The Nth Degree

A season ago, in "Hollow Pursuits", the character Reg Barkley was introduced. Barkley is a character who is painfully shy and self- conscious and who had a habit of retreating into the holodeck instead of interacting with real people. Here in his return, Barkley has changed a bit. While he is still very shy, he's trying- -and the show begins with him performing on stage with Doctor Crusher for an audience on the ship. While his performance wasn't exactly brilliant, the fact that he's expose himself to others this way is a huge step. However, the next step he's about to take is beyond anything anyone could have anticipated. During a mission aboard a shuttle craft, Barkley is hit by a beam from an alien probe. Soon, he begins to show amazing intellectual prowess. Additionally, his confidence now seems to know no bounds. At first, all this is great and he becomes a much more valuable member of the crew. But, when he's assuming almost god-like abilities, it scares the crap out of everyone. And, by this point, can anyone stop him?!

Apart from how incredibly stupid the crew was in this one (it took WAY too long for anyone to suggest that contact with the probe is what changed Barkley), this is a great episode. I'd like to say more, as the way all this works is wonderful, but I don't want to spoil it. Enjoyable, a bit funny but also very clever.

Enterprise encounters an alien probe that has a bizarre effect on Lieutenant Reg Barclay.

This is a reasonably strong episode with a good idea and central performance. If you like the character you will enjoy it.

The story unfolds quite slowly with a lot of attention paid to Barclay's character. What happens to him is an integral part of the plot so it fits well with the great sci-fi concept at the heart of it all.

It is pointless critiquing Barclay's best moments because he is generally a liked or disliked character for most people and I do not think this episode is likely to change any minds either way. He is presented in different way here, which makes the character feel fresh, but as always he reflects the weird quirks of the actor. If there ever was a quintessential 'trekkie' represented by a character within the franchise, intentional or not, it is him.

The visuals are mostly excellent with some strong cinematography, lighting and effects during the holodeck scenes. I was not particularly sold on the floating head, but this is Star Trek!

Performances are mostly good, with Dwight Schultz on top form as ever. Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton and Jonathan Frakes support well. Patrick Stewart is solid as ever but does not have his usual prominent lead role.

It his is a 7.5/10 for me but I round upwards.

Dwight Schultz returns as Ensign Barclay, the stammering introvert who, despite great engineering expertise, has a terrible time with human relations. He is a project for Geordi who tries to boost his confidence. He is take on a shuttlecraft to assist Geordi. On the trip, they encounter a pulse that sends a ray of light to the craft and Reg (Barclay) is knocked unconscious. When he recovers on board the Enterprise, he is a new man. He has confidence, flirts with the women, including Deanna, and begins a quantum leap in the world of physics. He even corrects a theory of Einstein's on the holodeck. Fortunately (or unfortunately) he begins to exhibit powers beyond anything that the crew has ever seen. Ultimately, he hooks his own brain up to the computer because it is too slow. He is working his way to a star system in another part of the galaxy and won't let anything dissuade him. Is he insubordinate, does he have a purpose, or is he being manipulated. I really enjoy this character and like when he appears on "Voyager" later.

I'm surprised somewhat that none of the previous reviewers of this TNG story have mentioned the classic Star Trek prime episode where Gary Lockwood is hit with a beam from an alien probe and becomes super intelligent with God like powers. It seem so obvious that this story was borrowed from that.

This episode marks the return of crewman Reg Barkley played by Dwight Schultz who this always seem to happen to. The Enterprtse is trying to repair the futuristic version of the Hubbell telescope when a beam from an alien probe hits Barkley who this always happens to.

Barkley is a fun character sort of a futuristic schlamazzel. Reg never quite fits in.