Ship in a Bottle

'Ship in a Bottle' involves both Barclay and the holodeck, yet it's without the usual calamity. That alone is refreshing, but it turns into something much deeper and engaging.

Moriarty's back, able to stroll off the holodeck and take control of the ship; all he wants is to get away from it all with his lady but ends up putting the ship in danger. How he's been conscious all this time is a worthy mystery, as are the moral implications.

It's a pleasure to see this character (left as an ellipsis from season 2) brought back, and Daniel Davis' scenes with Patrick Stewart are like seeing two classic Brits going toe-to-toe. It's not as simple as a rogue simulation hijacking the ship, and it's a well-meaning episode, nimble and carrying it's own surprises.

8/10

In a Sherlock Holmes holodeck simulation, hologram opponent Dr Moriarty becomes self-aware and demands freedom. He even holds crew members captive. What a newly developed will to live - brilliant. I'm not spilling the even more ingenious conclusion/solution. Minus one star in my rating because no one understands how self-awareness a/k/a consciousness works: You see yourself in a mirror (Iron elements) and affirm yourself (oxygen elements). Affirmed oxygen is consciousness. If you know you are, then you are oxygen. Minus 10 stars for churches, because they figured out nothing. Spirits are a thing, too. But they are not self-awareness. Or even good for that matter. There is a big branding issue here. And shows about self-awareness prove exactly that. God has little to do with spirits.

This involves the return of Professor Moriarity. As Data continues to play Sherlock Holmes in a holodeck program, the character of James Moriarity returns to cause all kinds of havoc. Four years earlier, he was placed in memory, promised by Picard that when technology could be developed to allow him to leave the holodeck, he would be released. Unfortunately, he has been aware of the passage of time and Picard feels that he should be treated respectfully (even though he is programmed as an arch-villain). Through trickery, he gains control of the Enterprise and begins to figure out how to exist as a free man. There are layers in the holodeck and these are used to play with appearance and reality. This is another skillfully written episode. Moriarity feels his power and strings the crew along. Picard is removed from the picture for a time. Also created is the love of Moriarity's life, who is a beautiful nineteenth century dutchess. An incredibly complex puzzle forms and it is cleverly approached with every ounce of creativity from the crew.

In the episodes with Dwight Schultz as Ensign Reginald Barclay I am surprised they haven't transferred him off the Enterprise with all the problems he causes. Schultz means well but he can't stay out of his own way.

Fooling around with some of the Holodeck programs, Barclay activates one from Season 2 that Patrick Stewart maybe would like to forget about. That's the one where Brent Spiner created a Sherlock Holmes program with a sensient Professor Moriarty. The Moriarty character was put into cold storage, but now he wants Captain Picard to make good his promise to give him life beyond the confines of the Holodeck. To prove he means business Daniel Davis as Moriarty seizes control of the ship from the Holodeck.

A problem that Picard, Barclay, and Data have to solve and of course they do. But it takes some multi-dimensional thinking on their part.

Both the Moriarty episodes are some of the best in the series.

I usually dislike the holodeck episodes, but this one is on a completely different level. Data is my favorite character, I personally love Sherlock Holmes and Brent Spiner is a superb actor. I love Daniel Davis and he is perfect as Moriarity. I am not familiar with Stephanie Beacham but she additionally gives a wonderful performance. I also adore Dwight Schultz and for once Barclay acted like a normal, intelligent human being instead of an incompetent bungling imbecile. The story was entertaining and all of the twists and turns in the plot were well done and held my interest, and the unsuspected ending, while maybe not seeming ideal, was honestly perfect for the characters who didn't really exist.