Saturday, June 23, 2012

Star Trek TNG: Episode 30 - Elementary, Dear Data

Would this episode be considered Steampunk? I think it might. This is one of those TNG episodes that take you away from the "in your face" sci-fi that we are used to and venture into other genres. What TNG does so well is to mix in the sci-fi just enough so that you still feel like your watching Star Trek and not Knots Landing (of which as a kid I always thought was about Nazis??).

The message in this one is "be careful what you say to the holodeck" ... i guess. Data (as Holmes) and Geordi (as Watson) go into the holodeck to create a Sherlock Holmes mystery. The problem is that Data can solve these in like two seconds. So, Geordi asks the holodeck to create an adversary capable of defeating Data. Problem. What he should have asked for was an adversary capable of defeating Holmes. Now the holodeck has used all it's power to create a nearly realistic villain that is equal to Data himself, Professor Moriarty. Also, it's the Butler from the show The Nanny. He kidnaps that annoying Dr. Pulaski and really who would care, she sucks. Picard ends up talking to Moriarty and the Professor understands that he's just a hologram but he feels so real and wishes to be a person. Picard offers to save his character so that they can hang out whenever they want. Something like that.

ST TNG: 29 down 149 to go

5 comments:

Donald said...

Very fun episode even though it makes no sense. They tell the computer to create a villain that is capable of defeating Data at a game of wits, so it brings to life a self-aware version of Professor Moriarty who takes over the ship.

Seriously, Holodeck? That's what you're going to do? Remind me to never ask the Holodeck to give me a challenging chess opponent, or they might create somebody who'll pull a gun and shoot me in the face if I start to win. But still... this is a very fun episode with a great performance by Daniel Davis as the best version of Moriarty ever.

Capt naps said...

I liked this episode and it was cool to see the holodeck before it got over used and annoying.
Makes you wonder why the federation would create a toy used for relaxation on a ship (the holodeck) that could also potentially destroy everyone. Seems like it would have some kind of fail safe

Mugato said...

You do think that it would not be possible for the holodeck to be dustructive ... though this is the second time in as many seasons.

Donald said...

Nowadays if one kid hurts himself on a toy, they recall the entire line. But in the future, hundreds of people can get killed in the holodeck and everybody's like, "whatever."

Justin Garrett Blum said...

Doesn't the Enterprise have some sort of modified holodeck or something? Wasn't that what was going on in the episode with Minuet? Otherwise, it's pretty scary to think that any holodeck in the galaxy could create a sentient genius just like that.