10 Star Trek Moments That Broke Our Hearts
8. Data's Demise And Data's Death
For this entry, we are combining two separate moments from Data's life, though they both share the same theme. In both of these moments, Data dies. Star Trek: Nemesis may have rushed the ending, but those few moments aboard the Scimitar are crucial. Data beams in, looks his captain in the eye, and slaps the personal transporter on Jean-Luc's shoulder. Before the latter can truly react, he is beamed away, leaving Data alone beside the Thaleron generator. He takes an android-sized breath, points his phaser, and fires.
The resulting explosion destroys the Scimitar, all of the Remans aboard, and Data himself - vaporizing the lot, shocking the audience. It's a brutal scene, with the added knowledge that, in 2002, this was the final voyage for the crew of the Enterprise-E. It was a downbeat and sombre ending to this story, even if it felt a little too quick.
Twenty years later, hearts would break again, though perhaps more softly this time. In Star Trek: Picard's first trailer, audiences were a little surprised to see Data playing poker with his old captain. How? When? Why? It quickly became apparent that this Data was a dream. Oh well, still nice to see Spiner back in the facepaint. But then, Et In Arcadia Ego, Pt 2, brought back the man-bot himself. Data, the very same Data that had flown with Picard for all of those years, reconstructed (digitally, at least) by Soong and Maddox, sat before a dead Picard, sending the latter back to life. His only request? Let him die now, in peace, knowing that his purpose has been fulfilled.
The first season of Picard had its ups and downs, but this was a moment that rose above most others. The acting between Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner reminded the audience why they truly cared about these characters as much as they did. It felt as though no time at all had passed, and this was simply the next scene in that final film. Though the third season would change the game again, this was truly heartbreaking - even if those broken hearts were accompanied by very watery smiles.