“It brings a sense of order and stability to my universe to know that you’re still a pompous ass… and a damn sexy man.”

It’s interesting to me how the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation is often lumped in with the first season as some way to indicate the supposed “lower quality” of the show when it began. Invariably, the conversation shifts to the third season of the show as the starting point for peak Next Generation. Viewers who summarily dismiss the early seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation are missing out on some of the best storytelling of the entire series.

The peak of the show did occur in the fourth season. After that, there was a sharp decline starting with some of the more tedious episodes in the fifth season before trailing off into outright absurdity in the sixth season. There were a handful of excellent episodes in the first season (“The Big Goodbye,” “11001001,” “Heart of Glory,” “The Arsenal of Freedom”) and even more in the second season. “The Measure of a Man” routinely appears in top-five lists and guess what? It’s a second season episode, shepherded by supposed “pariah,” Maurice Hurley, from a script and idea by attorney Melinda Snodgrass.

The Enterprise is visiting Starbase 173 where Picard catches up with old “friend,” Phillipa Louvois (Amanda McBroom), who prosecuted him regarding his first command and the loss of his ship, the Stargazer. Meanwhile, scientist Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy) has his eyes on Data. He makes a special case to Admiral Nakamura (Clyde Kusatsu) to detain Data and study him. Nakamura refers to Data (Brent Spiner) as “your [Picard’s] android.” Seems like an odd way to describe an officer, but okay. After a talk with Maddox, Data and Picard are convinced he doesn’t have a decent starting point (and really he sounds frighteningly incompetent).

Maddox presents Picard with orders separating Data from the ship. Data counters by resigning from Starfleet. Maddox takes his pleas to Louvois, telling her Data is property and, therefore, cannot resign. Louvois, somewhat shockingly, agrees. Unfortunately, this won’t be the last time Data is treated in this way. Picard urges Data to fight this ruling, and offers his services as litigator in the ensuing trial. Louvois forces Riker (Jonathan Frakes) to act as prosecutor and warns him that if he doesn’t do his best, she will rule in Maddox’s favor. There’s a great bit where a smiling Riker figures out his case against Data, but then he suddenly becomes sad because it could mean the end of Data’s existence.

After an awe-inspiring opening argument in which Riker removes Data’s arm and shuts him off, Picard talks to Guinan, who not-so-subtly makes a slavery analogy. She speaks of “disposable people” who do the dirty work, and who we don’t have to care about. It’s a fair (and valid) concern, but her speech comes off as heavy-handed. Picard’s closing argument, full of pomp and bombast, is much better, and this is one of Patrick Stewart’s finest moments as an actor. He draws you in, and makes you cheer for Data. “The Measure of a Man” is one of the greatest Star Trek episodes ever produced*.

• * “Now, sooner or later, this man or others like him will succeed in replicating Commander Data. And the decision you reach here today will determine how we will regard this creation of our genius. It will reveal the kind of a people we are, what he is destined to be. It will reach far beyond this courtroom and this one android. It could significantly redefine the boundaries of personal liberty and freedom, expanding them for some, savagely curtailing them for others. Are you prepared to condemn him and all who come after him to servitude and slavery? Your Honor, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life. Well, there it sits. Waiting.”
• ** “The Measure of a Man” inspired the first season of Star Trek: Picard. It seemed Guinan’s words about “disposable people” came to fruition and androids were turned into slaves.

Star Trek Rewind explores the Star Trek universe. From Archer to Janeway, Kirk to Picard, and Georgiou to Sisko — boldly read what no one has read before!