Customer Reviews

Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 29: Elementary, Dear Data [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While awaiting the USS Victory, Data and Geordi play Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in the holodeck, but they're finished almost immediately when Data solves the mystery before they even begin it. Upset over this, Geordi leaves the holodeck, and Dr. Pulaski challenges Data to an original mystery that he wouldn't be able to solve. Accepting the challenge, Data, Pulaski and Geordi program a character capable of defeating Data, who turns out to be Sherlock Holmes' arch enemy, Professor Moriarty, who was defeated at the cost of Holmes' own life. But the professor turns terrifyingly real when he becomes aware of what he is and kidnaps Dr. Pulaski takes over control of the Enterprise. Can Data defeat Professor Moriarty before the professor defeats him?

Data as Sherlock Holmes

Rob Bowman of X-Files directing fame helms this episode. It's about the Sherlock Holmes program aboard the holodeck. Data wants to create an adversary worthy of his talents. He does. Almost brings down the starship and crew with him. This one marks the debut of "The Nanny" actor Daniel Davis as Moriarty. For those of you who ever read Holmes; Moriarty was his nemesis. Daniel Davis delivers as the episode's villain. There are a few good scenes with Dr. Pulaski. She tells Data that he can't be creative and only solve mysteries that are variations on the ones he's read. She argues that Data is incapable of being creative. Data more than proves that she is wrong.

This episode is more memorable for the extremely significant philosophical point that is largely ignored than it is for the dialog and battle between Data as Sherlock Holmes and a holographic Professor Moriarty. During a lull in duties, Geordi and Data retire to the holodeck where Data is Sherlock Holmes and Geordi is Dr. Watson. However, since Data has memorized all of the stories featuring Holmes, he quickly resolves the mysteries, which frustrates Geordi. In an attempt to spice up the game, Geordi instructs the holodeck computer to create an adversary capable of defeating Data in a battle of wits. The computer complies, creating a conscious, intelligent and self-aware Professor Moriarty, capable of programming the Enterprise computer and gaining control of the Enterprise, all from inside the holodeck.
Eventually, since the program cannot be terminated, Picard is forced to enter the holodeck and meet Moriarty face to face. Picard explains the situation to Moriarty, who returns control of the Enterprise to Picard. In return, Picard has the computer save the Moriarty character, with a promise to revisit the issue in the future.
Since it is the Enterprise computer that creates the sentient Professor Moriarty, the question becomes: Is the Enterprise computer sentient? The answer to this is most certainly no. In the episode "Q Who?" Geordi laughs at Ensign Gomez for being polite to a food dispenser. His statements indicate that he does not consider it to be sentient. Furthermore, the events in all the other episodes support this position. Therefore, the action in this episode is based on the premise that the non-sentient Enterprise computer created a sentient consciousness that is in many ways just as alive as any other creature. The fact that it can exist only in a holodeck is not significant as many organisms can exist only in their specialized environment. This is a very deep philosophical and scientific issue that is largely ignored.
A second problem is the ease with which Geordi misprograms the computer. Given the power of the Enterprise computers, there should be much greater safeguards to make sure that an error in speaking is not misconstrued. The number of safety and security overrides would have to be enormous, and there would have been an immediate directive to fix this obvious and serious software defect.
With these problems aside, this is still a good episode. Moriarty is a character who is devious, ruthless and yet a gentleman. It was a very wise move when he was brought back in a future episode. Dr. Pulaski is adorable in her Victorian outfit as she accompanies Data and Geordi back to the streets of London during the reign of Queen Victoria. There is just too much direct and subtle activity packed into it.

This is one of my very favorite episodes. One thing I thought was cool was how they had the bullet holes in wall. For those unfamiliar with the Sherlock Holmes stories, Holmes practiced shooting his gun indoors and shot the letters VR into his wall. Look for it right after Goerdi makes a comment about all the detail.

My first encounter with Sherlock Holmes at all was in the mid 1950's when Ronald Howard and H Marion Crawford starred as Holmes and Watson; end of my involvement! Jump to 2004: nostalgia brought me back to Holmes and Watson only to find that Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce had made 14 Holmes feature length movies mostly during WW2 years (1940's)(I never then noticed), and more: Jeremy Brett and David Burke/Edward Hardwicke had made 41 episodes and feature length movies in the 80's. I became a fan and collector. Never a trekkie, I happened on a random episode of Star Trek (#29) and found that there were 2 episodes that Star Trek devoted to Sherlock Holmes. Very well done! I went to Amazon and bought them. They are, in my opinion, worthy of adding to any fan's collection. The subject matter and timeframe was treated very respectfully with a new angle looking towards the 21st century. I think these two episodes had a lot to do with even newer episodes by newer actors that have come on line since! A good purchase!

Plot: Geordi and Data are taking a break on the holodeck, playing in a classic Sherlock Holmes mystery. Unfortunately, Data solves the mystery before it gets started, which irritates Geordi. He tries to explain to our favorite android that he wanted to solve the mystery, not jump to the end. Data, however, is unable to comprehend this concept. Dr. Pulaski, overhearing, asserts that Data is totally incapable of solving a real, Holmesian-style, mystery. Data and Geordi disagree, so they go back to the holodeck together and try to develop a mystery that is totally original (in Holmsian style). Well, Geordi makes a major mistake by asking the computer to develop a character that is capable of defeating Data (as opposed to defeating Sherlock Holmes). Result; the computer makes a Prof. Moriarty who becomes fully self-conscious and fully capable of controlling the Enterprise from the holodeck. Then Dr. Pulaski get's kidnapped and Data and Geordi find Moriarty far more dangerous than they had expected (and of course, the safeguards are deactivated). Now Picard must go to the holodeck with Data and attempt to rescue the doctor and solve the issue...

Another top ten favorite of mine, the only complaint is the subject of sentience of a holodeck character (this theme of "non-living thing coming to life and becoming sentient" gets a little beaten to death after awhile). Nevertheless, it shows what can happen when you aren't careful in what you say (or how you say it). I also like the model of the USS Victory (sailing ship) in the Engineering Room that Geordi shows Data (and later, Picard) in this episode. Watch for one mistake with Geordi calling the USS Victory (the starship that they'll be in rendevous with) a "Constitution-class" starship (like the original USS Enterprise). Well, the Victory actually is "Constellation-class" starship (like the USS Hathaway). The reason was that the producers decided to change at the last minute and have the Victory not be Constitution-class and make a new model instead. So, it can be assumed that Geordi "misspoke" the class name by "accident".

Gets it's 5 stars easily in my book.

"Elementary, Dear Data" is Star Trek: The Next Generation's second season entry in the ongoing "problems with the holodeck" saga. Yep, somehow the holodeck still is open for business after it went bonkers in the first season. Guess the word "lawsuit" is non-existent in the 24th century.

Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) and Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) take advantage of their free time by participating in a Sherlock Holmes adventure on the holodeck. Things do not go as planned because Data knows the outcome of all the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Therefore, Doctor Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) challenges the android to solve a completely original Holmes mystery. La Forge relays the new parameters to the computer but a crisis ensues after a holographic Professor James Moriarty (Daniel Davis) that ultimately gains sentience is created.

Can a starship computer really create a self-aware being out of holomatter? Well, if you are willing to accept that premise then "Elementary, Dear Data" is a lot of fun. Data and La Forge make a good Holmes and Doctor John H. Watson and Pulaski has a number of amusing moments. However, the bulk of the credit for the episode's success has to go to Davis who turns in a wonderful guest performance. His Moriarty is charming and diabolical all at the same time and is a welcome change of pace from the alien-threat-of-the-week. One just hopes that someone took the initiative to put up "caution" and/or "warning" signs around the holodeck after the latest mishap with the contraption. That thing is a deathtrap!!

Who cares about the technical part of it.
its a fun chase!

Based on some prior reviews I bought this. Boy, was I disappointed.
Even though some of the other reviewers give away the plot and surprises, I thought I would enjoy this. All I can say is you have to be brain dead to be entertained by this. Gene Roddenberry would be very disappointed!
Be warned: Data DOES NOT turn out to be Sherlock Holmes' arch enemy, Professor Moriarty.
And yes, Data defeats Professor Moriarty before the professor defeats him.
I think you would have to check your brain at the door to like this one. I really do not understand all the glowing reviews from the other customers.