4.14 Clues

Rating: 3.5

While investigating the unusual occurrence of an M-class planet within a nebula, the Enterprise is sucked into a wormhole. All of the crew are stunned, except for Data, whose positronic brain is unaffected. He informs the crew that they were unconscious for 30 seconds. But slowly, clues are revealed that indicate Data is hiding something.

Comments

This neat little mystery was co-written by Joe Menosky.

Picard’s long-dormant Dixon Hill holodeck simulation returns. This time, Picard is showing Guinan how much fun it is, but she doesn’t agree.

Data is a bad liar. His evasive answers showed that he was obviously hiding something. I don’t have a lot of faith that the same thing won’t happen again (the crew might once again discover some clues that their memories were wiped).

The VOY episode unforgettable uses a similar concept.

Nits

Why did the aliens feel the need to make the elaborate changes required to make it seem the crew was only out for 30 seconds? It might have been better to just leave the clocks alone. Although the beards not growing might have raised suspicions, it wouldn’t have caused enough suspicion to make Picard keep investigating. It was only because Data got caught out defending the time differential that suspicions were raised.

Memorable Moments

•    Data is finally going to reveal the mystery. Alien Troi stomps onto the bridge, looking threatening and possessed. And the music is great.

•    Data’s little look of satisfaction at the end when he realizes that this time, the deception may work.

Quotable Quotes

Picard: Who gave you that order?
Data: You did, sir.