20 Most Popular Star Trek Characters Ever
6. Data
Data was definitively emotionless, yet everything that revolves around him runs so deep with feeling that he becomes the emotional core of the show. We see him developing friendships, experimenting with social skills, fighting to be recognised as a lifeform, creating a daughter and much, much more. Data is the antithesis of emotion, but in placing him outside the confines of feeling, as an interested observer, he’s the perfect lens through which to present love, anger, friendship, grief and the whole spectrum of feeling.
At the same time as making Data the unlikely perfect centre for human drama, his emotional shortcomings also make for the perfect comic relief. His misunderstandings, literal interpretations or hyper specificity often provide the most light-hearted moments in TNG.
Juxtaposed with this emotional naivety, Data is basically superhuman in all other respects. Super smart, super strong, super resourceful, he’s the most capable member of the crew.
All of this makes Data a compelling and complex character who grows and changes as the years progress.