Star Trek: 10 Weirdest Holodeck Episodes

Many of us relate to Lieutenant Reginald 'Reg' Barclay, including those of us who are autistic. A stranger in a strange world, it is not he who is 'weird,' but those around him. Barclay's is a story of success, but only as much on his terms as the 24th century would seem to allow. There are limits, too, of course, and fencing with holographic versions of the crew and creating 'The Goddess of Empathy' was, no doubt, one of them.

Frankly speaking, at the beginning of Hollow Pursuits, everyone around Barclay, aside from Guinan and counsellor Troi, acts like a bunch of... jerks. The engineering team can't help but laugh at Barclay behind his back, adopting the derisive nickname invented by Wesley, who himself insists on talking over the lieutenant whenever he gets the opportunity. Geordi is abrupt and abrasive, even wanting Barclay out of engineering, until Captain Picard tells him otherwise. All of Barclay's colleagues have to be persuaded to show him even a modicum of understanding and respect.

Of course, all of that is, no doubt, the idea behind Hollow Pursuits — to shine a fictional light on real-world issues. Nevertheless, it always strikes as odd that, by the 24th century, Barclay's difference remains a 'problem' in need of a solution — that acceptance, understanding, and adjustment in and of the workplace isn't a given. The matter is far from resolved for Barclay, as he faces similar (although more well-intentioned) pushback from colleagues in the Star Trek: Voyager episodes Pathfinder and Inside Man.