The Child

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Star Trek TNG S02E01-03 The Child, Where Silence Has Lease, Elementary Dear Data – “Not Very Effective” | First Time Reaction – To Baldly Go Podcast (Ep. 041)

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First-Time Watch – Star Trek: TNG Season 02, Episodes 01-03

Welcome to another episode of the To Baldly Go Podcast, in which I – a newbie to the Star Trek universe – am watching through Star Trek from the beginning, in release order, and discussing with some of my long-time Trekkie friends.

This week, we get:

  • New characters and Star Trek grows a beard

  • Word of the day: Effective

  • The unchanging concerns over AI

We covered:

  • The Child

  • Where Silence Has Lease

  • Elementary, Dear Data

“The Child” – Is it worse than Code of Honor?  Not quite…

Deanna Troi is impregnated by space dust that is curious about the human experience.

Things we discussed:

  • The start of Abbie loving these characters

  • Simple changes could have made it seem much less space-rapey

  • Character changes

  • Twilight

  • Debating character growth

  • Riker’s beard

There are better ways to explore the human experience.

“Where Silence Has Lease” – Did we ever make it out of the Matrix?

The Enterprise is trapped in a void with an entity that is exploring the limits of humanity.

Things we discussed:

  • How primitive Picard and crew are

  • A better exploration of humanity

  • The Expanse comparisons (Abaddon’s Gate)

  • A worse version of Q?

  • An uninspiring villain?

  • Learning all that you need to know

Another Talosian Illusion incident?  Did the Enterprise and crew get out?  Or is everything from this point forward occurring in the Void?

“Elementary, Dear Data” – AI versus humanity

Sherlock Data’s mysteries are too simple, so a new holodeck program is set up which becomes self-aware.

Things we discussed:

  • AI conversations today versus the late-1980s

  • Recitation does not mean understanding

  • Near consensus

  • Exploring Data’s humanity

  • Working with your hands, transcending time

  • Is Data capable of original thought?

  • Sherlock Holmes and copyright issues

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  The conversations surrounding AI have seemingly not changed.  The same conversations were had during The Original Series, Next Generation, and today.

A few other points

  • Gregg has some explaining to do (when he comes back)

  • Star Trek/Star Wars bar trivia

Final Thoughts

This week, we learned:

  • Abbie and I know more about Star Wars than Nate

  • Different effectiveness in stories exploring humanity

  • AI conversations have not meaningfully changed in the past 40 years (60 when we consider the same conversations from TOS)

A generally strong start to the second season (The Child notwithstanding).  Looking forward to more.

As always, remember – Never give up!  Never surrender!