Star Trek: 10 Best Holodeck Episodes

Virtual Reality devices are becoming more and more accessible to the average consumer, with Sony recently announcing a VR2 headset for Playstation. For fans of Star Trek, any developments in this technology call to mind the holodeck, that powerful, advanced, and usually dangerous technology that is the 24th century’s version of Oculus Rift.

The holodeck-centered episodes in the franchise range in tone from comedic to dramatic, but they always give fans a chance to see the characters they know and love in new and exciting situations.  These holodeck episodes are fun and unforgettable – a virtual delight!

10 The Big Goodbye (TNG Season 1 Episode 12)

The Next Generation meets The Maltese Falcon in this first season episode which is also the first episode ever to feature a plot centered in the holodeck.  When Captain Picard invites some crew members to join him in his 1940s detective fantasy, they are initially delighted by the holographic gangsters that threaten them.  The joy is short-lived when, in what would become a staple of holodeck episodes, the safety protocols fail and the danger is real.  The highlight of this episode is how much the cast seems to enjoy the change of scenery; Brent Spiner, in particular, revels in the opportunity to spout off unintelligible 40s slang.  It’s easy to see from this entertaining romp why holodeck episodes would grow to become a franchise staple.

9 Take Me Out To The Holosuite (DS9 Season 7 Episode 4)

From the very first episode of Deep Space 9, it’s clear that Benjamin Sisko is a huge baseball fan.  This character trait pays off in this episode from the final season of the series.  It’s a classic underdog story with a refreshing twist:  though many inspirational sports films end with the underdog winning, in this episode the hopeless “Niners” lose – in a big way.  However, the experience allows the crew to bond, deepen their friendships, and above all have fun.  Some highlights of the episode include Worf’s idea of chatter (“Death to the opposition!”) and Odo’s turn as an umpire, a job he is particularly well suited for.  This light-hearted episode is a welcome break from the often dark tone of Deep Space 9, and undeniably entertaining.

8 Elementary, Dear Data (TNG Season 2 Ep. 3)

It’s no surprise that Data’s holodeck fantasy involves embodying Sherlock Holmes, a man with a mind like a machine.  This episode not only allows the cast to explore Victorian London but also raises alarming questions about holodeck safety when Geordi accidentally creates a sentient hologram.

Actor Daniel Davis, best known as Niles from The Nanny, is excellent as Moriarty, a character who forces the cast and viewers alike to question exactly what makes a person “real”.  Picard’s solution to Moriarty’s request may seem like the end of the story, but it actually opens the way for Moriarty to return in a later season, to the delight of fans.

7 Bride Of Chaotica! (VOY Season 5 Episode 12)

Cheesy Science Fiction movies are a guilty pleasure that many fans enjoy, and this episode of Star Trek Voyager pays homage to the campy black and white movies of the past.  Tom Paris’ “Captain Proton” holodeck program makes several appearances in the series, but in this episode, photonic aliens mistake his program for reality and go to literal war with the holographic villain Doctor Chaotica.  The titular “Bride” is none other than Captain Janeway, vamping it up as the Queen Arachnia of the Spider-people.  It’s just as absurd as it sounds, but the monochromatic palette of the episode and the outrageous plot make it a hit with lovers of B movies everywhere.

6 Future Imperfect (TNG Season 4 Episode 8)

A full 20 years before the release of Inception, TNG gives fans an episode with enough layers and twists to make it look like a Christopher Nolan movie. When Commander Riker wakes up with no recollection of the previous 16 years of his life, both he and the viewer suspect that something is wrong.  The culprit initially appears to be a Romulan intent on extracting Federation secrets, but this also turns out to be a deception.  This episode is noteworthy for its unexpected ending and is a rarity among TNG holodeck episodes since it is not played for laughs.

5 Our Man Bashir (DS9 Season 4 Episode 9)

Fans of Bond films will recognize many of the cliches that make up this parody of spy thrillers from the 1960s.  However unlikely the plot may be, the DS9 cast clearly has a blast playing the over-the-top characters of the holoprogram.  The stakes are particularly high, since as usual, the safety protocols are off, and the entire senior staff will die if the program is terminated.

The highlight of the episode is the banter between Bashir and Garak, the only two characters who are aware they’re in a simulation. As an actual spy, Garak’s incredulous reactions to the way the program depicts the world of espionage are a delight.  Garak may be skeptical of the fantasy at first, but by the end, both he and the viewers are completely won over by the charm of the fantasy world.

4 Worst Case Scenario (VOY Season 3 Episode 25)

Early seasons of Voyager focus on the tension between Starfleet and the Maquis, but by the third season, the crews have melded into one and are able to peacefully coexist.  The tension may not be completely gone, however, and it is explored in a humorous way in this episode, as the crew becomes obsessed with “winning” a holonovel that depicts a Maquis mutiny.  Rather than taking this desire for rebellion seriously, Captain Janeway encourages them to continue, setting up a dangerous encounter with a holographic face from the past.  Featuring the return of a former cast member, and leaving audiences wondering why Starfleet engineers don’t focus on improving holodeck safety measures, this episode is pure escapist entertainment.

3 Projections (VOY Season 2 Episode 3)

 Voyager is particularly innovative when it comes to holographic technology since the Doctor, one of Voyager‘s best characters, is a hologram.  However, this second season episode raises an intriguing question: What if the Doctor is real and everyone else is a hologram?  Equal parts funny and dramatic, this episode also features a cameo from a TNG cast member, Reg Barclay, which adds to viewers’ confusion about what is real and what is not.  Noteworthy for the way it messes with fans’ perception of reality, this episode is a standout among the typical holodeck fare.

2 Ship In A Bottle (TNG Season 6 Ep. 12)

The Next Generation is not known for maintaining continuity between episodes, but this outing written by Rene Echevarria, one of  The Next Generation’s most prolific writers, is a sequel to the second season episode “Elementary, Dear Data”.  Daniel Davis reprises his role as Moriarty, and this time the sentient hologram is angry that Captain Picard has not made any progress toward releasing him from the holodeck.  It’s a rare instance of the Enterprise crew facing the consequences of its decisions and would be noteworthy for that reason alone.  However, with excellent performances from the regular cast and guest stars and a plot that keeps viewers guessing all the way to the end, this episode is a classic.

1 It’s Only A Paper Moon (DS9 Season 7 Episode 10)

Deep Space 9 as a series is noted for tackling serious issues and earns its reputation as one of the darkest series in the franchise.  This outstanding episode in the series’ final season may seem like standard holodeck fluff, especially since it prominently features a Rat Pack-inspired lounge singer named Vic Fontaine.  However, it quickly becomes a poignant exploration of the aftermath of tragedy.  Nog, a character often relegated to comic relief in earlier seasons, chooses to live on the holodeck after being gravely wounded in battle.  In a touching exploration of how people, particularly wounded veterans, process trauma, he is helped to heal both physically and emotionally in an unexpected way.  This deep and emotionally resonant episode is a must-watch.