star trek tng barclay episodes

Star Trek: Every Lt. Barclay Episode Ranked Worst To Best

He bumbled and he made mistakes. He also made contact with Voyager and saved the Enterprise.

There are many guest stars in Star Trek who endear themselves to the audiences, carving their own niche in the hearts and minds of those who follow the franchise. Some are purely comedic and some are pure evil. Some come down in the middle and some are in a category all of their own.

One such guest was Dwight Schultz as Reginald Barclay.

The character originated on Star Trek: The Next Generation, was featured in a cameo in Star Trek: First Contact but truly found his feet on Star Trek: Voyager. He became something of a sidekick for Robert Picardo's Doctor/Lewis Zimmerman, explained away initially in that he was a member of the team who helped to design the Doctor and then simply being accepted as an officer with an almost unhealthy obsession with the ship.

Through his various episodes, while much time is spent depicting his neuroses, the audience watches Barclay begin to emerge from his chronic shyness to become a confident and highly moral officer, one who manages to bend the rules in the name of the greater good.

The rankings for this list are not necessarily ranking the episodes in terms of their overall impact on their various series, but rather they are ranked in terms of Barclay's impact upon them.

11. Life Line

A slightly controversial entry here, but Robert Picardo as the Doctor is perfection. Robert Picardo as Lewis Zimmerman is anything but.

Barclay sends news to the Doctor, via the MIDAS subspace array, that Zimmerman is dying. The disease that he has cannot be treated by any Alpha Quadrant physician and so Barclay ask the Doctor for anything he might be able to do to help. The Doctor goes one better and makes a house call, beaming across the galaxy (for the second time.)

At first, Zimmerman is resistent to the idea of an EMH mark 1 being able offer anything in the way of help. He is rude and abrasive, with poor Barclay doing everything he can to apologise to the Doctor and convince Zimmerman that there is still a chance. Even Deanna Troi is unable to sway the professor around.

It is only after an episode of brow beating the man into submission that the Doctor is able to finally cure him.

Life Line is not the best episode for any involved, although Dwight Shultz and Robert Picardo do always make a strong double act.

Writer. Reader. Host. I'm Seán, I live in Ireland and I'm the poster child for dangerous obsessions with Star Trek. Check me out on Twitter @seanferrick

Sometime in 2004, Kris decided to edit a video for a laugh. Well, the joke was on him it seems because now he has to come to WhatCulture and do it every single day. All that's really changed in that time is that now he exports to YouTube instead of a VHS. Yes, an actual VHS, that's how long he's been honing his craft.

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Revisiting Star Trek TNG: The Nth Degree

Barclay! Super-brains! Walks around the arboretum! Here's our latest look-back at Star Trek: The Next Generation season four...

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This review contains spoilers.

4.19 Nth Degree

The episode opens as Lt. Reg Barclay and Dr. Crusher perform some AmDram in front of the crew, whose enlightened 24 th Century dispositions allow them to appreciate even the most stilted and awkward performance. And that’s just from the D-list ensigns they have to shove into every episode now that Wesley’s gone. Everyone congratulates Barclay’s progress even though he’s terrible, and Data even learns a pithy lesson about being polite (and with that box ticked, he basically disappears for the rest of the episode.)

Barclay still isn’t feeling confident, but is happy when Geordi picks him to go on a mission to examine a probe that has disabled the Argus Array, a subspace telescope that has been disabled and needs to be fixed. Geordi and Barclay are just getting into their scans when the probe gives Barclay 10,000 watts to the face, knocking him out completely.

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Back on the ship, Barclay awakes and is instantly more confident in his mannerisms. In fact, he’s even coming up with solutions no-one has thought of before. When the probe turns on the Enterprise he manages to reconfigure some techno-nonsense so that they can blow it up and save the ship, to the obvious surprise of everyone involved. Troi looks on suspiciously.

After suggesting a radical way to fix the damaged Array, Barclay returns to his acting class where he gives a performance so moving that Dr. Crusher weeps openly. Meanwhile Troi looks on suspiciously (again). She eventually speaks to Barclay in Ten-Forward and confronts him about his newfound confidence. He responds by trying to chat her up. She rejects his invitations, but she’s clearly surprised that he felt he could even try.

The next morning, La Forge goes to find Barclay when he fails to make a meeting on time (the ultimate crime on the Enterprise, as we well know) and discovers that he’s arguing string unification with holographic Einstein (who is ploughing his time into theory with only 10 spatial dimensions, the idiot). Barclay apologises, but La Forge is sick of this nonsense and forces him to visit a doctor. It turns out the probe gave him superbrains, and he’s getting smarter all the time.

Of course, not everyone thinks this is particularly great, and the senior staff try to decide whether or not to let him roam around or confine him to quarters. Eventually they decide he’s caused them no obvious harm, so he should be allowed to continue his work. Then he almost instantly plugs his brain into the Enterprises computer and takes it over. Bad call, everyone.

Using the brain-link he designed, Barclay’s consciousness replaces the Enterprise’s computer. Since he no longer responds to orders (or even a friendly chat with Troi) it’s decided that he should be forcibly removed, but that doesn’t work either because he had the foresight to erect forcefields. A diabolical strategy!

As the Enterprise crew run out of options, Barclay uses the engines to warp subspace and transport them 30,000 light years away, to the galactic core. Here, they meet a giant floating head alien who speaks like he was bussed in from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys . Apparently the race in this star system are so lazy that they like to explore by bringing ships to them, so Barclay did exactly what they want. The Enterprise crew stick around to share information, and try not to think about the array they failed to repair.

Unfortunately, Barclay is now back to normal and lacks the super-genius skills that made everyone invite him to their meetings. But he’s feeling slightly more confident in himself, and Troi takes him for a walk around the arboretum as a reward.

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TNG WTF: I know Barclay’s a bit weird, but it takes a LOT of time before anyone starts going “hey, maybe being zapped in the face by an alien flash bulb did something to him.” It’s not like this isn’t a regular occurrence on board the Enterprise. They can’t do five missions without someone being elevated to a higher level of consciousness, or transcending this plane of existence, or being taken over by an alien race.

TNG LOL: Jonathan Frakes really goes to town with his facial expressions in this episode. He’s not given a lot of lines so watching his frankly bizarre choice of reactions to other people’s dialogue had me hypnotised. There’s not a single choice that makes sense.

To Boldly Go: The Enterprise’s all-important mission of exploration sees them sent to fix a broken telescope. Incidentally, they do not complete this task.

Mistakes and Minutiae: A fun little touch that you couldn’t possibly know if you’re watching them in order, but Jim Norton (who plays Holo-Einstein) reprises the role in Season Six. I’ll probably forget to mention it then so I’m mentioning it now

Who’s That Face?: Aha! Not a face this week, but a voice. Ensign blink-and-you’ll-miss-him Brower is David Coburn, the voice of Captain Planet. Yeah, THE Captain Planet. Look impressed because it is impressive.

Time Until Meeting: 15:42. Barclay is invited to sit in on the meeting about how they might fix the Argus array.

Captain’s Log: Maybe it’s just because I like Barclay, but I’ve been really looking forward to this episode, and it did not disappoint. Perhaps my favourite thing is that it didn’t just go full Flowers For Algernon , which would’ve been the easy way out of the plot. Nope, the Enterprise crew completely loses control of the situation and basically they would’ve died if the circumstances had been less benevolent. In narrative terms it’s probably not particularly satisfying for the lead characters to be passive observers to the story’s climax, but as a sci-fi nerd I enjoyed the exploration of an idea through to its natural conclusion.

Dwight Schultz is great, though. This crew is stuffed with hyperconfident, best-in-class types, so it’s always refreshing to get clumsy, bumbling Barclay on stage (in this episode, literally) so that we can watch the characters’ obvious irritation with him. By all rights he probably shouldn’t be on the Enterprise at all, but he’s got such personality that you can’t help but want him in every episode.

Read James’ look-back at the previous episode, Identity Crisis, here .

Jerz's Literacy Weblog (est. 1999)

The nth degree (st:tng rewatch, season 4, episode 19) barclay evolves.

Rewatching ST:TNG

Engineering schlub Lt. Barclay gets zapped by this week’s Space Thing, which makes him smart, charming… and also dangerous.

Stumbling through a friend-zoning scene from the play Cyrano de Bergerac , actor Dwight Shultz deliberately flubs a dramatic line and fails to shove a prop to the floor on the first try, masterfully embodying Barclay’s ineptitude.

The post-zapped Barclay conjures up increasingly creative engineering solutions and knocks a Cyrano monologue out of the park, as the other characters react believably and meaningfully.

I always thought when Gary Mitchell or Ilya got zapped by Space Things, the zapping happened too quickly, before we had any time to invest emotionally in the relationships that were supposed to have been changed by the zapping. This episode hits that sweet spot.

When a puzzled Picard asks for anything potentially threatening that Barclay might have done, after an awkward pause, Troi reports, “He did make a pass at me last night… a *good* one.” A follow-up bit between her and Riker after the meeting is just delightful.

The holodeck is once again the source of a threat to the ship, but this time it’s very well done. I wanted more of the obligatory Dave/H.A.L confrontation scene, where LaForge is looking for a way to disconnect Barclay, while Barclay is struggling to articulate how he’s transgressed his limits.

I was waiting for Picard to order LaForge to pull the plug on laser-brained neuro-Barclay, and I was disappointed when the job fell to Worf in a silly and unnecessary action scene.

The floating-alien-head B-plot climax is firmly in the WTF zone, but thankfully it’s brief, leaving time for a good resolution to Barclay’s A-plot.

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Published Dec 1, 2023

How Reginald Barclay Changed Starfleet for the Better

There has to be room for people like Barclay in Starfleet's future.

StarTrek.com

Starfleet’s ideals act as its driving force, shaping the future into a utopia where humanity strives for knowledge and self-improvement. The organization itself is filled with passionate and deeply skilled people, all exceptional at their jobs. Star Trek is packed with fantastic role models, and its positive message about hope and optimism for the future makes the show perfect “comfort watching.”

But it was during Star Trek: The Next Generation that Gene Roddenberry reportedly noticed that a certain character type was missing. What if there was someone who just didn’t fit in? Late in the series' third season, the show introduced a new character that would challenge Starfleet, who would later go on to span an 11-year character arc and ultimately be instrumental in getting the U.S.S. Voyager home — Lieutenant Reginald Barclay.

"Hollow Pursuits"

In his debut, “ Hollow Pursuits ,” we see how fellow crew members initially consider Barclay. Early in the episode, Riker and La Forge openly discuss unsatisfactory reports caused by Barclay’s inability to fit in. The officer instinctively shields himself from their view using stacked cargo containers, coming across as neither professional nor subtle. Routinely late, distracted, insecure, he just isn’t what a model officer is expected to be, and the matter is soon escalated to the captain, with Riker adding Barclay’s “seclusive tendencies” at the Academy.

“I guess the question is whether Mr. Barclay is Enterprise material,” Riker says. Instead of transferring Barclay, Picard chooses to give him the chance to show what he can do and urges them to change their attitudes. He’s sympathetic, seeing a common bond, “[He] chose this way of life. He has made the same commitment to Starfleet that we all have.”

But Starfleet’s rigid expectations don’t disappear overnight. Later in the episode, La Forge reaches out to Guinan for advice. She talks about Barclay’s strengths, but when La Forge says Barclay “just doesn’t fit in here,” Guinan responds with a story about her uncle, whom she describes as “sort of the family misfit.” She says the idea of fitting in repels her. As La Forge continues to complain about Barclay’s faults and nervousness, Guinan says, “If I felt that nobody wanted to be around me, I'd probably be late and nervous too.” We learn about Barclay’s character, how the system deals with people who don’t fit in, and about the pressure of living up to the Starfleet standard. With Picard’s loyalty to individuals who make a commitment to Starfleet, and Guinan’s ability to connect with people, we have two trusted voices countering the adversarial attitude of the senior staff.

“Hollow Pursuits” also introduces the topic of ‘Holo-addiction,’ although arguably Barclay’s use of the holodeck is less an addiction than a compulsion . Barclay’s mental health isn’t discussed specifically, but his anxiety and inability to move away from fixations may imply OCD to some viewers, where compulsive behavior seeks to relieve anxiety. We see Barclay’s reliance on the holodeck grow, with his programs often featuring the Enterprise crew and himself, the hero of the story.

After discovering one of the programs, La Forge is concerned about Barclay’s actions and opens up about his own experiences with Leah Brahms in “ Booby Trap ." It’s this opening that paves the way for arguably the best and most raw scene of the episode, a defining character moment for Barclay. He’s honest about his trouble fitting in, telling his commander, “Being afraid all the time of forgetting somebody's name, not knowing what to do with your hands. I mean, I'm the guy who writes down things to remember to say when there's a party. And then when he finally gets there, he winds up alone in the corner trying to look comfortable examining a potted plant. 'Just shy.' Sounds like nothing serious, doesn't it? You can't know.”

But it’s at the end of the episode, after being instrumental in helping La Forge identify a threat to the ship, that attitudes begin to change. Confident in his newfound value on the ship and in the relationships that he’s begun to forge, he bids the holographic crew goodbye and deletes the program.

"The Nth Degree"

A year later, in “ The Nth Degree ,” Barclay is now more involved in group activities on the ship, taking part in one of Dr. Crusher’s plays. Troi and Riker, previously wary of Barclay, rush to congratulate him on the progress he’s made in the past year. Troi doesn’t spare the praise, “You used to withdraw onto the holodeck. Look at yourself now. Look at all the other people you're with. You're not just acting, you're interacting. Give yourself some credit.” There’s a noticeable effort being made to include him, and this genuine affection is an ongoing theme throughout the episode.

As a result of an encounter with an alien probe, Barclay becomes increasingly intelligent and competent. But as his confidence turns into arrogance, he gets called on it. In frustration, he argues, “What? Because I'm beginning to behave like the rest of the crew? With confidence in what I'm doing?”

His behavior drives away the friends who have come to genuinely respect him. Even so, Barclay’s empathy and friendship are still obvious. In fact, he sacrifices himself for the crew, although the alien species who sent the probe eventually intervene, saving Barclay’s life. In the closing scene, Barclay is in 10 Forward with La Forge and Troi. He’s returning to normal. His friends sit and support with him as he comes to terms with the past few days. There’s a genuine sense of understanding.

Barclay returns two years later, in “ Realm of Fear .” On an away mission to the U.S.S. Yosemite , an abandoned Starfleet vessel, Chief O’Brien’s warning of a “bumpy ride” is too much for the transporter-phobic Barclay who experiences a panic attack. While Barclay is noticeably more anxious than before, two things reflect the positive changes that the Enterprise has made.

"Realm of Fear"

One of them is how others react to Barclay’s anxieties. O’Brien and Barclay talk about the former’s own fears, solidifying the idea that a model officer isn’t always fearless or confident. Later, when Barclay does beam over and sees a shape in the beam, La Forge and O’Brien help him investigate it. And when Barclay is short and somewhat irrational with the transporter chief, O’Brien recognizes that he’s acting out of anxiety and defuses the situation.

The second demonstration of that positive change is in how the senior staff talk to Barclay. When he steps off the transporter pad on the Yosemite , he’s visibly shaken. A friendly La Forge welcomes him without judgment and Riker also shows Barclay support. No one condemns Barclay for needing time to deal with his anxieties, and they recognize that he managed to take the leap despite deep-seated reservations.

Soon Barclay realizes that there is something trapped in the beam. The matter is taken seriously, not because they have to, but rather because the Enterprise has created an atmosphere where discourse and different viewpoints are welcomed. Barclay’s word is accepted like that of any other Starfleet officer. The crew soon discovers that Barclay’s claim is correct, proving himself instrumental in saving the Yosemite ’s missing crew members.

Eventually, Barclay transfers from the Enterprise to Starfleet Command to work on the Pathfinder project to establish contact with Voyager .

"Pathfinder"

“ Pathfinder ” begins as Barclay walks Troi through the events leading to his dismissal from his latest project and admits that he’s become obsessed with Voyager . His approach is at odds with the rest of the officers on the project. Commander Pete Harkins appreciates Barclay’s dedication to the project, but he doesn’t believe in his plan to create a wormhole that would allow communication with Voyager .

Barclay starts repeating old behavior, having recreated the Voyager crew in the holodeck. But the program is different from the ones he used to run on the Enterprise ; those were an outlet for his frustration. Here, he interacts with a crew who appreciate him. We see how he’s fallen back into old habits, even though he insists he’s working out technical problems. But it’s clear that the simulation isn’t just about his work. He’s lacking friends; ever since he left the Enterprise , Barclay has been struggling to cope. He feels as if he lost his family.

During Admiral Paris’ visit the next day, Barclay mentions his wormhole idea against Harkins’ orders. When Harkins dismisses Barclay’s theory as premature, Barclay loses his temper; he feels they are betraying the people stranded in the Delta Quadrant. Admiral Paris doesn’t take kindly to the implication that he has forgotten about his own son, and Harkins dismisses Barclay for the day.

Whatever support or comfort Barclay may have taken from the Voyager simulation, he was serious about using it for research. Lack of progress caused Harkins to lose faith in Barclay’s suggestions, but with the false support of the holographic Voyager senior staff, Barclay can work whilst feeling like absolute faith has been placed on him.

It’s hard for Starfleet to see this in a positive light. When Harkins discovers what Barclay has been up to, it raises concerns about his mental health, but before Barclay can be removed from the project, a transmission from Voyager is received. The connection is brief, but it’s enough for the Admiral to talk to his son, and to let them know that Starfleet is going to bring them home.

Harkins credits the achievement to Barclay, and lightyears away in the Delta Quadrant, Voyager celebrates their new “honorary member of the Voyager crew.” The Doctor talks about Barclay’s colorful career and unusual medical history, but Janeway sums it up, “Well, whatever his problems, he certainly came through for us.”

In Star Trek: Voyager 's final season, Starfleet attempts to transmit a holographic version of Barclay to Voyager in order to help create a geodesic fold in space that would allow them to reach Alpha Quadrant. However, the transmission is hijacked by the Ferengi. Far more confident and self-aware than its creator, the hologram mingles easily with the Voyager crew. In fact, the personalities are so different that Barclay is considered to be completely separate from the hologram. Or as Kim puts it, “Hope [the real Barclay is] not too shy. He's going to have a 150 new friends when we get back home.”

Back on Earth, on the Pathfinder project, Barclay is trying to figure out why the transmission abruptly ended. In frustration, Barclay seeks out Troi; it’s with the counselor and the admiral’s support that Barclay ends up ultimately saving Voyager .

"Endgame"

We last see Barclay in Voyager ’s finale, “ Endgame ,” set both in the present day and 26 years into the future. In the future, he’s gathered with his “adopted” family as they celebrate the 10th anniversary of their return to the Alpha Quadrant. There’s a real sense of long-lasting friendships and a boost in confidence that comes from being among equals. We also learn that Barclay is one of the few friends who continues to visit Tuvok regularly. So, when Admiral Janeway asks for his help on a clandestine mission, there’s a genuine sense of trust. He offers to go with her, knowing that it may be a one-way trip, but she turns him down. She thanks Barclay, saying she wouldn’t have been able to do this without him, her statement genuine and heartfelt.

Barclay’s character grows throughout The Next Generation and Voyager , as he finds new things that ground him and give him confidence. In that glimpse of the future, we see that he has flourished, surrounded by the friends that returned to him from the Delta Quadrant, brought home in great part by his determination. The guidelines, achievements, and sense of direction Starfleet provides to its people often failed this competent and passionate officer. He represents aspects of humanity that are easily overlooked or lost. Originally a candidate for a transfer off the Enterprise , he makes a difference time and time again. He was enabled by his fellow officers’ efforts to create an open and welcoming atmosphere. Even when his superiors didn’t take the time to listen, that didn’t stop Barclay. He was driven to understand a situation fully in order to help others.

Starfleet is rigid in its structure, and it needs to be in order to be able to sustain itself. Someone like Barclay doesn’t fit their definition of a “model officer,” and Barclay isn’t one. Even so, he is invaluable.

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This article was originally published on March 5, 2021.

Based in London, Rachel Perkins (she/her) is a writer with a passion for Star Trek, video games, cats, and Nancy Drew. She can often be found writing for The Sudden Stop and Positively Tomb Raider. Find her on Twitter @JadenRachel.

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Recap / Star Trek: The Next Generation S3E21 "Hollow Pursuits"

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La Forge: You're just shy, Barclay. Barclay: Just shy... sounds like nothing serious, doesn't it? You can't know.

Original air date: April 30, 1990

We're introduced to Lieutenant Barclay, who's drinking in Ten-Forward when La Forge shows up to dress him down. After some tough talk worthy of a Dixon Hill story, Barclay shoves him ass-over-teakettle. Riker jumps up and confronts Barclay but gets more of the same. Barclay's overwhelming manliness has impressed Troi, and the pair start to romance each other, but then Barclay gets summoned to the cargo bay. What's going on? This whole sequence has been a wish-fulfillment fantasy on the holodeck. When Barclay arrives for work, he proves to be a meek, awkward, and unpopular officer. As Barclay fumbles with trying to move some canisters of volatile chemicals, during which a couple of them break ( remember this ), La Forge and Riker discuss how they just can't handle "Broccoli" (thanks for the nickname, Wesley), saying he isn't Enterprise material.

La Forge and Riker go to Picard with their concerns and suggest transferring Barclay off the ship. But Picard doesn't like the idea of giving up and foisting Barclay on someone else. He tells La Forge to stop calling the man "Broccoli" behind his back and start nurturing him to help him fit in. La Forge dutifully starts including Barclay on Engineering briefings and puts him in charge of solving some issues with odd malfunctions cropping up around the ship. La Forge comes to realize that Barclay is a smart, imaginative guy when he's not too shy to speak up. After stumbling into one of Barclay's escapist fantasies on the holodeck, in which Barclay is a badass swordsman against Musketeer doppelgangers of Picard, Data, and La Forge himself, La Forge has a heart-to-heart with Barclay and insists that he get some therapy.

Barclay's intense crush on Troi makes his first therapy session with the real counsellor too awkward. He ends the session abruptly before running off in embarrassment. Troi tells Riker and La Forge about the strange end to their session, causing the three of them to go looking for Barclay. He's fled into the holodeck, where the three officers discover yet another of his programs. Riker and Troi are not amused by the unflattering representations of them in Barclay's fantasy (or too-flattering, in Troi's case). Barclay is embarrassed to be caught once again and offers to resign, but La Forge won't hear it. He reveals that he himself once fell in love with a holodeck program , but it’s time for Barclay to knock it off and focus on his real-world responsibilities.

The malfunctions throughout the ship are getting worse to the point that the navigation controls stop responding, causing the ship to start accelerating out of control. If Engineering doesn't find a solution in 15 minutes, the engines will blow up. La Forge leads a brainstorming session with all his best engineers and Barclay . But Barclay is the one who realizes that if the problem isn't a systemic error, then it must come from one of the engineers spreading some foreign substance around the ship. La Forge and the rest of the team narrow down the culprit to invidium from the broken canister at the beginning of the episode. La Forge and Barclay rush to the cargo hold and confirm their theory, then recommend flushing the ship's engines to neutralize the compound. The ship is saved!

Tropes in this episode include:

• Accidental Misnaming : People nickname Barclay "Broccoli," and then just after Picard has told them not to, he ends up using the name by accident .
• All Girls Want Bad Boys : At least, the ones in Barclay's program do (with Barclay himself as the bad boy in question). Holo-Troi: I feel your confidence... your arrogant resolve. It excites me.
• All of the Other Reindeer : Barclay's mistreatment by the main crew for much of the episode. Geordi realizes this through the episode's Whoopi Epiphany Speech .
• Anti-Escapism Aesop : Barclay starts out spending most of his time in the holodeck, but with Geordi's support, he starts to cut down on his holo-fantasies.
• Author Avatar : Barclay's party shyness is based on Michael Piller's own experiences verbatim.
• Benevolent Boss : While Barclay being inadequate is the bottom line for La Forge and Riker, Picard isn't convinced, saying it's too easy to foist a problematic officer off onto another post, and insists that they take the time to get to know the man and find out why he's like this. Suffice to say, Picard's act of goodwill pays off.
• The Big Damn Kiss : Barclay keeps having these on the Holodeck, with Holo!Troi of course. The kicker is that Barclay is a terrible kisser, looking like he's about to devour her whole head.
• Big Eater : Holo-Wesley is always seen stuffing his face with pie like a naughty child.
• Big "SHUT UP!" : Troi snaps at her holo-counterpart, "Muzzle it!"
• Bookends : The episode begins and ends with Barclay in a holo-simulation involving the main cast before shutting it off — reluctantly the first time, willingly the second .
• Call-Back : While lecturing Barclay about his Holodeck addiction, Geordi says he understands how easy it can be to lose oneself in it, admitting that he once fell in love while inside.
• Chekhov's Gun : The broken medical canister from The Teaser turns out to be the cause of everything that goes wrong aboard the Enterprise .
• Competence Porn : Once Barclay proposes the outside-the-box idea that the malfunctions are caused by someone spreading some kind of contaminant, Geordi and the rest of his engineers put their heads together to figure out exactly what the contaminant is and how to deal with it.
• Cringe Comedy : Riker, Troi and La Forge walking in on Barclay's holodeck program. Even before they find him, things get pretty awkward.
• Death Glare : When Data tries to reassure Picard that his Freudian slip with Barclay's nickname was an understandable case of metathesis, Picard silences him with a glare. Data: Metathesis is one of the most common of pronunciation errors, sir. A reversal of vowel and consonant, Barc to Broc— (sees Picard glaring at him and suddenly becomes very interested in a nearby console)
• Dual Wielding : Barclay vs. Musketeer Picard, Geordi, and Data.
• Subverted in that his nickname becomes a much friendlier, much more innocent and no less informal "Reg", which fits perfectly with Data's definition of a nickname.
• Establishing Character Moment : The Teaser is this for Barclay. He's a big tough guy on his holodeck program, and then when he goes to meet his superiors, he's so meek he actually hides.
• Exact Time to Failure : True to form, the computer tells everyone exactly how many seconds are left before the Enterprise flies apart.
• Fantastic Drug : The holodeck, sort of, as this episode introduces the concept of holoaddiction.
• Five-Second Foreshadowing : When O'Brien tries to demonstrate the transporter test to Geordi, the first transport of a duranium canister shows it to be slightly charred after transport. The second transport is what reduces the canister to a pile of goo.
• Flynning : Barclay's swordfight with his holographic enemies is pure cinematic swashbuckling, since it's a fantasy after all.
• Ham-to-Ham Combat : When Barclay fights the holo-Musketeers, it's not just their swords that clash. Musketeer!Data: You are outnumbered, Mister Barclay! Say you will yield and it ends here! Barclay: I shall speak with my sword, sir!
• Her Code Name Was "Mary Sue" : Barclay becomes an In-Universe Marty Stu with his holodeck programs, complete with plenty of Character Shilling from the Musketeers.
• Indulgent Fantasy Segue : The episode opens with Barclay telling Geordi to take his holier than thou attitude and get out of his life after he chastises him for hanging out in Ten Forward while being on duty, then pushing him away. When Riker tells him that it's insubordination, he raises a glass and states "Here's to insubordination," and so things continue until he is interrupted by a comm message calling him away and he declares "save program," ending the holodeck simulation. A couple of other simulations are presented this way later in the episode, though with the expectation that the audience should be able to figure it out, given what they've already seen.
• Internal Deconstruction : Star Trek at this point was about Starfleet officers who were Consummate Professionals at their job and the Federation utopia meant all personal needs were accounted for. Barclay was the first Starfleet character who displayed severe social anxiety where his work suffered as a result. This resulted in the other characters having no frame of reference on how to deal with him, as the very concept of mental health impacting job performance seemed like a foreign concept.
• The Internet Is for Porn : In this case, it's the holodeck, which is being used by Barclay to invoke his various fantasies, including Troi being the Goddess of Empathy and his love interest. Luckily, his fantasies are all safe for network television (what we see of them, anyway).
• Jaw Drop : Troi's reaction upon seeing Barclay's "Goddess of Empathy" simulation of her.
• Jerkass Ball : Riker, Wesley, and Geordi all grab onto it hard in this episode with their childish teasing of Barclay, especially with their nastily referring to him as "Broccoli" . Picard, Guinan, and Data (see Jerkass Realization below) call them out on it, and thankfully Geordi at least learns and starts being kinder to Barclay.
• Jerkass Realization : La Forge, Duffy, and Wesley chuckle over their nickname for Barclay until Data notes that nicknames are supposed to be friendly rather than insulting. That kills all the humor from the joke and makes the others realize they're being dicks. Data: Pardon me, but why is Lieutenant Barclay being referred to clandestinely as a vegetable? (Duffy barely stifles a laugh) Wesley: It's a joke, Data. You know, a nickname. Data: (thinks for a moment) Nicknames generally denote fondness, a diminutive shared between friends. Geordi: Data's absolutely right. The nickname stops here and now. Captain's orders.
• Kicked Upstairs : Subverted. Picard and Riker suspect that Barclay's former CO had given him glowing performance evaluations specifically to bait another captain into requesting him. This turns out to be an unfair assessment. Barclay is indeed a skilled engineer, but has serious issues with anxiety that prevent him from interacting with others properly. Once Picard and Geordi take the time to nurture him, Reg more than comes into his own.
• All three holo-musketeers. Musketeer Picard: (re Geordi, Riker, and Deanna) They are quite disagreeable, aren't they? (draws his sword along with his comrades) Shall we... have at them? Musketeer Data: Deeee-lighted! Musketeer Geordi: We shall thrrrash them!
• Barclay himself is the cock of the walk while he's in the confines of the holodeck. When his fantasy is interrupted, however, he's immediately back to being a Shrinking Violet , in true escapist fashion.
• Look Behind You : Barclay thinks that Musketeer Picard is pulling this trick, until Geordi reveals that he's right behind Barclay .
• Lower-Deck Episode : An early and partial example. The focus of the episode is half on lowly officer Barclay and half on how the main characters deal with him. We also get more time with some of La Forge's otherwise anonymous direct reports.
• Lust Object : Holo-Troi exists purely for Barclay to smooch, especially as the Goddess of Empathy.
• Meaningful Echo : When Guinan tells Geordi about Barclay, she mentions how imaginative he is. Later, after seeing Barclay's choice of holodeck programs, Geordi admits that he appreciates Barclay's imagination. Guinan gives a subtle look of approval.
• Nervous Wreck : At his worst, Barclay is this. Watching him try to be assertive is pretty painful.
• Off-the-Shelf FX : The test cylinder props were actually U.S. Navy sonar buoy transport cases.
• Picard's utterly mortified facial expression when he realizes he's accidentally called Barclay "Broccoli."
• Barclay then has a moment of this when he sees that Geordi has just walked in on one of his holo-programs.
• Other Me Annoys Me : Unlike Geordi, Troi and Riker are not amused by the holographic versions of themselves that Barclay has cooked up. Riker is a pipsqueak, while Troi is "the Goddess of Empathy."
• Out-of-Character Moment : Played for Laughs ; Troi coldly tells her holographic self to "muzzle it."
• Out of Focus : Worf only has five lines in the episode.
• Percussive Therapy : A variation involving swords instead of fists, but it's the same idea as it allows Barclay to vent in private.
• Proscenium Reveal : The episode starts in Ten Forward, where we first meet Barclay. He displays gross insubordination to both La Forge and Riker, who both act like wimps in response, then flirts with Troi, who's been slinking around in a blue dress—then he is called to the cargo bay. His whole demeanor changes as he stands up and says, "Computer, save program."
• Reasonable Authority Figure : Picard becomes the first person we see to give Barclay a chance at succeeding. Rather than pawn him off on someone else (as Riker suspects his previous CO did), Picard orders Geordi to be more patient and friendly with him in hopes of bringing him out of his shell.
• Riddle for the Ages : What do you suppose is on Barclay Program 9, the only one he doesn't delete at the end? (Judging by a conversation between Worf and O'Brien on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , it's possibly the "Three Musketeers" program.)
• Ron the Death Eater : Happens In-Universe , as the male main crewmembers, especially Riker, are all portrayed as arrogant idiots, whereas the female crewmembers Troi and Crusher are portrayed as loving and gentle figures (although Troi's not very happy to see her holographic counterpart ).
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy : Because Barclay feels like no one wants to be around him, he's always late and nervous. Because Barclay is always late and nervous, no one wants to be around him.
• One of the systems that malfunctions is the flux capacitor . However, in the previous scene, it's referred to as a "flow capacitor," making this either a script error or a flub on Dwight Schultz's part.
• Barclay's middle name is Endicott, a nod to the character of Clayton Endicott III on Benson , played by René Auberjonois , who would later play Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .
• Shrinking Violet : Barclay has some serious social anxiety. He literally hides from Geordi when first arriving for duty.
• Stealth Pun : That title could also be heard as "holo pursuits."
• Swing Low, Sweet Harriet : Holo-Beverly is on a swing in one of Barclay's programs.
• Take That, Audience! : When it was broadcast, some viewers took this episode as a slap in the face, considering Barclay to be a shallow parody of Star Trek fans. However, Barclay's nuanced characterization (within this debut episode as well as subsequent appearances) wound up winning the crowd.
• Techno Babble : Quite a lot of it when Geordi heads a brainstorming session trying to figure out why the ship is malfunctioning.
• Teleporter Accident : One of the rare times when nobody gets hurt—just a piece of metal gets melted. When reconfiguring transporters, it's apparently standard procedure to beam chunks of metal from pad to pad to check for such problems. (Better than testing it on the nearest Red Shirt .)
• That Came Out Wrong : "I look forward to reading your report, Mr. Broccoli." Poor Barclay can't get out of that meeting fast enough, and Picard clearly feels like a total jackass for that little flub.
• There Are No Therapists : For all the posturing the Federation does about tolerance and progressiveness, their stance on mental health is somewhat lacking as shown by how many of the Enterprise's command staff are willing to pawn Barclay onto another crew and be rid of him rather than address the root of the problem. Downplayed since they (other than Troi, of course) aren't therapists and their main responsibility is to keep the ship running smoothly.
• Subsequent episodes show there are in fact regulations against basing holodeck characters off of real people without their consent, so either that's a Retcon or further legislation was eventually passed In-Universe.
• This Is Gonna Suck : When Riker goes to the holodeck to deal with Barclay, Geordi knows that he won't like what he sees and invites Deanna to come along.
• Riker doesn't raise his voice at all during the episode, but he radiates cold fury anytime he's near Barclay or in Barclay's holo-program.
• Deanna is just as coldly furious at Barclay after meeting the Goddess of Empathy. Deanna: We have a lot to talk about, Mr. Barclay.
• Twist Ending : Mildly. Barclay telling the crew of the Enterprise that he's feeling better about himself and no longer needs their support. Turns out he's telling their holodeck versions that he doesn't need them anymore.
• Warm Milk Helps You Sleep : Barclay's drink. Guinan says this word-for-word when Geordi chuckles at it. Guinan: Warm milk helps you sleep, LaForge . You should try it.
• Whoopi Epiphany Speech : Guinan gives one to Geordi on how best to work with Barclay. Guinan: The idea of fitting in just... repels me. Geordi: Maybe I didn't make myself clear. Barclay, he's always late, he's nervous, nobody wants to be around him. Guinan: If I had the feeling that nobody wanted to be around me, I'd probably be late and nervous too.
• You Look Familiar : In-Universe —Riker's doppelganger says he has a "familiar bearing" upon meeting the real deal.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation S3E20 "Tin Man"
• Recap/Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Star Trek: The Next Generation S3E22 "The Most Toys"

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Genesis (episode)

• View history
• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 1.6 Act Five
• 2 Memorable quotes
• 3.1 Production history
• 3.3 Production
• 3.4 Sets and props
• 3.5 Continuity
• 3.6 Reception
• 3.8 Video and DVD releases
• 4.1 Starring
• 4.2 Also starring
• 4.3 Guest stars
• 4.4 Co-stars
• 4.5 Uncredited co-stars
• 4.6 Stunt doubles
• 4.7 Stand-ins
• 4.8.1 Library computer references
• 4.8.2 Unused production materials
• 4.9 External links

Summary [ ]

Dr. Crusher and Nurse Ogawa manage a busy day in sickbay

In sickbay , Nurse Alyssa Ogawa removes spines from Commander Riker 's back; an accident while he was in the arboretum with Rebecca Smith had resulted in a close encounter with a Cypirion cactus . Meanwhile, Lieutenant Barclay , having diagnosed himself with a lethal illness , goes to see Doctor Crusher – who assures him that he in fact is not suffering from any lethal illness at all, but instead has a mild case of Urodelan flu . Humans typically exhibit a natural immunity to the flu, but since the T-cells that would normally fight off the infection are dormant, she activates that particular gene with a synthetic T-cell to let his body fight the infection naturally. Data soon arrives carrying his cat , Spot . The cat is here for a routine check on the progress of her pregnancy ; she is expected to deliver before the end of the week. The talk of babies prompts Ogawa to reveal that she is herself pregnant with her husband 's child, prompting congratulations from Crusher.

Act One [ ]

" Goodbye, Spot. I believe you are in good hands. " " You have nothing to worry about, sir. "

On the bridge , Lieutenant Worf's new weapons guidance system is being put to the test. However, out of three photon torpedoes launched, only two hit their intended targets, while the third swerves off course. With the USS Enterprise -D unable to follow and disable the other torpedo due to a dense asteroid field ahead, Captain Picard and Data leave the ship to disarm the torpedo via a shuttlecraft . Before they leave, however, Data asks Picard if he can attend to a personal matter first. In his quarters , Data asks Barclay to watch over Spot. The cat might deliver before his return, and Barclay is one of the few people that Spot tolerates, and Data would prefer a Human to supervise Spot's birthing process.

As time passes on the Enterprise , several crewmembers begin to start displaying strange behavior. After being ordered to take a break from checking the problems with the guidance system, Worf shows signs of becoming increasingly irritable and very hungry. Meanwhile, Counselor Troi finds the atmosphere on the ship too dry and cold, constantly changing around the ambient temperature and humidity levels and consuming large amounts of salty foods and water . That night, Worf's behavior degenerates further and becomes more primal: he rips up his bed and sleeps tensely on the floor.

Act Two [ ]

In engineering , Lieutenant Barclay shows his own strange behavior. He seems unusually energetic, speaking so rapidly that La Forge and Riker are having difficulty keeping up with him. Riker's inability to keep up with Barclay is compounded by his own problems; he is having trouble with his memory and higher thinking.

On the bridge, Troi (currently on watch) keeps trying to raise the temperature, and Worf keeps turning it back down: complaining that she is making it too hot. Troi finally leaves the bridge to take a bath in her quarters.

A problem detected in engineering has Barclay and La Forge in the Jefferies tubes . Barclay finds and rapidly bypasses a ruptured plasma conduit . As he does, La Forge detects cholic acid around the hole in the bulkhead where the ruptured line was located. The bulkhead and conduit seems to have been dissolved by an organic solvent. But in contrast to Barclay's increasing hyperactivity, La Forge seems increasingly lethargic. Barclay suggests a biospectral analysis ; La Forge agrees before deciding to take a break.

The changes being experienced by the crew continue to progress. Riker finds himself unable to either remember the recent weapons testing or respond to a Starfleet request for a report on the matter. Troi sits in her bath tub , wearing her Starfleet uniform , trying to stay wet when Worf suddenly enters her quarters, approaches Troi, and bites her cheek.

Crusher is sprayed with venom by Worf

Both Troi and Worf are taken to sickbay, and Crusher quickly notices the changes. When Ogawa adds that more of the crew are experiencing symptoms, but while some are also finding the temperature too cold like Troi, there are others who have developed fevers , leading Crusher to conclude that something is spreading around the ship. She then turns her attention to Worf who is completely unresponsive to her questions, and notices something else: he has swellings under his jaw that appear to be venom sacs . They prove to be just that when Crusher asks him to open his mouth, and Worf suddenly sprays venom in Crusher's face, then flees sickbay before he can be captured, while Ogawa and another nurse rush to aid Crusher, who is in extreme distress.

In the observation lounge , Ogawa reports that she got Crusher into stasis before she became paralyzed by the venom. She will require reconstructive surgery, but Ogawa believes she will be all right. However, there is still the problem of the mysterious illness that is affecting the crew. Barclay reports that the venom that affected Crusher has been found in other parts of the ship, including at the ruptured plasma conduit seen earlier. Riker admits to his inability to think straight; he can't think properly when La Forge (now serving as acting first officer ) reports on having trouble locating Worf's life signs on sensors , and despite having seven security teams looking for him. He dismisses the senior staff and tries to send a subspace message to Starfleet concerning their problem, but finds himself unable to recall the command codes required.

Act Three [ ]

The Enterprise adrift

" Deanna? "

Picard and Data are a little puzzled to not be able to locate the Enterprise , as the ship is not at the prearranged coordinates. A quick search locates the ship, visibly adrift. Upon docking, they ascertain that the ship's main power systems are down, environmental systems are configured strangely, and where there should be over a thousand humanoid lifeforms there seems to be a near-equal number of myriad creatures. Some of the characteristics are inconsistent with those of the known crew, such as casting off skin like a reptile . They come upon Troi's quarters where upon entering, the humidity of her quarters was altered by the condensation of the room. They discover her in her bath tub, having somehow transformed into an amphibian -like creature. It is their first clue that the crew is undergoing unusual changes.

Data and Picard discover Ensign Dern 's body

Seeking to stabilize the ship, they then go to the bridge, finding it in shambles, with Ensign Dern found dead at the conn (from what appears to be an animal attack), his spine fractured in three places; he had also been affected, but was killed before undergoing any significant changes. From the bridge, Data is able to note that the crew is still on board the ship but in a similar state to that of Troi. Many of them have been gravitating towards water (the aquatic lab) and plants (the arboretum). Picard is unable to restore power to the ship due to the entire power-transfer grid being damaged. Suddenly, they hear a noise coming from the captain's ready room . There they discover Riker, now a brutish proto-Human, attacking the captain's aquarium (in which Livingston , the captain's lionfish , has also de-evolved into a jellyfish ). When he charges them, Data stuns Riker with his phaser. Based on what they've encountered so far, Data announces his hypothesis that the crew is de-evolving.

Act Four [ ]

Troi and Riker are taken to sickbay for further analysis. Data, after analyzing Riker's DNA , discovers that a synthetic T-cell has invaded his genetic codes and has begun to activate his latent introns , a result of Crusher's treatment of Barclay. He explains that introns are genetic codes which are normally dormant; they are sequences of DNA which provided key physical and behavioral characteristics millions of years ago but are no longer necessary. Counselor Troi's gill -slits and other amphibious characteristics, for example, are derived from introns which contain amphibious codes. Because introns can include genetic material from many different species over millions of years of evolution , it is possible that a wide variety of transformations is occurring among the crew. Since all humanoid life has a similar genetic pattern, the virus will work similarly on all non-Human lifeforms as well, and they will each be de-evolving to earlier forms of life in their homeworlds . He informs Picard that he has also been infected by the intron virus and is now slowly de-evolving into an earlier form of primate , such as a lemur or a pygmy marmoset .

Realizing that they do not have much time, they decide to act quickly. Since Data's computer in his quarters operates independently from the ship's computer and is probably still intact, they decide to go there in order to examine the situation further. Arriving at his quarters, Data notices that Spot, who has been expecting a litter of kittens , has finally given birth. A further search finds an iguana wearing her collar; they soon realize that the reptile is Spot and that the intron virus is capable of also affecting non-humanoids. Her kittens, however, do not seem to have been affected by the virus that has been plaguing the rest of the crew. Given that Spot's kittens are unaffected, Data and Picard conclude that the placental barriers and amniotic fluid that serve as a filtration system to protect the fetus in the placenta have probably prevented the intron virus from being passed on from Spot to her kittens. They decide that they probably can inhibit the intron virus by using the natural antibodies in Spot's amniotic fluid. However, in order for it to be effective on humanoid crewmembers, humanoid antibodies would be necessary. Recalling that Nurse Ogawa is expecting, they track her down to the arboretum. But before they can begin tracking her down, a failure in a warp plasma vent forces them to detour to main engineering so Data can program repairs. While checking on the status of the warp core , Picard is frightened by the sudden appearance of Barclay, partially transformed into a spider . Data surmises that his terror at the sight (a result of the heightened sense of awareness found in small primates) is an initial symptom of Picard's de-evolution; they need to hurry.

They locate Ogawa (who is apparently partially de-evolved into a proto-Human) and Data begins to analyze Ogawa's fetus, confirming that it is not affected by the virus. He says that he can use her amniotic fluid as a template for a retrovirus which in turn would neutralize the synthetic T-cell and re-establish the genetic patterns of each host. While working on finding a way to most quickly address the situation, something pounds on the sickbay door. Life sign scans show something big, armored, and Klingon ; it is Worf.

Act Five [ ]

A transformed Worf tries to force his way into sickbay. He appears to be seeking something or someone particular. Picard notices that the bite Worf gave Troi was not to hurt her but rather seemed part of a mating process, and that it appears as if Worf had come back for her. The situation becomes increasingly dangerous as an ever angrier and aggressive Worf almost breaks through the door. Data and Picard cannot just abandon Troi and the others in sickbay, but at the same time, Data needs to continue with his analysis of the amniotic fluid. Picard, who is beginning to experience the effects of the virus himself, suggests distracting Worf and luring him away from sickbay. He suggests extracting pheromones from Troi's sebaceous glands to lure Worf away from sickbay so that Data can continue his work and the others remain safe, over Data's objections.

While Data continues work on the retrovirus, Picard leads Worf on a chase through the Enterprise 's corridors until becoming cornered at the ruptured warp plasma conduit La Forge and Barclay had been repairing earlier. Picard improvises, sitting upon the insulated access panel and using the bypassed conduit to send electricity through the Jefferies tube, knocking out Worf. At that moment, Data reports that he has completed the retrovirus. It will make the introns in the crew dormant again; at Picard's consent, he floods the ship with a gaseous form of the new virus, turning the crew back to normal. Before that happens, Picard mentions to Worf his hope that when he wakes up, he'll be a new man.

In sickbay, Barclay nervously asks Dr. Crusher if all this was his fault. She states that actually it was her fault for having activated a dormant T-cell which, in turn, activated all dormant T-cells (including the introns). She suggests naming the virus after Barclay, calling it Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome . Jokingly, she tells Troi that Barclay not only de-evolved into a spider, but also had a new disease named after him. Troi sighs, and comments that she'd better clear her calendar for the next few weeks.

Memorable quotes [ ]

" Reg, you don't have Terellian Death Syndrome ! " " Are you… you're sure? " " I'm sure. "

" I have spent the past nine weeks as an expectant parent. I would be happy to share my insights with your husband . If my experience is any indication, he will need all the help he can get. "

" The torpedo is out of range. " " Even for your newly improved phasers? "

" Mr. Worf… I think that you should consider analyzing your new guidance system. "

" Doctor! My capillaries are shrinking!"

" She's such a sweet little kitty. " " She is to you. "

" Do not approach me unannounced – especially while I am eating. "

" Worf… open your mouth. "

" Are you saying that Worf is spraying this… " " VENOM! " " …this venom… all over the ship? " " I'd say so! "

" Well… before I begin swinging through the ship, looking for breakfast, we need to find some answers. "

" What – what's that? " " It is large, approximately two hundred kilograms. It is heavily armored with an exoskeleton. Life signs appear to be… Klingon. " " Worf! "

" Do you think he sees us as prey? " " There are crewmembers in the corridors and other sections of the ship. It would be easier for him to capture and consume one of them than attempt to break through a door. "

" Well, Mr. Worf… let's hope when you wake up, you're a new man. "

" He transformed into a spider… and now he's had a disease named after him. " " I think I'd better clear my calendar for the next few weeks. "

Background information [ ]

McFadden and director of photography Jonathan West

Dwight Schultz and his makeup artist Mike Smithson

McFadden sets up a shot

McFadden and Schultz between takes

Detailed makeup design

Production history [ ]

• Final draft script: 7 January 1994 [1]
• Premiere airdate: 21 March 1994
• First UK airdate: 15 May 1996
• It was written into the script that Gates McFadden's character, Beverly Crusher, would be severely disfigured by Worf. She was promptly put into stasis to prevent the injuries from worsening. The absence of Dr. Crusher from much of the episode gave the actress who played her, Gates McFadden , more time to spend directing the episode. ( Star Trek Encyclopedia  (2nd ed., p. 92))

Production [ ]

• This is the only episode of the series directed by Gates McFadden ( Beverly Crusher ), and the first episode of Star Trek directed by a female cast member. The next episode directed by a female cast member was VOY : " Riddles ", directed by Roxann Dawson six years later.
• Michael Westmore described his work in this episode as proving to be his greatest challenge. " Everybody mutated – Riker became an Australopithecine, Troi an aquatic animal, Barclay a spider, " he recalled. " We never would have been ready if the episode hadn't miraculously fallen right after Christmas . We worked through the holiday. " ( Star Trek 30 Years , p. 47)

Sets and props [ ]

• The chair in Worf's quarters was also seen in the episodes " Peak Performance ", " Family ", " Reunion ", " Redemption ", " New Ground ", " Cost Of Living ", " A Fistful of Datas ", " Birthright, Part I ", " Parallels ", and " Firstborn " and was used as the command chair aboard the Tarellian starship in the first season episode " Haven ". It was designed by Peter Opsvik. [2]
• Worf's quarters also feature the statue of Kahless and Morath , which can also be seen in " Peak Performance ", " Reunion ", " New Ground ", " Cost Of Living ", and " Firstborn ".

Continuity [ ]

• This episode marks the fifth and final appearance of Reginald Barclay (played by Dwight Schultz ) on the series. He was seen again with the Enterprise crew in Star Trek: First Contact , and also appeared in six episodes of Star Trek: Voyager .
• This is the first episode since her promotion that Counselor Troi is seen in command of a duty shift on the bridge. When Picard and Data are later stood outside Troi’s quarters, the nameplate on the door still shows her former rank of lieutenant commander .
• The events of this episode follow Dr. Crusher telling Alyssa Ogawa in " Lower Decks " that she'll support her promotion . Here, Ogawa is seen as a lieutenant for the first time.
• Toward the end of the episode, Dr. Crusher comments to Barclay that it is traditional to name new diseases after the first patient. This tradition, evidently, appeared after our own time period. Eponymous diseases have almost always been named for the first person to describe them in medical literature ( Parkinson's disease ; Down syndrome ; Marfan syndrome ; Kartagener's syndrome ). Rare exceptions from our time include Legionnaires' disease (named for a group of people ) and Lou Gehrig's disease (unofficially named for a famous – though not the first – sufferer ).
• A crewmember, who has de-evolved into a humanoid who shed his/her skin like a snake
• Dern , who had begun to de-evolve before being killed by either Riker or Worf
• Deanna Troi , who has de-evolved into an amphibian
• William T. Riker , who had de-evolved into an Australopithecine
• Livingston , Picard's lionfish , de-evolved into a jellyfish
• Jean-Luc Picard , who had begun to de-evolve (according to Data ) into a lemur or pygmy marmoset
• Spot , who had de-evolved into an iguana
• Reginald Barclay , who had de-evolved into a spider -like creature
• Alyssa Ogawa , who had de-evolved into an ape -like humanoid
• Worf , who had de-evolved into a prehistoric proto- Klingon
• Coincidentally, Barclay mentioned that spiders never bothered him in " Realm Of Fear " (also written by Brannon Braga).

Reception [ ]

• In 2015, WhatCulture ranked this the 7th best episode of all time in the Star Trek science fiction universe. They note it as a horror-themed episode of Star Trek , remarking that "' Genesis' is terrifying in the way it unfolds so very subtly, watching the crew regress into primal animals".
• In 2017, Io9 noted "Genesis" for being one of the more bizarre science-fiction stories of the franchise, noting how different characters devolved into frightening creatures, such as Worf turning into a giant super-Klingon that hunted other crew members.
• In 2018, TheGamer ranked this one of the top 25 creepiest episodes of all Star Trek series.
• This episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series; it was also nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Series and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series.
• This episode received Star Trek 101 's "Spock's Brain" Award for Worst Episode in The Next Generation .

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 86, 22 August 1994
• As part of the TNG Season 7 DVD collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Cmdr. William T. Riker

Also starring [ ]

• LeVar Burton as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
• Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
• Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data

Guest stars [ ]

• Patti Yasutake as Alyssa Ogawa
• Dwight Schultz as Barclay

Co-stars [ ]

• Carlos Ferro as Ensign Dern
• Majel Barrett as Computer Voice

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• Shawn Belschner as Ten Forward waiter
• Brandy as Spot
• Bud as Spot
• Debbie David as Russell
• Cameron as Kellogg
• Tracee Lee Cocco as Jae
• Fumiko Hamada as Female command division officer
• Gary Hunter as sciences division officer
• Lorine Mendell as Diana Giddings
• Rad Milo as operations division ensign
• Monster as Spot
• Keith Rayve as a civilian
• Rick Ryan as Fletcher
• John Tampoya as operations division ensign
• Oliver Theess as command division officer
• Margie Thomas as command officer
• Tyler as Spot
• Willie as Spot (lizard form)
• Command division officer
• Female sciences division officer
• Operations division officer
• Spot's kittens
• Ten Forward waitress

Stunt doubles [ ]

• Rusty McClennon as stunt double for Michael Dorn
• Stunt double for Jonathan Frakes
• Stunt double for Marina Sirtis

Stand-ins [ ]

• David Keith Anderson – stand-in for LeVar Burton
• Debbie David – stand-in for Brent Spiner
• Michael Echols – stand-in for Michael Dorn
• Nora Leonhardt – stand-in for Marina Sirtis
• Lorine Mendell – stand-in for Gates McFadden
• Richard Sarstedt – stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
• Dennis Tracy – stand-in for Patrick Stewart

References [ ]

50 million years ago ; amniotic fluid ; amniotic scan ; amphibian ; amphibious lifeform ; appetite ; aquatics lab ; arachnid ; arboretum ; artery ; asteroid field ; attitude control ; australopithecine ; Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome ; bath tub ; behavioral characteristic ; Betazoid ; bioacidic compound ; biobed ; biology ; bioscan ; biospectral analysis ; biospectral scan ; blurred vision ; Brooks ; bulkhead ; burp ; capillary ; cats ; caviar ; centigrade ; cholic acid ; collar ; conduit ; corrosion ; Cypirion cactus ; de-evolve ( devolve ); department ; dizziness ; DNA ; DNA analysis ; Earth ; electrophoretic activity ; enzymatic agent ; epidermal layer ; feline ; fever ; field test ; filtration system ; Galaxy class decks ; Hacopian ; Hayes ; headache ; hemotoxin series ; hominid ; Hypatia ; hyper-evolution ; hypochondria ; hypothalamic series ; iguana ; immunity ; intravascular pressure ; intron ; Jefferies tube ; K-3 cell ; K-3 cell count ; kitten ; Klingon ; Klingon food ; lemur ; level 2 security alert ; level 4 diagnostic ; litter ; Livingston ; medical tricorder ; microcellular scan ; molting ; mutation ; nausea ; neck ; nictitating membrane ; Number one ; Ongilin caviar ; palpitations ; pheromones ; photon torpedo ; physical characteristic ; placental barrier ; Powell, Andrew ; power transfer grid ; prenatal behavior ; pygmy marmoset ; reconstructive surgery ; relative humidity ; reptilian ; retrovirus ; ribocyatic flux ; saliva ; salty ; sebaceous gland ; Sector 21527 ; Selar ; sense of smell ; sex ; shivering ; shock ; Shuttlebay 2 ; shuttle pilot ; sickbay ; Smith, Rebecca ; solvent ; spinal column ; Spot's kittens ; spread pattern ; Starfleet Medical Database ; stasis ; Symbalene blood burn ; symptom ; T-cell ; Terellian Death Syndrome ; temperature ; Type 6 shuttlecraft ; Urodelan flu ; venom ; vocalization ; weapon systems

Library computer references [ ]

Starship mission status : Ajax , USS ; Alderaan ; Alpha Laputa IV ; Ambassador -class ; Apollo -class ; Aries , USS ; Beta Cygni system ; Bradbury , USS ; Bradbury -class ; Charleston , USS ; Constellation -class ; Excelsior -class ; Fearless , USS ; Goddard , USS ; Hood , USS ; Korolev -class ; Merced -class ; Merrimac , USS ; Monitor , USS ; Nebula -class ; pulsar ; Renaissance -class ; Repulse , USS ; Romulan Neutral Zone ; sector ; Sector 21396 ; Sector 21538 ; Sector 22358 ; Sector 22846 ; Sector 22853 ; Sector 23079 ; Starbase 134 ; Starbase 434 ; Thomas Paine , USS ; Trieste , USS ; Victory , USS ; Vulcan Science Academy ; warp drive ; Zhukov , USS

Unused production materials [ ]

ammonia ; methane ; uric acid

External links [ ]

• " Genesis " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " Genesis " at Wikipedia
• "Genesis" at StarTrek.com
• " Genesis " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
• "Genesis" script  at Star Trek Minutiae
• " Genesis " at the Internet Movie Database
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Screen Rant

I'm glad star trek: tng never did a mirror universe episode.

The Mirror Universe worked great on Star Trek: The Original Series, but it would have felt out of place on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

• TNG's moral crew would clash with a dark Mirror Universe, making an episode feel out of place.
• Mirror Universe concept worked for TOS but wouldn't fit TNG's serious and optimistic tone.
• TNG found other ways to explore alternate realities without resorting to Mirror Universe episodes.

Star Trek: The Next Generation never did a Mirror Universe episode, and that ultimately worked in the show's favor. Star Trek's Mirror Universe first debuted in the classic Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "Mirror, Mirror," in which Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and some of his crew find themselves in a dark alternate universe that mirrors their own. In the Mirror Universe, the ISS Enterprise serves the Terran Empire instead of the USS Enterprise as part of the United Federation of Planets' Starfleet. Crew members are tortured when they make a mistake and the chain of command is often determined by officers murdering their superiors.

Despite the divergence of events in Star Trek' s Prime Universe and the Mirror Universe, many people ended up in the same place in both realities. For example, the entire crew of the USS Enterprise was the same in both universes, but their personalities were drastically different. Simply put, t he Mirror Universe is a world of opposites , although Spock (Leonard Nimoy) is logical in every universe. While the Mirror concept worked well for a one-off story with Captain Kirk and his Enterprise crew , the Mirror Universe would have felt out of place on Star Trek: The Next Generation for a number of reasons.

In Star Trek: Picard season 2, Q (John de Lancie) altered the past of the Prime Universe, which resulted in the

Confederation of Earth, a "xenophobic authoritarian regime" much like the Mirror Universe.

Star Trek 10’s Best Mirror Universe Variants

Why a star trek: tng mirror universe episode wouldn't have worked, the mirror universe clashes with the tone of tng and its characters..

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation represent the most moral Star Trek crew, and "evil" versions of those characters would have felt cartoonish. The Mirror Universe worked with the campy tone of Star Trek: The Original Series and Kirk was already an emotional Captain, so it wasn't that hard to imagine an evil version of him. TNG , on the other hand, had a more serious and optimistic tone, and an evil Captain Picard would have likely been either too dark or too over-the-top. TNG did tell alternate universe stories, such as "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "Parallels," but they did it in a way that was new and unique rather than rehashing TOS ' Mirror Universe concept.

Although Star Trek: The Next Generation had some callbacks to Star Trek: The Original Series in its early seasons, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry wanted to distance TNG from TOS . "Mirror, Mirror" is generally regarded as one of classic Star Trek's best episodes, and it would have been difficult for any TNG episode to live up to that. Despite not doing a Mirror Universe episode, TNG found other ways to allow its actors to play different, and even evil, versions of their characters. Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), for example, faced off against his evil twin brother Lore more than once, and multiple characters were possessed by alien entities.

Various non-canon tie-in novels and comic books have told Mirror Universe stories with Star Trek: The Next Generation's characters, beginning with Diane Duane's novel Dark Mirror in 1993.

Some Star Trek Shows Overused The Mirror Universe

The mirror universe began as a good concept but offers diminishing returns..

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had five Mirror Universe episodes, beginning with DS9 season 2, episode 23, "Crossover." This episode revealed that Mirror Universe Spock had reformed the Terran Empire after Captain Kirk and his crew visited there in "Mirror, Mirror." Although his reforms initially proved successful, they led to the occupation of the Empire by the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance, which then became the dominant power. In the Mirror Universe, Terok Nor (space station Deep Space Nine) was commanded by Intendant Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) , and Nana Visitor clearly had fun playing an evil version of Kira. However, with its overly sexualized characters and general campiness, the Mirror Universe storyline offered diminishing returns after the novelty wore off.

Star Trek: Enterprise's two-part "In a Mirror, Darkly" faired a bit better than DS9's Mirror Universe adventures, as it presented a self-contained story that took place entirely in the Mirror Universe and connected with TOS.

The Mirror Universe made more sense combined with the darker tone of Star Trek: Discovery , but it sometimes felt like too much for a Star Trek show. Still, the Mirror Universe of Discovery did provide the characters of Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs) and Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh), two of Star Trek's best new villains. After its appearance in multiple Star Trek shows, the Mirror Universe began to feel too much like a gimmick. It's a concept that works better when used sparingly, and it would have felt tonally out of place on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Enterprise, & Star Trek: Discovery are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Hollow Pursuits

• Episode aired Apr 28, 1990

A shy member of the "Enterprise" crew becomes addicted to the holodeck, where relationships are easier than in real life, when his knowledge is needed in engineering. A shy member of the "Enterprise" crew becomes addicted to the holodeck, where relationships are easier than in real life, when his knowledge is needed in engineering. A shy member of the "Enterprise" crew becomes addicted to the holodeck, where relationships are easier than in real life, when his knowledge is needed in engineering.

• Gene Roddenberry
• Sally Caves
• Ronald D. Moore
• Patrick Stewart
• Jonathan Frakes
• LeVar Burton
• 23 User reviews
• 11 Critic reviews

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard

• Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker

• Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge

• Lieutenant Worf

• Doctor Beverly Crusher

• Counselor Deanna Troi

• Lieutenant Commander Data

• Wesley Crusher

• Chief Miles O'Brien

• Crewman Nelson
• (uncredited)

• Enterprise Computer
• Crewman Garvey

• Enterprise-D Ops Ensign
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia First appearance of Dwight Schultz as Reginald Barclay, who'd originally been intended to be a one-time character to get sent to a mental hospital over his holodeck addiction.
• Goofs In the meeting with LaForge's senior officers, Wesley suggests to Lt. Barclay that he should check the flow capacitor on his malfunctioning anti-gravity device. In the next scene, Barclay tells Troi that he already knew about the "flux capacitor". This is hardly an error because 'flux' means 'flow'. (The flux capacitor is the famous fictional device from Back to the Future (1985) that makes time travel possible.)

Lt. Commander Data : Pardon me - but why is Lieutenant Barclay being referred to clandestinely as a vegetable?

• Connections Featured in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Data's Day (1991)
• Soundtracks Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User reviews 23

• Jun 27, 2021
• April 28, 1990 (United States)
• United States
• Official site
• Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (Studio)
• Paramount Television
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 46 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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