One of the most memorable episodes featuring Data, the android from Star Trek: The Next Generation, is “The Most Toys.” Data quickly won over audiences when the show began, becoming a fan favorite thanks to his charming personality and his journey to understand what it means to be human. He was surprisingly easy to connect with, despite being a robot.
Data was a key member of Captain Picard’s crew on the Enterprise-D, and often saved the ship from danger. Despite being one of the most empathetic people onboard, he had his limits. This is explored in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Most Toys” (season 3, episode 22), where a manipulative collector named Kivas Fajo kidnaps Data, hoping to add the unique android to his private collection.
Data Makes a Shockingly Dark Decision in “The Most Toys”
When Kivas Fajo abducts Data and stages his death, he brings the android to a secure, private room. Data is initially uncooperative, but Fajo threatens the safety of his employees, forcing Data to comply with his demands.
Saul Rubinek’s excellent acting makes Kivas Fajo a truly hateful character, and even the usually calm Data is disturbed by his behavior. Fajo ultimately murders one of his employees, and when Data obtains Fajo’s weapon, the collector mocks him, wrongly assuming Data isn’t capable of killing anyone.
Data is programmed not to hurt anyone, but he realizes he must stop Fajo. Ultimately, Data seems to use a phaser to kill Fajo, believing it’s the only way to prevent more damage. When he returns to the Enterprise-D, someone discovers that a weapon fired during his transport.
Data claims something went wrong while he was being moved. It’s unclear if he intentionally fired the weapon, but the evidence points to an attempt on Fajo’s life. The episode’s writer, Shari Goodhartz, has confirmed that Data did fire the weapon and she would have preferred a more definitive ending.
If Data shot his weapon, it was a deeply troubling yet understandable reaction for an android. He felt such strong anger and pain from what Fajo did that he believed Fajo didn’t deserve to live. While shocking coming from Data, this decision is surprisingly logical given the circumstances.
“The Most Toys” Is an Underrated Sci-fi Episode
“The Most Toys” is a standout episode of Star Trek, and easily one of the best. The episode is a gripping hour largely driven by Brent Spiner and Saul Rubinek, who have fantastic chemistry. Their strong performances truly make the episode something special – it deserves to be considered a Star Trek classic.
Data’s quest to understand what it means to be human was a highlight of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and “The Most Toys” is a key episode in that story. When Data shoots Fajo, it shows a potentially dangerous side of his personality – suggesting he’s capable of darker actions if he ignored his own moral compass. Episodes like this one truly establish Data as a complex and compelling character, demonstrating the many facets of his unique nature.
While “The Most Toys” isn’t always mentioned among the best Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes, it’s a truly exceptional one. It provides a compelling look into Data’s character, features a captivating story, and is remarkably well-made. This often-overlooked episode deserves more recognition and is a key part of Data’s quest to understand what it means to be human.
2026-07-20 02:37