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 ****

In this episode we meet recurring character Reg Barclay a character who is bullied for being slow by LaForge and the others in engineering

Schultz is a great actor in this episode. He's in a few other episodes as well as one of the movies.

I remember talking to someone when I was in college about this episode and they did a Mr. T. impression "I'm not getting into that transporter foo!" That would have been awesome to see..

But, as a 20 something when this came out, you know darn well that I and any guy watching the show would have thought about doing this very same thing. Enjoying fantasies, perhaps with people they know, maybe in a.... slightly non-g-rated fashion. There's a later episode where it implies Riker does this (the one with the metamorph).

So, I can't condemn his actions, just enjoy the episode.

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.

'Hollow Pursuits' introduces Reg Barclay, one of the show's more unusual characters. Socially awkward and wracked with nerves, he's easily the ship's misfit. this is a relatable character for anyone having trouble fitting in; his crewmembers can't stand to be around him and would rather just pass him off to another posting. Picard is the moral center of this, pushing Geordi to connect with Barclay and expose his talents. This is really a workplace drama, but a good one.

This one really surprised me. It does mine Barclay's "holodiction" for laughs, but it also ends in a nail-biter of a last-minute save; there's a surprising level of action here for a character piece. Roller-coaster would be a superlative, but it's anything but boring.

9/10