Customer Reviews

Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 69: Hollow Pursuits [VHS]

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

 

 

This is my favorite ST:TNG episode, mainly because of the introduction of Reg Barclay, the extremely shy lieutenant with a crush on Troi. Dwight Schultz (Murdock on "The A-Team") plays Barclay very well. Having shown a talent for playing insane pilots and murdering psychiatrists("Diagnosis Murder"), among other things, Schultz reveals his versatility through his portrayal of Barclay's awkwardness and social anxiety. His behavior in the holodeck, as he fences with Picard and flirts with Troi (the Goddess of Empathy) make this episode hilarious.

Beyond Schultz's performance, I enjoyed the attitudes of the rest of the crew during the show. Their initial mockery of "Broccoli" gave way to offense when they saw how they were represented in the holodeck. Troi's indignation alone made the episode worth watching (she's funny when she's mad!). I would recommend this video to any Trekkies, of course, but also to fans of Dwight Schultz, as his acting is a large part of what makes this such a good episode.

This is one of my all time favorite episodes. Barclay, a junior officer who suffers from social anxiety and an extrememly nervous disposition retreats from interaction in the real world to the holodeck, where he creates alternate personas for the main crew of the Enterprise. Picard, Riker and (I think!) Data are the three musketeers, Crusher is a pastoral maiden who feeds Barclay grapes, and, best of all, Troi stars as the "Goddess of Empathy" dressed in Greek robes. When the crew finds out about this program, you can guess how they all repsond to their holodeck counterparts. The best point of the show- when Troi tells the Goddess of Empathy, who is spewing comforting pyschobabble to "stuff it." A must-see episode!