The Surprising Gender Twist: The Untold Story of Data's Evil Sister in Star Trek TNG
Lore, Data's evil brother in Star Trek TNG, was originally intended to be female However, Brent Spiner, the actor who portrayed him, had a different vision Alongside this, the show introduced a female android named Lal as Data's daughter
Summary
Lore was originally supposed to be a female android and a romantic interest for Data, but actor Brent Spiner proposed the idea of an evil twin.
Lore's appearance in "Datalore" greatly altered the plot by transforming him from a potential romantic interest into Data's malevolent sibling.
Later on in TNG, a female android named Lal was introduced. Created by Data, she encountered a devastating malfunction, resulting in "The Offspring" becoming one of the show's most acclaimed episodes.
Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1 introduced Lore as the villainous brother of Lt. Commander Data, portrayed by Brent Spiner. However, Lore was initially intended to be a female android. In episode 13 of TNG season 1, titled "Datalore," Captain Jean-Luc Picard takes the USS Enterprise to Omicron Theta, the planet where Data was discovered by Starfleet. Upon exploring the now deserted planet, the away team stumbles upon the dismantled body of another android identical to Data. Once the body is reassembled, it awakens and identifies itself as Data's brother, Lore.
After being reactivated in "Datalore," Lore quickly reveals his true nature by incapacitating Data and assuming his identity. Following Lore's introduction, the story between Lore and Data takes on the popular trope of the evil twin, although this was not the original intention for the character of Lore. The original concept for the episode that ultimately became "Datalore" involved a female android who would serve as a romantic interest for Data. According to Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, it was Brent Spiner himself who suggested the idea of an evil twin.
Lore Was Meant to Be Female, But Brent Spiner Had A Different Idea
According to The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, the TNG episode "Datalore" underwent the most significant changes from its original concept. Originally, the storyline planned for a female android who would be responsible for repairing dangerous situations too risky for humans. While little information is available about the progress of this original pitch, Brent Spiner, who portrays Lore, is credited for including the character in the story. Lore, known for his expressive nature, contrasts with the less emotive Data, and Spiner enthusiastically embraces his role, delivering impactful performances in almost every scene.
Lore continues to play the role of the villainous twin in three additional TNG episodes, even joining forces with a renegade group of Borg drones in a two-part episode called "Descent." Although an android love interest for Data might seem out of place, considering his desire to become more human, most of Data's romantic entanglements throughout TNG involve human women, with the exception of the Borg Queen portrayed by Alice Krige in Star Trek: First Contact. While not introduced in season 1, TNG later introduces a female android named Lal, Data's daughter, portrayed by Hallie Todd.
TNG Introduced A Female Android As Data's Daughter
Cyberneticist Dr. Noonian Soong, known for his groundbreaking work on positronic brain technology and the creation of Data and Lore, is the creator of true artificial intelligence. In the episode "The Offspring" from Season 3 of TNG, Data endeavors to replicate this technology and constructs an android daughter named Lal. Lal exhibits exceptional learning capabilities and inquisitively questions her own existence, leading to the success of Data's experiment. However, Starfleet becomes aware of Lal's existence and expresses interest in studying her at a science facility. Captain Picard, Data, and Lal strongly oppose this idea, but complications arise when Lal's system begins to malfunction due to her fear of leaving the Enterprise. Data discovers that her positronic brain is undergoing a cascade failure, and despite his steadfast efforts to save her, Lal ultimately ceases to function. To ensure Lal's continued existence, Data preserves her memories within his own positronic brain. Surprisingly, Lal's memories also play a role in the subsequent upgrade Data receives in Star Trek: Picard Season 3. Although the course of the original female android storyline in TNG remains unknown, "The Offspring" episode stands as a highly praised installment of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
