Hero Worship (S05E11)
Airdate: 27 January 1992
Written by: Joe Menosky
Directed by: Patrick Stewart
Running Time: 46 minutes
Star Trek: The Next Generation has deserved to be associated with the phrase "golden age of Star Trek", representing a period when the franchise reached new heights of storytelling sophistication and philosophical depth. Yet even during the latter seasons, when the quality was generally seen as consistently high, there were some rather baffling creative choices that left viewers questioning the direction of the programme. In Season 5, perhaps the most perplexing decision was to schedule two episodes in succession with children as main characters, creating an unfortunate impression of the series being unimaginative and repetitive. The episode in question, Hero Worship, aired shortly after New Ground, and the proximity of these child-centred narratives did neither any favours.
The plot concerns the USS Enterprise-D investigating the disappearance of the SS Vico, a Federation research vessel tasked with exploring a so-called "black cluster"—a densely packed aggregation of protostar material that creates treacherous conditions for any spacecraft foolish enough to venture within. Upon arrival, the Enterprise discovers the wrecked ship and recovers a single survivor: a boy named Timothy (Joshua Harris), whom Data rescues in the nick of time using his android strength after finding him trapped in the wreckage. In the aftermath, Timothy claims that the Vico was attacked by mysterious aliens who boarded the vessel, though forensic evidence reveals no signs of any struggle whatsoever. The discrepancy between the boy's testimony and the physical facts sets up what should be an intriguing mystery, though the episode rarely capitalises on this potential.
Counsellor Troi suspects that Timothy has invented the alien attack narrative as a psychological mechanism to cope with the trauma of losing his parents and the crushing weight of survivor's guilt. His initial attempts to bond with the Enterprise's resident children fail abjectly, but Troi suggests that the boy has made a connection with Data as his rescuer—a figure of stability and emotional detachment that Timothy finds reassuring. What follows is Timothy's gradual transformation: he becomes fascinated with Data to the point of mimicking his clothing, mannerisms, and speech patterns, eventually declaring himself an android rather than a human. Data spends considerable time with Timothy, and the two form a genuine bond whilst Data reflects on his own contrary desire to become more human rather than remaining an android—an irony that the episode acknowledges but never fully explores.
In the denouement, the Enterprise enters the black cluster and experiences the same catastrophic systems failures that ultimately destroyed the Vico. Under extreme duress, Timothy admits his deeply held belief that during the chaos aboard the Vico, he inadvertently pushed a button that caused the ship's destruction—a burden of guilt he has carried since the incident. Captain Picard and other crew members gently reassure him that such a scenario is highly unlikely. However, it is Timothy's fragmented recollection of the tragedy that ultimately helps Data understand what truly happened and how to save the Enterprise: by dropping the shields, which had been amplifying the gravitational shearing forces. With the ship saved and the truth revealed, Timothy begins to behave like a normal human child once more and finally begins to fraternise with other children his age.
Hero Worship is notable for being directed by Patrick Stewart, marking his second directorial effort for the series. This episode, like his directorial debut in the Season 4 episode In Theory, dealt with Data reacting to being the object of obsession by human characters. Regrettably, both episodes ultimately failed to live up to the potential of their respective premises. Stewart's direction here is competent but unremarkable, lacking the visual flair or dramatic tension that might have elevated the material. One senses that the subject matter—childhood trauma and identity crisis—required a surer hand than Stewart was able to provide at this stage in his directorial development.
The script by Joe Menosky is serviceable but very weak, burdened with formula and clichés that undermine any genuine emotional resonance. The grand scientific mystery is resolved in a disappointingly melodramatic fashion, with Timothy's memories providing the crucial key to salvation—a narrative convenience that strains credulity. The writing suffers further when compared with the Season 3 episode The Bonding, which dealt with a child's trauma in a markedly different, more complex, and thoroughly believable manner. Where The Bonding allowed its young character to process grief with genuine nuance, Hero Worship reduces its protagonist's psychological journey to a series of easily resolved plot points.
Child actor Joshua Harris, however, does a very good job, providing a stellar impersonation of Brent Spiner and his distinctive mannerisms. His robotic delivery and careful replication of Data's precise movements demonstrate a level of commitment and observational skill that elevates the episode considerably. It is a performance that deserved better material.
Hero Worship also occupies a sombre place in Star Trek history as the episode during the production of which the staff and cast were informed about the death of franchise creator Gene Roddenberry—an event that affected many of them profoundly. Marina Sirtis, in particular, was devastated by the news, having maintained a close relationship with Roddenberry throughout the series' run. Nevertheless, she delivered a good performance under exceptionally difficult circumstances, a testament to her professionalism during a period of genuine mourning.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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