One of the best Data episodes (though that's every Data episode tbh), and the ending explores the question of Data's emotional intelligence better than anything else in the franchise, imo. I love the gradual development he's given throughout the show, making the question of whether he feels emotions more and more ambiguous (he obviously does, but we'll humor the writers).
I maintain that the whole "emotion chip" plot element destroyed a good amount of his development by making his emotions a "on/off" thing, instead of exploring the interesting complexities of an android designed with such intelligence and sentience that he inevitably develops a unique worldview and his own kind of emotional identity.
"I cannot permit this to continue." is one of the hardest Data moments in the franchise.
Also Kivas Fajo is one of the best, slimiest, most delightfully wretched villains in the show.
