The Measure of a Man is the best early TNG episode by a good margin. It shows the depth of the characters that the show developed and the more mature look into moral issues. The opening poker game would turn into a regular feature to the point that the final scene in the series is the crew playing poker together as the camera pans out into space. The sad part of this episode is that captain Louvois never returned. While Riker seems to enjoy Kirklike relations with women across the galaxy the more mature Picard is well paired with the highly competent and self assured Louvois. Her role both as his ex and as the judge in the episode are both exemplary.
The episode opens with the crew playing poker in Rikers quarters and for once Pulaski seems to be right about Data as he is unable to see through a bluff and loses most of his chips quickly. We then find Picard on starbase 173 catching up with his old lover and rival captain Louvois. Admiral Nakamura shows up with the villain of the episode commander Maddox who intends to experiment on Data in a way which will destroy his consciousness. Back on the ship Maddox explains his plan to Data who refuses to participate so Maddox hands him an order of transfer to his command. Picard is so shaken he goes to Louvois for advise on fighting the order and she explains the order can't be stopped, but Data can resign.
Maddox shows up without permission in Data's quarters and tries to convince him, but is ineffective. Maddox then tells Louvois that Data can't resign as he is property of Starfleet and after review she agrees. Picard challenges the ruling and she agrees to a hearing, however since he is second in command to Data Riker must act as prosecutor. He is doesn't want to do it, but she gives him little choice. The hearing is on and after Riker demonstrates Data to clearly be a machine Picard is a little shaken and calls for a recess. While the hearing is in recess Picard has a talk with Guinan about it and she points out that if Starfleet ends up with an army of Data's who are all property they will have made an army of slaves.
Back at the hearing Picard starts hitting hard. Starting by going through what Data packed when he was planning to leave Starfleet. Included is a hologram of Tasha Yar who Data explains was very important to him. Picard then goes through Maddox's list of what it takes to be conscious and Data clearly fits all the criteria. He ends with the point about how if they make more Data's and they are property it will be the most immoral thing Starfleet has basically ever done. Louvois rules in Data's favor and the episode wraps with Picard asking her out to dinner.
Review: I didn't do justice to the to depth of the arguments in this episode which if you haven't seen I can't recommend enough. Pulaski is a bit annoying at the beginning by they wisely never cut back to her to show how much she has had an attitude like slaver in chief Maddox for pretty much this entire season. This episode really serves to show how obnoxious and outright racist she has been. I can't imagine why the audience never accepted her.
10 out of 10
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