Hero Worship (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Hero Worship" is the 111th episode of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. This is the 11th episode of the fifth season, directed by series' castmember Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard). Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry died during the filming of this episode.

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, Data rescues an orphaned boy from a damaged ship. As a way to repress his own pain, the boy begins to mimic Data's personality.

Writing
This episode was written by Hilary J. Bader; Bader began as TNG season 3 writing intern, and would also write for "The Loss" and "Dark Page" (3 total for TNG). Bader went on to write for many children's cartoon shows and comic books.

The teleplay was written by Joe Menosky.

Plot
The U.S.S. Enterprise is sent to investigate the disappearance of the research vessel Vico. They encounter the ship adrift just outside a black cluster. Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), and Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) beam aboard, finding everybody on the Vico is dead except for a young boy named Timothy (Joshua Harris). Data frees Timothy from some wreckage, and they beam back to Enterprise. As Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) examines him in sickbay, Timothy tells that unknown aliens killed the crew.

Timothy struggles to blend into his new surroundings, and trusts only his rescuer, Data. Counselor Deanna Troi asks Data to spend time with Timothy, believing that he might open up to Data about the Vico's destruction. Intrigued by the fact that androids can't experience emotions, Timothy starts behaving like him.

Observing Timothy's new android persona – complete with Data's vernacular and body movements – Troi concludes that Timothy is using the persona as a way to suppress his trauma. Troi suggests that Data tell Timothy about how humanity fascinates him, stating that it might help Timothy to be a boy again. While dining on soft drinks, Data muses over what it would be like to taste one's dessert and feel the anticipation and delight over a confection - a behaviour he observed in humans. Timothy argues that androids do not need to feel bad all the time, but Data asserts that "I would gladly risk feeling bad at times, if it also meant that I could... taste my dessert."

When Enterprise enters the cluster, Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn) notices strange sensor distortions. Picard concludes that aliens could not have fired on Vico. Timothy sticks to his story, but Data convinces him that androids do not lie. Timothy tearfully states that he killed the crew when his arm touched a button on a computer panel. Data assures him that this is impossible, as starships require "user code clearance" for computer commands.

A shock wave hits the Enterprise. Worf raises shields, but the next shock wave is even stronger. As more power is diverted to the shields, the shock waves intensify. Timothy remembers that the Vico's crew followed the same procedure, including Geordi's suggestion of transferring putting the energy of the warp engine directly to the shields. Data realizes that giving energy to the shields is causing the heavier shock waves; the shields are lowered, and the next shock wave is harmless.

Timothy is finally joining in with the other children at school.

Reception
In 1993, Trek Van Hise in Trek: The Next Generation said the episode was "excellent" and noted Patrick Stewart as the director.

In 2000, in Diplomacy, family, destiny: The Next Generation the episode was noted as a "bizarre psychological drama".

In 2011, The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B+", and while questioning the use of child actors, felt that the episode was example of how the series was willing to confront loss; overall they were happy with the writing and characters.

In 2020, GameSpot recommended this episode for background on the character of Data.

In 2020, Looper listed this as one of the best episodes for Data.

Releases
The episode was released in the United States on November 5, 2002, as part of the season five DVD box set. The first Blu-ray release was in the United States on November 18, 2013, followed by the United Kingdom the next day, November 19, 2013.