TNG S2E3 "Elementary, Dear Data" Review by AnswerMan

Horrible:Meh:Adequate:Good:Fantastic

I don't know why I took so long to review this episode, but it is not at all how I remembered it. I was thinking that it was a silly holodeck episode with no real substance. Well, it kind of is like that. But it's also a Fantastic episode none the less. While it does approach moral dilemmas, it doesn't make any stance on what is ethical. But it does build suspense and entertain quite well.



Data loves to play Sherlock to his buddy Geordi's Watson in the holodeck. But for LaForge, the experience is less than exhilarating. Not only is Watson a dull character to play and "indubitably" a difficult word to pronounce, but Data as Sherlock is a letdown to watch. I personally think this highlights a weakness of the character of Sherlock Holmes more than it does the personality of an android. I actually took a college course on Sherlock Holmes, and therefore feel as though I can speak with some authority on the subject (I mean, I did get an A). I feel there are two aspects to the character. One is that he is a complete mess of an insufferable man with severe social problems that later develop into a drug habit. The other is that he solves crimes in an impossible manner. By impossible, I mean that I always thought Doyle took the fun out of the mysteries for the reader by having Holmes solve the case by observing the absolute minutiae of the situation. To me it was always obvious that Doyle wrote the stories backwards, starting with the solution and working back to leave tiny clues that only Holmes would pick up on, and not leaving the reader any chance to work things out on their own. This is exactly what Data does as well, just at an even quicker pace because he has already memorized the stories.

While Geordi is attempting to explain this to Data, Pulaski overhears and makes a remark something along the lines of, "What did you expect, Data is a toaster." Pulaski always gets a bad rap for her behavior, but I have always liked the character and appreciate her direct approach. She makes the case that Data couldn't solve a Holmes mystery that he wasn't already filled in on. Geordi remarks that problem solving is exactly what Data is best at. But I think that Pulaski has a point here, because Holmes solves mysteries not just by spotting that someone has sand on their shoe, but by understanding people and applying that sand to their life and understanding what behavior that means they must have engaged in. Data sucks at understanding people and picking up on social cues. I don't think he could solve mysteries like Holmes either (but remember, I don't think it's possible for anyone to solve mysteries like Holmes, it's just the way the stories are written). Also Pulaski is not just being a bitch for no reason. She's intrigued by the prospect and enthusiastically shows up in full costume to watch this all unfold. She's in on the game and having a good time.

We all know what happens next, the computer creates an opponent capable of defeating Data. The Moriarty character becomes self-aware and takes control of the ship. Data is in fact not capable of defeating him, and has to call the captain for help. Picard does the whole Kirk-talk the computer into giving up, sort of. Moriarty decides that he is not the villain anymore, and wishes no harm. They promise to save his file and revisit him when they know more about how to deal with sentient holodeck characters. It's kind of anti-climactic, but I'm not sure how else they would have ended it. I have no idea if the writers knew that we would be doing a Moriarty episode later or not, but it seems that way since it was left so open-ended.

The scene where Data encounters Moriarty and figures out there is more going on is very well done. Daniel Davis, who plays Moriarty is just a fantastic actor. When he shouts to Data about the drawing of the Enterprise "Why does it frighten you, Holmes?!" it is actually chilling. And Geordi's low key "Dayduhhh" as he realizes the situation is dire is spot on. In fact these elements were so inspiring to me that I mixed them into a song that I call "Data, Data." Here it is.

Overall the episode is really quite Fantastic. We further explore the limitations of Data's personality and introduce the idea of the sentient hologram. Though the idea is shelved for now, we revisit not only this particular character in TNG but the overall concept in great detail in Voyager. Also I'm pretty sure Pulaski at least made out with Moriarty, and possibly he was cramming her with more than holographic crumpets. Oh and, obligatory: how did the drawing of the Enterprise make it off the holodeck?

Published July 30, 2019