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Elementary, Dear Data (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Elementary, Dear Data" is the 29th episode of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
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asks the holodeck
to make a Sherlock Holmes
villain that can defeat Data
, creating a foe more powerful than originally planned.
waits to rendezvous with the USS Victory, Geordi La Forge and Data go to the Holodeck and recreate a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Data, who has read all of the Holmes mysteries, is able to solve the mystery within minutes. Geordi expresses his frustration in experiencing a Holmes mystery to which Data already knows the outcome, and explains the fun is in the mystery itself. Geordi instructs the computer to creates a new program with a unique mystery and an adversary that is capable of defeating Data. When they re-enter the program, they discover that Dr. Pulaski, who has joined them, has been kidnapped. Data proceeds to solve the mystery with deduction. They soon discover that Professor Moriarty is responsible, but are shocked when they learn that Moriarty is aware of the Holodeck being a simulation. Moriarty is able to access the Holodeck computer and draws a sketch of the Enterprise.
Data and Geordi leave the Holodeck to alert the Captain. Geordi realizes that when he asked the computer to create the program he had asked for an adversary that could defeat Data, not Sherlock Holmes. As a result, the computer gave the Holodeck character Professor Moriarty the knowledge and sentience needed to challenge Data. When Moriarty briefly gains access to the ship stabilizer control, Data and Geordi return to the holodeck with Captain Picard.
When Moriarty and Pulaski are found, Picard is able to negotiate the return of control of the ship's computer. Moriarty, who now knows about the existence outside the Holodeck, asks to continue to exist in the real world. Picard tells Moriarty that this would not be possible; instead, he saves the program and tells Moriarty that if they ever discover a way to convert Holodeck matter into a permanent form they would bring him back. Picard discontinues the program and the USS Victory arrives.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
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Overview
GeordiGeordi La Forge
Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge is a regular character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its feature films, played by LeVar Burton...
asks the holodeck
Holodeck
A holodeck, in the fictional Star Trek universe, is a simulated reality facility located on starships and starbases. The first use of a "holodeck" by that name in the Star Trek universe was in the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Encounter at Farpoint", although a conceptually...
to make a Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
villain that can defeat Data
Data (Star Trek)
Lieutenant Commander Data is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe portrayed by actor Brent Spiner. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek...
, creating a foe more powerful than originally planned.
Plot
As the EnterpriseUSS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
waits to rendezvous with the USS Victory, Geordi La Forge and Data go to the Holodeck and recreate a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Data, who has read all of the Holmes mysteries, is able to solve the mystery within minutes. Geordi expresses his frustration in experiencing a Holmes mystery to which Data already knows the outcome, and explains the fun is in the mystery itself. Geordi instructs the computer to creates a new program with a unique mystery and an adversary that is capable of defeating Data. When they re-enter the program, they discover that Dr. Pulaski, who has joined them, has been kidnapped. Data proceeds to solve the mystery with deduction. They soon discover that Professor Moriarty is responsible, but are shocked when they learn that Moriarty is aware of the Holodeck being a simulation. Moriarty is able to access the Holodeck computer and draws a sketch of the Enterprise.
Data and Geordi leave the Holodeck to alert the Captain. Geordi realizes that when he asked the computer to create the program he had asked for an adversary that could defeat Data, not Sherlock Holmes. As a result, the computer gave the Holodeck character Professor Moriarty the knowledge and sentience needed to challenge Data. When Moriarty briefly gains access to the ship stabilizer control, Data and Geordi return to the holodeck with Captain Picard.
When Moriarty and Pulaski are found, Picard is able to negotiate the return of control of the ship's computer. Moriarty, who now knows about the existence outside the Holodeck, asks to continue to exist in the real world. Picard tells Moriarty that this would not be possible; instead, he saves the program and tells Moriarty that if they ever discover a way to convert Holodeck matter into a permanent form they would bring him back. Picard discontinues the program and the USS Victory arrives.