Star Trek: The Next Generation 2.03

Elementary, Dear Data

Lieutenant Commander Data and Lieutenant Geordi La Forge enter Holodeck 2 dressed as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. The plan is to take part in a Sherlock Holmes mystery but Data has them all memorized and their first attempt proves to be too easy for Data.

Data and Geordi leave the Holodeck and convene in Ten Forward. Geordi tries to explain to Data about what makes solving a mystery fun. Doctor Pulaski overhears their conversation and joins them. She doesn't believe that Data could solve a mystery that he didn't already know by heart.

Data, Geordi, and Doctor Pulaski head back to Holodeck 2. Geordi tells the Enterprise computer to create an original Sherlock Holmes mystery for Data to solve. Data solves the mystery fairly quickly but Geordi sees why and tells the Computer to create an opponent capable of beating Data.

They are unaware at the time but the enemy that the Computer created sees what Geordi did. He learns from observing them how to contact the Enterprise's computer and use it for his purposes. That person is Professor Moriarty.

Someone abducts Doctor Pulaski. Data and Geordi look for their colleague. Their search leads them to Professor Moriarty who demonstrates that he has knowledge that he shouldn't have. Geordi and Data leave Holodeck 2. They try to terminate the program but the find that they can't.

Data and Geordi meet with Captain Picard and other members of the bridge crew. They explain to him about Moriarty, how he is holding Doctor Pulaski prisoner, and the holodeck override which is preventing them from terminating the program.

Captain Picard gets dressed up and enters the Holodeck 2 with Data. They go to Moriarty's lair and talk to him. He demonstrates that he can control the Enterprise to a limited degree. He make it clear that he wants to go on living and see the world outside the Holodeck.

Picard explains to Moriarty that he can only exist within the Holodeck. Moriarty capitulates. Captain Picard saves the program with the promise that if they ever discover a way to bring Moriarty out of the Holodeck then they will.

Thoughts

Daniel Davis played the part of Moriarty. This is the first of two appearances he made as Moriarty in The Next Generation. Davis/Moriarty also made an appearance on Picard. He has also been in a few movies I have seen including The Hunt for Red October (1990) and The Prestige (2006).

I've seen this episode at least once before (in 2011) but probably also when it first aired in 1988. It introduces some interesting ideas but on the whole I don't love this episode. Why? It takes too long to get to the good stuff and Data seems like such a numbskull despite being extremely book smart. I get annoyed when Data seems incapable of learning from past mistakes.