Hallie Todd (Lal) Appreciation Thread

[RapidNadion]

The SciFi Channel is currently giving me the opportunity to re-watch "The Offspring," and it's an episode that really holds up well for me, thanks in no small part to the wonderful work done by Hallie Todd as Lal. From comedic moments like the basic-skills-learning montage and the Riker kiss, to the heart-wrenching final death scene, she's spot on the whole time.

Add in some really nice arguing from Stewart's Picard and some truly poignant "non-emotion" from Spiner's Data, and in my opinion this episode comes out as a fine example of what was right with TNG. Anyone else have thoughts?

 

[FalTorPan]

"The Offspring" is easily one of my favorite TNG episodes. Hallie Todd did a great job as Lal, and her resemblance to Brent Spiner helped sell the idea that Lal was Data's daughter.

 

[Michael]

I completely agree with you. This episode wouldn't be half as good if it wasn't for Hallie Todd's wonderful portrayal of Lal. I always tear up during her last moments when she futilely tells Data that she loves him.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

She was a vast improvement from the Asgard in the beginning of the episode.

 

[Captrek]

Yeah, but she looks like a Furling.

 

[RapidNadion]

Aww. I think she's cute.

 

[RapidNadion]

I completely agree with you. This episode wouldn't be half as good if it wasn't for Hallie Todd's wonderful portrayal of Lal. I always tear up during her last moments when she futilely tells Data that she loves him.

Yeah; that final stream of vocalized memories still gets me every time. She really only had about 30 minutes to get into our hearts, but it sure worked in my case.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

She did a great job. This episode is one of the best of TNG, another home run from a nearly home run season. In fact, Ursula Le Guin credits "The Offspring" as the episode that got her into watching TNG.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

The only other thing I remember seeing her in was that old Showtime show Brothers about the three brothers and the youngest one is gay. She played the oldest ones daughter.

 

[WillsBabe]

What I liked about her performance is that she was touching without being mawkish. The episode was touching without being overly sentimental. A real TNG classic, I think.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

It was just on SCI-FI tonight.

 

[WillsBabe]

Apparently the actor who played the "blank" Lal before she choses her appearance, is the same actor who played Trent (I think his name was), the guy who worked for Beata in Angel One.

Is it just me or does anyone else find it amusing about Troi's comment "A friend for Worf" when Lal tries on being a Klingon. I think the Klingon's small stature doesn't help.

 

[Captrek]

Apparently the actor who played the "blank" Lal before she choses her appearance, is the same actor who played Trent (I think his name was), the guy who worked for Beata in Angel One.

Is it just me or does anyone else find it amusing about Troi's comment "A friend for Worf" when Lal tries on being a Klingon. I think the Klingon's small stature doesn't help.

Actually I don’t think Worf would take too kindly to somebody trying to put on the appearance of being a Klingon without knowing what it really means to be a Klingon. So unless (s)he really wants to be a Klingon warrior, that appearance would be a horrible choice. How the hell did it make the Final Four?

 

[Amaris]

Truly an excellent episode and a fine example of TNG's excellent all around production quality.

J.

 

[Too Much Fun]

It took me a few viewings to really appreciate this episode and the actress, but I've gotten to a point now where I can say it gets me every time. The end is probably the most moving scene to me in all of TNG, right next to Picard's announcement at the end of "Lower Decks". I think these are the only two moments in the series that made me teary.

There's just something so powerful and poignant about a daughter thanking her parent for her life as she dies even if she was an android. And it's even more devastating because Data can't share the grief with her (as he says). This makes him saying she enriched his life so much after seem to not make much sense, but it's still a touching thing of him to say.

I loved Hallie's whole performance too, not just her last scene. It was hilarious when she said "he's attacking that female!" and her facial expressions both before and after kissing Riker were great too. She was definitely one of the most memorable guest stars and really showed some fine acting chops in the episode by doing both comedic and tragic so wonderfully.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Apparently the actor who played the "blank" Lal before she choses her appearance, is the same actor who played Trent (I think his name was), the guy who worked for Beata in Angel One.

Yep. Leonard John Crofoot. I interviewed him for Starlog's licensed TNG Magazine. My first international professional sale!

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

No thanks to the inane proliferation of internet lingo, I cannot watch this episode without thinking of LOL. That would probably make it a good candidate for a Gazzora mashup.

Great episode, nonetheless. Had a chance to catch it - great seeing TNG on TV for the first time in a while.

 

[RAMA]

I set this for DVR and watched it late. I think I enjoy this episode now more than I did when it came out. Hallie is indeed one of the best things about this episode.

RAMA

 

[WillsBabe]

Yep. Leonard John Crofoot. I interviewed him for Starlog's licensed TNG Magazine. My first international professional sale!

I used to love those magazines! They cost a fortune on import but I bought them anyway. A few months back I had a mammoth clear out and I'm worried that some of them got thrown away by mistake. I can't bear to look. They were a magnificent source of stills and info in the days before the net. It's probably from those mags (and maybe even your interview) that I found out the information!

 

[Myasishchev]

I think she did a good job.

The first thirty minutes of the episode are probably the funniest thing Star Trek ever did, from Data and Picard talking past each other and Picard getting frustrated with Data's (almost wilfull) misinterpretation of everything he says, to Lal's broader physical stuff, it's hilarious until things start going awry.

"He's biting that female!" is one of the great lines of Trek, too.

The only note I thought came off as trite--even though it's admittedly still pretty amusing--was Data's accusational tone with Riker. It brought me out of it a little bit, since Lal's 1)nonbiological nature and 2)(presumed at the time) inability to feel love/pathological attachment would have rendered any experimentation completely harmless, and I suspect an indulgent attitude on Data's part would have been even funnier and freaked poor Riker out even more. Or maybe it would've turned him on, Riker's pretty kinky.