The Enterprise is set to watch a unique celestial event -the collision of two planets- while they wait for the event to occur the crew takes a chance to take advantage of some down time. Data and LaForge pass the time by partaking in some holodeck fun in a Sherlock Holmes program (I guess Geordi and Data found a way to create unique mysteries that Data can't immediately jump to the end on.) While Data, as Holmes, prepares to reveal the mystery they run into a glitch in the program -a character catches an object with his non-dominant hand, busting a hole in Data's theory on the handedness of the character. Geordi chalks it up as a glitch and as they leave the holodeck he tasks Barclay to correct the problem.
As Barclay works on the holodeck circuitry the simulation of Professor James Moriarty (Holmes' #1 nemesis) appears and demands answers on what's been going on since the last time he was used. Barclay is informed about everything that happened in the Season 2 episode "Elementary, Dear Data" where Geordi accidentally caused the Moriarty character to gain a measure of sentience. At the end of the episode Picard promised Moriarty he would have researchers look into a way Moriarty could exist outside of the holodeck until then Moriarty would be kept in memory storage. Moriarty claims he's retained some measure of sentience while in memory storage and he's upset that it appears Picard never made good on his promise to help Morarity. Barclay is taken by surprise on the level of awareness Morarity seems to have, he says he will talk to the captain to find out what has happened.
Picard, Data and Barclay return to the holodeck to talk to Moriarty where Picard says that they looked into what had happened and aren't sure how Moriarty gained sentience in the computer glitch nor have they yet found a way for holodeck matter to exist outside of the holodeck. Picard demonstrates this by tossing a book out the holodeck door, it disappears once it hits the threshold.
Moriarty says that a book hasn't a conscious and that he does and he feels that since he thinks he can exist outside the holodeck and he marches through the door to prove his point, much to everyone's surprise Moriarty survives into the corridor and his cohesion stays intact as he walks through the ship's halls.
The three remain stunned that Moriarty is "alive" and a checkup in sickbay seems to show he's more-or-less normal outside of a few abnormalities. Picard begins to reveal more to Moriarty where -and when- he is and makes sure he knows criminal activity is still frowned on and harder to get away with. Moriarty proclaims that his criminal activities were the writings of a long-dead author and that he wishes to live life to is fullest. But he also seeks companionship, namely another Holmes character Moriarty is involved with and has helped gain awareness similar to how he has achieved it. Picard says he'd rather not risk someone else doing what Moriarty since they don't even know how that is possible. Moriarty agrees to give Picard time to look into it. Geordi, Data and Barclay begin trying to find a way to allow Moriarty's mate off the holodeck using the transporter -since it's based on similar systems.
An attempt using transport enhancers fails but Geordi wants to use the data from the attempt to proceed, but he needs access codes from Picard to do this which Picard provides.
It's at this point Data figures out how it is Moriarty left the holodeck earlier. He never did. Instead he was able to program the holodeck simulation of his office to open to a holodeck simulation of the Enterprise when the door was called for. Of everyone around only Picard, Data and Barclay are "real" everyone else is a holodeck simulation. The communications system is also tied into the holodeck version of the ship. Picard is concerned that he's now given away his access codes.
On the real ship, Moriarty has used the codes to gain control of the ship and is holding its position near the colliding planets (which will create a new star, putting the ship in peril.) He uses this as leverage to get the real Geordi to use the techniques Barclay and Data did on the holodeck transporter.
On the holodeck, Picard, Data and Barclay work out a plan to trick Moriarty into thinking their plan, and his, has worked by creating yet another simulation inside a simulation, this one of Moriarty and his mate being beamed off the holodeck and onto the "real" ship where they board a shuttle headed off for adventures unknown. The plan is successful and once off the ship Moriarty releases his seizure on the computer, Picard, Data and Barclay are able to end their simulation as well as Moriarty's to get back on the holodeck of the real ship -where it's now at a safe distance once computer control was regained.
Barclay removes a memory device from the holodeck's circuitry and says that while it has no physicalioty it's a constant simulation of Moriarty and his mate going off on their own adventures in the galaxy and the device has more than enough memory and programming for a lifetime of adventures. Picard offers the thought that what Moriarty and his mate are going through is no different than what everyone else experiences since we've also no way of knowing if everything is real of if we 're just sitting in a box somewhere hooked to a computer and made to believe what we're seeing is the real world.
Whoa.
A pretty decent episode, really, the use of the Moriarty character was interesting to see again and really the Matrix/Inception levels upon levels of simulated reality was pretty interestingly used here -before either of those movies existed.
Barclay is very well used here as his various ticks and nervosae aren't played up too much.
Though this episode does bring up again the problem with how apparently "easy" it is for a holodeck character to get sentience and apparently for them to seize control of the ship.
It's odd the whole thing kicks off with the apparent anomaly of the handedness of the holodeck characters which really seems like a real glitch in the holodeck and not some manifestation of Moriarty's tamperings as the glitch is one of the ways Data reveals that they're still on the holodeck.
The episode also suggests that Geordi and Data often run the Holmes program, one wonders why it's *now* Moriarty makes his reappearance.
It's also a nice clue that something is off, between the point Picard, Data and Barclay enter the holodeck to meet Moriarty and the time when it's revealed to the audience that they're still on the holodeck there's no exterior establishing shots of the ship between scenes or act-breaks as there would be if everything was "real."
Pretty good episode, not one I love nor one I hate. The actress who plays Moriarty's mate, the Countess Regina Bartholomew does a good job in her role and the actor who does Moriarty also does a great job. It really is easy to see that he's "alive" and just wants to live a "normal" life and not be a criminal mastermind.
In the episode, though, Moriarty behaves as if he doesn't know that the Enterprise is a starship. After his "exam" he asks if they go above deck; weather permitting and Picard reveals to him they are in deep space by taking him to Ten-Forward.
This doesn't 100% agree with what happens in "Elementary" where Moriarty is able to draw a sketch of the ship both on a piece of paper and on a chalkboard which also has some good detail and call-outs on it. One would think Moriarty already knew it was a starship in deep space. So is he playing dumb or did he truly not know? And if he's playing dumb shouldn't Picard pick-up on this, or even Data? They should both know how Much Moriarty seemed to know about the ship in "Elementary."
This episode marks one of the few times Dr. Polaski is referred to since Season 2's conclusion. Barclay mentions her as his "hostage" Picard would do anything for.
Good episode.
Til' nextwek!
