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+ | {{sidebar episode |
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+ | |<!-- See [[Memory Alpha:Episode data project]] --> |
| aSelf = Elementary, Dear Data |
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== Summary == |
== Summary == |
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[[File:Hms victory model.jpg|thumb|''"Not the starship, my friend."'']] |
[[File:Hms victory model.jpg|thumb|''"Not the starship, my friend."'']] |
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| + | {{Pna-episode}} |
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| − | The {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} is awaiting the arrival of the {{USS|Victory}}. [[Data]] is then summoned to [[engineering]], where [[Geordi La Forge]]'s assistant, Ensign [[Clancy]], tells Data that he's with the ''Victory'', which puzzles Data. Data then walks over and inquires about the ''Victory'', since it is not here yet. La Forge shows Data a model, a replica of the original {{HMS|Victory}}, which he intends to give to [[Captain]] [[Zimbata]], with whom La Forge served as an [[ensign]]. |
+ | The {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} is awaiting the arrival of the {{USS|Victory}}. [[Data]] is then summoned to [[engineering]], where [[Geordi La Forge]]'s [[assistant chief engineer|assistant]], Ensign [[Clancy]], tells Data that he's with the ''Victory'', which puzzles Data. Data then walks over and inquires about the ''Victory'', since it is not here yet. La Forge shows Data a model, a replica of the original {{HMS|Victory}}, which he intends to give to [[Captain]] [[Zimbata]], with whom La Forge had previously served as an [[ensign]]. |
| − | After that, La Forge gives Data a [[smoking]] [[pipe]] and invites him to take part in a [[Sherlock Holmes]] [[holographic]] story. Data, who has memorized all of [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s stories of Sherlock Holmes, |
+ | After that, La Forge gives Data a [[smoking]] [[pipe]] and invites him to take part in a [[Sherlock Holmes]] [[holographic]] story. Data, who has memorized all of [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s stories of Sherlock Holmes, recognizes the story (''Scandal in Bohemia'') after only the first few moments, and immediately solves the case. La Forge abruptly freezes the program and storms out of the [[holodeck]]. |
[[File:Pulaski, Sherlock Holmes program.jpg|thumb|left|Dressed for the occasion]] |
[[File:Pulaski, Sherlock Holmes program.jpg|thumb|left|Dressed for the occasion]] |
||
Talking over the incident in [[Ten Forward]], La Forge and Data are overheard by Dr. [[Katherine Pulaski]], who states that Data is incapable of solving a real mystery. Data takes this as a challenge, and invites Pulaski to join La Forge and him in another Holmes story. This time, the computer is instructed to create a new mystery in the Holmes style. This is less than successful, however, because the computer merely combines elements of the existing Holmes stories in a way that Data is again easily able to solve. |
Talking over the incident in [[Ten Forward]], La Forge and Data are overheard by Dr. [[Katherine Pulaski]], who states that Data is incapable of solving a real mystery. Data takes this as a challenge, and invites Pulaski to join La Forge and him in another Holmes story. This time, the computer is instructed to create a new mystery in the Holmes style. This is less than successful, however, because the computer merely combines elements of the existing Holmes stories in a way that Data is again easily able to solve. |
||
| − | La Forge makes another try, however, and carefully instructs the computer to create a story and a character capable of defeating Data. The new program runs and the three are off on their new adventure. The story takes an unexpected twist when Dr. Pulaski is actually kidnapped by Sherlock Holmes' arch-enemy, [[Professor]] [[James Moriarty]], who was somehow imbued with a measure of consciousness and witnessed |
+ | La Forge makes another try, however, and carefully instructs the computer to create a story and a character capable of defeating Data. The new program runs and the three are off on their new adventure, while at the same time a power surge is detected on the [[bridge]] by [[Lieutenant]] [[Worf]] although it quickly passes and isn't investigated. The story takes an unexpected twist when Dr. Pulaski is actually kidnapped by Sherlock Holmes' arch-enemy, [[Professor]] [[James Moriarty]], who was somehow imbued with a measure of consciousness and witnessed La Forge's use of the holodeck [[arch]]. |
[[File:Moriarty with chalkboard.jpg|thumb|''"Is this where we both are right now?"'']] |
[[File:Moriarty with chalkboard.jpg|thumb|''"Is this where we both are right now?"'']] |
||
| − | Moriarty desires to learn more, and makes it easy for Data to track him and his hostage. |
+ | Moriarty desires to learn more, and makes it easy for Data to track him and his hostage. After Data and La Forge track him down to his secret [[laboratory]], Moriarty somehow knows the two are ''not'' Holmes and Watson and is able to call for the holodeck's [[arch]], which surprises them both. Upon being given a piece of paper with something hand-drawn on it from Moriarty, Data immediately leaves the holodeck with La Forge following in confusion. "''Why does it frighten you, Holmes?!''" Moriarty shouts. After trying and failing to deactivate the holodeck because of an override protocol, Data reveals to La Forge that the drawing on the paper is a side profile of the ''Enterprise''. |
| + | Meanwhile, Moriarty learns a great deal about the ''Enterprise'' from the computer, and somehow constructs a crude device that toggles [[attitude control]] in the holodeck. He uses this several times, causing the ship to shudder uncontrollably. Dr Pulaski deftly plays along with the program while not acknowledging that anything odd is going on. Moriarty, for his part, treats the Doctor as a guest; offering her tea while gently trying to get more information. |
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| ⚫ | Meeting with Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] and the [[senior officer]]s, La Forge figures out that it was his instructions to create an adversary capable of defeating ''Data'', not Sherlock Holmes, that initiated the holodeck override control and is preventing them from ending the holodeck program. Picard decides that he must personally meet with Moriarty, whom he confronts, but who is adamant that he is sentient and [[self-aware]], and should be allowed to continue to exist. |
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| ⚫ | Meeting with Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] and the [[senior officer]]s in the [[observation lounge]], La Forge figures out that it was his instructions to create an adversary capable of defeating ''Data'', not Sherlock Holmes, that initiated the holodeck override control and is preventing them from ending the holodeck program. Picard decides that he must personally meet with Moriarty, whom he confronts, but who is adamant that he is sentient and [[self-aware]], and should be allowed to continue to exist. |
||
| ⚫ | After Moriarty releases Dr. Pulaski and returns control of the ship to Captain Picard, Picard explains that the ship's computer can store Moriarty's character indefinitely, and that the [[Federation]] would work on a way to bring Moriarty out of the holodeck. Moriarty's program is stored and ended, and the matter is considered closed. Picard then goes down to engineering, where La Forge is overlooking the model of the HMS ''Victory'' |
||
| + | |||
| ⚫ | After Moriarty releases Dr. Pulaski and returns control of the ship to Captain Picard, Picard explains that the ship's computer can store Moriarty's character indefinitely, and that the [[Federation]] would work on a way to bring Moriarty out of the holodeck. Moriarty's program is stored and ended, and the matter is considered closed. Picard then goes down to engineering, where La Forge is overlooking the model of the HMS ''Victory ''which sustained minor damage during the shaking of the ''Enterprise ''by Moriarty. La Forge laments that he put the ''Enterprise ''in danger by simply misspeaking a single word, but Picard assures him that the ''Enterprise'', like the model ''Victory'', will soon be repaired. The USS ''Victory'' arrives for its rendezvous with the ''Enterprise''. |
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==Memorable quotes== |
==Memorable quotes== |
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| Line 99: | Line 102: | ||
* The second revision final draft script was submitted on {{d|12|October|1988}}. |
* The second revision final draft script was submitted on {{d|12|October|1988}}. |
||
* According to [[Maurice Hurley]], the idea for this episode was inspired by Data's experiences in {{e|The Big Goodbye}}. Hurley stated, "''It wasn't a writer saying, 'Let's do this.' It was one of the people living on the ''Enterprise''.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 174) |
* According to [[Maurice Hurley]], the idea for this episode was inspired by Data's experiences in {{e|The Big Goodbye}}. Hurley stated, "''It wasn't a writer saying, 'Let's do this.' It was one of the people living on the ''Enterprise''.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 174) |
||
| − | * This episode contains elements from and references to the Sherlock Holmes short stories |
+ | * This episode contains elements from and references to the Sherlock Holmes short stories {{wt|A Scandal in Bohemia}}, {{wt|The Adventure of the Speckled Band}}, and {{wt|The Adventure of the Red-Headed League}}. Furthermore, Moriarty's creation being a result of La Forge requesting an opponent capable of defeating Data references Arthur Conan Doyle's creation of the same character for the short story {{wt|The Final Problem}} – specifically, as an opponent capable of defeating Sherlock Holmes who, at the time, Doyle wanted to kill off. |
* First UK airdate: 17th April 1991 |
* First UK airdate: 17th April 1991 |
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[[File:Filming elementary dear data.jpg|thumb|[[Brent Spiner]], [[LeVar Burton]], and director [[Rob Bowman]] (right) on the set]] |
[[File:Filming elementary dear data.jpg|thumb|[[Brent Spiner]], [[LeVar Burton]], and director [[Rob Bowman]] (right) on the set]] |
||
* The original ending filmed was cut from the episode. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'' 2nd ed., pp. 68-69) Hurley recalled, "''In that ending, Picard knew how to defeat Moriarty. He tricked him. He knew all along that Moriarty could leave the holodeck whenever he wanted to, and he knew because when Data came out and showed him a drawing of the ''Enterprise'', if that piece of paper could leave the holodeck, that means that the fail-safe had broken down. In turn, this means that the matter-energy converter which creates the holodeck, now allowed the matter to leave the holodeck, which was, up to that point, impossible. When he knew that paper had left the holodeck, he knew that Moriarty could as well, so he lied to him.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 174) |
* The original ending filmed was cut from the episode. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'' 2nd ed., pp. 68-69) Hurley recalled, "''In that ending, Picard knew how to defeat Moriarty. He tricked him. He knew all along that Moriarty could leave the holodeck whenever he wanted to, and he knew because when Data came out and showed him a drawing of the ''Enterprise'', if that piece of paper could leave the holodeck, that means that the fail-safe had broken down. In turn, this means that the matter-energy converter which creates the holodeck, now allowed the matter to leave the holodeck, which was, up to that point, impossible. When he knew that paper had left the holodeck, he knew that Moriarty could as well, so he lied to him.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 174) |
||
| − | * This ending was removed by [[Gene Roddenberry]], who claimed that it hurt Picard's character by making him look deceitful. Hurley disagreed, noting, "''I thought it made him look clever, and since you are dealing with maybe the most profound criminal mind in literature, you've got to be careful.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 174) The original ending can be seen in the script |
+ | * This ending was removed by [[Gene Roddenberry]], who claimed that it hurt Picard's character by making him look deceitful. Hurley disagreed, noting, "''I thought it made him look clever, and since you are dealing with maybe the most profound criminal mind in literature, you've got to be careful.''" (''[[Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages]]'', p. 174) The original ending can be seen in the script {{st-minutiae|resources/scripts/129.txt|here}} (scene 62B). |
* In the episode as aired, the existence of the paper with a drawing of the ''Enterprise'', given to Data by Moriarty, outside the holodeck is unexplained. |
* In the episode as aired, the existence of the paper with a drawing of the ''Enterprise'', given to Data by Moriarty, outside the holodeck is unexplained. |
||
* When given a choice of shows to direct, [[Rob Bowman]] chose this episode, as he was disappointed at missing out on the previous season's period show, {{e|The Big Goodbye}}. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'' 2nd ed., p. 68) |
* When given a choice of shows to direct, [[Rob Bowman]] chose this episode, as he was disappointed at missing out on the previous season's period show, {{e|The Big Goodbye}}. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'' 2nd ed., p. 68) |
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| Line 112: | Line 115: | ||
=== Cast and characters === |
=== Cast and characters === |
||
* [[Wil Wheaton]] ([[Wesley Crusher]]) [[main character non-appearances|does not appear]] in this episode. |
* [[Wil Wheaton]] ([[Wesley Crusher]]) [[main character non-appearances|does not appear]] in this episode. |
||
| + | * This is the first episode we see [[Daniel Davis]] in as Moriarty. He reprises his role in the [[TNG Season 6|sixth season]] episode {{e|Ship in a Bottle}}. |
||
=== Continuity === |
=== Continuity === |
||
| − | * The equation fragments on Moriarty's chalkboard, surrounding his "sketch" of the ''Enterprise'', include <math>{A_t A_r - U} \over {L - U_m}</math> |
+ | * The equation fragments on Moriarty's chalkboard, surrounding his "sketch" of the ''Enterprise'', include <math>{A_t A_r - U} \over {L - U_m}</math>, i.e. Ataru over Lum – the two main characters of Rumiko Takahashi's anime series, ''[[Popular culture references in Star Trek#Urusei Yatsura|Urusei Yatsura]].'' |
* When starting the initial Holmes program, Data gives the full name "Dr. John Watson" for La Forge's character. The stories of the Holmes canon have identified Dr. Watson's first name as both "John" and "James", though John is indeed used more frequently, and James may merely be an Anglicized version of Hamish, for which Watson's middle initial "H" may stand. |
* When starting the initial Holmes program, Data gives the full name "Dr. John Watson" for La Forge's character. The stories of the Holmes canon have identified Dr. Watson's first name as both "John" and "James", though John is indeed used more frequently, and James may merely be an Anglicized version of Hamish, for which Watson's middle initial "H" may stand. |
||
| + | * While the original script had an explanation for being able to remove the ''Enterprise'' sketch from the holodeck, the final episode cut that segment. |
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=== Reception === |
=== Reception === |
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| Line 170: | Line 175: | ||
** [[Sherlock Holmes characters#Emissary|Emissary]] |
** [[Sherlock Holmes characters#Emissary|Emissary]] |
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** [[Jabez Wilson]] |
** [[Jabez Wilson]] |
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| − | ** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) |
+ | ** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Science division/Ops officer|Operations division officer]] |
=== Stand-ins === |
=== Stand-ins === |
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| Line 181: | Line 186: | ||
=== References === |
=== References === |
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| − | [[221B Baker Street]]; [[ale]]s; [[Alpha Centauri]]; [[antimatter power]]; [[arch]]; [[assistant engineer]]; [[attitude control]]; [[Baker Street]]; [[black magic]]; [[Extortion|blackmail]] |
+ | [[221B Baker Street]]; [[ale]]s; [[Alpha Centauri]]; [[antimatter power]]; [[arch]]; [[assistant engineer]]; [[attitude control]]; [[Baker Street]]; [[bead]]; [[black magic]]; [[Extortion|blackmail]]; [[Bohemia]]; [[Bristol]]; [[Bruce-Partington plans]]; [[common law marriage]]; {{class|Constellation}}; "''[[cogito, ergo sum]]''"; [[crumpet]]; [[Dartmoor]]; [[Delphi]]; [[Denkir IV]]; [[detective]]; [[dilithium regulator]]; [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan]]; [[drawing]]; [[emerald]]; [[fail-safe system]]; [[fingerprint]]; [[French language]]; [[gag]]; [[garrote]]; [[handedness]]; [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes, Sherlock]]; [[holodeck]]; [[inspector]]; [[kilometer]]; [[King of Bohemia]]; [[London]]; [[magnetic fuel line]]; [[dilithium crystal chamber|matter-antimatter chamber]]; [[meat pie]]; [[milk]]; {{dis|mistress|lover}}; [[mortality fail-safe]]; [[number one]]; [[Oracle at Delphi]]; [[override protocol]]; [[particle beam]]; [[pawn shop]]; [[police]]; [[police officer]]; [[prostitute]]; [[prostitution]]; [[Queen Victoria]]; [[Red-Headed League]]; [[Reichenbach Falls]]; [[robbery]]; [[rubber]]; [[Rule's]]; [[sailor]]; [[scone]]; [[sentience]]; [[shawl]]; [[sheep]]; [[shilling]]s; "[[shipshape in Bristol fashion]]"; [[snake]]; [[snuff box]]; {{dis|sole|shoe}}; [[spider]]; [[stout]]s; [[strangulation]]; [[sugar]]; [[tea]]; [[Tottenham Court Road]]; [[transporter]]; [[pence|tuppence]]; [[turtle]]; ''[[The Valley of Fear|Valley of Fear, The]]''; [[HMS Victory|''Victory'', HMS]]; {{SSU|Victory}}; [[violin]]; [[waveguide]]; [[Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein|Von Ormstein, Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond]]; [[warehouse]]; [[John H. Watson|Watson, John]]; ''[[Whitaker's Almanack]]''; [[Wiltshire]]; [[Zimbata]] |
| + | |||
| + | ==== Other references ==== |
||
| + | '''Sherlock Holmes Program 3A:''' ''[[The Blue Boy]]''; [[R. Boyce|Boyce, R.]]; ''[[Childcraft]]''; ''[[Close-Up]]''; [[Len Deighton|Deighton, Len]]; [[Flaxville Meat Market]]; [[Holt's Brown Nut Ale]]; ''[[King Louis XVI]]''; [[Malmesbury]]; [[McKenzie Coy Warehouse]]; [[Noted Ale and Stout Stores]]; [[Pyrex]]; [[Santovin]]; [[Stephen Pettifer & Sons]]; [[Tovey Mews]]; [[Wiltshire]] |
||
=== Log entries === |
=== Log entries === |
||
*[[Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2365#Rendezvous with USS Victory|Captain's log, USS ''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701-D), 2365]] |
*[[Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2365#Rendezvous with USS Victory|Captain's log, USS ''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701-D), 2365]] |
||
| − | == External links == |
+ | === External links === |
| − | * {{ |
+ | * {{Startrek.com|elementary-dear-data|"Elementary, Dear Data"}} |
| − | * {{ |
+ | * {{mbeta-quote|Elementary, Dear Data}} |
| − | *{{ |
+ | * {{wikipedia-quote|Elementary, Dear Data}} |
| + | * {{ml|elementary-dear-data|"Elementary, Dear Data"|external}} |
||
{{TNG nav|season=2|last={{e|Where Silence Has Lease}}|next={{e|The Outrageous Okona}}}} |
{{TNG nav|season=2|last={{e|Where Silence Has Lease}}|next={{e|The Outrageous Okona}}}} |
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| − | |||
| ⚫ | |||
[[cs:Elementary, Dear Data]] |
[[cs:Elementary, Dear Data]] |
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[[fr:Elementary, Dear Data (épisode)]] |
[[fr:Elementary, Dear Data (épisode)]] |
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[[it:Elementare, caro Data (episodio)]] |
[[it:Elementare, caro Data (episodio)]] |
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| − | [[ja |
+ | [[ja:ホログラム・デッキの反逆者（エピソード）]] |
[[nl:Elementary, Dear Data]] |
[[nl:Elementary, Dear Data]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
Revision as of 19:03, 18 April 2016
Template:Realworld The Enterprise is threatened when a character in Data and La Forge's holodeck simulation becomes sentient.
Summary
"Not the starship, my friend."
This episode or film summary is incompleteThis episode summary has been identified as lacking essential detail, and as such needs attention. Feel free to edit this page to assist with this expansion.
- Note: Please obey copyright policy; do not copy material from other sources without permission.
The USS Enterprise-D is awaiting the arrival of the USS Victory. Data is then summoned to engineering, where Geordi La Forge's assistant, Ensign Clancy, tells Data that he's with the Victory, which puzzles Data. Data then walks over and inquires about the Victory, since it is not here yet. La Forge shows Data a model, a replica of the original HMS Victory, which he intends to give to Captain Zimbata, with whom La Forge had previously served as an ensign.
After that, La Forge gives Data a smoking pipe and invites him to take part in a Sherlock Holmes holographic story. Data, who has memorized all of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories of Sherlock Holmes, recognizes the story (Scandal in Bohemia) after only the first few moments, and immediately solves the case. La Forge abruptly freezes the program and storms out of the holodeck.
Dressed for the occasion
Talking over the incident in Ten Forward, La Forge and Data are overheard by Dr. Katherine Pulaski, who states that Data is incapable of solving a real mystery. Data takes this as a challenge, and invites Pulaski to join La Forge and him in another Holmes story. This time, the computer is instructed to create a new mystery in the Holmes style. This is less than successful, however, because the computer merely combines elements of the existing Holmes stories in a way that Data is again easily able to solve.
La Forge makes another try, however, and carefully instructs the computer to create a story and a character capable of defeating Data. The new program runs and the three are off on their new adventure, while at the same time a power surge is detected on the bridge by Lieutenant Worf although it quickly passes and isn't investigated. The story takes an unexpected twist when Dr. Pulaski is actually kidnapped by Sherlock Holmes' arch-enemy, Professor James Moriarty, who was somehow imbued with a measure of consciousness and witnessed La Forge's use of the holodeck arch.
"Is this where we both are right now?"
Moriarty desires to learn more, and makes it easy for Data to track him and his hostage. After Data and La Forge track him down to his secret laboratory, Moriarty somehow knows the two are not Holmes and Watson and is able to call for the holodeck's arch, which surprises them both. Upon being given a piece of paper with something hand-drawn on it from Moriarty, Data immediately leaves the holodeck with La Forge following in confusion. "Why does it frighten you, Holmes?!" Moriarty shouts. After trying and failing to deactivate the holodeck because of an override protocol, Data reveals to La Forge that the drawing on the paper is a side profile of the Enterprise.
Meanwhile, Moriarty learns a great deal about the Enterprise from the computer, and somehow constructs a crude device that toggles attitude control in the holodeck. He uses this several times, causing the ship to shudder uncontrollably. Dr Pulaski deftly plays along with the program while not acknowledging that anything odd is going on. Moriarty, for his part, treats the Doctor as a guest; offering her tea while gently trying to get more information.
Meeting with Captain Picard and the senior officers in the observation lounge, La Forge figures out that it was his instructions to create an adversary capable of defeating Data, not Sherlock Holmes, that initiated the holodeck override control and is preventing them from ending the holodeck program. Picard decides that he must personally meet with Moriarty, whom he confronts, but who is adamant that he is sentient and self-aware, and should be allowed to continue to exist.
After Moriarty releases Dr. Pulaski and returns control of the ship to Captain Picard, Picard explains that the ship's computer can store Moriarty's character indefinitely, and that the Federation would work on a way to bring Moriarty out of the holodeck. Moriarty's program is stored and ended, and the matter is considered closed. Picard then goes down to engineering, where La Forge is overlooking the model of the HMS Victory which sustained minor damage during the shaking of the Enterprise by Moriarty. La Forge laments that he put the Enterprise in danger by simply misspeaking a single word, but Picard assures him that the Enterprise, like the model Victory, will soon be repaired. The USS Victory arrives for its rendezvous with the Enterprise.
Memorable quotes
"Where can I reach you?"
"He can be reached at 221B Baker Street."
- - Clancy asking Data where he and Geordi La Forge will be
"Your artificial friend doesn't have a prayer of solving a Holmes mystery that he hasn't read."
- - Pulaski to La Forge after Data solves a Sherlock Holmes mystery rather quickly on the holodeck
"I'll give you credit for your vast knowledge but your circuits would just short out if you were confronted with a truly original mystery."
- - Pulaski criticizing Data again
"That dark fellow there used the word "arch" and then, I wonder... arch!"
- - Moriarty, gaining sentience
"Why does it frighten you, Holmes?!"
- - Moriarty, after he presents Data with a hand drawn Enterprise-D
"How can a character from 1890s London draw a picture of the Enterprise?"
- - Geordi La Forge
"Nice suit."
- - Riker, when Worf changes into an 1890s London outfit
"I'm a civilized abductor, Captain Picard. Civilized... but still dangerous."
- - Moriarty
"I do not want to die."
"And I do not want to kill you."
- - Moriarty and Picard
Background information
Story and script
LeVar Burton, Diana Muldaur, and Brent Spiner on set
- The second revision final draft script was submitted on 12 October 1988.
- According to Maurice Hurley, the idea for this episode was inspired by Data's experiences in "The Big Goodbye". Hurley stated, "It wasn't a writer saying, 'Let's do this.' It was one of the people living on the Enterprise." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 174)
- This episode contains elements from and references to the Sherlock Holmes short stories A Scandal in Bohemia, The Adventure of the Speckled Band, and The Adventure of the Red-Headed League. Furthermore, Moriarty's creation being a result of La Forge requesting an opponent capable of defeating Data references Arthur Conan Doyle's creation of the same character for the short story The Final Problem – specifically, as an opponent capable of defeating Sherlock Holmes who, at the time, Doyle wanted to kill off.
- First UK airdate: 17th April 1991
Production
Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, and director Rob Bowman (right) on the set
- The original ending filmed was cut from the episode. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion 2nd ed., pp. 68-69) Hurley recalled, "In that ending, Picard knew how to defeat Moriarty. He tricked him. He knew all along that Moriarty could leave the holodeck whenever he wanted to, and he knew because when Data came out and showed him a drawing of the Enterprise, if that piece of paper could leave the holodeck, that means that the fail-safe had broken down. In turn, this means that the matter-energy converter which creates the holodeck, now allowed the matter to leave the holodeck, which was, up to that point, impossible. When he knew that paper had left the holodeck, he knew that Moriarty could as well, so he lied to him." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 174)
- This ending was removed by Gene Roddenberry, who claimed that it hurt Picard's character by making him look deceitful. Hurley disagreed, noting, "I thought it made him look clever, and since you are dealing with maybe the most profound criminal mind in literature, you've got to be careful." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 174) The original ending can be seen in the script here (scene 62B).
- In the episode as aired, the existence of the paper with a drawing of the Enterprise, given to Data by Moriarty, outside the holodeck is unexplained.
- When given a choice of shows to direct, Rob Bowman chose this episode, as he was disappointed at missing out on the previous season's period show, "The Big Goodbye". (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion 2nd ed., p. 68)
- Bowman noted that this episode was "a huge production. They built that whole street from the ground up on stage. Indoors. It's an awesome episode." However, Bowman was angry with a cost-cutting decision to reduce the schedule for filming from eight to seven days. He remarked, "They made the shooting process one of the most unpleasant I've ever been through. I thought it almost killed the episode...Here was a show where we had all this great production value. Brent Spiner was about to do the best work I've ever seen him do. We had all these sets and they said seven days. I think that show is when I started to pull away from Star Trek, because I felt that it was a great opportunity to make a wonderful episode, and there was an arbitrary decision because the sets cost so much – I think $200,000 – where they said, 'We'll save money by taking a day off the schedule.' It's like, 'Wait a minute guys, first you have to take a day out of the script. You don't just take a day off the schedule to save $60,000.' As you can tell, I was pretty angry about it, and still have a little hostility towards what I went through on that show to make it happen." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 174)
Cast and characters
- Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher) does not appear in this episode.
- This is the first episode we see Daniel Davis in as Moriarty. He reprises his role in the sixth season episode "Ship in a Bottle".
Continuity
- The equation fragments on Moriarty's chalkboard, surrounding his "sketch" of the Enterprise, include , i.e. Ataru over Lum – the two main characters of Rumiko Takahashi's anime series, Urusei Yatsura.
- When starting the initial Holmes program, Data gives the full name "Dr. John Watson" for La Forge's character. The stories of the Holmes canon have identified Dr. Watson's first name as both "John" and "James", though John is indeed used more frequently, and James may merely be an Anglicized version of Hamish, for which Watson's middle initial "H" may stand.
- While the original script had an explanation for being able to remove the Enterprise sketch from the holodeck, the final episode cut that segment.
Reception
Brent Spiner and Rick Berman in 1988
- Hurley remarked, "Wonderful episode... We had carriages, old London, and I thought the guy who played Moriarty was just wonderful. I've never seen anybody play Moriarty better than that." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 174)
- Despite the issues with filming, Bowman was still proud of the episode. "Certainly Brent Spiner came through with flying colors and everybody did. The original draft of that script was so eloquently written; absolutely beautiful, but it was probably a two hour episode at least and was written way, way down, but that was a wonderful script. We pulled the episode off." (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 174)
- At the time of filming, the producers believed that the Sherlock Holmes character was public domain. After the episode aired, the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle notified Paramount that they still retained a percentage of the rights to the character, and would require a usage fee if the character was used again. This legal issue delayed sequel episodes for nearly four years, at which time an agreement was reached for use of the character in "Ship in a Bottle". (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion 2nd ed., pp. 69, 231). The unusual delay was subsequently referenced in the latter episode.
- A mission report by Patrick Daniel O'Neill for this episode was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 6, pp. 21-25.
Awards
- This episode was nominated for two Emmy Awards: Outstanding Art Direction for a Series and Outstanding Costume Design for a Series.
Video and DVD releases
- Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 15, catalog number VHR 2468, 3 June 1991
- UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 2.1, catalog number VHR 4737, 1 March 1999
- As part of the TNG Season 2 DVD collection
- As part of the TNG Season 2 Blu-ray collection.
Links and references
Starring
Also starring
- LeVar Burton as Lt. Geordi La Forge
- Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf
- Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
- Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
Special appearance by
Guest stars
Co-stars
- Biff Manard as Ruffian
- Diz White as Prostitute
- Anne Elizabeth Ramsay as Assistant Engineer Clancy
- Richard Merson as Pie Man
Uncredited co-stars
- Rosemarie Baio as the widow
- Majel Barrett as USS Enterprise-D computer voice
- Michael Braveheart as Martinez
- Jeffrey Deacon as command division officer
- Guy Vardaman as Darien Wallace
- Mark Wilson as bystander
- Unknown performers as
Stand-ins
- James G. Becker - stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
- Darrell Burris - stand-in for LeVar Burton
- Dexter Clay - stand-in for Michael Dorn
- Jeffrey Deacon - stand-in for Patrick Stewart
- Nora Leonhardt - stand-in for Marina Sirtis
- Tim McCormack - stand-in for Brent Spiner
References
221B Baker Street; ales; Alpha Centauri; antimatter power; arch; assistant engineer; attitude control; Baker Street; bead; black magic; blackmail; Bohemia; Bristol; Bruce-Partington plans; common law marriage; Constellation-class; "cogito, ergo sum"; crumpet; Dartmoor; Delphi; Denkir IV; detective; dilithium regulator; Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan; drawing; emerald; fail-safe system; fingerprint; French language; gag; garrote; handedness; Holmes, Sherlock; holodeck; inspector; kilometer; King of Bohemia; London; magnetic fuel line; matter-antimatter chamber; meat pie; milk; mistress; mortality fail-safe; number one; Oracle at Delphi; override protocol; particle beam; pawn shop; police; police officer; prostitute; prostitution; Queen Victoria; Red-Headed League; Reichenbach Falls; robbery; rubber; Rule's; sailor; scone; sentience; shawl; sheep; shillings; "shipshape in Bristol fashion"; snake; snuff box; sole; spider; stouts; strangulation; sugar; tea; Tottenham Court Road; transporter; tuppence; turtle; Valley of Fear, The; Victory, HMS; Template:SSU; violin; waveguide; Von Ormstein, Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond; warehouse; Watson, John; Whitaker's Almanack; Wiltshire; Zimbata
Other references
Sherlock Holmes Program 3A: The Blue Boy; Boyce, R.; Childcraft; Close-Up; Deighton, Len; Flaxville Meat Market; Holt's Brown Nut Ale; King Louis XVI; Malmesbury; McKenzie Coy Warehouse; Noted Ale and Stout Stores; Pyrex; Santovin; Stephen Pettifer & Sons; Tovey Mews; Wiltshire
Log entries
External links
- "Elementary, Dear Data"
- "Elementary, Dear Data" at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- "Elementary, Dear Data" at Wikipedia
- ""Elementary, Dear Data"" at MissionLogPodcast.com, a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
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