Patrick Stewart views the absence of an Emmy win for a specific Star Trek: The Next Generation cast member as a “significant injustice.” In his memoir, “Making It So: A Memoir,” Stewart reflects on his extensive portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the subsequent four TNG movies, and his reprisal as Admiral Jean-Luc in Star Trek: Picard. Delving into the preparation for his memoir, Stewart revisited Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes and films, leading him to notice and appreciate the performances of a fellow cast member.
Within “Making It So,” Patrick Stewart specifically highlights Brent Spiner’s exceptional performance in Season 3, Episode 16 of Star Trek: The Next Generation, titled “The Offspring,” wherein Lt. Commander Data constructs his own android daughter, Lal (Hallie Todd). Stewart admires Spiner’s acting prowess, expressing his admiration for Brent’s versatile performances that regrettably remained unrecognized by the Television Academy for Emmy nominations. An excerpt from “Making It So” is provided below:
In the episode “The Offspring,” marking Jonathan Frakes’ directorial debut, Data engineers an android offspring named Lal. Hallie Todd delivers a moving portrayal of Lal, assuming the persona of a teenage girl; however, her fleeting existence evokes a poignant response from Data, revealing semblances of genuine human emotion. Brent Spiner’s performance is remarkably impressive—he uncovers new layers within his character’s reminiscently Pinocchio-like journey, encapsulating the aspiration of a human invention striving for humanity. It is fundamentally unjust, in my perspective, that Brent has never been honored with an Emmy for his rendition of Data, given his multifaceted depictions across diverse android roles such as Lore and B-4, and the intricate Soong family of idiosyncratic scientists.
Brent Spiner’s extensive portrayal of various characters within the Star Trek franchise is undeniably impressive and vast. While managing the complexity of the character Data is remarkable on its own, Spiner’s versatility extends to embodying Data’s malevolent sibling Lore and his intellectually challenged brother, B-4. Notably, he assumes the roles of multiple members of the Soong family lineage, showcasing his range and skill. Spiner’s performances encompass Data’s creator, Dr. Noonian Soong in TNG, as well as various iterations of Soong’s predecessors, including Dr. Arik Soong in Star Trek: Enterprise, Dr. Adam Soong in Star Trek: Picard Season 2, and Dr. Altan Inigo Soong in Star Trek: Picard Seasons 1 and 3.
In Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Spiner’s portrayal of Data, integrating both organic and synthetic elements while amalgamating the personalities of Lore, B-4, Lal, and Altan Soong, presents an evolution of Data into a near-human creation. This portrayal represents the most multi-dimensional and intricately realized manifestation of the beloved android character. It appears unlikely that anyone within the Star Trek universe will match the breadth of characters and performances achieved by Brent Spiner, commencing from his role in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Patrick Stewart’s support for Emmy recognition for his exceptionally talented friend and colleague seems well-founded.