The Nth Degree (episode)

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.

Jump to: navigation, search
This article is written
from the Real World
point of view
This article is written
from the Real World
point of view
"The Nth Degree"
TNG, Episode 4x19
Production number: 40274-193
First aired: 1 April 1991
← 92nd of 176 produced in TNG →
← 92nd of 176 released in TNG →
  {{{nNthReleasedInSeries_Remastered}}}th of 176 released in TNG Remastered  
← 199th of 726 released in all →
Written By
Joe Menosky

Directed By
Rob Legato
44704.2 (2367)
  Arc: {{{wsArc0Desc}}} ({{{nArc0PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc0PartCount}}})  
  Arc: {{{wsArc1Desc}}} ({{{nArc1PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc1PartCount}}})  
  Arc: {{{wsArc2Desc}}} ({{{nArc2PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc2PartCount}}})  
  Arc: {{{wsArc3Desc}}} ({{{nArc3PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc3PartCount}}})  
  Arc: {{{wsArc4Desc}}} ({{{nArc4PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc4PartCount}}})  

Nervous Lieutenant Barclay has a mysterious encounter with an alien probe as the Enterprise attempts to repair a malfunctioning Federation sensor array. Following the encounter, Barclay begins to exhibit signs of profound intelligence, ultimately hooking himself into the ship's computer and hurling the Enterprise into apparent danger.

Contents

[edit] Summary

[edit] Prologue

Reg Barclay and Dr. Crusher perform a scene from Cyrano de Bergerac in Ten Forward before a handful of crew, including the senior officers. Beverly's performance is great as Cyrano's love interest but a woman already in love with another man, Cyrano's compatriot. But Barclay's performance, as Cyrano himself, complete with long prosthetic nose, is awkward, halting and somewhat embarrassing to watch. Despite this lackluster performance, the crew present claps for both Crusher and Barclay. Data joins in after a quick question to Riker about why everyone is clapping, and Riker's reply that it is simply polite. Troi compliments Barclay, saying it takes a lot of confidence to throw himself out there and act, but Barclay doesn't feel too confident. He sits awkwardly at the table.

The USS Enterprise-D arrives at the Argus Array, a gigantic subspace telescope whose reactors have gone critical. A huge amount of time is estimated for its repair, but of more pressing concern is the probe now holding station near the array, determined to be the cause of its malfunctions. Barclay and Geordi La Forge take a shuttle out to examine the probe, but after a few unsuccessful scans, the probe emits a super-bright flash and knocks Barclay unconscious.

[edit] Act One

This episode or film summary is incomplete

This episode summary has been identified as lacking essential detail, and as such needs attention. Feel free to edit this page to assist with this expansion.

  • Please obey copyright policy; do not copy material from other sources without permission.


Barclay, in sickbay, awakens to the news from Crusher that the flash overloaded his optic nerves, and that was what knocked him unconscious; La Forge's VISOR must have filtered out the bright light.

Because of this incident, Barclay gains a new self-confidence, and the full effects of this are slowly realized by the crew. In addition to gaining self confidence, Barclay has become extremely intelligent in all areas of study. His new intelligence is caused by neurotransmitters hypersecreting in his brain, and his two cranial hemispheres fusing; in effect, turning Barclay into a savant. He can be seen in the holodeck correcting a virtual Einstein, rehearsing a scene from a play with Dr. Crusher that causes her to tear up, and confidently hitting on Counselor Troi.

Eventually, Barclay suggests a method to help fix the deep space telescope, in two days, over La Forge's estimate of several weeks. Upon beginning Barclay's plan, he realizes that the computer is too slow to execute his commands, and proceeds to the holodeck. Once in the holodeck, Barclay instructs the computer on how to create a Human-to-computer interface, and then fuses with the computer, completing the assignment. In doing so, he locks out the main bridge from using the computer, with Barclay now acting as the computer, and this causes discomfort among the crew.

Against Picard's orders, Barclay initiates a subspace warp that transfers the Enterprise to the center of the galaxy. Upon arriving, a Cytherian reveals himself to the bridge crew. Barclay explains that the Cytherians are on a similar mission to that of the Enterprise, in that they want to explore the galaxy to learn. But instead of the Cytherians traveling away from their home, they bring those they are interested in to them. The crew then realizes they are in no harm, as can be seen by Commander Riker's grin.

After a few days of exchanging information, the Cytherians send the Enterprise back to Federation space. In a final scene in Ten Forward, Barclay is seen with La Forge and Troi, and they are discussing how Barclay is back to his old self. La Forge asks Barclay for help with a Level 3 diagnostic, when Counselor Troi interrupts Barclay, telling him that he owed her a walk in the arboretum. It appears that Barclay is back to normal, when he goes up to a group playing chess, and tells them how to finish the game in nine moves. Troi exclaims that she did not know Barclay played chess, and Barclay, in his nervous voice, states that he doesn't.

[edit] Memorable Quotes

"It just occurred to me that I could set up a frequency harmonic between the deflector and the shield grid... using the warp field generator as a power flow anti-attenuator and that of course naturally created an amplification of the inherent energy output."
"Uh huh, I see that."

- Reginald Barclay and William Riker


"I've finally become the person I've always wanted to be. Do we have to ask why?"

- Reginald Barclay


"Emotive, electrochemical stimulus response; cranial plate; bipedal locomotion. Endoskeletal. Contiguous external integument."
"I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard, of the Federation starship Enterprise."
"Hierarchical collective command structure."
"Who are you?"
"Interrogative!"

- Cytherian alien and Jean-Luc Picard


"Worf, I have an opening in my workshop."

- Beverly Crusher to Worf after the Cyrano de Bergerac play


"You just spent the entire night arguing grand unification theories with Albert Einstein!"

- Geordi La Forge to Reginald Barclay


"I'm afraid I can't do that."

- Reginald Barclay (while attached to ship's computer) to Jean-Luc Picard


" Reg, I didn't know you play chess."
" I don't..... "

- Deanna Troi and Reginald Barclay

[edit] Background Information

[edit] Video and DVD releases

[edit] Links and References

[edit] Guest Stars

[edit] Uncredited Co-Stars

[edit] References

47; alpha-numeric console; ångström; arboretum; Argus Array; baron; corpus callosum; cosmological constant; de Bergerac, Hercule-Savinien De Cyrano; de Neuvillette, Christien; Cyrano de Bergerac; computer core; Cytherian; Cytherian probe; electromagnetic band; fusion reactor; Galilei, Galileo; Gott, Gruss; Grand Unification theory; graviton field; helium; iconic display console; intelligence quotient; isolinear chip; isolinear circuits; Kohlan system; level 3 diagnostic; Method approach, The; music school; neural scan interface; neurotransmitter; neutron densitometer; ODN bypass; optic nerve; passive high-resolution series; photon torpedo; Porte de Nesle; positron emission test; quantum principle; Science Station 402; Socrates; sero-amino readout; shield grid; Shuttle Five; subspace continuum; subspace distortion; theater; Theory of General Relativity; three-dimensional chess; violin; VISOR; warp nacelle; watt; zalnias


Previous episode:
"Identity Crisis" 		Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 4 		Next episode:
"Qpid"
Retrieved from "http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/The_Nth_Degree_%28episode%29"
Personal tools
In other languages