Hollow Pursuits

I loved this episode and how it introduced Barclay, a character I can definitely relate too, as he battled holodeck addiction and find his way in the crew. Geordi eventually helped him find his place. It shows that we all need help finding our spot in the crew if we get the right assistance. I think Barclay was a great character and this was a great episode. The holodeck scenes were first rate.

*** out of ****

Lt. Reg Barclay spends too much time in the holodeck.

This is a strong character episode that introduces a new face and presents a different perspective on the Enterprise crew.

To enjoy this episode you need to either like or at least sympathise with Barclay. If you find him annoying it probably will be a long 45 minutes. I think the plot is great when it focuses on him and his social anxieties, but there is a fairly contrived aspect of the storytelling that forces him in a certain direction, albeit with some decent sci-fi detail.

'Hollow Pursuits' is about a very passive man who lives most of his life in a fantasy world interacting with fake caricatures of his work colleagues. The show's creators may have intended this to parody the imaginative process of writing fictitious stories, but it also comes across (unintentionally or not) as a satire of the obsessive fans of shows like Star Trek. This theme is one of the best aspects of the episode. The distain shown towards Barclay by some of the regulars, who appear more aggressive than usual from his perspective, works well.

The other element that I find entertaining is the comical world that Barclay has created within the holodeck. It's hard not to laugh at the versions of the crew he has created and cringe when they are confronted by the real life versions. Particularly Deanna Troi.

The visuals are very good, especially the holodeck scenes.

Dwight Schultz is perfectly cast and excellent as Barclay. LeVar Burton plays Geordie well from a more commanding perspective. The regular cast work nicely as comic foils for Barclay.

Is Reg Barclay like one of those kids that are promoted so the teacher can be rid of them at the end of the year? He is a mess and yet he has great expertise or he would never have made it through the academy. What he is, is addicted to the Holodeck. He has incredibly complex programs where he lives his life of adventure, Walter Mitty style. Obviously, he is incredibly talented but with absolutely no self-esteem. He is also careless and undependable. The factor that makes what he does a bit disconcerting is that he uses the images of actual crew members a the models for his characters (this is not a violation, but it is frowned upon). He even has a passionate, submissive characterization of Troi. I've always wondered about the Holodeck. Apparently, anyone who wishes can walk in on another person, so I guess you'd better not do anything embarrassing. It is hilarious to watch Picard and Data as Musketeers, battling the master swordsman, Barclay. The true problem is something that has happened to the systems on the Enterprise and the entire ship must be analyzed and evaluated to find the bug which is very serious. For those of you who watch too much of this stuff, you know that this character is hardly finished as an important factor in the opus.

Dwight Schultz makes the first of several appearances as Lt.Reginald Barkley on the Enterprise. Schultz got to reprise his character usually once a year for the remainder of TNG's run.

Barkley or Broccoli as Wil Wheaton takes to calling him is the typical square peg in a round hole. He's one of those folks who just can't quite fit in. In all of the Barkley subsequent episodes like here things just seem to happen all around him.

In any event there are a number of systems failures that leave the Enterprise in great danger. It's LeVar Burton and Schultz who figure out what is happening.

Barkley has quite an imagination and is addicted to the hollowdeck programs he's created to blow off steam. Both Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis have differing reactions to them. As Geordi LaForge says Barkley could write a book on hollowdeck addiction.

Good story that introduces us to an enduring character in the Star Trek saga.

A timid and neurotic member of the Engineering team, Reg Barclay, begins to grate on Geordi's nerves with his unprofessionalism. When the Enterprise is struck by an engineering problem, Barclay is needed more than ever to perform - if only he wasn't busy seeking solace in his unconventional holodeck pastimes.

Schultz becomes an instant legend with his first appearance as Barclay, an extremely nervous character who only comes to life indulging his holodeck fantasies. It works well for this comedy episode, especially as the senior crew discover what their colleague has been doing behind their backs. This episode is purely about having fun and that's exactly what you will do when you watch it.