Anyway, I'm still reading some of these stories and still really enjoying reading them and thinking about them and so, when "Elementary, Dear Data" came up in my queue, I was pretty excited. If you've not seen this episode, basically it involves Data and Geordi heading to the holodeck to play Sherlock and Watson. But Data's memorized every single story and he solves everything in like five seconds. No fun. Dr. Pulaski suggests that Data isn't capable of creative thought and that if Data were presented with a new mystery, he wouldn't be able to solve it. Taking that idea and running with it, Geordi tells the computer to generate a villain capable of defeating--not Sherlock Holmes--but Data.
Aside from Moriarty at first threatening the safety of the Enterprise, there isn't a lot of drama or danger here. The story is simple and straightforward. A group of humans inadvertently create a being with consciousness. That being is self-aware but he cannot exist outside the holodeck. The being was meant to be a villain but he has quickly evolved into a real, multi-sided person. What should the humans do?
I won't spoil the ending. I think you should Netflix this one and here's why: more than this being a great homage to Sherlock Holmes, "Elementary, Dear Data," is a great example of what SciFi in general and Star Trek specifically do really well. They ask us important questions. What constitutes true brilliance? What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to exist? What does it mean to stop existing?
If you've seen this episode recently and you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, I'd love to hear from you. If you're not a fan and you've not seen the episode. I'd still love to hear from you.
LOVE this episode for the reasons you stated. Your questions remind me of the"Tulix" episode of "Voyager".
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yeah, I can't wait for the Tuvix episode!
DeleteI love this episode too, especially because it foreshadows the Doctor on Voyager. Remember how everybody treated the Doctor like shit at the beginning, but then he turned into the CMO? Agreed that this is what Star Trek--and all Sci/Fi--does so well.
ReplyDeleteYes! Exactly. I think, in a lot of ways, Voyager gets into this more than any other Star Trek.
Deleteomg we are so much alike! I do the same thing, as far as doing what I like all at once. I read all the SH adventures a while back. I love this episode, for the reasons you do, for the same questions you posed. I also really love Dr. Pulaski in this one. And, frankly, I wish she would have stayed the Dr. but that's a different story. This is one of my top TNG eps.
ReplyDeleteOh, I actually really love Dr. Pulaski too. I was thinking of doing a whole post about her!
DeleteI, too love this episode, as I am also a bit of a Sherlockian -- I also liked the sequel a few seasons later (I forget the title), but somewhat less, as they saw fit to introduce a character (Moriarty's love interest) from outside the Holmes' canon. But, what can you do?
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do love, "Elementary, Dear Data," it does have its plot holes: how is Data able to carry the sheet of paper on which Moriarty had sketched the Enterprise out of the holodeck? Similarly, did Dr. Pulaski's stomach -- so recently filled up with crumpets -- suddenly feel empty when she exited the program (these are not original to me -- they come from the "Nitpicker's Guide" series, which I highly recommend.
Anyway, keep up the good blogging work, and the good Trek work, too. I'm going back to my book manuscript, "The Politics of Star Trek," which is SO CLOSE to done (which, of course, means that there's still LOTS to do)....
After reading this blog, You appear to be brilliant yourself. Nice Job.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone realized that the paper the Enterprise was drawn on would have been photonic? It should have disappeared as soon as it left the holodeck. Am I confused about something, or is this a huge plot hole in this episode? lol.
ReplyDelete