1

At the end of the episode "The Schizoid Man", it is implied that Data wrestled a Klingon targ:

RIKER: Does wrestling with a Klingon targ ring a bell?

PICARD: Mr. Crusher, take us out of orbit.

WESLEY: Aye, sir.

DATA: Did I win?

Why would the Enterprise have a targ aboard? Is it someone's pet? (Worf had a pet targ as a child, but he does not appear with a real one as an adult.) Is it food? Is it being carried as cargo?

Improve this question
11
  • 8
    I read that as Riker trying to persuade Data of something he likely didn't actually do (remember, Data has no memory of this time period and actually thinks he may have behaved unbecomingly during his being invaded by Graves' personality).
    – wcullen
    Commented Apr 4, 2019 at 3:51
  • 1
    I don't interpret this dialog to imply the Enterprise-D had a targ aboard. It may have been a rhetorical question by Riker.
    – RichS
    Commented Apr 4, 2019 at 5:08
  • 1
    Ehhh. There's this thing called a holodeck. Data could have wrestled with a targ there. Or, Riker is just pulling Data's leg.
    – JRE
    Commented Apr 4, 2019 at 5:23
  • 11
    This was obviously a joke...
    – Hans Olo
    Commented Apr 4, 2019 at 6:39
  • 3
    “Is it food?” Replicated targ just doesn’t taste the same.
    – Paul D. Waite
    Commented Apr 4, 2019 at 7:28

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
4

There are no targs on the Enterprise. Riker is merely telling a joke at Data's expense.

Improve this answer
14
  • 3
    And while that may be true, can you offer any evidence to back this bold claim up? Note that the holodeck can undoubtedly conjure up a targ on command...
    – Valorum
    Commented Apr 24, 2019 at 16:24
  • 1
    Again, that seems like supposition. I'm not saying you're wrong, but i'm guessing you've found no evidence to back it up (and nor has anyone else, which is why it's gone unanswered for three weeks).
    – Valorum
    Commented Apr 24, 2019 at 16:37
  • 1
    @Valorum - I'd posit it's gone unanswered for weeks and has -4 votes because it's a bad question based on a poor understanding of a (or maybe a poorly written) joke. Anyone follow Frakes or Spiner on Twitter? Maybe they can address it? The original script doesn't appear to have this exchange in it st-minutiae.com/resources/scripts/131.txt - though there is a bit of business at the end that was removed (and seemingly replaced by the lines in question) that clearly indicate joke time
    – NKCampbell
    Commented Apr 24, 2019 at 16:49
  • 4
    @NKCampbell - Asking an actor (or the writer/s) would be an excellent way of getting a sourced answer.
    – Valorum
    Commented Apr 24, 2019 at 16:50
  • 2
    @NKCampbell That is a good suggestion. I think I will watch that bit of the episode again and revise. I seem to remember that there is a particular jingle they play for the end-of-episode joke in these early TNG seasons, and I don't remember if they did it there but I bet they probably did.
    – Joe
    Commented Apr 24, 2019 at 20:10

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.