The Schizoid Man
- Episode aired Jan 21, 1989
- TV-PG
- 45m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
A dying anti-social scientist unintentionally comes upon the perfect vessel in which to preserve his intellect and arrogant personality - Data.A dying anti-social scientist unintentionally comes upon the perfect vessel in which to preserve his intellect and arrogant personality - Data.A dying anti-social scientist unintentionally comes upon the perfect vessel in which to preserve his intellect and arrogant personality - Data.
William Morgan Sheppard
- Dr. Ira Graves
- (as W. Morgan Sheppard)
Rachen Assapiomonwait
- Crewman Nelson
- (uncredited)
Michael Braveheart
- Crewman Martinez
- (uncredited)
Dexter Clay
- Operations Division Officer
- (uncredited)
Denise Crosby
- Lieutenant Natasha 'Tasha' Yar
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Randy James
- Ten Forward waiter
- (uncredited)
Lorine Mendell
- Crewman Diana Giddings
- (uncredited)
Guy Vardaman
- Darien Wallace
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDr. Selar, a Vulcan officer on the Enterprise-D, is frequently mentioned throughout the series, but this is the only time she appears.
- GoofsFlipped shot: When the Enterprise returns to Gravesworld, the registry number NCC-1701-D is mirrored.
- Quotes
Capt. Picard: [citing Shakespeare] "So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, so long lives this... and this gives life to thee."
- ConnectionsFeatured in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Shades of Gray (1989)
- SoundtracksStar Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage
Featured review
Brent Spiner gets to have some fun with this episode.
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!
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!
helpful•74
- planktonrules
- Nov 12, 2014
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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