Star Trek: Picard gave Data the perfect farewell, only to resurrect him back

Data (played by Brent Spiner) is one of the more treasured characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation. So the disappointment among the fans was apparent when the character died in Star Trek: Nemesis while trying to save Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart). The ending for a character like Data felt underwhelming.

However, that was remedied in Star Trek: Picard Season 1, when Data got the perfect farewell. And as fans have learned time and again, when it comes to Star Trek nothing is ever truly final. Data gets marvelously resurrected in Picard Season 3.

Data is the android Starfleet officer aboard the USS Enterprise-D, who was eager to learn human ways. He was the first of his kind to enter Starfleet. Dr. Noonien Soong created him based him on his own likeness. The character was aimed at showcasing a future where artificial and organic life forms can co-exist.

Data’s death in Star Trek

In Star Trek: Nemesis, the Enterprise is threatened by a clone of Captain Picard, who goes by the name Shinzon (played by Tom Hardy). He has taken the control of the Romulan Star Empire after a coup d'état and wants to destroy the Federation. Shinzon is dying because of the cloning process, which can only be treated with Picard’s blood. When Shinzon kidnaps Picard, Data swaps places with android B-4 to rescue Picard.

After an intense confrontation with Shinzon, Picard kills him. Data activates the emergency transport beacon so Picard can get off the ship. Data ends up sacrificing himself by firing a phaser to destroy the thalaron generator. At the end, Picard meets B-4, to whom Data had downloaded his memories.

But that is not the last time the fans will see Data. In Star Trek: Picard Season 1 final episode titled ‘Et in Arcadia Ego, Part II’, Data is still alive in a conscious state in a computer. Picard meets Data in the simulation, where the android will share his ultimate wish to experience death like humans do. Picard agrees to his request, and disconnects the machine. The heart-warming scene is the perfect farewell for the beloved character.

It is to be noted that Data’s legacy is still very much part of the Star Trek universe. The season also introduced the audience to Data’s daughters, Dahj and Soji Asha (played by Isa Briones), who were created by Dr. Bruce Maddox (played by John Ales) using one of Data’s positronic neurons.

Data is resurrected in Star Trek: Picard Season 2

Dr. Soong had been working on a golem to create a new consciousness from Data, Lore, Lal and B-4. But he dies before completing the work. His work is taken by the Starfleet and stored in Daystrom Station as the station’s security system. When William T. Riker (played by Jonathan Frakes), Worf (played by Michael Dorn) and Raffi Musiker (played by Michelle Hurd) encounter the golem, they bring it to the USS Titan-A.

In episode 8, titled "Surrender," Data battles his malevolent brother Lore, who is attempting to seize control of the golem body. Data lets Lore access his memories from his days on the Enterprise. But unbeknownst to Lore, Data ends up overwriting Lore and takes control of the body.

Data will have an emotional reunion with his fellow Enterprise crew members. They embark on one last adventure on the USS Enterprise-D to destroy the Borg. But as the curtains closed on Picard, you are left with the feeling of satisfaction as you see the long-lost friends share some heartwarming moments. Maybe this was after all a better farewell.

ALSO READ: I was today years old when I learnt the reason Spock disappeared from Prime timeline in Star Trek

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