While holodecks aren’t a part of the Enterprise’s available technology in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, an episode called “The Elysian Kingdom” managed to capture the spirit of those fantasy episodes. A holodeck allowed the crew members of ships like the Enterprise-D from Star Trek: The Next Generation to take a break from their continuing mission.
Series like Deep Space Nine and Voyager featured holodecks as well. However, The Next Generation was the series that introduced the holodeck technology as a story element. There were a number of holodeck episodes that gave the actors a chance to have fun with their characters. It was also used to help solve crimes, live out fantasies, and even create new types of life.
10 Captain Picard Portrayed Private Investigator Dixon Hill In "The Big Goodbye"
The holodeck allowed literary fans like Data and Captain Jean-Luc Picard to play classic roles. “The Big Goodbye” saw Capt. Picard head to the holodeck in order to live out the events of one of his favorite novels based on private investigator Dixon Hill. The episode also featured legendary actor Lawrence Tierney as the villain of the novel.
Picard invited Dr. Crusher, Data and a visiting historian to enjoy the Dixon Hill story as well. However, the holodeck experienced the first of many dangerous glitches over the years. Picard would revisit his role as Dixon Hill in episodes like “Manhunt” to avoid Lwaxana Troi. He also used a Dixon Hill story on the big screen in Star Trek: First Contact in one of Star Trek's greatest battles.
9 "Elementary, Dear Data" Introduced An Enhanced Professor James Moriarty
Lt. Cmdr. Data had a fascination with the stories of Sherlock Holmes/ He invited Lt. Cmdr. La Forge to join him as Watson. However, La Forge quickly grew tired of the holoprogram since Data knew the mysteries front to back. He asked the computer to create someone who was capable of defeating Data, not thinking he was creating one of the greatest Star Trek villains of all time.
The holodeck computer enhanced the intelligence of Sherlock Holmes’ famous literary rival, Professor James Moriarty. He was not only able to access the ship’s computer to put the Enterprise in danger, but also achieved sentience as a new being. Moriarty returned in “Ship in a Bottle” with a new attempt to find life outside the holodeck.
8 Lt. Barclay Inappropriately Worked Through His Feelings In "Hollow Pursuits"
When Lt. Barclay made his debut on Star Trek: The Next Generation, he was struggling with feelings of inferiority. He had problems with the authority figures on the Enterprise like Cmdr. Riker and Lt. Cmdr. Data. He also had unrequited feelings for Counsellor Troi that he explored on the holodeck. Barclay created a holoprogram that portrayed him as a swashbuckling medieval hero.
His superior officers were portrayed as villains while the female officers like Counsellor Troi and Dr. Crusher became damsels in love with the gallant knight, Barclay. When his holoprogram was discovered by the other crew members, it raised questions about some of the holodeck’s possible uses. Barclay received some further counseling to deal with his issues appropriately.
7 Commander Riker Fell In Love On The Holodeck With Minuet In “11001001”
Not every version of the Enterprise had a holodeck. The Enterprise-D was one of the first ships in the Federation outfitted with a holodeck. This gave the crew the chance to experiment with the holodeck to really see what was possible. In “11001001,” Cmdr. Riker was distracted with the holodeck by an alien race known as the Bynars who were trying to hijack the Enterprise.
Riker met a woman named Minuet on the holodeck when he visited an Earth jazz club program. Minuet had secretly been enhanced by the Bynars to be more human. Riker began to fall for the holoprogram, which began to raise his suspicions. Even Capt. Picard was curious about Minuet, though her part in the Bynar’s ruse was soon revealed.
6 The Holodeck Was Used During Riker’s Murder Trial In “A Matter of Perspective”
While the holodeck was largely used for recreation, it was used to assist with a few investigations over the years as well. In “A Matter of Perspective,” Cmdr. Riker was accused of murdering a scientist. The holodeck was used to bring the individual accounts of everyone involved to life, painting a dark picture of Riker’s actions initially.
Thankfully, the bridge officers were able to find enough information to create an accurate holoprogram that helped to exonerate Riker. Lt. Cmdr. La Forge also used the holodeck to discover the existence of invisible aliens on a former mission in “Identity Crisis.” “Schism” also used the holodeck to help alien abductees bring their shared but fractured memories to life.
5 Worf And His Adopted Brother Relocated An Endangered Species In “Homeward”
The Federation followed a Prime Directive that restricted their involvement in the development of some of Star Trek's best alien races. Worf’s adopted human brother Nikolai Rozhenko was an anthropologist who took it upon himself to save an alien species from certain extinction. This effectively broke the Prime Directive, putting him at odds with his brother.
He secretly used the Enterprise’s transporters to move the endangered race to the holodeck, where he created a facsimile of their planet. The alien race then took on a long “journey” in the holodeck to find a new home. They were safely resettled without ever having realized they were on a starship. This tactic would be seen again with the holoship in Star Trek: Insurrection.
4 A Sentient Lifeform Developed Using The Holodeck And The Ship’s Replicators In “Emergence”
The holodeck was explored in a new way in the “Emergence” episode. The Enterprise actually produced a living, sentient offspring. After the ship was exposed to a magnascopic storm, glitches in the holodeck began mixing different programs stored in the library. The crew soon discovered that the holodeck was beginning to develop its own consciousness.
Coupled with the ship’s replicator systems, the new sentience began creating a body for itself. The holodeck acted as its newborn brain and used different characters aboard the Orient Express to represent the different functions of the ship. With the crew’s help, the new being was able to complete its new body before leaving the Enterprise for good.
3 Riker Experienced A Future Vision Revealed As An Alien Holodeck In "Future Imperfect"
After Cmdr. Riker was exposed to an alien plant toxin on an unknown planet, he passed out in sickbay. He woke up seemingly decades later in a new future that he couldn’t remember. “Future Imperfect” followed the aged Riker as he tried to learn about the missing years of his life. His son tried to help, calling up images of his mother and Riker’s deceased wife.
However, Riker was clued in that something wasn’t right when his wife was revealed to be Minuet, the holographic woman he fell for in “11001001.” He discovered that he was trapped in a sophisticated version of the holodeck that could also scan his memories. He was the prisoner of a lonely alien being, though Riker was able to see past the ruse and offer the alien a new home.
2 Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge Fell For The Enterprise's Engine Designer In "Booby Trap"
When the Enterprise became trapped by an alien weapon in “Booby Trap,” Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge was forced to take extreme action with the ship’s engines to escape. He created a holodeck program of Doctor Leah Brahms, a warp field expert who helped design the Enterprise’s engines.
La Forge used data from personal logs and interviews to give the simulacrum a personality. The two began working together closely to save the ship. La Forge fell for the holoprogram, which caused issues when he ultimately met the real Dr. Brahms. She discovered his creation of her in the holodeck, creating tension between them initially.
1 Worf And Alexander’s Western Story Was Interrupted By “A Fistful of Datas”
One of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation was “A Fistful of Datas.” The episode name placed a clever spin on the classic movie title as Lt. Worf and his son Alexander starred in a Western set aboard the holodeck. Unfortunately, a recent experiment with Data’s positronic brain caused a series of errors on the holodeck.
Data became the villain of the western story, and Worf and Alexander were trapped in the holodeck along with Counselor Troi. They were forced to play out their roles as a sheriff, deputy and roving bounty hunter in order to end the holodeck program. The episode succeeded in taking Worf completely out of his comfort zone while building up his relationship with his son.