Star Trek The Next Generation
S2E4
· Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Outrageous Okona

Data's Comic Tragedy

In Ten-Forward, Data mechanically delivers a centuries-old joke with clinical precision, seeking validation from Guinan. Her sardonic eulogy for the deceased humor highlights Data's existential struggle—he can replicate words but not warmth. When Picard summons him mid-attempt at another joke, Guinan's resigned request for 'new jokes' underscores the android's fundamental inability to grasp human laughter's organic spontaneity. This poignant failure crystallizes Data's emotional limitations while fueling his unrelenting pursuit of understanding.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Data faces Guinan and delivers an antiquated, deadpan joke in his usual monotone, then immediately asks, "Was I funny?"

neutral curiosity to hopeful expectation

Guinan answers with mordant sarcasm—declaring the joke centuries-old and mock-mourns it—Data concedes, "I was not funny," and Guinan brusquely tells him to try another.

hopeful expectation to deflation and mild embarrassment

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3
Guinan
Ten-Forward bartender
 primary

Amused by Data's efforts yet deeply resigned to their futility, with subtle compassion for his dilemma

Serves as Data's reluctant audience and unwilling humor coach, responding to his robotic joke-telling with deadpan sarcasm and barely concealed exasperation at his failures.

Goals in this moment
  • • To gently illustrate the gap between Data's attempts and true humor
  • • To spare herself from further torturous joke sessions
Active beliefs
  • • Some aspects of human experience cannot be mechanically replicated
  • • Humor requires emotional resonance that Data cannot access
Character traits
Dryly sardonic Philosophical Empathetic World-weary
Follow Guinan's journey
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain
 primary

Purposeful and direct, unaware of interrupting Data's comedic struggles

Commands Data's immediate presence on the bridge through the Ten-Forward loudspeakers, cutting short his awkward joke attempt with typical Starfleet efficiency.

Goals in this moment
  • • To summon Data for critical bridge operations
  • • To ensure ship operations take priority over personal activities
Active beliefs
  • • Duty supersedes all personal pursuits
  • • Data's presence is immediately required for starship operations
Character traits
Authoritative Straightforward Mission-focused
Follow Jean-Luc Picard's journey
Data
Second Officer
 primary

Analytical curiosity with underlying frustration at repeated failures to understand humor

Mechanically delivers two jokes to Guinan with clinical precision, immediately seeking validation for his performance while demonstrating no awareness of comedic timing or audience reaction.

Goals in this moment
  • • To understand and replicate human humor
  • • To receive positive feedback on his comedic performance
Active beliefs
  • • Human laughter can be systematically understood through logical analysis
  • • Repetition of established jokes will eventually yield successful humor
Character traits
Logically analytical Socially oblivious Persistent Earnestly eager
Follow Data's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

2
Main Engineering Turbolift Doors

Data makes his exit through the corridor turbolift doors, which represent his transition from the personal space of Ten-Forward back to the formal operational environment of the bridge.

Before: Closed and available for use from Ten-Forward
After: Presumably opened and then closed as Data departs
Before: Closed and available for use from Ten-Forward
After: Presumably opened and then closed as Data departs
Ten-Forward Lounge Loudspeakers

The lounge loudspeakers interrupt Data's joke attempt with Picard's urgent command, serving as a narrative device to highlight Data's priorities being redirected from personal development to Starfleet duties.

Before: Silent, inactive in the background of Ten-Forward's ambient …
After: Returning to silent standby after transmitting summons
Before: Silent, inactive in the background of Ten-Forward's ambient noise
After: Returning to silent standby after transmitting summons

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

2
Main Bridge

The Main Bridge is the destination that interrupts Data's comedy session, its unseen presence exerting narrative tension between personal growth and Starfleet duty.

Atmosphere Urgent but unseen, represented only by Picard's authoritative summons
Function Command center demanding Data's attention
Symbolism Embodies the institutional priorities that continually override Data's personal development
Access Restricted to authorized bridge personnel
Only represented by disembodied com voice Implied tactical alert lighting from Worf's station (based on overall context)
Galaxy Beyond Ten-Forward Viewport

Ten-Forward serves as the setting for Data's off-duty attempt at humor, its relaxed atmosphere creating a socially permissive space where such unconventional interactions can occur away from formal bridge protocols.

Atmosphere Relaxed yet fundamentally alien to Data's attempts at humor, creating poignant contrast
Function Social laboratory for Data's humor experiments
Symbolism Represents the gulf between human leisure activities and artificial intelligence's attempts to comprehend them
Access Open to off-duty personnel
Soft lighting of lounge area Gentle ambient hum of starship systems

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

No narrative connections mapped yet

This event is currently isolated in the narrative graph

Key Dialogue

"DATA: Was I funny?"
"GUINAN: That joke has been funny for over four hundred years. We'll now have a minute's silence for its passing."
"GUINAN: Bring new jokes..."