Poll of the Week: Holodeck Mishaps

[Jo Marshall]

Bouncing off from the poll a few weeks ago regarding "Modern Conveniences" and all that future technology we couldn't live without (check it out here if you missed it!), we're exploring the wonder of the Holodeck. From fascinating sojourns through space and time, to imaginative crew creating their own holodeck adventures, to becoming trapped in a nightmare of someone else's creation, we've seen Star Trek explore the very essence of what it is to have such an ingenious technology on board a starship or station. Indulging in fantasies, recreating training environments only available on starships, escaping the day-to-day monotony of serving in deep space. 

We saw a seemingly never-ending string of holodeck activities that became quintessential parts of the characters we grew to love in the 24th century. From Geordi's recreation of Leah Brahms and falling in love with his conceptualised vision of her, Worf's intense and ferocious training programs to take part in his Klingon lifestyle, a rivalry conducted in a baseball game by the crew of Deep Space Nine, Voyager's Doctor envisioning a real life for himself he could not have as a non-corporeal being, Data's poker game against the greatest minds in Earth's history, tom and Harry's Bride of Chaotica comic-style program, and the unforgettable adventures of the San Francisco Detective story of Captain's Picard's Dixon Hill. Over time, and use, the technology has become a staple of the Star Trek diet and as part of the fundamentals of Trek as a tricorder. 

However, not all is as riveting and wonderful in the world of holodecks. Crews have also explored the pitfalls and tribulations of when this technology goes wrong, or suffered from holodiction, excluding real-world responsibilities while the subject immerses themselves in this fantasy life. Reginald Barclay showed us the dangers of this when he recreated likenesses of his colleagues in the holodeck; deliberately crafting scenarios where he could be the hero over his superior male officers while becoming intimate with female staff. In the same vein, on Deep Space Nine, we saw the grittier side as Quark made his holosuites available to cater to the sexual proclivities of patrons attending Quark's Bar. And if you're looking for the worst offender, Data's Sherlock Holmes program featuring a Moriarty who wants to leave the holodeck is arguably one of the best Star Trek episodes to use the concept of the technology to the full advantage. 

This week, we want to know which episodes of the holodeck were the worst offenders, or do they hold a special place in that strange heart of yours? Is a bad holodeck adventure better than the good ones? 

Which of these holodeck episodes gets the trekkie thumbs down?

Edited April 23, 2020 by Jo Marshall

[Alieth]

It was a tight match between Fair Haven and Flotter tbh.... still Flotter is so deeply annoying and nightmare fuel that it deserves the poll over the VOY version of Subrosa. 

I want to add a (dis) honourable mention here to TNG "Cost of Living" and its deep characters displaying some of the best lines (and make-up) of the 90ish

 

[Jo Marshall]

4 minutes ago, Alieth said:

I want to add a (dis) honourable mention here to TNG "Cost of Living" and its deep characters displaying some of the best lines (and make-up) of the 90ish

The one with the mud bath. I remember it well 😄

[Solaris]

The only correct answer here is "These Are the Voyages...". It was a disrespectful way to end a series, and wasnt even that good of a premise to begin with...

 

Also I dunno that I would count 'The Thaw" as a holodeck episode...