What don't I get about holodeck episodes

[Kor]

I also enjoy the aforementioned episodes, purely on the basis of their "fun" factor.

Kor

 

[Rahul]

I hate Holodeck malfunctions. But I love it when it's used as a tool. "Identity Crisis" on TNG is an example of a great use of the holodeck. It also works as a "danger room", like on VOY "Dark Frontier", where they were replaying their heist on the Borg ship for training, or the various shuttle and Delta Flyer missions for which they did test tuns in the holodeck as a simulator. That's how it's supposed to be used.

Another good example is "Author, author" (VOY) - I don't think it's a great episode (the Doc writes a holo-novel where he misrepresents the crew), but the concept is actually a really good use of the holodeck device.

Honestly, I feel like part of the production rationale for holodeck episodes was basically a more plausible version of why TOS had planets dominated by gangsters, Nazis, and Romans. There was all this period crap hanging around the Paramount lot, and it made for relatively cheap production. For the writers, it was fun because it allowed them to experiment with alternate genres which would have been awkward to shove into Trek otherwise, like westerns, romances, detective stories, spy movies, sports drama, etc. I think some of the actors liked it too, because it allowed for them to be campy and act outside of their character's normal range.

As to the drama, it's important to note that not every holodeck episode was based upon the safeties failing, or being trapped in the simulation. Still, ultimately as was noted, the stakes aren't any different from a normal episode, where the ship/station faces some sort of "anomaly" or malfunction which stops the normal smooth process from going forward.

I think DS9 did the holodeck the best, since it was mostly unseen except for Our Man Bashir and Vic Fontaine's episodes. That said, DS9 had its own avenues for escapism (MU episodes, and to a lesser degree Ferengi episodes), so it didn't have to rely upon the holodeck to break up routine.

Here is the thing: I absolutely HATE it when they use the holodeck purely to escape into another genre. That's stupid. If I want to watch Victorian romance novels or noir crime dramas, I would do exactly that. And not Star Trek.

But I LOVE it when they use different genre settings in the holodeck to tell sci-fi stories. I don't care for Picard solving a case as Dixon Hill. But Moriaty growing a conscienceness as an antagonist to Data? That's great stuff! I love "Bride of Chaotica" not just because I love Flash Gordon, but it's also a genuine good concept (kinda' like alien A.I. appearing in video-games). "A Fistfull of Datas" was a great episode despite having a holodeck malfunction - but they avoided the trap of "having to solve the genre plot", and instead went full bonkers with the sci-fi gadgets and Brent Spiner gone wild. Likewise, "Our Man Bashir" is great, because he solves it like a videogame - he "destroys" Earth to finish the game with his friends alive. I like that. Because it's not just a detour into a different genre. It's sci-fi stories in another environment.

It's like time travel episodes. I hate it when it's used to merely change settings. I love it when it's used to explore the concept itself.

 

[TribbleFeeder]

I liked the Vic Fontaine ones, especially the episode with Odo and Kira.

Some of them were obviously filler, but I always expect with Star Trek that there are going to be lighthearted episodes here or there in every series. (I enjoy the tribble episodes obviously... )

I have actually enjoyed some Holodeck episodes more than dominion war ones

 

[Farscape One]

Regarding what someone said about VOYAGER using the holodeck more than anyone...

Of all the series, that was the logical one to use the holodeck the most. The premise of the show being the reason. Since they made the early dialogue of it not being compatable with replicator energy... which I honestly never bought for a second... it was a way for the crew to be out of their environment without getting off the ship. Which is realistic, because they would have no idea when they would find a Class M planet next. Being stuck on a ship every second of every day for who knows how long... people would eventually go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.

So while that series DID overuse the holodeck, at least it can excused because the premise almost made it mandatory more often than DS9 or TNG.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I hate it when it's used to merely change settings. I love it when it's used to explore the concept itself.

Instead of giving the crew a bad case of culture shock.

 

[maneth]

I don't like the holodeck malfunction episodes much, but I do like some holodeck episodes. I like Dixon Hill, because he gets to relax more than Picard ever does on duty.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I think there are some good holodeck episodes and some really really bad ones. Like, Elementary Dear Data and Worst Case Scenario are well written, and Our Man Bashir and Bride of Chaotica are some of the most fun episodes. But there's other just plain embarrassing ones like Fistful of Datas, Concerning Flight, Fair Haven/Spirit Folk, Badda Bing.

Holodecks are something that should be used sparingly. They are a good tool to just let loose and have some fun and explore the characters' fantasy lives. But they also get used as a writing crutch, as an end around the inherent rules and structure of the universe so you don't have to be as creative. When they're well executed and used only once and a while, they can be awesome, but when they're not, they're just lazy and come of as excessively silly and ridiculous.

 

[Makarov]

Holodeck and The Doctor are fanastic aspects of star trek imo. It's these aspects that makes Trek more than just space adventures to me. Most of the time just used for goofy plots, but sometimes really deep, and usually even the goofy ones have something interesting to explore. So many topics debating holodeck tech and it's potential.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I like Dixon Hill, because he gets to relax more than Picard ever does on duty.

So the guy in charge fantasizes about having to work to get things he wants, even from people who aren't fighting him diplomatically or with phasers, and not being treated with respect by even fellow humans (searching for evidence I guess is a lot like archaeology - mystery solving)

I guess it's less stressful to be almost "bumped off" when he knows there's no real danger...until the safeties malfunction, that is.

 

[Greg Cox]

They're fun, change-of-pace episodes. And, yes, I love "Our Man Bashir" and "Bride of Chaotica" because they are such affectionate parodies of their source materials.

Do they "lack seriousness"? Of course, but who says STAR TREK has to be serious all the time? I sometimes feel like "fun" is underrated around here.

A good comedy is just as good (and sometimes better) than a good drama.

 

[Kor]

And I feel that dramedy tends to offer, ahem, the best of both worlds.

Kor

 

[eschaton]

And I feel that dramedy tends to offer, ahem, the best of both worlds.

Kor

Let's be honest. Trek comedies are, for the most part, dramadies. There is usually some sort of dramatic tension. The humor is also pretty understated. I mean, there are a lot of Trek comedies I like, but the only time I ever legitimately laughed at Trek wasn't even during one (it was Data's terrible poem about Spot)