Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 4, Episode 19
Original Air Date: April 1, 1991
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| via Memory Beta |
It's a Barclay episode!
Our heroes encounter a mysterious probe while trying to repair an Argus Array telescope. An energy surge from the probe grants the perpetually nervous Lieutenant Barclay super-human intelligence and the confidence to match. The abrupt change inspires both amazement and concern in his crewmates. Worry mounts as Barclay merges his brain with the ship's computer.
The story is based on Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, a novel that blew me away when I read it as a teenager. Sadly, it is no longer typically assigned reading in American high schools. "The Nth Degree" is a strong episode - Barclay vehicles typically are. Dwight Schultz brings considerable range to the part. The story's resolution is delightfully Trek.
Acting Notes
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| via Memory Alpha |
Jim Norton plays the role of Albert Einstein. Barclay engages the great scientist in an all-night theoretical physics binge on the holodeck. Norton was born January 4, 1938 in Dublin.
Once again, the actor's greatest accomplishments have come on the stage. He has a long-standing professional relationship with Irish playwright/director Conor McPherson, originating roles in six of his plays. He won both a Tony and an Olivier for his supporting role in The Seafarer in 2008.
Evidently, he has played clergymen a lot. I frequently wonder if there's an Irish actor who hasn't as they are the typical go-to casting choice for Catholic priests in British television and film. His biggest television role was Bishop Brennan, a recurring character on the sitcom Father Ted.
I kind of remember this episode but I don’t think it made much of n impression on me.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, I find the character more memorable than the story.
DeleteThis episode highlights Dwight Shultz’ amazing acting skills. It’s a shame he got typecast after A-Team but this role helped.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely.
DeleteThe only problem with it is that it’s kind of a Barclay rehash. We knew from his debut that Barclay is more than competent. This is another way of getting him around his limitations. To, ah, the nth degree! Kind of would have been more interesting with someone like, say, Troi. Sometimes when the writers knew a story type for a character worked really well, they would just keep hammering it, like all the “let’s torture O’Brien!” episodes in DS9. But then, Troi hadn’t been a Romulan yet, so they didn’t know her type yet.
ReplyDeleteBut I love him for that!
Delete"We've got a story about overcoming insecurity AND we really want to bring Barclay back. Somebody call Dwight's agent."
It did occur to me, as I read your response, that “Barclay has an embarrassing situation” is exactly the same as “let’s torture O’Brien!” or “Troi works best when she’s kind of someone else!” or “Picard, but playing an alien flute!”
DeleteWell sure...
DeleteObviously, we'll talk a lot more about O'Brien once I get to DS9. As for Troi, I'm still not sure they ever quite figured out what to do with her. The character definitely improves over time but rarely as other than someone's daughter, someone's lover...
Picard and his flute... I am looking forward to Season 5!
The relationship with Worf, certainly, is a relationship, but it helps present her in a totally new light, a pivot away from the empath thing, forcing her to confront complicated things on a gut level rather than worrying how someone’s feeling, which is what she’d been pegged for since her debut. As it turned out, she was tremendously entertaining when getting to be someone else. The Romulan thing is the one fans to focus on, but the Durango character on the holodeck would have been a whole thing in a later iteration of the franchise, and then Drunk Troi. TNG was never overly effective showcasing its women (even its top level, Guinan, because they could never be sure when they’d have Whoopi Goldberg, was used too sparingly, including her tiny cameo of a last appearance). Picard in a single season establishes a far better track record.
DeleteWomen on Star Trek... that's definitely an arc worth following in its own right. Once again, DS9 kicks TNG's butt all over the place.
DeleteBelieve it or not, I'm still not ready to call myself a Trekkie. Star Wars will always be my first love.
ReplyDeleteA really good episode. The sci-fi author Alastair Reynolds had a similar short story dealing with the lone human survivor or a failed Mars colony.
ReplyDeleteEarth had been overrun by nanotechnology leaving just the humans on the fledgling and failing settlement. A plague wipes them out leaving one survivor. Aliens show up, saves the last human who has a desire to understand all of existence.
These super aliens begin modifying the human like Barclay until he/it builds up enough mass to become a black hole.
Wow! Sounds interesting. I don't know Alastair Reynolds. I'll keep an eye out for his work.
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