Hollow Pursuits

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

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.

Humour, this is pure Gold.

Now we know from the A Team just how funny Dwight Schultz is, and boy he shows it here, no wonder he become a recurring character as he has the "likeability" factor and in life that is so very much important.

Being shy is not easy, but do people care, nope. Meeting the opposite sex not having the banter can be a nightmare I was Dwight, even at work if a stranger come in, was a nightmare. If i had a holodeck, I would never come out :-).

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.

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.