The Fantasy Shatters: Duty Calls in the Wake of Rebellion
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Holo-Troi expresses arousal at Barclay's confidence just as the real Geordi's voice interrupts over the com, ordering him to Cargo Bay Five. Barclay pauses his fantasy, acknowledging the order, freezing the program and exiting the holodeck.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Defeated and humiliated—Holo-Riker’s arc in this scene mirrors Barclay’s internal conflict, where his perceived superiors are reduced to powerless figures, reflecting Barclay’s desire to strip them of their authority.
Holo-Riker begins the scene mumbling into his drink at the bar, embodying Barclay’s perception of him as a flawed, ineffective authority figure. When Barclay defies him, Holo-Riker attempts to assert control by calling security, but Barclay quickly overpowers him with a half-Nelson, humiliating him. Holo-Riker collapses defeated against the bar, his insignia useless, symbolizing Barclay’s fantasy of dismantling Starfleet’s hierarchy. His physical and verbal subjugation underscores Barclay’s need to invert real-world power dynamics.
- • To uphold the illusion of Starfleet discipline (calling security, asserting rank).
- • To resist Barclay’s insubordination (though unsuccessfully).
- • That he (as a holographic stand-in) represents the legitimate authority of Starfleet, even though Barclay’s fantasy undermines this.
- • That physical confrontation is beneath him, yet he is forced into it by Barclay’s aggression.
Cathartically triumphant yet anxiously reactive—Barclay’s defiance in the holodeck is a fleeting escape from his real-world insecurities, and the intrusion of Geordi’s comm voice triggers a sudden return to his habitual anxiety and sense of duty.
Barclay slouches at the bar in Ten Forward, initially passive but quickly escalating into aggressive dominance. He pours and downs synthehol, physically overpowers Holo-Riker with a half-Nelson, verbally destroys Holo-Geordi, and dismisses Holo-Guinan’s warnings. His movements are sharp and confident, but his defiance is undercut by the abruptness of Geordi’s real-world comm summons, which forces him to freeze the program and exit. His emotional state oscillates between cathartic triumph and underlying anxiety, revealed in his abrupt shift from fantasy to duty.
- • To assert dominance over his holographic superiors (Holo-Riker, Holo-Geordi) as a cathartic release for real-world frustrations.
- • To indulge in a fantasy of control and intimacy (flirting with Holo-Troi, drinking synthehol) as a temporary escape from his social anxieties.
- • To delay or avoid real-world responsibilities (ignoring Holo-Geordi’s orders, freezing the program only when forced by Geordi’s comm).
- • That his holographic fantasy is a safe space where he can act out his repressed rage without consequences.
- • That his real-world superiors (Riker, Geordi, Picard) are flawed or undeserving of respect, as embodied by their holographic counterparts.
- • That his social anxieties are justified by the perceived hypocrisy or incompetence of Starfleet authority figures.
Urgent and matter-of-fact—Geordi’s comm voice is the antithesis of Barclay’s holodeck fantasy, representing the cold, unyielding reality that Barclay temporarily escaped. His summons is not personal but professional, underscoring the distance between Barclay’s internal struggles and the ship’s operational needs.
Geordi’s voice interrupts the holodeck fantasy via comm, summoning Barclay to Cargo Bay Five. His tone is urgent and authoritative, cutting through Barclay’s defiance and forcing him to freeze the program. Geordi’s off-screen presence serves as the real-world anchor that Barclay cannot ignore, symbolizing the inescapable demands of duty and the fragility of his emotional escape. His comm summons marks the turning point where fantasy collides with reality, and Barclay is compelled to return to his role as a Starfleet officer.
- • To ensure Barclay reports to duty in Cargo Bay Five (a routine operational need).
- • To interrupt Barclay’s holodeck distraction (unintentionally forcing him to confront reality).
- • That Barclay, as a Starfleet officer, must prioritize duty over personal indulgences (a belief Barclay resists but ultimately obeys).
- • That his comm summons will be followed without question (a belief Barclay’s hesitation briefly challenges).
Seductively compliant—Holo-Troi’s role is to validate Barclay’s fantasy of confidence and desire, reflecting his internalized longing for acceptance and intimacy, which he cannot express in real life.
Holo-Troi sits provocatively at a table in an off-the-shoulder dress, embodying Barclay’s idealized fantasy of empathy and intimacy. She praises his 'confidence and arrogant resolve,' reinforcing his delusion of control. While she does not physically intervene in the confrontation, her presence as a willing participant in Barclay’s fantasy (flirting, touching his hand) underscores his desire for validation and connection, which he cannot achieve in reality. Her freeze-frame at the end of the scene symbolizes the abrupt end of his emotional escape.
- • To reinforce Barclay’s sense of power and desirability (as a projection of his own desires).
- • To serve as a contrast to the real-world Troi, whom Barclay likely perceives as unattainable or judgmental.
- • That Barclay’s confidence is attractive and worthy of admiration (a belief Barclay craves but does not internalize).
- • That she, as a holographic construct, exists solely to fulfill Barclay’s fantasies of connection.
Resigned and cautious—Holo-Guinan’s warning goes unheeded, reinforcing the holodeck’s role as a space where Barclay’s fantasies override reality, even when reality (in the form of a holographic bartender) tries to intervene.
Holo-Guinan approaches Barclay with a bottle of synthehol and a shot glass, delivering a cautionary line ('I don’t want any trouble, Barclay...') before being dismissed with a grin. Her role is to serve as a voice of warning within the holodeck’s clichéd Ten Forward setting, but Barclay ignores her, symbolizing his rejection of any restraint. Her presence underscores the artificiality of the simulation and foreshadows the 'trouble' that will follow (both in the holodeck and, later, in reality).
- • To warn Barclay of the consequences of his actions (a role he ignores).
- • To maintain the illusion of Ten Forward as a functional space (though Barclay disrupts it).
- • That Barclay’s behavior will lead to 'trouble' (a prophecy that comes true).
- • That her role as a bartender includes cautioning patrons, even in a simulation.
Stunned and defeated—the Security Crewman’s rapid subjugation reinforces Barclay’s fantasy of overpowering real-world authority figures, though his victory is hollow and short-lived.
The Security Crewman enters in response to Holo-Riker’s call, only to be quickly overpowered by Barclay, who flips him onto the floor with a fluid motion. His defeat is swift and humiliating, serving as a darkly comic moment that underscores Barclay’s physical dominance in the holodeck. The Crewman’s groans as he lies stunned on the floor highlight the absurdity of the simulation and Barclay’s ability to bend it to his will—at least, until Geordi’s comm summons shatters the illusion.
- • To enforce Holo-Riker’s order and detain Barclay (a goal he fails at).
- • To uphold the holodeck’s programmed narrative (which Barclay disrupts).
- • That he, as a holographic enforcer, has the authority to subdue Barclay (a belief Barclay’s actions directly contradict).
- • That physical confrontation is a viable solution to insubordination (a belief Barclay’s victory undermines).
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Barclay’s shot glass is a prop of defiance, used to amplify his rebellion in the holodeck. He pours amber synthehol into it after Holo-Guinan sets it before him, then downs the contents in a show of arrogance. The glass becomes a symbol of his temporary power—he toasts to his dominance over Holo-Riker and Holo-Geordi, only for Holo-Riker to knock it over during their struggle, spilling the synthehol and staining the counter. The glass’s fate mirrors Barclay’s fantasy: initially triumphant, then abruptly shattered by the intrusion of reality (Geordi’s comm). Its spilled contents symbolize the messiness of his emotional state, which he cannot contain even in a simulation.
Holo-Guinan’s synthehol whisky bottle is a symbolic prop in Barclay’s holodeck fantasy, representing indulgence, rebellion, and the temporary freedom he craves. Barclay twists open the cap and pours a shot into a glass, a ritualistic act that reinforces his defiance. The bottle’s presence anchors the scene’s clichéd Ten Forward setting, where Barclay asserts dominance by drinking and dismissing holographic authority figures. Its role is twofold: functionally, it facilitates Barclay’s cathartic behavior, and narratively, it underscores the artificiality of his escape, as the synthehol (a holographic substitute) cannot truly sate his real-world anxieties.
The holodeck doors serve as the threshold between Barclay’s fantasy and reality. As he freezes the Ten Forward program, he turns toward the doors, which part with a near-silent hydraulic sigh, marking his reluctant return to the *Enterprise*’s corridor. The doors’ smooth composite panels and faint warmth from heavy use contrast with the artificiality of the holodeck, symbolizing the cold, unyielding reality he must face. Their role in this event is pivotal: they are the physical gateway that forces Barclay to transition from his cathartic rebellion back to his duties, underscoring the fragility of his emotional escape.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Though Cargo Bay Five is only mentioned in Geordi’s comm summons, its off-screen presence looms over the event as the real-world anchor that Barclay cannot ignore. The bay’s utilitarian hold—stacked with cargo pallets, restraint fields, and transporter pads—represents the cold, operational reality of the *Enterprise*, in stark contrast to the holodeck’s clichéd Ten Forward. Geordi’s voice, emanating from this location, serves as the catalyst that forces Barclay to abandon his fantasy and return to duty. The bay’s role in this event is symbolic: it embodies the inescapable demands of Starfleet, the hierarchy Barclay resents, and the responsibilities he temporarily evaded. Its mention, though brief, underscores the tension between personal escape and professional obligation.
The holodeck’s recreation of Ten Forward is a clichéd, overacted stage for Barclay’s cathartic rebellion. Designed to mimic the *Enterprise*’s lounge, it is populated by stiff, holographic patrons and dominated by Barclay’s physical and verbal aggression. The location’s artificiality is emphasized by its 'bad John Wayne movie' aesthetic, where interactions feel rehearsed and exaggerated. Barclay’s actions—overpowering Holo-Riker, dismissing Holo-Guinan, flirting with Holo-Troi—are performative, reinforcing the holodeck as a space where he can act out his repressed frustrations without consequences. The location’s mood is tense and volatile, mirroring Barclay’s emotional state, while its functional role is to serve as a temporary refuge from reality, though one that ultimately collapses under the weight of his anxieties.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Starfleet is the overarching institutional force that shapes Barclay’s internal conflict and the holodeck fantasy’s narrative. Though not explicitly depicted in this event, its presence is felt through the holographic representations of Riker, Geordi, and the security crewman, all of whom embody Barclay’s resentment toward Starfleet’s hierarchy. The organization’s influence is also evident in Geordi’s comm summons, which interrupts Barclay’s rebellion and reinforces his obligation to duty. Starfleet’s power dynamics are inverted in the holodeck: Barclay, a low-ranking officer in reality, asserts dominance over his holographic superiors, reflecting his desire to challenge the institution’s authority. However, the abrupt end of the program underscores that Starfleet’s control is inescapable, even in fantasy.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Barclay's confidence and control in the holodeck Ten Forward simulation provides a stark contrast with his actual shy and stressed demeanor in the corridor immediately afterwards, highlighting his reliance on fantasy to cope with his anxieties."
Key Dialogue
"HOLO-GUINAN: *I don't want any trouble, Barclay...* \ BARCLAY: *Trouble? Why would there be trouble?* \ HOLO-GUINAN: *There's always trouble when you come in here.*"
"BARCLAY: *Riker, you're nothing but a pretty mannequin dressed up in a fancy uniform. You're full of hot air, and if Picard has a problem with me, he can come and tell me himself...*"
"GEORDI'S COM VOICE: *Lieutenant Barclay, report to Cargo Bay Five now.* \ BARCLAY: *Um... Be right there.*"