Memory Alpha
Memory Alpha
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== Impressions ==
 
== Impressions ==
[[File:Imperfect Minuet.jpg|thumb|Minuet in Riker's illusory future.]]
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[[File:Imperfect Minuet.jpg|thumb|Minuet as [[Min Riker]] in Riker's illusory future]]
 
However, it transpired that Minuet was programmed by the Bynars to distract Riker while they took control of the ''Enterprise'' in an effort to save the main computer of their [[Bynaus|homeworld]]. When Picard and Riker tried to leave the holodeck, Minuet tried to stop them before ultimately revealing the details of the situation. The Bynars provided her program with information that allowed Riker and Picard to help them save their world if their own attempts failed. After the ''Enterprise'' had been safely returned to [[Starbase 74]], Riker returned back to the holodeck to her program, only to find that the enhanced Minuet character had disappeared. In her place, another short-haired brunette appeared, who both but personality and appearance wise was nowhere near the Minuet Riker had interacted with while the Bynar's were in charge. His attempts to recreate failed and hne was deeply disappointed. ({{TNG|11001001}})
 
However, it transpired that Minuet was programmed by the Bynars to distract Riker while they took control of the ''Enterprise'' in an effort to save the main computer of their [[Bynaus|homeworld]]. When Picard and Riker tried to leave the holodeck, Minuet tried to stop them before ultimately revealing the details of the situation. The Bynars provided her program with information that allowed Riker and Picard to help them save their world if their own attempts failed. After the ''Enterprise'' had been safely returned to [[Starbase 74]], Riker returned back to the holodeck to her program, only to find that the enhanced Minuet character had disappeared. In her place, another short-haired brunette appeared, who both but personality and appearance wise was nowhere near the Minuet Riker had interacted with while the Bynar's were in charge. His attempts to recreate failed and hne was deeply disappointed. ({{TNG|11001001}})
   
After an accident during an [[away mission]] in [[2367]], Riker was stranded on [[Alpha Onias III]] with a lonely alien known as [[Barash]] who created an elbaorate deception, making Riker believe that sixteen years had passed since his accident in 2366 and that he was the Captain of the ''Enterprise''. In the reality Barash had created for Riker based on Riker's memories, 'Minuet' was his wife, [[Min Riker]]. The fact that a holographic figure he was so enticed to was supposed to be his flesh and blood wife alerted Riker that this new reality was not real at all. Apparently, Barash could not discern and mistook Riker's strong feelings for Minuet as real feelings for a real woman. ({{TNG|Future Imperfect}})
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After an accident during an [[away mission]] in [[2367]], Riker was stranded on [[Alpha Onias III]] with a lonely alien known as [[Barash]] who created an elaborate deception, making Riker believe that sixteen years had passed since his accident in 2367 and that he was the Captain of the ''Enterprise''. In the reality Barash had created for Riker based on Riker's memories, 'Minuet' was his wife, [[Min Riker]]. The fact that a holographic figure he was so enticed with was supposed to be his flesh-and-blood wife alerted Riker that this reality was not real at all. Apparently, Barash mistook Riker's strong feelings for Minuet as meaning that she was a real woman and not a holodeck character. ({{TNG|Future Imperfect}})
   
   

Revision as of 00:17, 7 January 2011

Minuet

The original "sultry" Minuet after the"upgrade" by the Bynars

Minuet was a sultry female holodeck character on board the USS Enterprise-D, created by Commander William T. Riker in 2364. Minuet, who was highly astute and self aware, existed within the confines of a program of the Bourbon Street Bar, a New Orleans jazz club set in the year 1958. (TNG: "11001001")

Origins

Wishing to play some music, Riker specified the location and requested an audience for the program. Initially the system created a full crowd, but Riker reduced the audience to one, a woman. The system created the female character first as a blonde, but Riker changed her appearance to that of a brunette because - as he said - "jazz and blondes seldom go together". The character was further revised at his request that she appear "sultry" until her final configuration was set. (TNG: "11001001")

Something different

Riker meets Minuet

Riker with Minuet

Prior to the program's initiation, the holodeck had been upgraded by the Bynars and it was immediately clear that Minuet was different from any other holodeck character. Riker found her unbelievably realistic and intuitive, a view shared by Captain Picard. Minuet was able to adapt to subtle visual and audio cues given off by the people in the holodeck. She spoke French to Captain Picard after hearing his name, despite not being programmed to do so, and made other slight adjustments to her personality and actions in order to provide the most realistic companion possible. The result was that Riker found Minuet to be fascinating, almost "too real", and realized that he could fall in love with her just as with a real woman. However, she seemed to be aware of her status as a computer program; for example, when Picard marveled that she responded in French merely upon hearing his name, she responded that she accessed the French language database from the ship's computer. (TNG: "11001001")

Impressions

File:Imperfect Minuet.jpg

Minuet as Min Riker in Riker's illusory future

However, it transpired that Minuet was programmed by the Bynars to distract Riker while they took control of the Enterprise in an effort to save the main computer of their homeworld. When Picard and Riker tried to leave the holodeck, Minuet tried to stop them before ultimately revealing the details of the situation. The Bynars provided her program with information that allowed Riker and Picard to help them save their world if their own attempts failed. After the Enterprise had been safely returned to Starbase 74, Riker returned back to the holodeck to her program, only to find that the enhanced Minuet character had disappeared. In her place, another short-haired brunette appeared, who both but personality and appearance wise was nowhere near the Minuet Riker had interacted with while the Bynar's were in charge. His attempts to recreate failed and hne was deeply disappointed. (TNG: "11001001")

After an accident during an away mission in 2367, Riker was stranded on Alpha Onias III with a lonely alien known as Barash who created an elaborate deception, making Riker believe that sixteen years had passed since his accident in 2367 and that he was the Captain of the Enterprise. In the reality Barash had created for Riker based on Riker's memories, 'Minuet' was his wife, Min Riker. The fact that a holographic figure he was so enticed with was supposed to be his flesh-and-blood wife alerted Riker that this reality was not real at all. Apparently, Barash mistook Riker's strong feelings for Minuet as meaning that she was a real woman and not a holodeck character. (TNG: "Future Imperfect")


Memorable quotes

"What's your name, and tell me you love jazz."

"My name is Minuet, and I love all jazz - except Dixieland."

"Why not Dixieland?"

"You can't dance to it."

"My girl."

- Riker and Minuet, upon meeting each other


"What's a knockout like you doing in a computer-generated gin joint like this?"

- Riker to Minuet


"Au fond c'est vrai, nous sommes tous parisiens." (Deep down, it is true: we are all Parisians)

- Minuet to Captain Picard

Appendices

Background

The original sultry Minuet was played by Carolyn McCormick. The other three Minuets were played by unknown actresses.

Apocrypha

In the TNG short-story Of Cabbages and Kings, the Enterprise - which had developed sentience but realized it had to give that sentience up to avoid being dismantled - preserved itself by downloading its new programming into the Minuet program.

In the Star Trek: Titan novel Synthesis, Minute's program was relocated to the holodecks on board USS Titan. It was the core of the Avatar program when the ship's computer ascended to become an artificial intelligence with her own agenda.

External link

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