“The Outrageous Okona” is episode four of season two of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise is in the Omega Sagitta system, between the twin planets that form the Coalition of Madena. They were colonised two centuries ago by a humanoid race who now coexist under a treaty. Worf announces that he has detected an unidentified vessel. According to Data, probably an interplanetary cargo ship. There’s a single humanoid lifesign on board and the craft is armed only with lasers. Its cargo holds are empty and its guidance system is malfunctioning. The pilot is flying manually. Commander Riker suggests they intercept to provide emergency assistance.
The ship is a freighter, the Erstwhile, commanded by Captain Thadiun Okona. Troi is smiling during his greeting. She tells the captain that Okona is mischievous, irreverent and brazen, best described as a rogue, but bearing no malevolence or ill will. Okona asks if they can help fix his guidance system and Wesley says it won’t be a problem. Riker tells Okona to shut down his engines, so his ship can be towed, and prepare to beam aboard. Worf suggests Okona be given limited access to the Enterprise.
Commander Riker, Data, Worf and Wesley meet Okona as he beams aboard. Worf asks for Okona’s weapons. All of them. Okona, going by the reactions of Riker and Wesley, is being charming. Then he starts hitting on the transporter chief, seeming pushy more than he does charming. Leaving with Data and Wesley, Okona tells a joke. When told it’s a joke, Data gives his terrifying fake laugh. Geordi, working on the guidance system, tells Okona that it will be better than the original and the part will outlast Okona’s ship. Is that a comment on the part or how Okona’s flies his ship? The part; though Okona does have a way of flying.
Okona is quizzing Data as they head to another part of the ship. Has he been warm, cold, drunk? Love? The act or the emotion? Okona says they are both the same. Data disagrees. Okona tries more jokes and asks Data if he knows what a joke is. Data starts spewing out the definition. Okona meant did Data know what funny is. Okona himself is already seeing the transporter chief; she seemed to find him charming, even though he didn’t quite come across that way. Geordi and Wesley are working on the repair as Riker watches. Wesley asks the commander’s opinion of Okona. Riker says he knows how to handle people and is alone because he follows things his own way and does what he wants. It’s Okona’s choice. Evidently, Riker has learned to read minds or sense emotions.
Data is talking to Guinan in Ten Forward about humour. She says she’s never seen him laugh. Data is capable of the function and does it when expected. Guinan asks if Data knows what a joke is. He starts launching into the same explanation he gave Okona. Guinan also cuts him short. Guinan tells him a joke. Data doesn’t get it. Guinan says it’s Data where the problem is. He asks if she’s sure. She is. Data agrees. What should he do? Guinan would normally recommend asking a higher power, but in Data’s case, she recommends a smarter computer.
Data therefore heads to the holodeck and picks a 20th century stand-up comic to see. He wants to know what funny is. The Comic says that what makes you laugh is funny. Nothing makes Data laugh, but he wishes to learn. How much time do they have? Unlimited. Good, because they’ll need it. Data speeds up the playback. Afterwards, Data tries telling the joke to Guinan in the same style. She says his presentation is lacking. It wasn’t funny; he spoiled the joke. It could have been Data’s timing. Data’s timing is digital. Guinan finds that funny. Data would make someone a great straight man.
Captain Picard summons Data to the bridge. They are being approached by another interplanetary vessel that is locking on lasers and not answering hails. Lasers won’t even scratch the Enterprise, but regulations still require going to yellow alert. This is the first of two ships, coming from each of the two planets, both of whom want Okona for reasons, though not everything is being told. What is happening can be guessed. Meanwhile, Data is trying to learn humour.
Possibly the biggest problem is Okona really doesn’t seem to come across as the sort of person he’s made out to be.