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UNCUT REACTION - Star Trek TNG S2E3 - Elementary, Dear Data

Minor audio issue at the beginning, but it is fixed after the show's intro. 

**PATRON TAKES for The Last Starfighter is now up! We are discussing the movie tonight so make sure you get your take posted!

UNCUT REACTION - Star Trek TNG S2E3 - Elementary, Dear Data

Comments

Season 2's first true classic and IMO the first episode where the whole crew really starts to feel like they do later in the series. On top of that, the tone and resolution of the episode is very much in keeping with best traditions of Trek and TNG in particular. I did think it was pretty stupid that Troi was sensing a hologram. As seen in Tin Man, even a hyper sensitive full Betazoid couldn't sense Data at all. Just made no sense. She should have commented on whatever Pulaski was feeling. Also there REALLY should be safety protocols in place that prevent just such as occurrence from ever happening even with the chief engineer's override code. And of course, there should be a way to just pull the plug, a manual power cut off outside the holodeck. Regarding Pulaski, she's significantly improved here, and her criticism of Data is more in line with the Spock/Bones rivalry. And as others pointed out, she developed a certain respect for Moriarty, when he too is a synthetic intelligence. As to how Bones would act toward Data, I feel even in his prime he wouldn't give Data a hard time the way he did Spock. With Vulcans, there's always a certain arrogance and disdain for "human weaknesses" like emotion. Data is fascinated by humans and wants to emulate them. I can see Bones lecturing him for asking too many questions at inappropriate times as he sometimes does, but as Data wouldn't really fire back, I doubt McCoy would bother him much. Moriarty was a great adversary and Daniel Davis did a great job playing the character. As I said I very much like the resolution to this episode in that neither was he some cartoon villain nor did Picard opt to delete his program even though he had presented some threat to the ship. His motivations were understandable, and somehow the computer created a program with some level of consciousness. He showed trust in turning control back over to Picard and that trust wasn't taken advantage of. Good stuff. Finally that last scene with Geordi and Picard was a nice capstone for the episode. When Picard says that Bristol fashion means everything in perfect order and then says "as are we", it's a great moment of him just letting Geordi know he's not blaming him for what happened. Great episode. Shame we only got that one brief scene of Worf in a suit.

Timothy Nikiforovs

This was less of a problem for me than the idea that the Enterprise computer could accidentally generate an AI in the first place. Wouldn't any computer with this level of technology have automatic protocols to prevent this exact scenario? While I agree the episode is well written, directed, and performed, the set-up bothered me even back on my first viewing back in the day that it definitely has had the same impact on me as Jovet here. As a side meta note, I know that the reason for the holodeck creating threats to the ship was Gene's edict of no more transporter accident episodes but, still. You have this extremely high end starship that represents a considerable investment on the part of the Federation and you throw an optional entertainment and training device (well, at least six actually) on it that has the capability of destroying that vehicle? While I find it less irritating now that I'm older, it still grates on me. For the record, I have worked in research for my entire life and have always been very lab safety focused so, this might be a me problem, specifically.

Nick Sauer

I think my solution to the talking over issue is simple - I keep your video's volume lower than the TNG video. It's low enough that I can hear you when I want to, but also not high enough to drown out the show.

Glenner7

😂 I'm glad I'm not the only one who talks to them when they're talking about something while something important is being said, or if they're asking a question/wondering about something that's literally being explained as they speak over it. Totally get that it's a reaction and they're going to talk. It's just sometimes they do it at EXACTLY the wrong time! lol

Lady Beyond The Wall

I'm confused, did we skip Season 2 Episodes 1 & 2?

Fossilizer

I forgot how much I f*cking love this episode, it's all holodeck & tons of exposition, but the actors are just killing these scenes... especially Daniel Davis👌 Keep it real, love rewatching TNG along with you guys, I have them on DVD but curious to know if you watch on Paramount+ or Blu-ray... thanks for the honest & sometimes polarizing reactions. Keep 'em coming!

Billy T. Riker

I'd much prefer your honest reaction as opposed to more of a "performance". I think your energy exactly matched that of this episode. Be yourselves. I think you both have great personalities, that's why I became a patron. We are all individuals. Authenticity in the media is in short supply. You two are a breath of fresh air.

Darren Chapman

I absolutely enjoy and prefer you having organic, natural reactions in the moment and I'm never looking for you to manufacture a response or drama at all. I had assumed u were more reserved this time because you were both engrossed in what you were watching, that's how I read ur more subdued response.

Knights Who Say Sledge

I enjoy your honest reactions. Keep up the good work. Honest reactions to one of the greatest shows ever made is why I subscribed to the Patreon. I know you won’t like every episode but I know you will enjoy the show and the following shows to come. Watching the shows in chronological release order is genius.

Just another Red Shirt

Wow I was just guessing! LOL! Thanks for confirming my theory!

StonyD

I love your reactions, your attitude and commitment to watching them all! It’s a great journey. That said, I do find myself, at times, talking to you guys on the screen, something to the effect of, “well, you’d know that answer of you hadn’t been talking so much!” An example here is the deterioration of the holodeck as Picard entered with Data. You got into a discussion about whether that was the normal appearance since it was the sky, or something close to that, at the very moment Picard was commenting that they were running out of time, and that Moriarity was gaining more control. You guys are at your best when you’re vocalizing reactions. Where it goes off the rails a bit is when you start having side discussions, like sometimes you get into, “wouldn’t it be funny if…” and you get riffing on that and lose an important piece of action or dialogue. I love you guys and I get a great deal of satisfaction from watching you enjoy these. I hope this is taken as constructive! 😁 Keep up the good work!

Mark Shampine

We are watching strictly in release order so yes there will be overlap. We already have all the release dates through enterprise mapped out.

Josh (Target Audience)

To answer your question, it depends on the moment. I had to mute you guys because you happened to be talking over Moriarity and I needed to hear what he said. If it is a lighthearted episode like Scotty in a bar fight then it doesn't really matter but this was one of the ones where you probably needed to pick and choose your spots. Rewatch your reaction to Edith Keeler crossing the street and there was no worrying about if you were providing sufficient content for the audience.

Ken R

I adore Pulaski I think she’s better written than Crusher. She gets involved in everything going on on the ship not just doctoring. Some of that may be her meddling, but it’s what the character needs to open her up more than Bev.

Philbot

A little tidbit: Similar to the quote "Beam me up, Scotty" in Star Trek, the episode title "Elementary Dear Data (Watson)" is no actual phrase Sherlock Holmes ever said despite it often being used a Holmes quote. Although Holmes used the words "Elementary" and "Dear Watson" on a number of occasions, he never actually said the words in this form in the original stories by Doyle.

DataDroid

I think you guys should stay true to however you feel. If an episode draws you in and you are just enjoying watching it there is no need to "force" a reaction. I think one of the most refreshing thing about you guys is that watching with you all is like watching with everyday "normal" people and your reactions and responses genuinely reflect your true thoughts and feelings about the episodes. Therefore, my vote is keep on keeping on and only change if its something you all want to do, not because of any pressure that makes you feel like you need to change in order to satisfy your target audience ;)

Tristan Rose

The first Forbidden Planet store was on Tottenham Court Road.

Numinous2019

My 2nd favorite episode of season 2. I'm so glad you liked it and I always enjoy watching these with you. A perfect blend of comments and just watching. I do really like when you point out specific things you like or don't. I really appreciate these watch-alongs. Thank you!

Gary Leyh

Jeremy Brett is excellent! And I see the inspiration taken from him as well.

DataDroid

Will you guys be watching any of the shows simultaneously? That's how I've been doing it (I've been watching all the shows and movies for the first time too), and I can't imagine not doing it that way. If you're interested I can also link to a Google Docs document with all episodes and movies in order of release.

Matthew Webb

I think you guys had the right blend of Silence and Comments during this one. 😀🖖

Duane Chancey

According to the ST Wiki site Memory Alpha, yes.

KatWithAttitude

Don't worry about your reactions being too quiet. It means you're paying attention.

Regan

But it had no effect on the plot?

StonyD

Disagree. The model was damaged by Moriarty's control of the real ship.

Jovet

Thank you for this excellent comment!

Jovet

Really a fan of your reaction, and yeah every once and awhile you guys talk over important bits or go off on a tangent while the show is playing and its frustrating. Especially when (like a few times in season 1) you talk over a piece of information then later don't understand why they're on planet x or station y. However, its your channel do what you enjoy, I'll watch along either way.

A Surprisingly Moist Fart

Absolutely. Too much talking over exposition. I maintain the opinion that this is a disservice to yourselves—you can't react properly to what you're not truly taking all in. Facial expression reactions are great, as are brief comments. But protracted discussions should be left for after it's over.

Jovet

Been loving you guys since I came across your channel Just one thing always bothers me, you guys talk over a lot of the shows lines and I can not hear the lines. I don't know how you can. And worse you laugh a lot sometimes during serious scenes and lines because of your conversation. Just my thoughts.

MRB1216

Does anyone know if "Armus" that killed Yar was named after the producer "Burton Armus" (who is in these credits)? It seems like such a specific name.

StonyD

It just occurred to me: this episode defies the "Chekhov's Gun" plot convention with the Victory ship. It never plays a significant part in this episode.

StonyD

Gentlemen, we are here to watch the show WITH you. The entertainment is hearing what two insightful new fans have to say about our old lady love. If that means you are silent and then have a full discussion after the show (which you always do), then that means you cared enough to pay attention during it. Thank you for that. That's my money well spent.

StonyD

I like your real reactions. Sometimes less is enough. When a lot of thoughtful fairly deep issues are explored, it makes no sense to have a big reaction. I like it because I know what is happening and I like to watch to see that moment when you catch and the look on your face(s). Don't "try", I know I am following you guys because it feels like a buddy watching it with me. Not putting a show. Keep it up

Prof Moff

If your honest reaction is to just be engrossed in the episode then that is the reaction. There is no need to talk over the whole thing or react in ways that don't feel real to you. I thought the reaction was great.

Strife

They tried to recreate Spock and Mccoy with the new doctor but the difference that makes her feel grosser than Mccoy is that Spock could clap back, ans McCoy while annoyed with his race and philosophy, never questioned his personhood as a whole, Data feels more innocent so seeing her attack his individuality is infuriating

Talon Karrde

You guys had a great reaction to this. No worries about YOUR "performance", to me it demonstrates your layers of intelligence concerning thought provoking "cerebral' episodes.

Monty Crawford

Also, look up "detachable wing collar." Sometimes they were so stiff and sharp that men killed themselves when stumbling while wearing one.

Aramis Calcutt

Jeremy Brett, guys! Look at some of his Holmes episode. You'll see Data's inspiration.

Aramis Calcutt

Yes, the neckties are correct. We need to give you way more historical dramas to watch. Personally however I feel when you guys go quiet it indicates you're captured in the story and don't want to miss anything. In my opinion I think it's better if you don't miss an important detail and therefore don't get lost in the narrative or have to circle back later, I'm still enjoying the reactions even if most of the commentary is saved for the end or the follow-up video.

JD Nevesytrof

Thoughtful discussion about a thoughtful episode is always welcome 🤗

SinocTheHodgeheg

Don't think we need to "get our money's worth" by big reactions. If I'm being honest, one of my favorite reactions from you guys (and don't take this the wrong way) is where you're completely silent, maybe wide eyed for the shocking, maybe eyes narrowed as your gears turn over some far out idea.. But basically, seeing you immersed is what I'm into. So visible effort to avoid talking over dialogue is appreciated, but hey not every spoken word in TNG is vital.. it's just that you don't know what will be. But I'm not saying stay quiet all the time by any means, I'm just saying the silent reactions are just as valuable.

James Bottas

29:08 If the "override protocol" was instigated by Geordi's authority... wouldn't he be authorized to turn it off??? The lack of plot logic in this story really irks me. I may be in the minority but its logic problems are why this story is nowhere near the top of any lists for me.

Jovet

In regards to talking over stuff: Maybe try to give your thoughts in quiet scenes without dialog... which I know, in Star Trek is a big ask, since it's such a talky show. I know this trouble myself from making let's plays. I love story driven games so finding those pauses in game dialog to give my own thoughts without talking over characters is challenging.

Andreas Schmitt

21:05 I really hoped/expected the dialogue to be "Doctor? Doctor Who??"

Jovet

personally it gives me a chance to rewatch the episode and get those real first impressions from someone else. I don't need the over the top stuff to make it worth while and I then get the full reaction talk after so its all good. Id rather real moments than overacting for clicks

Lt Dan I scream

In terms of your reaction: You're totally fine. I don't need over the top stuff. If you just watch and give your thoughts every now and then it's totally fine. For me it's rewatching the show together with you guys. It's an event when a video comes up. I wouldn't even mind if you were quiet the entire time and just discussed it afterwards. It feels like watching it with friends :) But for YouTube don't worry. There's plenty of 'content' in your reaction.

Andreas Schmitt

If the episode is thought provoking and captivating your attention. That is how we watched the episode when it came out and that is a good reaction. Not everything is the. Over the to reaction

Troy Massey

The fourth installment of Star Trek to feature a regular character’s name in the title, after “Spock’s Brain,” "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" and “Datalore,” this episode might more logically have been named “Elementary, My Dear Geordi,” which would have more closely matched the phrase that is the Sherlock Holmes franchise’s equivalent of “Beam me up, Scotty.” As I experience it now, “Elementary, Dear Data” is a different episode from when I first saw it as a preteen. Back then, I saw a disconcerting, off-putting episode in which Geordi makes an extremely simple and straightforward verbal error that endangers the Enterprise and condemns a conscious being who has committed no real crime to solitary confinement. What makes the episode different now is that, in the intervening years, I have read all of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories and have become as big a fan of them as I am of Star Trek. I now see the episode as a wondrous homage from one of my favorite fictional creations to another. While all the specific references to Conan Doyle’s stories in this episode are wonderful to behold, the most profound example of my altered perception comes when Geordi, in the role of Dr. Watson, writes a description of Holmes’ violin-playing in his journal. What viewers who have not read all 60 of Conan Doyle’s Holmes stories may not realize is that this description appears nowhere in any of them. In other words, this is not an existing text that Geordi is copying out from memory. That speech is *Geordi’s own description* of Data’s violin-playing, written in Watson’s voice as though referring to Holmes. It reveals a far more poetic side to Geordi’s character than he has previously displayed and is the most profound expression of his friendship for Data up to this point in the series. I cannot think of a more delicately beautiful gesture of appreciation from one fictional universe to another than this. In an amazing example of attention to detail, the signal flags on Geordi’s model of the HMS Victory spell out, “England expects every man to do his duty,” the final message Horatio Nelson signaled from the ship before his death at Trafalgar. Given that Nelson died aboard the Victory, Geordi’s comment that he wishes Captain Zimbata had been in command of the original Victory is a bit inappropriate! A subtlety I did not notice until this rewatch is the repeated use of the word “victory” in later scenes (“To feel the thrill of a victory… there must be the possibility of failure. Where’s the victory winning a battle you can’t possibly lose?” and “Congratulations, Professor Moriarty, I capitulate to the better man -- your victory is well earned”), creating a verbal and thematic link between strands of the story. Daniel Davis (Professor Moriarty) is well known to American TV viewers of my generation from his role as Niles, the British butler on "The Nanny," the sitcom starring Fran Drescher. I consider Davis the definitive Moriarty, despite not closely resembling Conan Doyle’s description of the character (making me wonder whether the holodeck modeled him on an actor who had played Moriarty sometime in the past). My dream team of actors to play Conan Doyle’s major characters would be Jeremy Brett (from the 1980s Granada TV series) as Holmes, Martin Freeman (from the BBC’s modernized "Sherlock") as Watson, and Davis as Moriarty. Amazingly, the Victorian London streets in this episode were all built within the confines of the empty Holodeck set. However, the sets were extremely expensive, and Paramount attempted to compensate by reducing the shooting schedule from eight days to seven, angering director Rob Bowman. Telling you whether the overspend on this episode would have unpleasant consequences later in the season would be a spoiler. Pulaski’s statement that “The real London was hundreds of square kilometers in size” may imply that London no longer exists in the 24th century (perhaps destroyed in World War III?). As far as I can tell from the Memory Alpha wiki, only one reference later in the franchise contradicts this in the mainline, “prime” version of the Star Trek timeline, leaving open the possibility that London suffered severe damage and is radically different in Picard’s time. (Pulaski could also simply be referring specifically to Victorian London.) This episode featured one of the best-known deleted scenes in TNG, removed at Gene Roddenberry’s behest. Originally, further dialogue between Picard and Data after Moriarty’s disappearance revealed that Picard was lying to Moriarty. He and Data knew that Moriarty could survive outside the holodeck because the sheet of paper with Moriarty’s drawing of the Enterprise survived outside. If the mortality failsafe had not broken down, the sheet of paper would have disappeared when Data removed it from the holodeck, and therefore its survival meant Moriarty could survive as well. This scene’s deletion was fortunate for multiple reasons. Gene Roddenberry’s stated reason for removing it was that it made Picard deceitful and therefore unsympathetic. However, it also would have contradicted “The Big Goodbye,” in which the mortality failsafe clearly has broken down (hence the life-threatening injury to Whalen when Leech shoots him), and yet Redblock and Leech disappear after leaving the holodeck. Also, a sheet of paper with a simple line drawing (like the lipstick on Picard's cheek in "The Big Goodbye" and the snowball in "Angel One") would pose no challenge to the Enterprise’s replicators, and it makes sense that the computer would replicate the drawing and transport it into Data’s hands when he walks off the holodeck with it. The scene in which Data shows Geordi the drawing includes an amusing goof: for Geordi to be able to flip the drawing over the way he does to show it to Data and the audience, Data must have handed it to him upside down! (Of course, there is no up or down in space…) Prof Moff is likely to share his opinion with us about what Moriarty and Pulaski got up to while they were off-screen together during this episode. Pulaski may like artificial intelligences better than she lets on, especially given that, as of this episode, she is pronouncing Data’s name correctly and using his correct pronouns (“he/him”). In my opinion, “Elementary, Dear Data” is the best TNG episode the Target Audience has yet seen but is not one of the top three episodes of Season 2.

Anthony Bernacchi

Tottenham Court Road was and is a dump (slum).

Jovet

Not a criticism, but an observation: despite your reaction being more subdued than usual, you did miss an important expository line by speaking over it, when the holodeck grid begins to be visible through the London setting and Picard explains that Moriarty is gaining more control over his environment. Fortunately, Picard explains this again after the commercial break. The issue of how big and vocal you want your reactions to be will become increasingly important because of the way TNG evolves as it goes on. I once mentioned that TNG can almost be described as a version of the dinner-party scene from “Is There In Truth No Beauty?” that is seven seasons long, and with this episode you are beginning to see what I meant, especially given that we now have *one of the actors from that scene* in the episodes (which was also true of one scene in “Farpoint,” of course). I think, however, that your reactions will always add value, because every episode is another building block in the Star Trek saga, and every one of your reactions is another stage of your journey through it.

Anthony Bernacchi

I guess Data kinda does prove Pulaski wrong, think of the scene in which Data deduces how Pulaski was abducted, and then the murder mystery with the murdered husband that the holodeck generated on its own, he deduced the whole thing, too - and those were not Sherlock Holmes stories he could have drawn from his memory. Just unfortunately Pulaski wasn't there to see it! xD A little thought from me to your question at the end ... I like your reactions the way they are. But for me you don't need to feel pressured to talk or comment just for the sake of doing it. You're doing an awesome job and thank you for sharing all of this with us!

DataDroid

“They all can’t be Zingers” Every episode has its unique presentation some more bold and elicit stronger reactions while others are more contemplative letting reactions simmer to a boil. I am in it to participate and encourage whatever reaction you most naturally have. Please don’t force silence, or conversation that you don’t actually feel, your candor has been appreciated if not anticipated. I can watch these episodes on my own to watch them in silence. I feel generally like I did when the episodes were originally aired Sitting around with a group of 5 or 6 friends watching the episode making snarky comments and watching them again later on my own, sometimes the group didn’t gather and that was OK, but in many ways a little boring. I look forward to the random thoughts and comments you generate as many are not things I have observed or experienced. Keep up the good work

Thicketdweller

I deel your reaction levels were pretty balanced. There were a couple times where you were talking about something yhat had just happened and so missed a point that might have seemed significant, but thats always going to happen to some degree. To the issue of the story turning on a dime (tupence?), I think the writers felt they established Data's abilities to do Holmes style deduction with the "unrelated" murder. The joke being that its not the murder thats not what this episode is about but Data's deduction skill. It ends up being a shockingly prophetic depiction of how we currently prompt generative AI, and how its attempts to meet those prompts can have utterly unexpected results

Julie Carter

This was the first episode of TNG that truly engaged me and gave me hope for future thought-provoking, original science fiction concepts in the series. I did notice how quiet you were during much of it, but I knew your wheels were spinning around the whole idea of AI becoming self-aware and affecting the material world, so I still enjoyed watching it along with you. This is one of the (few) bright spots of season two.

Jeff

A very interesting moral quandary - if a creation becomes aware that is a creation and desires to exist, is that not a condition of sapience - a desire to live and learn?

Mara

Without getting too much into it, there's a lot more like this to come and is a big part of what makes TNG so special

Ca$hWednesday

To answer your question at the end of the video; keep being true to yourselves. The way you guys handle your reactions is genuine. Not every episode is going to have the "shock-face" factor. For every "Conspiracy" body horror face explosion, there's half a dozen episodes like this that are more cerebral and dare I say slower. A lot of Star Trek is episodes like this where tackles deeper subjects without much spectacle.

Ca$hWednesday

I found myself aware of your talking in the background, but I just wasn't paying attention! Maybe I should watch again to hear your thoughts (I'm not going to do that)

Ee'char

This is on many peoples' list of their top 10 episodes of the entire series.

Turtleboy

So hyped to finish work and watch this

SinocTheHodgeheg

THIS is a genuine standout for the early show. We're really shaping up to see intersections of good character, good shipboard plots, good guest star and just plain fun concepts.

JD Nevesytrof

First! Holodeck time

AzoriusMage


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