship is heavily damaged from a battle. Riker, Geordi and Data beam over to the Vico to investigate. There they find everyone is dead, apart from a young boy found under some wreckage.

This young boy happens to be called Timothy. There you are! You see! I told you! This episode really is all about me. The young boy is called Timothy – that’s full name for Tim. I guest starred in ‘Star Trek’!

No, of course not. This isn’t really me. It’s Joshua Harris who guest stars as Timothy in the episode. Joshua Harris delivers a good performance as Timothy. He would later go on to become a TV producer.

Back in the episode, the ceiling begins to crumble where Timothy is aboard the Vico. Data gets to rescue Timothy, just in time before the wreckage collapses and they beam back to the Enterprise ship.

In sick bay, Timothy reveals the Vico was attacked by some unknown aliens. He is very afraid, even though he is reassured everything is okay. Timothy only trusts Data as he forms an attachment to him.

Timothy struggles to get on with anyone. Even when he’s in school, he’s obsessed with finishing a sculpture he’s working on and doesn’t pay attention in class as everyone’s about to do something else.

Counsellor Troi notices Timothy’s struggle to adjust to new life aboard the Enterprise. Troi sees Data and asks him to spend some time with Timothy, since he is the only person so far to connect with him.

Data visits Timothy in his quarters. Crikey, is Timothy all alone in his rather big quarters? Surely somebody should be there to look after him. After Data’s visit, Timothy starts behaving like an android.

Now I really like this approach to Timothy’s character and his fascination with Data. Timothy is clearly admiring of Data, especially since the android saved his life. So, why not act and be like Mr. Data then?

Timothy even dresses up like the android in a semi-yellow Starfleet uniform similar to Data’s. Now, I’m not sure how that would’ve worked with Spock’s character. Probably not in the same manner here.

Deanna Troi visits Timothy in his Data android persona and they both go to Ten Forward. She becomes fascinated by Timothy’s change of character as an android like Mr. Data as well as quite amused by it.

Seeing Picard and Data in the captain’s ready room, Deanna shares her encounter with Timothy and her thoughts on why he is acting this way. Picard assigns Data to make Timothy the best android ever.

Thus, Data combs Timothy’s hair in the same manner as his as well as getting to do things together such as painting, tasting food, etc. Thankfully Data didn’t put Timothy in gold paint like he appear here.

The reason why Timothy is behaving like an android is because he wants to supress his emotions since androids don’t have them. Timothy has been having nightmares lately and is very afraid to share them.

I like how Timothy interacts with Data in this episode and how he asks questions on what it’s like to be an android. He even gets to learn from Data about why he wants to be human instead of an android.

I enjoyed how the climax is handled with Timothy revealing what actually happened during the Vico’s ‘attack’. Timothy blames himself for it but gets told by Picard, Data and Deanna that it wasn’t his fault.

I also liked how Timothy helps Data to solve the problem, as he recollects what happens to the Vico just as it happens to the Enterprise at the same time. Data soon tells Picard to drop their ship’s shields.

‘Hero Worship’ is one of my favourite episodes from ‘TNG’. Not just because the main character is called Timothy but also because it is a story of a young boy who wants to become like Data as his hero.

‘Hero Worship’ (TNG) rating – 10/10

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