The Quality of Life (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Data argues that Exocomps are sentient lifeforms.
This episode introduces the Exocomp robots, which are machines designed to learn and form new connections on their own.[1][2]
Quick Facts
- Series
- Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Season
- 6
- Episode
- 9
- Director
- Jonathan Frakes
- Writer
- Naren Shankar
- Story
- L.J. Scott
- Production
- 235
- Air date
- 16 November 1992
Facts from the source article.
Making and release
"The Quality of Life" first aired on November 14, 1992, as season six, episode nine.[2] The Blu-ray release includes all six discs in a standard-width, slim case.[3] The season six Blu-ray set gives Trek enthusiasts plenty to chew on.[3] On December 3, 2002, the United States saw the DVD box set for Star Trek: The Next Generation's sixth season, which included this episode, become available.[4]
A high-definition remastered version of the episode became purchasable on Blu-ray starting June 24, 2014.[4]
What the cited sources add
The A.V. Club noted that the episode deals with questions the show has addressed before and tries to show how difficult those questions can be.[2] The A.V. Club described Data's discussion with Dr. Farallon about the nature of life as one of the best scenes in the episode.[2] The A.V. Club observed that Picard compliments Data by saying, "It was the most human decision you've ever made."[2] The A.V. Club stated that "Quality" is not a great episode and is no "Measure of a Man."[2]
Forbes noted this episode as one of the top ten franchise episodes exploring advanced technology implications.[5] In 2011, The A.V. Club gave "Quality of Life" a "B+" grade and commended how the episode developed Data's character.[1]
References
- Wikipedia, "The Quality of Life (Star Trek: The Next Generation)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Star Trek: The Next Generation: "Quality Of Life"/"Chain Of Command, Part One"", The A.V. Club, 2011 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- "Star Trek: The Next Generation: "Quality Of Life"/"Chain Of Command, Part One"", The A.V. Club, 2011. facts only, no text reused. avclub.com
- Lipp, "Blu-ray Review: Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Six", The Morton Report, February 28, 2015. facts only, no text reused. themortonreport.com
- Wikipedia, "The Quality of Life (Star Trek: The Next Generation)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ordway, "Star Trek the Next Generation – Season 6", DVD Talk, December 6, 2002; Marnell, "Exclusive Video: Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 6 Gag Reel", Crave Online, June 20, 2014; Lipp, "Blu-ray Review: Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Six", The Morton Report, February 28, 2015 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "The Quality of Life (Star Trek: The Next Generation)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Knapp, "The 10 Best Singularity Themed Star Trek Episodes", Forbes; Knapp, "The 10 Best Singularity Themed Star Trek Episodes", Forbes; Knapp, "The 10 Best Singularity Themed Star Trek Episodes", Forbes (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article The Quality of Life (Star Trek: The Next Generation) (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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