SHIP IN A BOTTLE


TNG returns after being virtually overshadowed artistically by early DS9
episodes and... comes up with the best episode yet of its sixth season.

"Ship In A Bottle" was a delightful adventure tale, primarily because it
handled its misdirection so well.  Until Data informed us that he, Picard and
Barclay were still on the holodeck, I'd had no clue that the show were
anything other than what it had appeared.  In fact, I'd been getting rather
annoyed with it because it seemed to be completely glossing over the
implications of Moriarty walking off the holodeck and being able to take over
the ship.  (So, in a sense, they used my low expectations of TNG against me!)

This show had a lot going for it.  For one thing, it has Barclay in it, but it
certainly not "A Barclay episode".

But better yet was the VERY rare instance of TNG actually going back and
dealing with some plot element of a previous episode which had been left
unresolved.  Barclay was the ideal recurring character to discover Moriarty,
since he didn't first appear until long after "Elementary Dear Data", and it
was nice to see the writers covering all their bases regarding Moriarty's
existence.

And best of all was that the Moriarty conundrum came to a true CONCLUSION.
The verdict: We don't know what created Moriarty, but it's pretty clear now
that holodeck creatures can't leave the holodeck without being destroyed.
(Sure, the writers could change their minds in the future, but I hope that
they don't.  This episode is as strong as it is partly because of its
continuity, dating all the way back to "The Big Goodbye".)  Certainly Moriarty
won't be released even if a way to release him IS found, because he's proven
himself to be untrustworthy.

And, of course, Picard's solution to their dilemma was believable and tidy.
Moriarty seemed to have built his little ship too well.  I had thought that
Picard's scheme with the transporter had been some signal to Riker which would
cause Moriarty to decompose or somehow be rendered helpless, but in fact it
was all another holodeck fantasy.

This is easily the best holodeck episode TNG has produced (one wonders whether
there's anything left to do with the holodeck now), and, as I said, the most
enjoyable episode yet this season.  Now perhaps as ambitious and potentially
filling an episode as "Chain Of Command" was (though CoC didn't fulfill its
potential), but nonetheless an excellent outing.

Grade: A

TNG SEASON SIX AT A GLANCE:
Time's Arrow II: B-
Realm Of Fear: C
Man Of The People: C
Relics: B+
Schisms: B-
True Q: D-
Rascals: D+
A Fistful Of Datas: B
The Quality Of Life: C+
Chain Of Command: B+
Chain Of Command Part II: B
Ship In A Bottle: A
---
Total Points: 30 1/3
Season Average: 2.528 (B-)
(Rise of 0.134 from previous episode)