Elementary, Dear Data

DVD, TNG S2 (Elementary, Dear Data)

It was a strange decision for them to end the episode with a reuse of the Stargazer as the USS Victory, as it was one of those times when it wasn't necessary to see the approaching ship. As a whole the episode follows that pattern of questionable choices. The main set-up was clearly a winner - Data's interest in Sherlock Holmes was well established in the first season, but to have Moriarty give up so willingly on the off-chance they might, one day discover how to turn holograms into physical beings, was hard to swallow. Even by Voyager's time, a few years later the EMH was locked into the ship, needing holoemitters to exist, and it was only 29th Century tech that enabled him to experience a more mobile existence.

There was certainly charm in the way this holocharacter catches on to his situation, in the same way that Vic Fontaine or the Irish villagers did in later series'. It all started here (unless you count Cyrus Redblock trying to leave the Holodeck in 'The Big Goodbye'). The ending was more for the sake of wrapping up the story before time ran out, than going for a logical progression of events. If anything it took too long to get to Moriarty (maybe the teaser should have ended with him gaining awareness), and they should have played with him and the danger his knowledge creates, much more.

The Holmes references were fun, but the scenario for Data and La Forge to get to the program seemed quite contrived. During duty the engineer puts in an emergency call for Data, but it's only to show him a (rather good) model of the HMS Victory (and I've been to see the original ship since I last saw this episode which makes it more interesting!). Then he presents his friend with a pipe and Data agrees to go and play. Don't they have duties? La Forge seems to know a bit about Holmes - enough to get the right kind of pipe anyway, but then has no idea why Data's speaking in that enunciated British accent, or can deduce things by observation. Clearly Geordi hasn't actually read or seen any Holmes material!

It's the same with Pulaski in her ignorance of Holotechnology. You can argue that she has buried herself in research all her life and never got around to investigating the potential, but you'd think this kind of tech would be integrated into many applications in the 24th Century. We're not told how new it is, although it seemed to be slightly unfamiliar to the characters last season, so perhaps it hasn't seeped into the public conciousness yet. The doctor also seems remarkably unruffled, sitting there having tea with Moriarty. She's just been carried through the streets of London according to Data's deductions, and I can imagine she wasn't best pleased, yet she's maintained the whimsical attitude to the adventure as when she was strolling through the street. Granted, Data's reasoning might not be true, as we don't actually see her being carried, but it feels less real that she isn't reacting in some way after her ordeal.

Why are Geordi and Data even allowed to go off during their shift, since all the other bridge crew are still working, and they all seem to share the same shift. Maybe these are minor problems on what is a fun episode, but dealing with Holmes, the master of the smallest detail, the series comes up wanting, and needed to go a bit further than simply a period recreation or a side story of sentience. Mind you, there's a sequel set up there, if ever I saw one...

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