Realm of Fear

I'll try to keep comments about this vomit-inducing 'actor' in this (otherwise humdrum) episode as brief as possible.

This is small about the giant 'blot' which can't be unseen. I'm referring to this series' reusing as a guest, a so-called 'actor' who's mostly known for the atrocious (MASSIVE!) comb-over he sports.

I know many fans of the Star Trek shows have asked to appear on an episode of one of the myriad series and spin-offs.

What blows my mind-and all logic-is this person.

Why?!?!?!

It's not just 1 episode he's appeared in, but multiple, and not just in TNG, but he's also helped destroy memorable episodes of Voyager with his goggle-eyed overacting. It's hard enough to try and pay attention to the episode he's in, as the top of his head is always so obvious (aside from the fact that I dislike him and his lack of any perceivable talent). It begs... well, several questions:

• Why was no other actor better than him at playing this role?

• Why (after his first appearance) was there a reason to bring him back (!?!) rather than recast the part?

• Why, in the 'future,' is man able to advance in so many ways (after all, Picard's got an artificial heart!), EXCEPT when it comes to THIS person's follicle issue, and give him something better than a comb-over with a bottle of Aqua-Net, either in the way of a hair transplant or a halfway decent 'rug'?!?!

• Why was he allowed to so terribly overact (aka 'ham it up,' and 'mug for the cameras,' or mince (not as a term for an effeminate gay man), and after having waded through all this 'individualness,' could anyone in the production office say, 'this guy, Schultz, is terrific! Let's get him to guest on a few more!'

The ONLY 'miracle' is no brainless person then involved with the helming of the Star Trek 'universe' said/suggested (or got!) using this person as a main-or lead 😳 character in ANY Star Trek series or films.

Kinda makes one wonder 'let's put all the Dwight Schultz episodes-from this and Voyager-in a box set 😫🙄.

Mercifully.

I recommend skipping this and all others with this person.

They're of the 'bad school of acting' wherein the supposed 'artist's' abilities consist of doing such things as... well, if you watch ANYthing with this person, you'll get a quick education in how NOT to act (or do with your thinning 'do)

It's bad enough when a long-running show 'ret-cons', such as in Voyager, where, after having been on the air for several years, they've an episode in which the 'well-liked', and one of Harry's best friends, Lindsay Ballard (WHO?!?!) appears out of nowhere, but, definitely not looking as her former 'crewmates' remember.

That type of storytellimg's very difficult to pull off with any elan, but, it's so much WORSE when the actor playing this 'jammed-in' character is so over-acting that our can't not notice them rather than the story.

Howlin Mad Broccoli visits a ship trapped inside of a plasma stream.

During transport, something very odd occurs - is there something alive in the transporter beam?

Of course, Broccoli believes he has "transporter psychosis", and starts behaving more like himself...

Until we start seeing his internal thinking, as he starts piecing it together.

He faces one of his greatest fears and in doing so unveils an interesting conundrum.

Of course there is something alive in the transporter beam, but it is not what we think.

Classic misdirection, and a great resolution to a mystery.

Broccoli at his finest, he really is a great diagnostician.

Back on Star Trek prime DeForest Kelley voiced a negative opinion of the Enterprise Transport system. Just the thought of one's molecules being disassembled and reassembled gave him the willies.

Apparently Lt. Reg Barkley feels the same way. Dwight Schultz in one of his guest appearances as the enigmatic Barkley says he has the Enterprise record for shuttle flights. This all comes up when the Enterprise is called on to a rescue mission, but finds the small science ship seemingly abandoned.

When Schultz transports over there he develops some strange feelings and symptoms. More I cannot tell you, but his feelings turn out to be not psychosomatic but quite real.

I did love the resolution of one of my favorite TNG episodes.

They should have found a part for him in the films, plays his part so well. Really should have been offered more parts then he got, was very good in the A Team.

Reg Barclay tries to overcome his fear of the transporters.

This is a relatively enjoyable episode with another good performance from Dwight Schultz.

The story is not the most interesting, but if you appreciate sci-fi detail regarding the various technologies portrayed in Star Trek, you might find it fascinating as it discusses the working of the transporters in depth. It also works well as an allegory to the fear of flying.

It is centred around Barclay, so as with all episodes about this character you need to at least find him entertaining to enjoy it. Personally I quite like seeing a different type of personality take centre stage and think Schultz is always good value for his screen time.

Colm Meaney also has a decent amount of screen time and a good dynamic with Schultz in their scenes together.

There are certain aspects of this episode I do struggle with. I'm not a fan of the concept that there is a major transporter problem that happens to affect the one character who has a phobia of transporters. Plus it is very heavy on technobabble.

Visually it contains some decent effects, but for an episode entitled 'The Realm of Fear' I expected something a bit scarier in the transporter than what we are shown.