Picard’s Rebuke: The Weight of Leadership and the Burden of Barclay
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Picard initiates a discussion about Barclay's unsatisfactory performance, prompting Riker to question whether Barclay fits in on the Enterprise.
Geordi reluctantly admits his inability to work with Barclay, expressing his strong dislike for him.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Unseen but implied to be anxious and isolated; his absence underscores the crew's collective failure to include him.
Barclay is the absent but central figure of this confrontation. His performance report, psychological profile, and nickname ('Broccoli') are dissected as evidence of his struggles. Though physically absent, his presence looms large—Picard invokes his honorable service, Riker questions his qualifications, and Geordi admits his avoidance. The scene hinges on Barclay's unseen plight, making him the unwitting catalyst for the officers' moral reckoning.
- • None (absent), but his implied goal is to prove his worth and overcome his social anxieties.
- • Seek validation and belonging within the crew.
- • He is capable of contributing to the *Enterprise* if given the chance.
- • His social struggles are a barrier to his professional growth.
Disappointed yet determined; his frustration with Riker and Geordi's hypocrisy is tempered by a steely resolve to uphold Starfleet's values.
Picard stands behind his desk, commanding the room with measured authority. He indicates the computer screen displaying Barclay's unsatisfactory report, then methodically dismantles Riker and Geordi's arguments with pointed questions and moral reasoning. His demeanor shifts from disappointment to resolve as he challenges their biases, ultimately issuing a direct order to mentor Barclay. The scene culminates in his dismissal of the officers, leaving no room for further debate.
- • Expose the hypocrisy of Riker and Geordi's request to transfer Barclay.
- • Hold his senior officers accountable for fostering a culture of inclusion and mentorship.
- • Starfleet's ideals require leaders to invest in their crew, especially those who struggle.
- • Personal discomfort should not dictate professional decisions or the treatment of subordinates.
Slightly embarrassed and defensive; his skepticism about Barclay is challenged, leaving him off-balance and quietly chastened.
Riker stands beside Geordi, initially defensive as he justifies Barclay's transfer request. He references Barclay's psychological profile and suggests Captain Gleason may have exaggerated his qualifications. However, as Picard dismantles their arguments, Riker grows increasingly subdued, acknowledging the nickname 'Broccoli' needs to stop. His body language reflects a mix of skepticism and reluctant compliance, ultimately exiting with Geordi in silence.
- • Defend the transfer request by citing Barclay's documented shortcomings.
- • Avoid direct confrontation with Picard while subtly questioning Barclay's past evaluations.
- • Barclay's social anxieties make him unfit for the *Enterprise*'s high-pressure environment.
- • Transferring problematic crew members is a pragmatic solution to maintain ship efficiency.
Frustrated and resigned; his discomfort with Barclay is exposed, and Picard's directive forces him to confront his own hypocrisy as a leader.
Geordi shifts uncomfortably as Picard interrogates him, admitting his personal discomfort with Barclay and his failure to mentor him effectively. His incredulity at Picard's directive to 'make him your best friend' is palpable, but he ultimately concedes with a resigned glance at Riker. His body language—avoiding eye contact, fidgeting—betrays his internal conflict between duty and personal aversion.
- • Avoid direct conflict with Picard while justifying his avoidance of Barclay.
- • Seek a way to comply with Picard's order without fully engaging with Barclay.
- • Barclay's social awkwardness is a legitimate reason to avoid close collaboration.
- • Mentorship should be earned, not imposed.
Unseen but implied to be confident in his past evaluation of Barclay.
Captain Gleason is referenced by Riker as a potential exaggerator of Barclay's qualifications. Picard counters this by affirming Gleason's high praise, using it as evidence of Barclay's past competence. Gleason's absence makes him a symbolic figure—his endorsement of Barclay serves as a counterpoint to the Enterprise crew's current biases.
- • None (referenced), but his implied goal was to advocate for Barclay's transfer to the *Enterprise*.
- • Uphold Starfleet's standards of fairness in crew evaluations.
- • Barclay is a capable officer who deserves a fair opportunity.
- • Leadership should not be swayed by superficial critiques.
Unseen but implied to be casual or dismissive of the impact of his actions.
Wesley is mentioned in passing as the originator of the nickname 'Broccoli.' Though not physically present, his role in perpetuating the derision toward Barclay is acknowledged by Riker. The reference serves as a catalyst for Picard's rebuke, highlighting the crew's collective responsibility for fostering a toxic environment.
- • None (mentioned), but his implied goal is to fit in with the senior crew.
- • Seek approval through humor or camaraderie.
- • Nicknames are harmless banter among crewmates.
- • Barclay's social struggles are a legitimate target for teasing.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The computer screen on Picard's desk displays Barclay's unsatisfactory performance report, serving as the visual catalyst for the confrontation. Picard uses it to challenge Riker and Geordi's superficial critiques, pointing to specific ratings as evidence of their hypocrisy. The screen symbolizes institutional accountability—it is both a tool for Picard's moral argument and a silent witness to the crew's collective failure to support Barclay.
Reginald Barclay's performance report is the linchpin of this event. Picard grips it metaphorically (via the computer screen) to dismantle Riker and Geordi's arguments, using its contents to force them to confront their biases. The report is not just data—it is a mirror reflecting the crew's collective hypocrisy. Its 'unsatisfactory' rating becomes a call to action, demanding mentorship over transfer.
Barclay's psychological profile is referenced by Riker as evidence of his 'seclusive tendencies.' Picard dismisses it as irrelevant to Barclay's commitment to Starfleet, using Riker's reliance on the profile to expose the crew's tendency to outsource their problems. The profile becomes a symbolic battleground—Riker wields it as justification for transfer, while Picard rejects it as an excuse for neglect.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Picard's ready room is a controlled arena for this moral confrontation. Its sterile, institutional design amplifies the tension—there is no escape from Picard's gaze or the weight of his words. The confined space forces intimacy, turning the room into a pressure cooker where hierarchy and hypocrisy collide. The absence of witnesses ensures the conversation remains raw and unfiltered, with Picard's authority unchallenged.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Starfleet is the ideological backbone of this confrontation. Picard invokes its values—commitment, mentorship, and fairness—to challenge Riker and Geordi's request to transfer Barclay. The organization's standards are not just cited; they are weaponized, forcing the officers to reckon with their own failures to uphold them. Starfleet's presence is felt in the performance report, the psychological profile, and Picard's unyielding stance.
The crew of the *Enterprise* is the collective entity under scrutiny in this event. Their actions—mocking Barclay, avoiding mentorship, and seeking his transfer—are exposed as hypocritical by Picard. The crew's internal dynamics are laid bare: their derision ('Broccoli'), their reliance on institutional justifications (psychological profiles), and their reluctance to invest in a struggling member. The scene forces them to confront their complicity in Barclay's marginalization.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Picard rejects the transfer request and tasks Geordi with mentoring Barclay. Geordi begrudgingly gives Barclay a complex task to solve the drinking glass mystery, showing a forced attempt to mentor Barclay that stems directly from Picard's orders."
"Picard insists that Geordi put aside his feelings and work with Barclay. Barclay then retreats into a holodeck fantasy with Holo-Troi's encouragement to embrace love, truth and joy, demonstrating Barclay's coping mechanism after feeling misunderstood and dismissed."
"Picard insists that Geordi put aside his feelings and work with Barclay. Barclay then retreats into a holodeck fantasy with Holo-Troi's encouragement to embrace love, truth and joy, demonstrating Barclay's coping mechanism after feeling misunderstood and dismissed."
Key Dialogue
"PICARD: I'm not accustomed to seeing an unsatisfactory rating for one of my crew. RIKER: I guess the issue is whether Mister Barclay is *Enterprise* material. PICARD: ((to Geordi)) I assume from your request for his transfer that you don't think he is, Commander..."
"GEORDI: I hate to say it... I always thought I could work with anyone... but I just can't stand the guy. Broccoli makes me nervous... he makes *everyone* nervous... PICARD: Broccoli? RIKER: Young Mister Crusher started it. I'm afraid it's caught on. PICARD: Let's get it *uncaught*, shall we?"
"PICARD: He's on your team. *Manage* him. Pull him in. Find ways to help him make a positive contribution. Get to know the man. Make him your best friend. GEORDI: With all respect, sir... my best friend? I can barely tolerate being in the same room with the man... PICARD: I suggest you put your personal discomfort with him aside, Commander. *Dismissed.*"