He's supposed to be a socially awkward character, that's the point. I can sympathize with him, being a recluse spider myself in large social situations.
Was I One of the Only People Who Weren't Annoyed by Lt. Barclay?
- Thread starter VulcanMindBlown
- Start date
I always enjoyed his character. There were hundreds of crew members aboard the Enterprise, so it made sense that not everybody would perfectly well-adjusted. There are always going to be misfits and oddballs that don't quite fit in, even in Starfleet. (Hello, Marla McGivers, too.)
Mind you, it did get a bit silly to dump every single 24th century phobia and neurosis--from holodeck adddiction to fear of a transporters--on a single character, as though poor Barclay was the only imperfect soul in all of Starfleet, but I always found him likable enough--and not at all "annoying."
Mind you, it did get a bit silly to dump every single 24th century phobia and neurosis--from holodeck adddiction to fear of a transporters--on a single character, as though poor Barclay was the only imperfect soul in all of Starfleet, but I always found him likable enough--and not at all "annoying."
I wasn't annoyed by him, and, I thought he was the only crewperson who *got caught* making pervy holographic copies of crewmates - not the only one doing it. 
Dwight Schultz, OTOH, I DO find annoying. Very annoying. But his characters (Barclay and Murdoch) are okay.
Dwight Schultz, OTOH, I DO find annoying. Very annoying. But his characters (Barclay and Murdoch) are okay.
I cannot stand Barclay. I despise his personality peccadillos and every time he's onscreen, he's insufferable and weak. He's got no balls ... how'd he ever get into STARFLEET? However ...
When he found confidence, due to an alien influence and started acting more assertive, it does offer some hope that he'll stop being such a damned pansy and act like a Man, finally. But these hopes are dashed in the same episode and we're back to this show wanting us to enjoy watching this wimp getting humiliated.
But for a hot shit minute, there ... Barclay was on the verge of seeing the light ... and making the proper adjustments.
When he found confidence, due to an alien influence and started acting more assertive, it does offer some hope that he'll stop being such a damned pansy and act like a Man, finally. But these hopes are dashed in the same episode and we're back to this show wanting us to enjoy watching this wimp getting humiliated.
But for a hot shit minute, there ... Barclay was on the verge of seeing the light ... and making the proper adjustments.
I agree with Greg, above, in that we could not expect all the officers and crew to be completely well-adjusted in all aspects of personality, like in real life- in which I am sure we all know people who are magnificent in their jobs, but lacking in some other social graces and personal behaviors. I also agree that putting so much fear and phobia and mal-adjustment in one character is a little glaring, but I suppose the creators and writers did what they could to "demonstrate" the concept within the constraints of weekly television...can you imagine a crew of Barclays?
For what it's worth, I've always enjoyed writing Barclay as well. He lets you add some humor and vulnerability to tense scenes.
I mean, somebody has to get nauseous when the the ship is being tossed from side to side in a space battle--and you can't really have Riker or Picard get seasick.
I mean, somebody has to get nauseous when the the ship is being tossed from side to side in a space battle--and you can't really have Riker or Picard get seasick.
I think I sympathized and identified with him.
Does anyone else think the others on the Enterprise acted a bit smug about him awkwardness?
Does anyone else think the others on the Enterprise acted a bit smug about him awkwardness?
Yes they did, especially in the first episode he's appeared in.
BTW as much as I like the character, it is still quite unbelievable that the person with such character traits git into Starfleet and even to its' flagship.
I was about to say the same. In “Hollow Pursuits” our regular TNG heroes really act like high school bullies. It's them I found insufferable in this episode.
As for the Barcley character, I was always a fan, because he's one of the most human characters on the ship. And his social awkwardness reminds me of myself.
Having said that, on a rewatch the other day, I found the last scene, where he deletes all his programs except the over-sexualized Troi one, to be really creepy. I'm sure it was written to come off as a harmless joke to end the episode, but to me it felt like he hadn't really learned his lesson. Well, I guess there are two lessons to be learned for Barcley in this one: “Don't live in a fantasy world” and "Don't recreate RL people on the holodeck to do with them as you please”. And the latter obviously wasn't the focus of the episode. But still ...
One thing I thought, if Wesley hadn't been surrounded by over achievers (and maybe in another time and place), he might have been in Barclay's shoes. Yet there he was on the "Broccolli" bandwagon.
I think Barclay seemed intimidated by Riker the most, so he worked out his frustrations on the holodeck by taking his Riker character down a peg or 2, in height anyway.
In my previous post, I meant "his awkwardness", not "him".
I think Barclay seemed intimidated by Riker the most, so he worked out his frustrations on the holodeck by taking his Riker character down a peg or 2, in height anyway.
In my previous post, I meant "his awkwardness", not "him".
Well, it's not as though he was in a command position. I can't remember what exactly his duties were, but it's possible that he was very skilled at his job, but just not the kinda guy you'd send to handle a First Contact situation or cope with a giant space amoeba.
The world is full of skilled, talented people who may still have their own personal quirks, hang-ups, and blind spots.
Then again I work with writers . . .
He was tolerable in 'Ship In a Bottle'.
Making him Mr. Neurosis was, I agree, a bit of overkill. OTOH, I can't really see them bringing in a new character every time they decided to explore such a thing...
I found Barclay annoying on his first appearance, but I believe to some degree you're supposed to find him so, and if you find yourself initially sympathizing with Our Heroes and then realize that Our Heroes don't exactly have the high ground, maybe that's part of the point.
I think they scaled him back a bit after that, thankfully. At that point I mostly tended to get annoyed with him when he would, say, avoid counseling sessions.
I found Barclay annoying on his first appearance, but I believe to some degree you're supposed to find him so, and if you find yourself initially sympathizing with Our Heroes and then realize that Our Heroes don't exactly have the high ground, maybe that's part of the point.
I think they scaled him back a bit after that, thankfully. At that point I mostly tended to get annoyed with him when he would, say, avoid counseling sessions.
People are different, and it takes all kinds.
I see in Barclay a possible example of neurodiversity, something that is generally swept under the carpet and ignored in a good deal of popular culture. People with different mentalities and neurological types should have a place in society, too.
Kor
I see in Barclay a possible example of neurodiversity, something that is generally swept under the carpet and ignored in a good deal of popular culture. People with different mentalities and neurological types should have a place in society, too.
Kor
I identify strongly with the character.
Well, I like Neelix and Wesley so Barclay is A-OK in my book!
Yes. The way Picard has to chastise Riker & Geordi really is playground level behaviour. The fact they invent a name to call him [actually blurt it out to his face] and then try and defend themselves to Picard [the equivelant of "but mom, he is weiiiiiird!"] is actually quite pathetic.
I also think this is harsh. "He has no balls"/"Act like a man" are such gender stereotypes. Because he doesn't punch bad-guys and kiss the girl he is a lesser man? I thought his character was a pretty damn accurate depiction of someone with social anxiety [and a few other things]. He was clearly a very intelligent, warm person who was just incredibly awkward/anxious...I felt sorry for him not disdain.
Yes. The way Picard has to chastise Riker & Geordi really is playground level behaviour. The fact they invent a name to call him [actually blurt it out to his face] and then try and defend themselves to Picard [the equivelant of "but mom, he is weiiiiiird!"] is actually quite pathetic.
I also think this is harsh. "He has no balls"/"Act like a man" are such gender stereotypes. Because he doesn't punch bad-guys and kiss the girl he is a lesser man? I thought his character was a pretty damn accurate depiction of someone with social anxiety [and a few other things]. He was clearly a very intelligent, warm person who was just incredibly awkward/anxious...I felt sorry for him not disdain.
Well ... yes ... you have to feel sorry for the guy, because he's always so set-up, quite artificially, to be picked on to make TNG's leads, in particular, look like their "Evolved Sensibilities" have gone bye-bye. It's hateful how manipulative the character of Barclay's situation is. The attempt is to channel the audience into that one, singular response. But it doesn't work, at least not for me. And damn right, I expected him Man-up! But for anyone who doesn't like that, they can take solace in the knowing that Barclay never did. He was born a creampuff and hoped to die as one, too. So, those in favour of it, got their wish.. Like I say, though ... I liked it, very much, when in The Nth Degree (is that the title? It doesn't sound like it, to me) Barclay received a shot of testosterone and acted cool, for a change, even if it was at the urging of aliens, behind it. For a brief instant, I took a genuine interest in Barclay's contribution to the Legacy.
