The Big Goodbye

"The big goodbye" introduces us to the first holodeck adventure, in this case Captain Picard posing as private investigator Dixon Hill. This episodes creates some sort of standard pattern, repeated several times on TNG as well as DS 9 and Voyager. After entering the holodeck something goes wrong and the characters have to deal with the program under different circumstances beyond playing a game (represented by the failure of the holodeck's safety program).

This concept is used to expand Star Trek's possibility and enabling a kind of genre-mix. Picard's Dixon Hill stories are examples of 1940s crime fiction and their representation on the screen are referred to as Film Noir often having the stereotype antihero in the lead (see for example Chandler's Marlowe stories or Polanski's all time classic "Chinatown"). Star Trek never focuses on the story (mostly it's a simple "how-do-we-get-out-of-here" scenario) but enables the actors to take a different approach to their characters. Those Holodeck "games" are commonly used for recreation and reflect the private interests of the crew members. Therefore the technical aspect is always neglected and from that point of view the stories are never sound (but did Star Trek ever had a technical, scientific point to it, I mean besides some utopic concepts?).

"The big goodbye" shows a relaxed Patrick Stewart, a McFadden that hardly ever looked better in a Star Trek episode (at least the early ones) and Data has some great scenes, too (although I find it hard to believe that pulling the lamp's plug out of the wall would have really surprised him, for the fact that he'd done research on that period and its customs). Wesley continues turning peaceful Trekkies into potential murderers (why didn't they take him to the holodeck and let the gangsters finish him off?) but all in all this one's fun...

While I am sure that holodeck episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Gereration" were pretty popular (since they repeated this gimmick in many episodes of "Deep Space 9"), I always hated them as they never really seemed to fit in with the other shows and seemed very contrived. Some, like this one, were bad--and some were horrible (such as the Moriarty and baseball team episodes in both shows).

Picard is supposed to do some complicated diplomatic mission with some annoying insect people. The problem is that a holodeck malfunction keeps him trapped with a few other cast members in a pulp fiction novel. In many ways it's like a Raymond Chandler novel--which has ZERO to do with a sci-fi show! Some people might have enjoyed it--I would much rather see film noir OR sci-fi--not both at the same time. Pretty dumb and unfortunately the first of many.

By the way, if you do watch, note Laurence Tierney as the heavy and Dick Miller as a newspaper salesman.

Picard takes a break from duties by spending time in the Holodeck.

This is a fun episode that is a little bit disappointing but contains good character moments.

Being a film-noir fan I love the premise, but unfortunately the plot doesn't make the most of the opportunity to do something more entertaining. I am also a fan of the original series episode 'A Piece Of The Action' so I expected something equally as enjoyable, but unfortunately the plot doesn't give the characters as much to do.

That being said, it is amusing to hear Picard's perfect English diction tackling hard-boiled pulp dialogue, Data doing a great hoodlum voice and Dr Crusher dressed as a forties femme fatale.

Personally, I think it would have been brilliant if the writers had thrown Picard into a Holodeck adventure with little or no back and forth to the bridge and less reflection on the factors that make it a computer program.

The visuals are done well. There is decent art design during the Dixon Hill program, but personally I think these scenes would have been far better if shot in black and white.

Performances are all good particularly Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner and the guest actors such as Lawrence Tierney. This so far is my favourite Gates McFadden episode as her physical performance of awkwardness is very enjoyable.

Some of the best episodes of TNG are the holodeck episodes. While this episode provides a great introduction to it, there are quite a few glaring flaws that prevent this episode from being a must see.

The Enterprise is sent on a diplomatic mission where Captain Picard has to master a difficult language to ensure that Starfleet and the new race establish cordial relations. However, he is stressed and tired from all of his efforts.

In need of some rest and relaxation, he enters the holodeck, where he chooses to engage in his favorite program, a noirish thriller, where he plays a detective named Dixon Hill, in 1940's San Francisco.

Unfortunately for him, this world is turned upside down, after the enterprise is scanned by aliens., leading to a malfunction within the normally safe holodeck that can potentially injure or kill Picard.

While this episode is a ton of fun, the problem with it, is that there are quite a few glaring plot holes. I've never really liked the idea of the holodeck safety being turned off. Seems a bit absurd. Like if someone programmed my XBOX to kill me everytime I died in a video game.

Still, it is a fun episode, and Lawrence Tierney, who was in many film noirs over the course of his career, also stars in it. I'd give it a recommend.

And thus, it is born, the holodeck - which, outside of time travel, has got to be Star Trek's go-to plot device (who am I kidding, this is kind of a time travel story). But as cynical as that sounds, I'm sure this was pretty cool back in '88 before it became (almost) groan-inducing. And really, it's one of the reasons I dig the Enterprise-D. the wish-fulfillment possibilities are endless.

Anyhoo, stressed out while prepping for a diplomatic mission, Jean-Luc uses the holodeck to disappear into a detective novel; which means trading in a starship set for a dingy P.I. office, period suits (which everyone wears the hell out of) and '40s cliché dialogue. Naturally, the computer wigs out, a man is shot with no access to sickbay, and in walks the big bad guy (Lawrence Tierney, lending his signature terrifying toughness to the show).

Despite the mild silliness and the completely uneven pacing, I do like this episode. The pulp environment is a fun one and it does give Data an opportunity to overdo the period mannerisms while Dr. Crusher tries to blend in as a dame. And it's kinda nice to see Picard get really excited about something.

7/10