Ship in a Bottle
- Episode aired Jan 23, 1993
- TV-PG
- 45m
Lt. Barclay mistakenly awakes Moriarty in the forgotten holodeck program, who then makes his demands clear and unforgettable.Lt. Barclay mistakenly awakes Moriarty in the forgotten holodeck program, who then makes his demands clear and unforgettable.Lt. Barclay mistakenly awakes Moriarty in the forgotten holodeck program, who then makes his demands clear and unforgettable.
- Crewman Garvey
- (uncredited)
- Command Division Officer
- (uncredited)
- Science Division Officer
- (uncredited)
- Ensign Russell
- (uncredited)
- Command Division Lieutenant
- (uncredited)
- Operations Division Ensign
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaShip in a Bottle has one of the longest pre-credits sequence of any TNG episode, clocking in at just over six and a half minutes.
- GoofsWhen Picard warns Moriarty about criminal activity, Moriarty blames his creator by saying his crimes were "the scribblings of an Englishman dead now for four centuries." Arthur Conan Doyle was Scottish, not English.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Barclay: As far as Moriarty and the Countess know, they're halfway to Meles II by now. This enhancement module contains enough active memory to provide them with experiences for a lifetime
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: They will live their lives and never know any difference.
Counselor Deanna Troi: In a sense, you did give Moriarty what he wanted.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: In a sense. But who knows? Our reality may be very much like theirs, and all this might just be an elaborate simulation, running inside a little device sitting on someone's table.
[everyone walks off, except Barclay]
Barclay: [tentatively] Computer, end program.
- Crazy creditsThe episode ends just as Barclay gives the command for the computer to end the holodeck program.
- ConnectionsEdited from TrekCulture: 10 Greatest Final Lines In Star Trek Episodes (2022)
- SoundtracksStar Trek: The Next Generation Main Title
Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage
This is a strong episode that makes great use of the holodeck and guest characters.
There is little about the story I can say without spoiling, so I'll just say that the holodeck is cleverly used to twist the plot in several directions. I also liked the fun observations made about the nature and perception of reality which links very well to everything that happens.
This is one of the best Reg Barclay episodes, as the writers refreshingly treat the character as a normal member of the crew as opposed to an oddball whose oddities drive the plot. Dwight Schultz is on great from as always.
Other cast members who stand out are Patrick Stewart, Stephanie Beecham, and Daniel Davis, who all recite their dialogue with class and have great chemistry in scenes together. Brent Spiner gets an opportunity to do Holmes again which is always entertaining.
Great endings are somewhat rare in episodes of Star Trek, but this is one of the better ones for being both positive, unexpected, and relatively humorous.
- snoozejonc
- Nov 23, 2021
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1