8 Reasons Reading 'The Last Best Hope' Is Essential To Understand Star Trek Picard

Bruce Maddox was a complicated character and in the show, he has a relatively quick life and death. However, his involvement in the Romulan relief effort was critical and it was ultimately that which ruined him.

After the trial over Data's rights, he returned to the Daystrom institute to continue his research. When the relief effort was kicked into gear, Geordi LaForge approached Maddox, engaging him to create a new synthetic workforce to aid in the construction of the rescue fleet. At first, Maddox wasn't interested as synthetic labour was not, he felt, the right use of his time and talents. Very much overruled by LaForge, he relents and works on creation of the new A500 series of androids.

These androids are a pale imitation of Data, matching the gold white skintone of their forebear but with none of the charm or sophistication. However, they are seen as a monumental success by Starfleet and they are rolled into mass production.

However, Maddox's mind is not focused on this aspect of the job. Never quite satisfied with where his research has led him, he continues to pour over the opportunities to create another Data, seizing on his idea of using a single neuron to do it. In the midst of this, the A500s attack and destroy the shipyards on Mars, killing thousands.

He has the grace to return to his office and allow LaForge to confront him, unable to answer the question as to whether he took his eye off the ball. With no way to deal with the catastrophe, he disappears from the Federation entirely.