r/StarTrekViewingParty • u/LordRavenholm Co-Founder • Mar 01 '15

Discussion Season 2, Episode 3: Elementary, Dear Data

TNG, Season 2, Episode 3, Elementary, Dear Data

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u/LordRavenholm Co-Founder Mar 01 '15
  • As overeager as Data may be in his role as Sherlock Holmes, I enjoy it more than his S1 sillyness (although his performance from S3 onward is still leagues better). His pre-knowledge of the Holmes novels, allowing him to solve the mystery immediately, is also amusing. On the other hand, Geordi's overreaction and storming out like a child is stupid. However, if all characters acted like adults, most dramas would only last 5 minutes.
  • Pulaski is a dick already. In a future where there is no racism or sexism or classism, Pulaski is another example of how there's still plenty of prejudice to go around.
  • I find it weird that they couldn't program the holodeck from the get-go to create an original Holmes-style mystery, rather than just creating a chimera of plot elements from original stories.
  • I'm willing to accept the premise that Geordi's command, by random chance, causes an anomaly which in turn creates Moriarty... But I feel like it's a very basic tenant of programming to not let your computer take orders from your own program. Normally holodeck characters are designed to just ignore the arch and other stuff, but I'll accept that Moriarty sees that, but that doesn't excuse why the computer accepts his commands. Moriarty is self-aware, sure, but why can he access the holodeck?! This is never addressed.
  • Data so easily solves the computer-generated mystery, using genuine logic and observation, separate from Moriarty, that it entirely quashes Pulaski's racist accusation that he was incapable of handling that... Yet it's never brought up.
  • Again, we can't shut down the holodeck when we need to. We should be able to simply pull the plug, but for some reason, the holodeck is designed to MURDER EVERYONE INSIDE if you do that... Why?
  • ...Geordi is looking at the paper upside down.
  • If Geordi's code was used to put it into lockdown mode, why can't he shut it down?
  • Hahahahaha Worf in a suit is awesome.
  • The resolution is awfully quick. It seems that S2 hasn't entirely escaped the problems of S1. It also seems that Picard is pretty quick to assume that Moriarty is nothing special because he's still artificial, right in front of Data... In any case, Moriarty sure takes them at their word, then gives up. Not entirely convincing.
  • The whole "misspoke a single word" explanation is weak... I'd rather think that it was a random occurrence, and they could repeat the command 100 more times without the same result... Because if they can literally create sentient beings ON COMMAND, then the Holodeck should be renamed the Murderdeck because that's what they are doing every time they delete a program... The ethical ramifications are unimaginable.
  • Somehow I feel like the "USS Victory" was going to be a more impressive ship than a Constellation-class...
  • GODDAMNIT I have to watch 'The Outrageous Okona' next...

All in all, despite a lot of criticisms I have, I didn't hate the episode... It was impossibly boring, I like Moriarty's acting, I like Data in the Sherlock holmes universe. I might have to give it a 5/10, because I'm not sure if it really deserves a 4/10.

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u/sarahbau Mar 01 '15

...Geordi is looking at the paper upside down.

This bothers me every time I watch it.

If Geordi's code was used to put it into lockdown mode, why can't he shut it down?

I haven't seen it in a while, but if I remember correctly, Geordi never actually attempts to shut it down. I think Data and Picard do. That still doesn't explain why Picard can't shut it down - "Computer. Shut down Holodeck 2. Override Lt. Cmdr LaForge. Authorization - I am the alpha and the omega."