Elementary Dear Data - The Holographic Paper - Bad internal logic or deep plotting?

[JesterFace]

"Vulcans don't lie" is itself an obvious lie. Sure, they prefer to be factually accurate, but they're entirely capable of deception when it suits them. They lie every time they claim they lack emotion, rather than simply regulating it.

A Vulcan might lie or bend the truth when it's logical?

 

[Ragitsu]

A Vulcan might lie or bend the truth when it's logical?

The real reason Vulcans don't like to attend (human) parties? They dominate the floor when it comes time to limbo.

 

[Mojochi]

Not even as a tactical calculated bluff?

Certainly not to someone with whom he shared mutual trust, for no good reason. But why not lie to a malevolent hologram that means you harm?

"Put on your best poker face, #1"

 

[Takeru]

IIRC, the intent of the script was that the paper surviving outside the holodeck was a clue that Picard was lying to Moriarty, but that was cut from the final episode and thus it doesn't count.

One of the reasons why the ending was cut was because Dr. Pulaski accused Picard of lying and Roddenberry felt the captain would never lie...

While I glad it was cut the reason given is silly. The captain would never lie? How about "The holodeck creating a real piece of paper is not even remotely the same as creating a living human".

That's like saying the replicator not being able to produce living puppies is a lie because it can make a cup of tea.

 

[Qonundrum]

Bad internal logic in what is otherwise one of the best TNG stories made?

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Note how Geordi is doing his drama talk, and how he flips the paper over that's just given to him by Data. There's only two ways to explain his looking at it upside down for his own benefit, and I refuse to believe it was anything other than Geordi seeing it for what it is despite being upside down.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(the fun begins at 3:37, but scooch it back a few seconds for more fun context.)

What, was I going to say something else?

True, the scene DOES make for a great dramatic reveal, but I'm pretty sure it was an accidental flub and they carried on as if they were doing a BBC show circa 1965 where the actors must continue on over small flubs. (yes, some will make a swear and force a re-record of the scene, but there's reasons why that old stuff feels more like 'televised theater', certainly regarding filming, editing, and other costs, but I blabble...

 

[Christopher]

Note how Geordi is doing his drama talk, and how he flips the paper over that's just given to him by Data. There's only two ways to explain his looking at it upside down for his own benefit, and I refuse to believe it was anything other than Geordi seeing it for what it is despite being upside down.

There's no up or down in space.

 

[Ragitsu]

It's like Jesus came down to Earth and you're complaining about the color of his sandals.