In the sixth episode of the second season of The Next Generation, everyone’s racist and misogynist grandfather shows up in this episode. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Star Trek.
Trigger Warning: For references to racism and sexism, ableism relating to schizophrenia, and consent.
OH MY GOD THIS WAS SO UNCOMFORTABLE.
I know that it was supposed to be, which is something that the show hasn’t always done. (“The Outrageous Okona” is a great example of that.) We are not supposed to sympathize with Graves, and that’s very clear. He’s gross! He’s a slimy, misogynist, and exceedingly rude. He’s an egotistical nightmare, and therefore, the show gets a lot from sticking him within Data. While logistically, that’s really the only character that could have worked for this role in the story, I think that there’s an exploitation of Data’s perceived innocence that inspires so much horror and revulsion in us.
I’m so certain of this because “The Schizoid Man” doesn’t waste any time before telling us what an awful person Graves is. Yes, he’s brilliant, and yes, he’s doing work necessary to advance a specific branch of science. But this doesn’t excuse his behavior! I know I’ve made references to it multiple times here and in the video for this episode, but Graves truly comes across as that older relative who is too far gone in their own bigotry to ever save. Well, it’s not just bigotry, of course. He’s cruel! That cruelty manifests in different ways, from his womanizing behavior towards Deanna and Dr. Selar (WHO IS SHE, CAN SHE BE IN EVERY EPISODE OH MY GOD??!?!?!) to the constant examples of him lashing out at everyone around him.
Which is why it’s so jarring to see him develop a rapport with Data. Like other episodes this season, we get to think about Data in a new light. Truthfully, he really has become more human than when we first met him, and his test with the Riker beard is a fine example of that. It’s genuine curiosity, and that’s a very human trait. I think you can see it as Data interacts with Graves, so much so that he eventually feels comfortable calling Graves “grandpa.” It’s something new for Data, to have a concept of lineage.
That’s why I find Graves’s actions to be pretty monstrous. Despite that Data is an android, he still feels like a vulnerable person within this dynamic. Graves took advantage of Data’s body, and he took advantage of Data’s affection for him. I didn’t figure out what Graves had done until Data visited Kareen in Ten Forward and made a statement that only Graves would have been able to make. And that’s precisely when this episode goes from “mildly interesting” to “an unending horror film.” I admit that like the episode before it, the twist grabbed my attention immediately. It was like watching a ticking time bomb. When would the other characters figure out what had happened? What would Graves get away with before they did?
And look, it’s really unnerving to think of Data doing the things we witness here, but thankfully, Brent Spiner’s acting creates a very obvious divide between Graves and Data. I do think that we could do without the whole “schizoid” reference because… well, it’s not really fair for people who actually have schizophrenia? There’s a viciousness in drawing this comparison because of the violent stigma often attached to those who have schizophrenia. Plus, this isn’t that illness; it’s an invasion. Graves invaded Data’s mind and planned on using his body to do… well, a lot of really horrible things. Some science? Who cares when someone THIS AWFUl is doing it?
There’s a lot of suspense here and I think the resolution of the episode feels “classic” for The Next Generation. Despite that there actually is a violent confrontation, Picard is largely able to de-escalate this nightmare through reason and intellect. He basically convinces Graves that his propensity for violence is out of control, and then Graves perfectly demonstrates why Picard was correct. That’s something Star Trek has done in general, of course. Plenty of episodes from The Original Series were resolved like this. But I feel like this show in particular is trying to avoid all-out brawls or space dogfights, you know? There’s another solution here that isn’t action-packed or horrifically violent, and the crew is always looking for that answer.
The video for “The Schizoid Man” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– The Mark Does Stuff Tour 2015 is now live and includes dates across the U.S., Canada, Europe, the U.K., and Ireland. Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates / Appearances page.
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches will be the remainder of The Legend of Korra, series 8 of Doctor Who, and Kings. On Mark Reads, Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series will replace the Emelan books.
- Mark Does Stuff is on Facebook! I’ve got a community page up that I’m running. Guaranteed shenanigans!
– If you would like to support this website and keep Mark Does Stuff running, I’ve put up a detailed post explaining how you can!
– Please check out the MarkDoesStuff.com. All Mark Watches videos for past shows/season are now archived there!
