Cheap Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 13: The Big Goodbye (Video) (LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Gabrielle Beaumont, Robert Becker, Cliff Bole, Timothy Bond, David Carson, Chip Chalmers, Richard Compton, Robert Iscove) Price

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Customer Reviews of Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 13: The Big Goodbye

We will see Dixon Hill again
The Enterprise is enroute to Korona IV to meet with a race of insectoids called the Jarada. The Jarada are very particular bugs - they speak Federation English just fine, but they expect the Captain to deliver a greeting to them in their own language - a language not easy for a human mouth, lacking a cloaca and mandibles and such. For some reason, Troi is his linguist coach - there is no other episode in which it is indicated that she has any gift in teaching or in linguistics at all, but they needed to give Counselor Cleavage (uh, I mean Counselor Troi) some screentime, and I guess this was the only way they could get her involved in this episode other than just saying, "Captain, I sense something." <
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>Picard is stressed out to the max so he goes to the Holodeck with Dr. Crusher and Commander Data, as well as another crewmember we don't see again. Picard takes on the persona of Dixon Hill, a private dick (private detective) in 1940s San Francisco. He is apparently enthralled by the serial detective story and likes the idea of portraying the protagonist. <
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>A scan gone bad causes a critical malfunction in the Holodecks - the safety protocols stop working (this means that Holographic bullets can kill), the Computer won't respond, and they can't find an exit. Not only do they have to literally fight for their lives with imaginary Holodeck characters, Picard is desperately needed in negotiations with the Jerada. If he fails to be punctual and pronounce the greeting just right, the Jerada might tell the Federation to shove their phasers where the Terran Sun don't shine. <
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>Wesley Crusher gets to show off those extra big brains of his as he and Geordi collaborate to find a safe way to excise Picard from the Holodeck. Why they can't beam him out of there is beyond me. <
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>It's amazing that so much space is devoted to the Holodeck in a ship that houses over a thousand people - but on the ass-end of space, even Ensigns need some recreation now and then. Considering that without "safeties," you could potentially die in a Holodeck, it is a wonder that there is no way to just pull out the D-Cell batteries in this big entertainment box to get people out. They can use a tractor beam from an un-anchored ship to change the orbit of a moon, but they can't beam Picard out of their own Holodeck. Yeah, right. <
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>Despite the holes-a-plenty, the throwback to 20th Century earth is fun and reminiscent of "A Piece of the Action," a very fun episode in the Original Series. <
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>Not only will we see Dixon Hill again in future episodes, "The Big Goodbye" makes a reappearance in the best Star Trek film to date, "Star Trek: First Contact."

Holodeck malfunction, overused but works here
The Enterprise is on route to make contact with the Jarada, an insect-like species who demand a ritual greeting from the captain of the ship. It is a very difficult greeting for humans to pronounce and the Jarada are very exacting in their expectations. A single mispronounced syllable could have interplanetary consequences. Captain Picard has been practicing the greeting, but it is starting to wear on him. Since it will be several hours until contact is made, he decides to engage in a diversion in the holodeck. He will assume the role of the fictional private detective Dixon Hill and Dr. Crusher, Data and crewman Whalen accompany him.
However, a scan of the Enterprise causes the holodeck to malfunction, they are unable to disengage the program, they cannot exit and all safety protocols are turned off. Some gangsters arrive to settle a score with Hill and Whalen is seriously injured. Furthermore, the time of the rendezvous is approaching and Captain Picard cannot deliver the greeting from the holodeck. Wesley finally manages to open the exit and Picard and his group are able to leave the holodeck in the nick of time.
What makes this episode work are the characters they interact with in the holodeck. In many ways they are self-aware and the title of the episode is derived from the conversation that Picard has with a fabricated police officer. The officer asks what will happen to him when the program terminates and Picard is forced to answer that he doesn't know. Hence, from the perspective of the officer, their parting is the big goodbye. The gangsters are also excellent characters, especially the leader. Even though he is on the verge of having Picard's party killed, he demonstrates that he is more than a thug. He insists on good manners and his dialog with Picard is excellent.
In general, I do not like the episodes based on a holodeck malfunction. In my opinion, that plot device was far too overused in the series. Any technology used on the Enterprise that prone to malfunction would not be used on the Enterprise. What I found most difficult to believe is that there was no priority override to the holodeck. There would be a switch or button that would immediately disengage the holodeck, no matter what it was doing. However, the story was so well done that I override my usual objections and give the episode four stars.