Star Trek: 10 Worst Things Data Has Ever Done
5. Had A Relationship Just For The Experience
For someone without the ability to understand or display emotions, Data sure does like to put other people through the spin dryer.
In the case of Ensign Jenna D'Sora he decides the best way to deal with romantic relationships is to be in one. By "be in one" I mean to provide zero emotional support and stamp on her heart. How Ensign D'Sora comes out of this unscarred emotionally I'm lost.
Through the course of the episode we see Data attempt to mimic a relationship with the ensign who is only just getting over her last boyfriend. It might well be a rebound but from the get go it looks doomed to failure.
Jenna puts her all into the relationship, snuggling up to Data, the occasional kiss and even a row to round it all out. However for Data it's still all mathematical and when Jenna asks him just what he was thinking about when they kissed he's focused equally on multiple ship operations.
Fortunately Jenna realises that it's not right to continue this dalliance and stops the relationship short. While Data might appear caring, it's all part of a designed programme and not at all natural.