The Schizoid Man

Our favorite Android finds a worthy companion in Dr. Graves, one of the most brilliant beings in the galaxy. He has a masterful scientist, actually being the mentor of Data's creator, Dr. Soong. Unfortunately, his great career is about to end. He has an incurable disease that is fatal. In a comic, but touching scene, the old man insists that date refer to him as "Grandpa." They talk for long periods of time. The acerbic old goat is condescending and sarcastic and will not go gentle into that good night. He refuses to recognize the illness but it has obviously taken a foothold in his body. Things get interesting when Graves dies and his demise is announced by Data. From this point forward, Data changes completely. He becomes an android Graves. A hilarious scene is when they have the burial service and Data delivers a eulogy that is hilarious. However, the new android/Graves begins to become dangerous and could also be compromising Data's programming. Violence begins to dominate, not the seeking for knowledge that Grave's imagined, particularly when it comes to a young woman that he has raised and loved his whole life (a May/September situation). This whole episode is played with aplomb and is very entertaining.

When the doctor whistles a tune (the one Data whistles later), he explains that it's called "If I Only Had a Heart." But it's the Scarecrow's song from The Wizard of Oz, "If I Only had a Brain."

The Enterprise landing party meets Dr. Ira Graves after his assistant sent out a call for help. She thinks he's dying and he refuses to have any help in his final days. It turns out that he is dying--and he knows there is no hope. You'd think he'd have regrets or fears about death, but instead he's STILL a crotchety old guy who has an ego nearly as big as a planet!

Of the landing party, Dr. Graves has little interest in the doctor or the other humans. Instead, he's drawn to Data for many reasons. The obvious one is that Graves' work contributed to Dr. Soong's building Data. So, in a way, he's like Data's granddad! As for his other reason for being happy to see Data,...well, you'll just have to see what's next!

This is an amusing episode with Data--and not forced like in "The Outrageous Okona". This time, the humor worked and the script allowed Brent Spiner (Data) to have some fun and expand his character. Well worth seeing to see the 'new Data'!

If you really care, the title, "The Schizoid Man", might be misunderstood by some. Despite the root 'schiz', this is NOT a reference to schizophrenia but to a schizoid personality. Such a personality is typified by an individual who has no desire for the company of others. Some, while acting gruff and distant, actually secretly long for friendships and intimacy. A true schizoid personality is perfectly happy being alone and might consider others to be a bother! This is a reasonable description of the main character in this episode, Dr. Graves. Although Graves is a gifted genius, he has no desire to live among people but on his own little planet in the middle of no where. His only companion is a pretty young assistant--a woman with which he has a distant and somewhat cantankerous relationship. She is there to help him in his work...not be his lover or friend. However, although a good argument could be made that Graves has a schizoid personality, the fact that he had deep hidden thoughts about his pretty assistant and secretly wants her would indicate that he's most likely an avoidant personality--a person who PRETENDS to hate people but who, very down deep, wants them or at least one person.

It is also possible that the 'schiz' is referring to the literal interpretation--a split mind. However, this is NOT the same as Multiple Personality Disorder and could refer to Data's mind becoming fragmented. Okay...psyc 101 lecture over for today!

Enterprise visits an eccentric scientist to provide medical care.

This is an entertaining episode with a silly premise but a number of humorous character moments from Data and Dr Ira Graves.

The plot is predictable and lacks plausibility but contains some good dialogue between Data and Graves. Graves character has some classic lines before and after death. It also contains some decent themes on what defines existence, as in several Data focussed episodes and is a good presentation of personality disorder.

I did not find anything to be particularly cinematic, as for me the enjoyment comes from the outrageous displays of arrogance, misogyny, jealousy and general character assassination of Graves by the actors and writers.

Performances are mostly strong, such as Brent Spiner and W Morgan Sheppard. Unfortunately Barbara Alyn Woods is so terrible as Kareen I found her to be quite distracting.

This is a 6.5/10 for me but I round upwards.

The Enterprise answers a distress call from Barbara Alyn Woods who is the late life trophy companion of Dr. Ira Graves played here by William Morgan Sheppard a curmudgeonly iconoclast. Patrick Stewart beams down Worf, Data, and a member of the medical staff Suzie Plakson who is a Vulcan. It is determined that the old iconoclast is suffering from an irreversible and fatal disease.

I did love the way each of the Enterprise away team reacted to the surroundings. When the isolated Ms. Woods calls Worf a Romulan, Michael Dorn holds that Klingon temper and makes allowances. Plakson whose Vulcan logical ways makes her just totally immune to Sheppard's barbs. I would love to have seen more of her.

However when Brent Spiner learns that Sheppard mentored Dr. Sung who built him and his twin he starts referring to him as Grandpa. And Sheppard has a plan to stick around after his physical body dies and it involved Brent Spiner.

Let's say that Sheppard's personality and social skills don't wear well on Data in every sense of the word.

Nicely done TNG story.