Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) Realm of Fear (1992) User Reviews

Trouble in the transporter

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 24 July 2015]

When the Enterprise discovers the missing Federation vessel, the USS Yosemite, a team is assembled to beam over. This team includes Reg Barclay, who is terrified of teleporting; so terrified in fact that he initially backs out of going. After talking to Counsellor Troi he plucks up courage to go and the transport goes without incident. However when he beams back he sees what he thinks is a creature in the matter stream; a creature that tries to grab his arm. Chief O'Brien and Geordi reassure him that there is nothing wrong with the equipment and Dr Crusher tells him he hasn't been affected. He continues to worry though, convincing himself that he has 'transporter psychosis' a condition that sometimes occurred with early transporters but hasn't been reported in decades. Eventually he decides there is only one way to be certain; he will transport again.

Barclay was the ideal character to lead this episode; we already know he is a rather nervous character so it is of no surprise that he has a phobia about transporting. Dwight Schultz does a great job in the role making us believe in the character's fears. We also get to see more of Chief O'Brien that a typical TNG episode and learn about his own phobia; spiders. This episode is also interesting as it shows us what people see as they are transported; an effect that was pretty good and fitted in with the classic look from outside. When we learn the cause of what Reg saw in the matter stream it was nice that it wasn't in fact some malevolent creature. Overall an interesting episode which is a little different to most as it focuses on an occasional character.

Realm of Fear

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 9 July 2012]

The Enterprise is investigating the mystery behind the USS Yosemite's communication silence, a science vessel studying a remote "Plasma Streamer", having been pulled into the streamer after getting a bit too close. Most of the crew is missing from the ship except a badly burned engineer, with heavy damage to the transporter on the Yosemite. Neurotic Systems Engineer, Reginald Barclay (Dwight Schultz), is overwhelming afraid of transporters, and when Geordi wants him to accompany the away team to the Yosemite, he just can't bring himself to do it. With help from Counselor Troi, Barclay may be able overcome his mortal terror, but, sure enough, when he finally does go through with it, he encounters microbes floating in the molecular stream, including what looks like a giant worm with only a mouth that seems to bite him! While Dr. Crusher tries to understand what happened to the engineer (his heart and pulse rate both temporarily surging back to life), she will also have Barclay's physical health to worry about as something has begun to affect his molecular structure, ionic disturbance right around the arm where the worm perhaps touched him. As the story is structured this is about confronting your ultimate fear so you can overcome it, the ability to function better as result of the process. Because Schultz has a knack for parlaying nervous anxiety and innate fear, this story works especially well. And the tailor-made episode especially suited to his character also allows Barclay to become a hero in the possible rescue of the missing crew members. I'm not sure why there haven't been more suspenseful stories centered around the transporter, horrifying things can happen, going back as far Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Plenty of dialogue does revolve around how safe the transporter is as a way to travel, even though Barclay's complaints on the dangers have validity/merit. One small mistake could mean disaster. This episode proves it when the bio-filter doesn't catch the microbes in the stream; this transportation process isn't fool-proof. This episode also has a nice part for Colm Meaney's Chief O'Brien whose record of transporting officers without loss is impeccable, and he does get a bit defensive when Barclay rattles on about the possibilities of tragedy that could result in the slightest miscalculation or problem. His sharing to Barclay of an arachnophobic fear, talking about having to deal with it in order to complete an assignment provides some insight in the O'Brien character. He was on his way to Deep Space Nine.

Barclay saves the day...again

[nebmac · 7/10 · 11 June 2016]

As with any Barclay episode, your enjoyment of this one depends on your ability to accept that such an intractably neurotic individual would be assigned to the most prestigious starship in the fleet. Even if the guy is a brilliant engineer, wouldn't it be more realistic for him to be working in some innocuous R&D position on, say, Earth? Wouldn't you know it, that is exactly what we eventually see him doing on Star Trek: Voyager.

Anyway, Barclay's bad transporter trip and subsequent bout of hypochondria finally push him over the edge, and he is ever-so-gently found unfit for duty by Counselor Troi. Naturally, Barclay can't leave well enough alone, so he rouses the senior staff in the middle of the night to demonstrate how not crazy he is. Fortunately for his Starfleet career and his fragile psyche, he proves that he really did see strange intestinal-looking sock puppet creatures in the transporter beam, and they turn out to be missing crew members from the damaged science ship. Super.

Long story short, it's a decent enough episode about facing one's fears, though the underlying message might have been more effective if the plot had revolved around a character who wasn't so high-strung to begin with.

Overcoming one's fears.

[russem31 · 28 April 2006]

ST:TNG:128 - "Realm Of Fear" (Stardate: 46041.1) - this is the 2nd episode of the 6th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In another episode involving Dwight Schultz as Lt. Reginald 'Reg' Barclay III, this one deals with his fear of the transporter. At first he is reluctant to go on an Away Team mission, but when he transports, a mysterious creature appears in the matter stream and touches his arm. Then, back on the Enterprise, his arm starts to radiate with light where the creature touched him! What is causing this? Is Barclay going delusional? Find out in the first of many exciting 6th season episodes (this season in my opinion is second best only to the 3rd season).

Trivia note: we finally get to see a person's POV as they are transported. Patti Yasutake makes another appearance as Nurse Alyssa Ogawa. We also hear O'Brien regale Barclay with his arachnophobia and how he overcame his fear of spiders - thus, introducing him to his pet tarantula!

And, O'Brien mentions the "Heisenberg Compensators" used in the transporter, mentions there hasn't been a case of transporter psychosis in 50 years, and O'Brien has held the transporter chief position for 22 years).

Have no fear, Barclay is here.

[thevacinstaller · 7/10 · 14 April 2021]

I just don't have it in me to give a Barclay episode anything less than a 7 out 10. Unfortunately, this episode is my least favorite of the Barclay episodes. That statement is meant to be a compliment to the greatness of the previous 3 episodes and not a slight against this 'okay' episode.

It was fun to watch Barclay's hypochondria actually being legitimate and not a fabrication of his neurotic personality. Even Barclay himself doesn't believe that something went wrong with the transporter.

I laugh for a solid 30 seconds when Counsellor Troi pranked Barclay by suggesting he tap himself on the neck to release dopamine. Who knew Troi had such a great sense of humor? Heck, have him skip around the Enterprise hallways while you are at it.

Ultimately, Barclay confronts his self doubt and conquers his fear of the transporter and manages to even save a few lives! Atta Boy, Reg!

Barclay seems to be less inhibited and I enjoyed that he is growing as a character and the bridge crew (and data) take him seriously and don't Picard face palm when he brings up his dilemma to them.

Dwight Schultz is just Superb

[GoldenGooner04 · 9/10 · 16 March 2022]

They should have found a part for him in the films, plays his part so well. Really should have been offered more parts then he got, was very good in the A Team.

Not among the very best of the Barkley episodes.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 26 November 2014]

When the episode begins, there is a stranded ship and transporting over to it is going to be rough according to O'Brien. Well, this scares the crap out of Barkley, as he's always hated the transporter--but this makes his fears so bad that he's about to have a panic attack. When he finally does manage to go there, he sees some REALLY weird slug-like beings while being transported. Naturally, he thinks he's losing his mind and spends A LOT of the episode fretting...a lot! Later, however, he comes to realize that what he saw might be real and it might have something to do with the disappearance of some crew members.

This is an okay episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation". I have seen other Barkley episodes that were more interesting and memorable. I guess I just found the episode a bit confining (since they didn't go much of anywhere) and found Barkley's worries getting a bit old here.

Those transport blues

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 6 August 2018]

Back on Star Trek prime DeForest Kelley voiced a negative opinion of the Enterprise Transport system. Just the thought of one's molecules being disassembled and reassembled gave him the willies.

Apparently Lt. Reg Barkley feels the same way. Dwight Schultz in one of his guest appearances as the enigmatic Barkley says he has the Enterprise record for shuttle flights. This all comes up when the Enterprise is called on to a rescue mission, but finds the small science ship seemingly abandoned.

When Schultz transports over there he develops some strange feelings and symptoms. More I cannot tell you, but his feelings turn out to be not psychosomatic but quite real.

I did love the resolution of one of my favorite TNG episodes.

REVIEW 2022

[iamirwar · 7/10 · 22 September 2022]

New Generation, new season... This is the second episode of season six. So we can start by seeing what changes we notice. The opening shot looks familiar. We have located the USS Yosemite here in the Ugo sector. The ship had not been heard from for several days. It's entangled within the plasma streamers.

Reg Barkley is in engineering, so we know whatever happens will now revolve around him. It has to be said that Worf, Riker and Crusher are very brave. Not so Mr. Barkley. But we already knew that didn't we. Geordi must be blind not to see his fear.

Just out of interest, did Colm Meaney ever become a full cast member? You know, name on the marquees, or at least in the opening credits. It must be nearly time for him to transfer his skills to Terok Nor. NO? He's still only a guest star.

This one was written by Brannon Braga. He would be involved in writing 61 of the TNG episodes. 48 Voyager, and 97 Star Trek: Enterprise. He was also a producer on many shows.

I have to say that my attention has wandered away from the story. We're still 11 minutes in and Reg is still not happy with the idea of transporting. I have to wonder, with someone obviously so afraid of transporting, would it not be better to tell him to turn his back, stay perfectly still, and then transport him over without saying energize? What would happen if he put his arms out side of the beam. In the end, you've got to ask yourself whether it was worth Barkley going over to the USS Yosemite after all. Did they really need him?

Indeed, they don't really need the transporter considering that a person can be energized from anywhere as long as you're wearing your com-badge.

A half-baked episode that isn't a total waste of time, but perhaps a tad slow and watery.

This Episodes Clue: The Uncertainty Principle 1927 (Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)

We've all been there!

[iblack-23610 · 9/10 · 2 September 2022]

Fear of flying or scared in crowded places. We've all got some level of anxiety. Personally I'm terrified of flying, and I was booked with my family to fly to Scotland just before the Covid pandemic hit and I was so relieved that it did as all international flights were canceled. We're rebooked for 2024 and Reg is my hero in leading up to it.

I really understand Reg in this episode. His acting is so perfect that he can relay his fear so well. O'Briens talk with him was great! The key point is that you can only be brave when your afraid and Reg overcome his fear by transporting and then overcame an even greater fear by the effects he experienced in the transportation! He's probably the bravest one out of the whole bunch. He's is an inspiration. He was such an underused character.

Fairly good but nothing particularly memorable

[snoozejonc · 6/10 · 31 October 2021]

Reg Barclay tries to overcome his fear of the transporters.

This is a relatively enjoyable episode with another good performance from Dwight Schultz.

The story is not the most interesting, but if you appreciate sci-fi detail regarding the various technologies portrayed in Star Trek, you might find it fascinating as it discusses the working of the transporters in depth. It also works well as an allegory to the fear of flying.

It is centred around Barclay, so as with all episodes about this character you need to at least find him entertaining to enjoy it. Personally I quite like seeing a different type of personality take centre stage and think Schultz is always good value for his screen time.

Colm Meaney also has a decent amount of screen time and a good dynamic with Schultz in their scenes together.

There are certain aspects of this episode I do struggle with. I'm not a fan of the concept that there is a major transporter problem that happens to affect the one character who has a phobia of transporters. Plus it is very heavy on technobabble.

Visually it contains some decent effects, but for an episode entitled 'The Realm of Fear' I expected something a bit scarier in the transporter than what we are shown.

Barclay at Wit's End

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 6 September 2014]

Ensign Barclay is dreadfully afraid of the transporter. This has been so since his days at Starfleet Academy. When the Yosemite has been found floating with only one person aboard, he is expected to beam over and help Geordi with his analysis. Just as he is about to go, he runs from the transporter room. After Troi teaches him some relaxation techniques, he gives it another try and manages to beam over. One his return, a large wormlike creature with lamprey-like teeth comes at him while he is in the middle of the transport. He is panic stricken but because of his history, he doesn't tell anyone. What is happening to him is a part of the mystery on board the Yosemite. Finally, he needs to know and has O'Brien beam him over and back. The results are pretty amazing. This episode is thoughtful, but watching Barclay is like drinking too many cups of coffee. He literally bounces off the walls.

Reg is back

[anthonylesley · 7/10 · 15 April 2020]

In this episode Reg Barclay returns and we find out he's terrified of the transporters

Hate Flying?

[Samuel-Shovel · 5/10 · 2 June 2020]

In "Realm of Fear" Barclay returns and gets injured in a strange transporter accident, something he already has a phobia of, while the Enterprise investigates an abandoned Star Fleet vessel, the USS Yosemite.

This episode would be pretty middle-of-the-road if not for a few issues. The hand puppet monster is just plain awful. It's one of the more laughable aliens TNG has ever produced. Not sure why it would be this bad in Season 6...

The plot is kind of interesting, a simile to a fear of flying. But the metaphor doesn't hold up. Barclay is scared of flying; everyone tries to disprove his fear. But then it turns out to be totally grounded by what happens. So what is the episode saying? That we should be scared of flying? Weird message.

Also Geordi claims nothing weird has ever happened to him whilst he's been in a transporter, even though we know that to be false from literally like 5 episodes ago. Come on La Forge!

"Transporting really is the safest way to travel."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 13 March 2024]

This episode brings up a point I've always considered while watching Star Trek. How can you trust the transporter to take apart the molecules in your body and reassemble them in another location without something - anything - going haywire? There have to be millions of molecules making up one's anatomy; how would it be possible that every single one of them would land up in the right place next to each other? It's actually pretty mind blowing.

Anyway, I know it's science fiction, although I wouldn't be surprised if the technology takes us there someday. Personally, I'd probably be more like Reg Barclay (Dwight Schultz) than most, putting one's trust in a science that can't be completely understood. I can understand how Barclay became so agitated upon his initial attempt, and later on after he beams back aboard the Enterprise feeling like something hitched a ride with him. The ionic fluctuations in the transporter had those quasi-energy microbes that made the dull metallic glow appear on his arm, but I couldn't fathom why the missing crew members from the USS Yosemite looked like moray eels trying to grab hold of Barclay on his return to the Enterprise. They looked more monstrous than human.

Back aboard the Enterprise I couldn't help thinking that Reg found himself trading one phobia for another. Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney) might have eased Barclay's fears earlier with his story about overcoming arachnophobia, but he didn't do Reg any favors leaving him alone with a tarantula crawling up his arm. I hope he was okay.

Good episode ruined by bad ending

[a-gordon-2374 · 5/10 · 11 May 2022]

Interesting concept in this episode about overcoming fear. The episode is well done until the end.

Why oh why are humans appearing as fat space worms? Why does Reg suddenly hug one of them? This made absolutely no sense.

Why?

[Pimilli · 5/10 · 10 September 2019]

The Good

I like that they try to break down real fears that people have with technology. Microwaves, ATMs, self-driving cars etc. We all have fear of new technology at some point.

The Bad

Why would Barkley TAKE MORE THAN HALF THE EPISODE TO TELL ANYONE THAT THE THING BIT HIM ON HIS ARM??

I'm Good now.

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

[celineduchain · 5/10 · 20 February 2022]

The Golden Age of Star Trek: we had the 6th Season of The Next Generation and the 1st Season of Deep Space Nice on our televisions, Generations on view in our cinemas and First Contact due out soon. This season of TNG contains some excellent stand-alone episodes and several spectacular two-parters, with only the occasional make-weight. Despite the length of time it had already been on the air, it still represents some of the highest standard of television Science Fiction ever broadcast.

Here is Reginald Barclay back to give us more hysterical neuroticism than would ever be accepted from a lesser performer and, this time, may even have been a little over the top for Dwight Schultz. In this episode, we discover that his transporter phobia turns out to have a basis in reality but, unfortunately, his lack of confidence and fear of being disbelieved prevent him from telling anybody about the hideous creatures he is seeing in the transporter stream. Actually, can you imagine anyone having taken him seriously?

Audiences are divided on the scariness of the giant hairy worms with wide open, searching mouths. When combined with the glowing light effects of the transporter, they were certainly enough to give most of us the heebie jeebies at the time and to make Reg appear very brave when he voluntarily entered the stream for an extended period of time.

Our anti-hero gets to be a real hero and is instrumental in the saving of four lives that were believed lost. That, to my mind, more than makes up for the confusing, space-microbe explanation of what caused the phenomenon to start with. Thanks are due to all the people who had their schedules shuffled around so that a well-known actor like Dwight Schultz could be fitted into the series. He is a true friend to Star Trek and we appreciate the opportunity to see him in this role.

Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5.