10. Hollow Pursuits
'Hollow Pursuits' is all about a guy who doesn't fit in onboard the Enterprise. He's shy, nervous, talks way to much. He's constantly nervous and fidgety around others and struggles in conversation, often stumbling over his own words. Geordie talks about how much he dislikes Barclay but i just don't see why. Sure, he's often late and the guy is odd. That's it. Barclay is the guy at work that gets on your nerves or talks your ear off.
I like that this episode shows not everyone in Starfleet is perfect. Not just in the characterization of Barclay but in Riker and Geordie too. I just don't get why Geordie has such a strong aversion to him. Geordie never had a lazy or annoying roomate at Starfleet Academy? You also get the first inkling that the Holodeck can be abused. Either as an escape from reality or in the indulgence of fantasies... something DS9 would further explore.
It also gives us a glimmer into a mind that resents young Ensign Crusher. Though he is a genius it has to be a bit embarrassing for a teenager to think of something the best and brightest minds on the flagship couldn't. Something i always thought odd... Barclay appeared more on Star Trek: Voyager than on Next Generation.
9. The Defector
I prefer the Romulans over the Klingons. I always have. The idea of a Romulan defecting is interesting on its own, but add the looming threat of war and the uncertainty the crew feels toward Jarok and you have a very compelling episode. Is this whole thing a trap? What kind of person would betray their people? Is his motivation to prevent war genuine? These are the questions at the heart of this episode. Even though i hate Star Trek Nemesis i like to think it was prior to Shinzon's attack that Picard was finally able to deliver Jarok's letter home.
I love the final showdown at the end. I remember recreating it with Micro Machines, Playmates electronic starships and drawing it.
8. Deja Q
I love Q. He is one of my favorite characters in all of Star Trek. He brings such chaos and humor to the show. Watching him struggle with simple human aspects such as back pain and hunger is, to me, genuinely more interesting that some of Data's explorations of what it is to be human. What would happen if a god like being suddenly was stripped of his powers and made human? I love him ordering ten Chocolate Sundays cause he's in a really bad mood. Q's celebration, complete with mariachi band and fantasy women makes me smile every single time.
7. The Offspring
Data creates a daughter. This episode is along the same lines as 'The Measure of a Man'. That episode established Data is his own person and not the property of Starfleet. Data attempts to educate his daughter while a Starfleet Admiral who thinks he knows best wants to place Lal under his custody. But we see, in the end, that he isn't such a bad guy afterall. I love his scene at the end where he says, 'He was moving so fast trying to save her, it was incredible.' Those lines were delivered so well. The whole episode you think this Admiral is a complete tool but with that one scene you see that not only is he more complex but you see his complete awe at Data and his abilities.
6. I, Borg
This is Picard's 'have i the right?' moment (bonus points if you catch the reference). If you can use someone to commit genocide and save lives should you? To me this is the Batman argument. Not, Batman should kill. But through the snake eating its own tail relationship with the Joker, Batman is ultimately responsible for every life the Joker takes.
This episode deals with unresolved emotions Picard has towards the Borg via the events of Best of Both Worlds. Derek would tell you that this is when Picard resolved his feelings towards the Borg and the film First Contact revived said feelings out of the blue.
I, on the other hand, would argue that the trauma Picard suffered is not so easily waved away. Sure, this is a tv series and you can't have your lead heroic character suffering a mental breakdown or cowering in the corner. I, Borg was a baby step for Picard. Family was the first step in dealing with his pain and anguish of being stripped of his humanity and being used as a weapon. All his knowledge and experience from years of serving Starfleet turned against humanity. First Contact brought back all those feelings to the surface.
Its like running into your ex. Ten years ago you may have been completely in love and the breakup devastated you. Over those ten years you dealt with the pain and managed to put it aside. But suddenly running into them is gonna bring back all those feelings.
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