Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) Hollow Pursuits (1990) User Reviews

Goddess of Empathy

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 27 June 2021]

Lt. Reg Barclay spends too much time in the holodeck.

This is a strong character episode that introduces a new face and presents a different perspective on the Enterprise crew.

To enjoy this episode you need to either like or at least sympathise with Barclay. If you find him annoying it probably will be a long 45 minutes. I think the plot is great when it focuses on him and his social anxieties, but there is a fairly contrived aspect of the storytelling that forces him in a certain direction, albeit with some decent sci-fi detail.

'Hollow Pursuits' is about a very passive man who lives most of his life in a fantasy world interacting with fake caricatures of his work colleagues. The show's creators may have intended this to parody the imaginative process of writing fictitious stories, but it also comes across (unintentionally or not) as a satire of the obsessive fans of shows like Star Trek. This theme is one of the best aspects of the episode. The distain shown towards Barclay by some of the regulars, who appear more aggressive than usual from his perspective, works well.

The other element that I find entertaining is the comical world that Barclay has created within the holodeck. It's hard not to laugh at the versions of the crew he has created and cringe when they are confronted by the real life versions. Particularly Deanna Troi.

The visuals are very good, especially the holodeck scenes.

Dwight Schultz is perfectly cast and excellent as Barclay. LeVar Burton plays Geordie well from a more commanding perspective. The regular cast work nicely as comic foils for Barclay.

This episode should be required viewing for HR professionals.

[knowlto · 9/10 · 30 April 2014]

The plot involves an introverted, awkward crewman named Reginald Barkley, who has trouble fitting in on the Enterprise and connecting with his crew-mates. Geordi can't deal with Barkley and wants to ship him out, but Picard encourages Geordi to try connecting with Barkley and make use of his talents. In the end, Barkley saves the day, figuring out the source of various malfunctions on the Enterprise.

The moral is one that human resource specialists should take to heart. By overlooking candidates because of their shyness or other perceived personality defects, you might actually miss someone who has a lot to offer your company. I think Star Trek: TNG was somewhat ahead of its time in addressing this issue.

The beginning of the Reg Barkley saga.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 17 November 2014]

Dwight Schultz played a recurring character on not just "Star Trek: The Next Generation" but also on "Star Trek Voyager" as well as an appearance in one of the "Star Trek" movies. Lt. Reg Barkley (nicknamed 'Broccoli' by his fellow crew members) was only intended to be in one episode, but apparently he resonated with viewers and writers and in all he had about a dozen appearances.

When the show begins, LaForge and Riker are both uncharacteristically negative about a member of the crew. Both see Lt. Barkley as a lazy and disinterested guy. However, their rush to judgment is premature, as Barkley's real problem is that he's painfully shy--so shy that he always doubts himself and is just about paralyzed by his fears. When LaForge approaches the Captain about transferring Barkley off the ship, the Captain is angry and tells LaForge to make things work with Barkley. If that means befriending him or working closely with him, so be it. So, Barkley is finally given an important assignment--to figure out why one of their transporters keeps malfunctioning. Can Barkley rise to the occasion or is he simply hopeless?

This episode had a lot of funny moments due to Barkely's bad habit of retreating into the holodeck instead of dealing with people. Inside this piece of machinery, Barkely is a studly hero--and the holo images of the Doctor and Counselor are there to cheer him on and lust after his rugged manliness! It's all clever and fun, but also important because in the 24th century you STILL see that folks have prejudices-- as LaForge and several others are surprisingly cruel towards Barkley. So, despite their advances, people are still people. Well worth seeing.

Barkley --- the man, the myth, the engineer.

[thevacinstaller · 9/10 · 20 March 2021]

I am going to give Barclay a free pass on Holo addiction and sexual fantasy. If I had a holodeck, I would only work so that I had the ability to power my holodeck and I would spent my entire free time having sexual encounters with women far out of my league or being a mass effect cosplayer getting it on with my female crew members and Garrus too. All is forgiven Barclay.

I LOVE this episode. Schultz is amazing at portraying a man with severe social anxiety. It's a good change of pace to have a character study of a man with some serious issues getting in the way of his potential. Picard has an excellent moment in this episode when he refuses 'to transfer a problem' and instructs Geordi to make a concerned effort to get through to Barclay ---- this ultimately saved the ship from destruction ---- so, atta boy Picard.

We get a rare episode of Commander Hard Ass Riker laying down the law and being offended that Barclay is aboard the fabled Enterprise. Usually Riker is playful but it's nice to see a different shade of his character from time to time.

Data and Guinan (two non-humans) shine some light on some regrettable human traits that are a potential contributing factor to Barclay's feelings of isolation. I found that interesting ---- The outsiders see the prejudice that those close to it do not.

This is ultimately a feel good episode for me. I am rooting for Barclay to succeed and contributed and I enjoyed his journey in this one.

High marks for Geordi LaForge embracing the request from Picard and actually getting through to Barclay and understanding him. He could have half assed it --- but he went all in.

Yet another episode of a guest actor stealing the show. Is that the secret sauce to great star trek? Great guest stars? Certainly a contributing factor.

Introducing Lt. Reginald 'Reg' Barclay III

[russem31 · 19 April 2006]

ST:TNG:69 - "Hollow Pursuits" (Stardate: 43807.4) - this is the 21st episode of the 3rd season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

This episode introduces another of our memorable characters, Dwight Schultz (of "A Team" fame) as the bumbling and stuttering Lt. Reginald 'Reg' Barclay III. Having just transferred to the Enterprise, he is shy around other people, so he retreats to the Holodeck so he can be more comfortable in his "fantasy world". But when the Enterprise needs him, will he be able to pull out of his fantasies to help out?

Trivia note: Barclay will return in more TNG episodes, Star Trek: First Contact, and several episode of Star Trek: Voyager. Whoopi Goldberg also makes another appearance as Guinan.

Also, it's interesting to note Geordi mention "holo-diction" for those addicted to the internet because now that the internet is commonplace, there are those with this type of "holo-diction".

Terrific episode

[mattkratz · 9/10 · 14 November 2020]

I loved this episode and how it introduced Barclay, a character I can definitely relate too, as he battled holodeck addiction and find his way in the crew. Geordi eventually helped him find his place. It shows that we all need help finding our spot in the crew if we get the right assistance. I think Barclay was a great character and this was a great episode. The holodeck scenes were first rate.

*** out of ****

A worthwhile pursuit

[Mr-Fusion · 9/10 · 1 January 2017]

'Hollow Pursuits' introduces Reg Barclay, one of the show's more unusual characters. Socially awkward and wracked with nerves, he's easily the ship's misfit. this is a relatable character for anyone having trouble fitting in; his crewmembers can't stand to be around him and would rather just pass him off to another posting. Picard is the moral center of this, pushing Geordi to connect with Barclay and expose his talents. This is really a workplace drama, but a good one.

This one really surprised me. It does mine Barclay's "holodiction" for laughs, but it also ends in a nail-biter of a last-minute save; there's a surprising level of action here for a character piece. Roller-coaster would be a superlative, but it's anything but boring.

9/10

Season 3 discovered what we loved so much about TOS

[GoldenGooner04 · 8/10 · 13 January 2022]

Humour, this is pure Gold.

Now we know from the A Team just how funny Dwight Schultz is, and boy he shows it here, no wonder he become a recurring character as he has the "likeability" factor and in life that is so very much important.

Being shy is not easy, but do people care, nope. Meeting the opposite sex not having the banter can be a nightmare I was Dwight, even at work if a stranger come in, was a nightmare. If i had a holodeck, I would never come out :-).

Hollow Pursuits

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 27 May 2012]

The Next Generation went out of its way to welcome Dwight Schultz (A-Team) to the Trek Universe as stuttering, anti-social, always-late, and severely uncomfortable Engineering officer, Reginald Barclay, trying to work up the nerve just to fit in to the demands of a galaxy class starship. This "comedy episode escapism" is highly needed as the show would get plenty intense with the upcoming Borg two-parter, The Best of Both Worlds, as Barclay creates cartoonish, fictitious versions of Enterprise principles as a means to blow off steam as those in his swashbuckling Musketeers fantasy world each play a major role in his inability to function properly in day-to-day "real life". There's a problem with a broken canister (the cargo, tissue samples, is needed on another planet due to a breakout of fever, donated by a species) that might have set off a series of events (such as a glass, in Ten Forward, of liquor, in the hands of officers, leaking and the transporter destroying cargo during the molecular stage) that has caused a multitude of malfunctions causing the warp engines to speed to critical stages leading to possible structural failure. Barclay might just assist Geordi in finding the solution to the problem. Barclay has his share of problems, which are examined: Riker is not particularly fond of Barclay, Troi is Barclay's object of lust, and various moments of incompetence could prove fatal to Barclay's career on the Enterprise. Barclay's nickname—thanks to Wesley—is Broccoli, and a visit to Troi under therapy (orders from Geordi who takes some wise advice from Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg, who would appear in sporadic guest spots on the show to offer guidance to characters when needed) on how to deal with Barclay), not to mention the forays into the Holodeck fantasies, all yield funny results at the expense of Schultz' quivering, bumbling character. Seeing Jonathan Frakes as weakened goofs in the holodeck worlds as imagined by Barclay, Patrick Steward under red curly locks, hat and costume, unable to handle Barclay's swordplay, and the way Troi is envisioned as a vixen offering herself to Barclay's pleasure are certainly memorable bits of whimsy certain to earn grins and chuckles from series' fans. This is one of those episodes that give us a chance to unwind and laugh without much in the way of dramatic weight. Seeing Riker so ill-at-ease with an officer is quite fascinating (he really does show a frustration in Barclay's "derelict of duty"), as well as, Geordi's needing inspiration from others (like Picard who insists that Barclay be given a chance, although his slip in calling him Broccoli is a howler) just to cope with Barclay's errors, really provide insight in the struggle to deal with officers who may not be considered "Enterprise material". I applaud Picard for sticking up for Barclay, not giving up on an officer, instead looking at him as a "reclamation project worth salvaging".

Fantastic , complex , funny episode

[jayoppenheimer-02407 · 10/10 · 19 May 2021]

Going through the TNG Blu Ray season sets for the first time and watched this episode last night.

Broccolis character does a great job of showing how difficult it is for a shy , reserved person with social anxiety to try and get on in the workplace.

We have many issues come to the forefront, the pressure to fit in with coworkers, how management deals with people that are undesirable in the work force, the act of escapism through video games, books , daydreaming (the holodeck allows the user to physically live out the day dreams)

Getting to see Picard, Laforge , Troi, Dr. Crusher, Data, Wesley and a comically short Riker acting out of character as Broccolis creations on the holodeck is one of the many highlights of the episode.

I have just learned that Broccoli became a regular on future TNG episodes, series and the film First Contact, I can see why , he was great in the role.

How'd He Make It Through?

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 18 August 2014]

Is Reg Barclay like one of those kids that are promoted so the teacher can be rid of them at the end of the year? He is a mess and yet he has great expertise or he would never have made it through the academy. What he is, is addicted to the Holodeck. He has incredibly complex programs where he lives his life of adventure, Walter Mitty style. Obviously, he is incredibly talented but with absolutely no self-esteem. He is also careless and undependable. The factor that makes what he does a bit disconcerting is that he uses the images of actual crew members a the models for his characters (this is not a violation, but it is frowned upon). He even has a passionate, submissive characterization of Troi. I've always wondered about the Holodeck. Apparently, anyone who wishes can walk in on another person, so I guess you'd better not do anything embarrassing. It is hilarious to watch Picard and Data as Musketeers, battling the master swordsman, Barclay. The true problem is something that has happened to the systems on the Enterprise and the entire ship must be analyzed and evaluated to find the bug which is very serious. For those of you who watch too much of this stuff, you know that this character is hardly finished as an important factor in the opus.

Review 2022

[iamirwar · 8/10 · 27 August 2022]

It was interesting that the previous episode 'Tin Man' dealt with matters of mental health and this one dealt with personal shyness, lack of confidence and skittish behaviour. These qualities are very rare anywhere else in the Star Trek Universe but Reg has them in spades. I felt that this story edged the 'Tin Man' story by a whisker, simply for the fact that the images created on the holodeck were very well presented. Didn't Dr Crusher look stunning with her long hair flowing, swinging in the garden? Deanna as lovely in her light-blue dress. The holodeck Riker was everything that Reg was in real life. They even had three musketeers speaking the queen's English, good Sir, and Wesley dressed up as boy blue and scoffing from a large pie.

I had seen this episode previously when TNG was first broadcast and this episode aired almost three years before DS9 took to the heavens, but I have to believe that elements of the Reg story arc were later adapted for the evolution of Rom's character in that show.

Quite an imagination

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 16 September 2019]

Dwight Schultz makes the first of several appearances as Lt.Reginald Barkley on the Enterprise. Schultz got to reprise his character usually once a year for the remainder of TNG's run.

Barkley or Broccoli as Wil Wheaton takes to calling him is the typical square peg in a round hole. He's one of those folks who just can't quite fit in. In all of the Barkley subsequent episodes like here things just seem to happen all around him.

In any event there are a number of systems failures that leave the Enterprise in great danger. It's LeVar Burton and Schultz who figure out what is happening.

Barkley has quite an imagination and is addicted to the hollowdeck programs he's created to blow off steam. Both Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis have differing reactions to them. As Geordi LaForge says Barkley could write a book on hollowdeck addiction.

Good story that introduces us to an enduring character in the Star Trek saga.

What's More Real Than Reality?

[Samuel-Shovel · 5/10 · 29 October 2019]

In "Hollow Pursuits" a member of the engineering team gets in trouble with Riker and Geordi for failing in his duties, absenteeism, and just general aloofness. Barclay is spending too much time in the holodeck playing with imaginary scenarios and has become addicted, disappearing into fantasy worlds of his creation where he talks back to his superiors, even beating them up or sword fighting with them. But when the ship starts dealing with dangerous problems and is on the verge of destroying itself, it's up to Barclay to figure out the issue.

It's sort of odd to have a character focused episode on a tertiary, never before seen character in Season 3. The main cast isn't even fully developed as of yet, however we're focusing an entire episode on a new one.

I do really like the concept of this episode. In a world where things like VR and AI make these holodecks more and more feasible, it's not a stretch to imagine people getting lost in their own worlds... much to their own detriment. I also felt like there were some themes of isolationism here. Barclay felt like someone whose in the closet or hiding some kind of secret they don't feel comfortable revealing to their friends and family. The holodeck is where he goes to escape, much like how people today use the internet when they feel misunderstood. This kind of escapism felt genuine.

But this addiction to the holodeck didn't exactly hit home for me. I felt that the writers had a few ideas they were tossing about and never bothered to really hit any of them home. It's also silly how long Geordi, Troi, and Riker spend searching around the holodeck for Barclay when they know time is of the essence and the ship could self-destruct any second. The pacing to this is real slow as well. A cool concept that could have used a few tweaks to turn into a good episode.

'Broccoli' is introduced; insecure, late, but very intelligent

[hydrofilic · 8/10 · 3 December 2016]

This episode introduces Lt. Barkley (nickname "Broccoli"). The crew (in particular, Riker and Jordi) deem him "below Enterprise standard". But Cpt.Picard, Ginen, and Troi believe he should be encouraged.

Eventually "Broccoli" proves his worth, but in the mean time, we see amusing holodeck fantasies... these mainly involve "Broccoli" defeating his superiors (Riker, Picard, etc...) and spending "quality time" with ladies like Troi and Crusher.

Ultimately, the episode is about an insecure but intelligent crewman who can/does perform under pressure... although in a very eccentric way! This episode is NOT very sci-fi, but it is entertaining on the human element... character development and realistic psychological issues.

In summary, this is a "drama" episode (not sci-fi).... it introduces us to human 'rejects' and, more specifically, Lieutenant Broccoli".... anyway, I found this episode quite entertaining!

Barclay

[anthonylesley · 8/10 · 10 April 2020]

In this episode we meet recurring character Reg Barclay a character who is bullied for being slow by LaForge and the others in engineering

Introducing a relatable character

[skiop · 7 February 2016]

This episode introduces Reginald Barklay, surely a relatable character for Star Trek fans. He's mocked by his crew mates and can't seem to do much right, so he retreats to the Holodeck, where he can live his fantasies of being liked, respected, and competent.

It's mentioned how it's unknown how Barklay made it through Starfleet Academy. Indeed. That's one of the most relatable things here. His experience in Starfleet Academy surely mirrors my experience in college, filled with not being able to perform the assigned tasks satisfactorily, being disliked equally by students and professors, and just being pushed along to get me out of their way. I find it unlikely that Barklay is oblivious to this, just as I wasn't. Maybe he tried to keep a stiff upper lip and go through, even as his self-esteem disappears, in hopes of being able for his career dreams are fulfilled after graduation, only never to happen. Though, it's clear that he didn't belong at the Academy and can't be tolerated by his crew mates any more than he could by his classmates. The body language of others alone makes this obvious.

This is of course Star Trek and we can't be led to think that there are some people that are just worthless, so we eventually come to see that Barklay does have some talents. It might have been more realistic to let us realize that yes, some people are just worthless, and those people should be relegated to doing things that even they can't muck up (too much) and there's no way they should be doing anything like working in the engineering section on a starship.

Great episode - writing reflects what we'd all like to do...

[robertm-85323 · 8/10 · 29 April 2024]

Schultz is a great actor in this episode. He's in a few other episodes as well as one of the movies.

I remember talking to someone when I was in college about this episode and they did a Mr. T. impression "I'm not getting into that transporter foo!" That would have been awesome to see..

But, as a 20 something when this came out, you know darn well that I and any guy watching the show would have thought about doing this very same thing. Enjoying fantasies, perhaps with people they know, maybe in a.... slightly non-g-rated fashion. There's a later episode where it implies Riker does this (the one with the metamorph).

So, I can't condemn his actions, just enjoy the episode.

"Quite a healthy fantasy life, wouldn't you say?"

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 8 January 2024]

I have to question how Reg Barclay (Dwight Schultz) ever made it through Starfleet Academy. The question was broached but never adequately answered, despite his expertise with engineering functions aboard a starship. His frequent trips to the holodeck were amusing, and I have to give credit to Commander LaForge (LeVar Burton) for putting up with 'Broccoli's' tardiness and erratic behavior. That opening scene actually had me wondering what the heck happened to Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis) for going all googly-eyed over him. The most humorous moments on the holodeck involved Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Commander Data (Brent Spiner) in musketeer outfits crossing swords with the adventurous and self-assured Barclay, something he couldn't muster up the courage to do in his actual assignment. Of course, there was a redeeming factor for the shy and recalcitrant crew member when he figured out the source of the problem the Enterprise was experiencing. One of my qualms with the original series and now Next Generation was how close to the brink the story got before a fatal situation was finally resolved. What was it here, like less than thirty seconds? Troi's Goddess of Empathy would have properly deemed it just in the nick of time.

Unbearably annoying, courtesy of Lt. Barclay.

[moemenamaneman · 5/10 · 9 December 2020]

There's a good premise behind Hollow Pursuits, with an officer being addicted to fantasies conjured up by the holodeck. That's a good idea in theory, and it might've even made for a pretty good episode. But any and all potential for Hollow Pursuits to be good is loss when the focus of the episode is set on the awful character of Reginald Barclay, who is physically painful to watch whenever he's on-screen. I can't even get through this episode in one sitting these days, as I have to keep pausing to decompress for a minute and let the bile settle. Apparently my tolerance for watching a grown man act like an awkward teenager is severely lacking.

The character is commonly listed as a fan favorite recurring character, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why. I get being an introvert or socially awkward, but if you find Barclay's antics "empathetic" or "relatable," I really hope you're getting the proper help. I guess we all do find some solace in escapism in a similar way (we are talking about a sci-fi show here), but like La Forge says in the episode: "nobody wants to be around this guy." And considering how he acts in the outside world and on the holodeck, can you really blame people for not wanting to interact with him? I'd be uncomfortable just looking at the guy.

Other than that, the episode is just okay. I will admit that Barclay dual-wielding sabers and fighting off the bridge crew was fun and seeing the crew's reaction to Barclay's creepy holodeck "shenanigans" was cathartic, but other than that, the episode just kind of fizzles out before it ever even had the chance to light. Nothing of consequence really happens in this episode, despite the writer's best efforts. The ship malfunctions, causing some general, nonspecific ruckus and the day is partially saved by Barclay, who despite being characterized and portrayed as a complete doofus, shows some smarts all of a sudden at the tail end of the episode. Hooray. Barclay gets to return in other episodes (and other series) and lives to squirm another day. God help us all.

Unprofessional.

[Kepart · 1/10 · 18 July 2020]

I thought watching this episode would reconcile the character Barclay in my opinion, but no. He ruined the end of Voyager already by taking precious screen time away from my beloved Voyager crew. In this episode, if he hadn't been lusting after fictional Counselor Troi in his multiple holodeck sessions, the Enterprise could have avoided the red alert. He endangered the crew by attending to his own desires first. Knowing how regulated TNG Starfleet is, that doesn't fly with me. No pun intended.

Just an opinion on star trek and starfleet standards over the years

[josethehedgehogv · 7 June 2021]

At that time, Barclay is be the odd one, the man who you just don't know how made it past the starfleet academy, and would probably be a case of studies for this kind of behavior. Meanwhile, in newer times, Barclay probably be the one of the best officers starfleet has to offer, hell, he would likely be captain of his own starship, and have been offered command of a brand new Enterprise iteration, and no one would say anything, because that's how things work now.

A Senior Trekker writes.....................

[celineduchain · 5/10 · 13 January 2022]

New uniforms, new credit sequence and Doctor Crusher returned to us but was Season 3 of The Next Generation really as good as we remember? Some of that enthusiasm may have have been generated by relief that the series had not been cancelled but the 1990's also heralded an era of considerably more stability behind the scenes. Senior Trekker will continue to score every episode with a 5.

The years (and the IMDB scores) have not been as kind to this episode as its first viewers might have expected. It arrived upon the scene thirty years ago as a totally unexpected treat and we LOVED it.

An awkward misfit amongst this too perfect crew? Geordi being dismissive and even, dare I say it, a bit mean? The Bridge crew being lampooned in a silly skit? Wesley being shown up as a sullen brat? The holodeck used for personal fantasy fulfilment? Glorious costumes & lots of fun: it was just what audiences needed to counteract the heavier "message" episodes, prove that TNG did not take itself too seriously and contained the creative reserves to keep it on our screens for years to come.

Dwight Schultz was a very busy and well known actor when he appeared in this, his first of several, Star trek episodes. Apparently, he was a dedicated fan of this series and of the original Star Trek and asked his friend Whoopi Goldberg for an introduction. He is one of only a few actors to have had a part specially written for him and he repaid the writers in spades.

Robert Blackman and his team undoubtedly deserved an award for the cinematic "Four Musketeers" style of costumes (which doesn't really accord with any period of history). I stand to be corrected, but it doesn't look as if they got one so let's just hope that they enjoyed the break from all those jumpsuits and glued on bits of fake leather they often had to work with.