Masks

The whole premise of the episode is clearly an excuse to allow Spiner to act outside the limitations of the role of Data. Unfortunately, he doesn't do a very good job of it.

Brent Spiner only got the script for this episode the day before filming began - and was filming until late on that day, giving him next to no time to prepare. As a result he had to create all the different characters more or less on the fly as the episode was filmed. He would say that if he'd had a few months to prepare, the final product would have been a good deal better.

The rogue effects were done by Santa Barbara Studios, since they had done the comet effects for the Deep Space Nine title sequence. The melting effect was so well done that the producers extended the length of the shot from six to nine seconds to get the most out of it. The same shot was then later reused in Voyager's "Death Wish".

Most of the producers were disappointed in the episode. The general feeling was that it was a clever idea but wound up being somewhat muddled and confusing in the execution. Michael Dorn is on record as saying that it is his least favourite episode in the whole of The Next Generation. Brent Spiner has said that all the actors thought it was terrible, and they were all laughing at one another's performances as they filmed it.

This episode is a nominee for the DITL "Worst of Trek" award.