Star Trek: Countdown - warning spoiler

[CaptainQuantum]

So in the comic which leads into the new movie, Star Trek: Countdown we get updates on a number of TNG crew members post-Nemesis, the most interesting of which is...

Data returns thanks to the B4 neural net transfer succeeding - and not only that, he's the new Captain of the Enterprise-E.

Now, this is not canon but due to the semi-official nature of the production I wonder if other authors will pick this up and run with it.

I'm interested in opinions on the decision to bring Data back. I think it was smart to leave it open at the end of Nemesis because nothing would have stuffed up Data's supreme sacrifice quicker than to just have B4 wake up and be Data. But is bringing him back now just a populist move? Or is the idea of Data as captain so awesome that it outweighs any reservations about his return? What do people think?

[Deepcrush]

I think its crap! Data is dead! Picard is the CO of the Enterprise! That is how it should be.

[Reliant121]

I think bringing Data back was a suckish move. Seriously, once a character dies, that should be it. Dax was an exception, because she wasn't truly herself.
But, I think having Data as the CO of the Enterprise could be....Interesting...Where did Picard go?

[Sionnach Glic]

I knew B4 would be used to basicaly ressurect Data. I called it lame in NEM, and I shall call it lame here.

[CaptainQuantum]

Where did Picard go?

He is Earth Ambassador to Vulcan. Not sure what got him that gig. I guess it's the plum diplomatic job, being posted to your biggest ally. Like the US ambassador to the UK. Nothing to do but attend cocktail parties and give the occasional speech.

[Teaos]

B4 was never, isnt, and will never be Data.

He has all the memories ect but his brain is not advanced enough to become what Data was.

[Mikey]

Yep. Data only being "mostly dead" truly lames what was otherwise the only dramatic moment in NEM, and one of the great tragic moments in 'Trek (the fact that he should have just grabbed Picard and both used the emergency transport notwithstanding.)

[Sionnach Glic]

Exactly, it completely cheapens his death and makes it meaningless.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Not to mention in the novels, Data's still dead.

[Mark]

So Data's "katra" lives on and is placed in a new body. Where did I hear this one before?

[JudgeKing]

So Data's "katra" lives on and is placed in a new body. Where did I hear this one before?

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock

[Tsukiyumi]

I think that sarcasm went so far over your head it left the solar system.

[Mark]

I didn't REALLY think I was being very subtle

[Tyyr]

Exactly, it completely cheapens his death and makes it meaningless.

It was already cheap and meaningless. They killed him just to try and manufacture an emotional gut punch at the end of a completely crap movie. He died pointlessly. Like taking a bullet for a guy in an armored car kinda pointless.

Honestly having B4 start singing at the end of Nem practically told you this is what was going on.

I have a hard time imagining Picard actually liking that assignment. Too easy, too little to do, no real problem to fix. Now if he'd been named an Ambassador and spent his time sweet talking groups to join the Fed or stop fighting I can see him doing that.

[Sionnach Glic]

It was already cheap and meaningless. They killed him just to try and manufacture an emotional gut punch at the end of a completely crap movie. He died pointlessly. Like taking a bullet for a guy in an armored car kinda pointless.

You're right. Hell, why couldn't he just bring another of those mini-transporter things?

Honestly having B4 start singing at the end of Nem practically told you this is what was going on.

Hell, the moment Data died I thought "B4's going to be used to bring him back".