Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) The Most Toys (1990) User Reviews

Outstanding acting / great writing

[M_Exchange · 9/10 · 29 January 2017]

At first, this episode seemed rather boring. Then, a few scenes later, Saul Rubinek took command. He plays the antagonist Kivas Fajo to perfection. As is the case with movies as well, a lot of these episodes are dependent on the screen writing and the acting. Whereas a lot of the acting by guest stars in the first two seasons of "Next Generation" was shaky, I find myself praising season three's acting quite often. Well, in my opinion, Rubinek takes the season three gold ring for his portrayal of a fat, ugly, psychopathic, lecherous nerd. And when his kidnapping of Data went from the addition of a rare piece to his collection to a possible solution to his twisted carnal desires, the writing went from great to spectacular.

This one is definitely in my top three for season three.

Quick review reply

[frejon-798-240139 · 9/10 · 6 August 2017]

I just want to reply that the dude that claim bad writing is the reason why Data does what he does and doesn't punch Kivas is because it's been shown time and time again that Data can't touch Kivas because of his force field. How did the reviewer miss that? Babianarsle.

That aside, I think this is a very strong episode as a whole. The ultimate dilemma on what Data is and isn't capable of is an interesting one which lifts a still strong episode off the beaten path. I think killing a kidnapper and stopping a cruel man killing more innocents is very justifiable, and I would like to think that Data acknowledges that in the end.

Data on Display!

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 18 August 2014]

I was totally taken in by Fajo's despicable character. In just a few minutes, he made me despise him. His whiny being, his mean spiritedness, his entitlement, all lead one to find him as bad as they get. When he kidnaps Data so he can display him as a prize, he gets more than he bargained for. The only way he can get the Android to obey his wishes is through threat to another crew member who has been loyal to him for most of her life. He has not regard for life or loyalty and may be the most self-centered character on record. I did love that his collection of artifacts included a 1962 Roger Maris Topps baseball card (the year after he broke Ruth's single season record). The one thing that Data doesn't do for him is to perform for his friends when they come one board. What good is this stuff if you can't impress someone with it? Kudos to Saul Rubinek whom we've seen in countless character roles over the years. The diminutive elf with the razor's edge is inscrutable to the bitter end.

What some collectors won't do for that elusive prize!

[garrard · 15 April 2006]

Saul Rubinek has a field day as a collector of rare items who has designs on Data (Brent Spiner) in this memorable episode. Rubinek's "Kivas Fajo" has no scruples and will do whatever is necessary to enlarge his assemblage of rarities.

The verbal sparring between Spiner and Rubinek gives credit to the super job done by the series' writers.

Character veteran Nehemiah Persoff, heavily hidden under some truly grotesque makeup, has a small part as one of Fajo's fellow collectors.

The ending, wherein Data, must make a life-threatening decision is indeed stunning.

It is not to be missed.

Data evolves

[metalrox_2000 · 10/10 · 27 January 2011]

For some reason, this remains one of my favorite TNG episodes. The plot is about an "accident" that leads to the Enterprise crew thinking that Data has been killed. This leads to a lot a soul searching by the crew, with Jordi making the point that he thought that Data would outlive everyone. Wesley and Jordi are assigned the grim tasking of gathering Data's possessions. They discover a collection of medals and honors he's won, plus a holographic image of the departed Tasha Yar.

However, Data's not dead, he's been kidnapped. Kidnapped by a ruthless collector named Kivas Fajo, played by Saul Rubinek. Kivas places a high value of his possessions. Including, but not limited to, a painting of Mona Lisa, rare animal life, and a Roger Maris baseball card. Data becomes yet another part of the collection.

Back on the Enterprise, a strange string of coincidences lead them to a conspiracy. They soon track down Kivas Fajo.

Meanwhile, Data has convinced Varria, a long time companion of Kivas, to help him escape. Data was able to prove to her that she herself was nothing more then a part of Fajo's collection.

The escape is nearly foiled. Fajo owns some very powerful, and illegal phaser, that "kills brutally and slowly". Fajo kills Varria with the weapon. However, the other one that Fajo owned is a few feet away from Data. Picking up the weapon, Data confronts Fajo. Fajo torments Data, and dares Data to kill him. He tempts him more by saying "If only you could feel rage about Varria's death, but you're just a machine." In one of his most human moments, Data is about to ignore his prime programming about respecting life, when he is beamed aboard the Enterprise.

O'Brien realizes the weapon has been discharged, and neutralizes it before Data is beamed over. When asked about the firing of a weapon, Data shrugs it off. Both Riker and O'Brein glance at each other, questioningly.

Fajo is now being held in the brig and Data pays him a visit. Data informs Fajo that his collection is being returned to the respective rightful owners. When Fajo comments about Data taking pleasure in his downfall, Data counters back with "I have no feelings...I am just a machine!" and walks out, leaving behind a very dejected Fajo.

The Most Toys did the most to expand the human side of Data without him getting some chip or other program. He became human, if even for s split second, merely because of his surroundings. The needless death of a woman who showed Data compassion, risked, and lost her life for him. And Data doing exactly what most of us would have done in his position, and try and get revenge!

Data's episode

[haldamere-92631 · 10/10 · 27 August 2018]

This is a great episode that explores what Data is truly capable of doing given the proper circumstance. This episode addresses a variety of moral questions and for Data, not unlike Terminator's Skynet, the answer he arrives at is based on logic alone, or is it? :)

A very familiar plot but still worth watching.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 17 November 2014]

Treehouse of Horror X, Dr. Who (The Collector--"The Sun Makers") Saul Rubinek as Kivas Fajo

The main idea behind "The Most Toys" is very familiar. I cannot say exactly when the plot was first used, but it was the subject in "Dr. Who" back in the 1970s ("The Sun Makers") and was used later on "The Simpsons" ("Treehouse of Terror X")--so this "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode isn't exactly unique. Because of this, it cannot be one of the better episodes of the series--but I did really like the way it ended.

When the episode begins, Data is accidentally killed and the crew of the Enterprise grieves for this loss. However, what actually occurred is that a dirt-bag named Kivas Fajo (Saul Rubinek) stole Data in order to add it to his sick little collection of rarities. He really has no interest in Data as anything other than a curiosity--and because he and no one else in the universe can have him. Despite being very strong and bright, Data is unable to escape from this sociopath's clutches.

The bottom line is that Fajo's cruelty and Data's ultimate solution to this is makes this one memorable. Well worth seeing despite its familiarity.

Objectifying Data.

[thevacinstaller · 8/10 · 20 March 2021]

An episode dealing with the objectification of Data and a nice little tie-in to the potentiality of androids being viewed as objects and not life forms.

Rubinek's a wonderful actor. He was fantastic on Frasier and pretty much any role he is given. He gives the Kivas character some quirky traits to go along with the nonchalant antisocial personality disorder.

This episodes does some tip toeing around the idea that Data actually has emotions. He certainly seemed to have emotions in this episode especially towards the end. They close the episode with Data stating he gets no joy from Kiva's imprisonment .... because he is an android. Technically speaking, Data should not display any emotions at all but I will give them this one for dramatic effect.

We have a rare moment of Picard not being a great Captain in this episode. He's far too casual about Data's death ------ the man fought for Data's right to choose and for LAL but in this episode he is basically shrugging his shoulders. You let the team down in this one Jean Luc.

Geordi has the right response and the right idea in conducting an exhaustive investigation. I'm picking Geordi as my BFF if I have a position on the Enterpise.

Solid episode.

Doesn't go far enough...

[grizzledgeezer · 7/10 · 9 May 2017]

This is one of the most-memorable NextGen episodes, of any season. Watching it for the second time last night (27 years after first seeing it!), I was reminded of the series' failure (in later episodes) to develop what is introduced here.

Data is put in an untenable situation, as he doesn't know he's about to be rescued. What should he do with Kivas? * The man is a murderer **, but Data's programming will not let him kill someone except in self-defense (or immediate defense of others). So why doesn't he just give Kivas a zetz im kopf and tie him up? (He has no trouble overpowering Kivas' goons.)

Instead, he decides to kill Kivas, a fraction of second after the transporter begins operating. He "explains" the weapon's discharge by saying "something might have happened". He later tells Kivas (in a subtly ironic tone) that he "has no feelings. I am an android."

Data's programming is (presumably) sufficiently complex for his experiences to alter his behavior, and even his world view. We see this in his speaking the literal truth, twisted to cover his real "feelings". But this potential for unexpected and even self-serving behavior isn't explored in later episodes. Perhaps it was decided that the audience would not tolerate turning a sympathetic character into a potentially threatening one.

* The name appears to be a reference to the "kivas and trillium" Spock was supposed to be a dealer in.

** Saul Rubinek gives a great performance going through the "agony" of deciding whether to kill his female companion.

Data is the most Human character in TNG

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 28 June 2021]

Data is abducted by a collector of rare life forms and artefacts.

This is a strong character episode with great performances and some quite memorable scenes.

The kidnapping plot is fairly simple and predictable, but in spite of this, the scenes focussing on Data's interaction with his captor are very compelling. The plot generally unfolds nicely and reaches an excellent and memorable climax.

'The Most Toys' has a number of great moments for Data. The writers continue to explore humanity with the way he reacts to a number of difficult situations. This episode presents his stubbornness, compassion and an inclination to do something extreme that is outside of his programming.

His captor is an interesting character who feels a long way from the usual antagonists portrayed on TNG. He could almost be an original series baddy with his Harry Mudd type piracy and the brat-like characteristics of Trelane. His personality contrasts with Data and this makes the scenes work well for me.

The scenes on Enterprise are a mixed bag. We always know everything is going to work out fine so at times the grief stricken moments feel quite pointless, but they are well acted and their sense of loss further humanises the character of Data.

All performances are excellent, particularly Brent Spiner and Saul Rubineck. The regular cast members are all great in the moments that show how they deal with the loss.

The visuals are mostly good with some decent effects, makeup, props and costumes. One comically obvious hand puppet feels like another original series relic. There is one sequence that cuts to a shot of Data sitting down that is superbly effective and for me the high point of the episode.

An episode that could have been better given a tragedy of casting.

[nerdcavebeta · 7/10 · 3 October 2020]

Given my love of the character of Data, this was - as others have said - this episode evolved him. The fact that Data outright lies in the ending demonstrate he's either beginning to develop the behavior or maybe a logic issue that made him do so. It was similar to, "Skin of Evil," where his assessment of Armus as a being with "no redeeming qualities" let him to openly and coldly state that such a creature should be destroyed. Reminded me of a simple program:

10 LOAD "Assess beingAlignment", 8, 1 20 If beingAlignment = good then GOTO 40 30 If beingAlignment = evil then GOTO 50 40 Print, "I have been designed with a fundamental respect for life in all its forms and a strong inhibition against causing harm to living beings." 50 If beingAlignment = evil AND DirectThreat = NO, GOTO 70 60 If beingAlignment = evil AND DirectThreat = YES GOTO 80 70 Print, "I think you should be destroyed." 80 Print, "I cannot allow this to continue." and GOTO 90 90 Activate Instant-Kill mode

The original actor tagged to play Fajo was David Rappaport (of Time Bandits fame). There are videos on YouTube about the fact they'd filmed a few scenes with Rappaport, mainly the scene where Fajo is in a brig cell and Data is having the same conversation.

Rappaport was in some rather heavy makeup to make his head larger, and the dialog felt more more intense to me...not to mention breaking the standard prejudice - Rubinek was rather portly, but the alien-ness of Rappaport in the makeup fit the role better; and it could have been boiled down to living a life of jokes about his height - maybe a short reminisce of him on Zibalia always being shorted on the deal because of a prejudice against dwarfism.

The tragic part is Rappaport committed suicide before the episode could be finished, which is why only 1-2 scenes were ever filmed.

Saul Rubinek was substituted in time to finish the episode and address any re-shoots. I like him as a character actor, and he was the perfectly labeled, "polite talking with just a hint of threats, torture and murder".

Casting in hindsight is always interesting. Robin Williams, for example, was slated to play Berlinghoff Rasmussen in the episode "Matter of Time," but due to a conflict where he had to choose TNG vs. a Spielberg-directed movie, he opted out and Matt Frewer was cast.

Adding Data to the Collection

[Samuel-Shovel · 8/10 · 4 November 2019]

In "The Most Toys" an unscrupulous dealer kidnaps Data and fakes the android's death in order to add him to his collection of rare and invaluable objects. He wants Data to entertain him and shows him off to his friends.

Meanwhile back on the Enterprise Geordi tries to figure out how the shuttlecraft exploded. The rest of the crew continues on with their mission of solving the tainted water supply crisis of a nearby outpost.

I really liked Data's interactions with Saul Rubinek in this one. I thought they were both fantastic and really make this a memorable episode. Geordi and Wes packing up Data's things is also one of the more moving scenes I think TNG has done. One of my surprise favorites of the season so far.

"You have been brought here for my enjoyment and appreciation."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 8 January 2024]

I found Kivas Fajo's collection of antiquities to be quite interesting, especially that 1962 Roger Maris baseball card, completely preserved with bubble gum scent. I don't know why a sports curio would have such fascination for an intergalactic adventurer, except for the card's rarity. That had to be it. Saul Rubinek put in a nicely nuanced performance as Fajo, though it's hard to picture him as a villain. You had a hint of how vicious he could be when his assistant Varria (Jane Daly) hinted at her prior disloyalty and the price she had to pay for it. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) appeared to be more than unusually cool under the pressure of Fajo's abduction in this story. Somehow you knew he would get out of his situation in due time. What I liked about this episode was the way the final denouement left it an open question as to whether Data had to resort to using the Varon-T disruptor on Fajo as he was being beamed back aboard the Enterprise. Not admitting to it had the same effect as James Cagney's going to the electric chair at the end of "Angels With Dirty Faces", leaving the final judgment to the imagination of the viewer.

A Senior Trekker writes..................

[celineduchain · 5/10 · 16 January 2022]

New uniforms, new credit sequence and Doctor Crusher returned to us but was Season 3 of The Next Generation really as good as we remember? Some of that enthusiasm may have have been generated by relief that the series had not been cancelled but the 1990's also heralded an era of considerably more stability behind the scenes. Senior Trekker will continue to score every episode with a 5.

This is a fine episode which retains a clear resonance today. The breathtaking amorality of mega-rich Kivas Fajo is memorably portrayed by Saul Rubinek, who despite being a last minute replacement, created an indelible impression of unrepentant wickedness.

The tragic mental illness and subsequent death of the original actor, David Rappaport, casts the story a serious light, as does the mental torture that Kivas inflicts on the captive Data and the moral ambiguity of the ending. We are left wondering whether Data actually fired the phaser at Kivas just as the transporter returned him to the Enterprise, whether, in fact, he had intended to kill him.

Jane Daly, another busy actor who seldom worked in Science Fiction, managed to elicit so much sympathy for the character of Varria that her portrayal lives on in the memory of Star Trek followers to this day. Fajo's collection is cleverly exhibited as a few eclectic objects and works of art. The sparse displays favoured by the ultimate connoisseur work much better than an Aladdin's Cave approach would have done. The only false note being the "lapling", a bird-like creature which was operated by a hand puppet. Even back as far as the original Kirk-era episodes, when Sulu's animated plant surprised Ensign Rand, this sort of thing never really worked.

Nonetheless, it is a memorable story, well executed and a credit to all concerned.

Data's ethics programming challenged

[robert3750 · 8/10 · 28 July 2020]

Well written and acted episode, as Data must use logic and his programmed principles to deal with a man with no scruples. The immorality of initiating violence to achieve one's ends (such as forcing Data to sit in the chair) is on full display here, with no need to use mystical revelation to come to that conclusion.

The episode also effectively displays the ethics of killing someone who has murdered and is willing to do so again. I do think it would have been even more powerful for Data to have actually killed Kivas (played very well by Saul Rubinek, whom I recognized right away from his role in Unforgiven), but the writers decided to have it both ways by having Data demonstrate his willingness to kill without actually doing so. It's interested to contrast that willingness with the absolute prohibition against killing in Asimov's laws of robotics.

REVIEW 2022

[iamirwar · 9/10 · 29 August 2022]

This story has possibly been done many times before. Collector adds a new toy to his collection against the wishes of the person he has kidnapped. 'The Gamesters Of Triskelion,' 'Plato's Stepchildren' and 'The Empath' from the original series each touched on a similar theme although with widely different outcomes. There are other shows I can remember that also followed a similar plot.

Despite that fact, I still found 'The Most Toys' to be a very enjoyable episode to watch and as such, I would rank it highly and within the better episode of season three. The inclusion of Saul Rubinek as the spoilt and child-like Kivas Fajo worked very well. Apparently, David Rappaport was originally intended to play the part, indeed, some scenes were filmed with David... but the part had to be recast at short notice due to Rappaport attempting suicide.

Another highlight of this episode was Data's Dilemma where he is forced to compute whether it would be justifiable to take a life in order to escape his captor. It appears that the Varon-T Disruptor that Data took out of the possession of Fajo had been in a state of discharge until O'Brien deactivated it during that transport. Data claims that this must have been a malfunction of the transporter system... but do we really believe him?

In the end we realise that Fajo had spent the entire episode trying to outwit Data, but in the end, Data was indifferent to the fact that Fajo would probably spend the rest of his life in a cage. After all, he's only an android! Bidi-bidi-bidi.

The ultimate prize.

[russem31 · 19 April 2006]

ST:TNG:70 - "The Most Toys" (Stardate: 43872.2) - this is the 22nd episode of the 3rd season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

When a shuttlecraft manned by Data explodes on a transport mission, Data becomes the ultimate prize for a collector named Kivas Fajo. While Data tries to escape, Geordi on the Enterprise refuses to believe he has died and goes out of the way to prove otherwise.

Trivia note: while rummaging through Data's apartment, Geordi and Wesley come across the Data's Tasha Yar hologram (first seen in "The Measure Of A Man"). Also, it's funny how Kivas Fajo just "glances" over a Dali painting!

Oh, the sad look on Data's phase when...

[Meeren · 9/10 · 19 April 2020]

He looks down on his destroyed Starfleet suit as Kiva leaves the room!

Greed isn't fun to watch

[phramick · 8/10 · 3 January 2018]

Yes, greed. Seen it. If I were God, I would convert all the greedy into one huge pile of money and burn it. But for now just line them up for the steam-roller queue and don't forget put in reverse for double-tap.

RUBBISH

[steve-667-10190 · 2/10 · 11 April 2020]

Just a rip off and a bad one and that of the keeper from lost in space.