Why Barclay Might Actually Be Star Trek's Greatest Hero
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
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Hey, folks! If you enjoy the Trek, Actually videos you might like to know, if you don't already, that I co-host a Star Trek themed comedy podcast, The Ensign's Log! It's my brilliant buddy Jason Harding and I playing junior officers aboard a certain famous starship as it embarks on its celebrated five-year mission. Find out what else was going on aboard the ship during those legendary adventures! Here's the latest episode: soundcloud.com/lemme-listen/the-ensigns-log-podcast-episode-012-mixed-messages
First I've seen this channel. Steve, in spite of the fact I've seen this episode probably a hundred times (or more), you are an engaging storyteller! Subbed and looking forward to more.
Steve Shives saw the reg barclay video on my feed. And now i've binged your videos for the past two hours. Love your insights and wit. Keep up the good work.
IDIC🤓
Don't forget Picard lost his family in a fire in the first NG movie.
Oh. I thought this video was about Star Trek. I would have to disagree with you. No one ever argued that Captain Kirk was calm and collected. His emotionality and galactic romances would not lend me to believe anyone would hire him as a captain of anything.
Steve Shives I'm still rather ignorant of star trek, I find this character perhaps the most relatable but hero seems a stretch at least in the classical sense. Still interesting to hear of.
Picard can handle all the trauma he deals with because his whole life he's dealt with the trauma of being a french man who sounds English.
You can see the turmoil on his face in every sip of earl grey.
That drove me nuts the entire series. The writers should have changed him to an Englishman.
I noticed while in France that a French accent sounds kind of like and English accent, probably because they're geographically close to each other and the students have learned English from an English teacher, and not an American one. He may have picked up an English teacher's accent.
Oh my god I don't know why I'm laughing so hard! XD
Someone who speaks English with a French accent hasn’t perfected their English.
"I am the guy who writes down things to remember to say when there is a
party. And then when he finally gets there, he winds up alone, in the
corner, trying to look comfortable examining a potted plant."
I don't think I've ever heard a more accurate description of what "living" with social anxiety disorder is like.
hitchhikers guide?
PureLimbic I always used to love this quote when I was a kid. Like, “ok good, it’s not weird.” Lol
*smooches across the internet*. I feel you sugar.
As someone who has gone through being bullied, and being socially awkward, i found Barclay to be the most relatable character.
Im sorry.
I'm sorry too☹️ I hope your life is better now. I love Barclay! He and O'Brien are the really real people; the people who experience the real life the way we do.
Edit: I have to add Rom! I knew there was someone else. He is dissed by everyone, yet he's so talented. Again, hope you're well 🖖🖖🖖
There's an old saying:
"Being courageous doesn't mean you never feel fear. Being courageous means being afraid, but still get the job done."
"Only a fool has no fear" Worf
The true hero overcomes their fears.
"Without a qualified mental health professional..."
Sick burn
😂😂😂😂
Exactly what I came here to say.
Someone hates Deanna Troi haha
Troi earned the right to wear the revealing uniform!
oh, i didnt think of it that way.
@@cre8ivoutlet coincidentally Guinan was much at better at Troi's job than Troi ever was
I think we can all agree that Riker's holodeck time would make Barclay's seem like clean wholesome family entertainment in comparison.
IKR !!
Seriously. If the Enterprise had a custodian, they would probably start weeping every time they were called in to mop up the Holodeck after Riker had been in there.
I think they just beam the jizz into space.
Chief OBrien the holodeck needs to be cleaned again.
"not again" *beams self into space*
+paladin677 not to mention LaForge's holodeck fantasy with his crush Leah Brahms....creepy. LOL
His best moment though is in Voyager. When Barclay finish the Pathfinder project, and despite everything, despite everyone's belief, he succeded in establishing communication with Voyager.
Nothing phases them? Everyone phases them... except the klingons. They use disruptors.
Underrated comment xD
Romulans and Cardassians were also major users of disruptor technology.
Why do people constantly disrupt the story with puns. Did it even phase you that it might not be welcome here?
Thank you you made me chuckle...needed that 🙃
Thank you you made me chuckle...needed that 🙃
Barclay was one of my favorite characters, and Dwight Schultz played him perfectly.
But of course, he is Murdock.
@@markmartin5248 How very true, Mark - "Howling Mad" Murdock.
I'm beginning to have an idea for a crossover fan fiction story, wherein Barclay winds up in Los Angeles in the modern day - and is mistaken for Murdock. Screwy, but it just may work.
I watched A-Team as a kid and when Murdock showed up on TNG, it was a TV lifelong highlight for me! Murdock was by far my fave character on A-Team and Schultz stole every episode of TNG that he was on.
(Yeah, 5 years late to the party but I had to share!)
His holodeck fantasy is basically a coping mechanism. a way for him to fight his demons, acting out his wish to be a different person. In many ways he is probably like many viewers of the show, a bit anxious, a bit nerdy, with a good heart, somebody who not always can stand up and display his actual thoughts and wishes.
In a world without holodeck technology, all of that would've been mere daydreaming. Something no one else would ever see or even know about.
One of my favorite StarTrek NG episodes is “Realm of Fear” in which Barclay has to overcome his transporter fear to rescue some people.
I just finished watching this episode and straight away googled "Reg Barclay is a hero" which led me here.
This and contacting Voyager, among his other work, is all despite his crushing anxiety. He has so much more to overcome every single day than the others.
Great character. Reg is the real MVP.
Re
I really loved his character. I could relate to him because my whole life has been about being shy, anxious, not fitting in a social group and being really afraid of doing tasks that would not be a big deal to the typical person. I loved that they had a neurodivergent type personality character. Barclay was neurotic, but despite his fears he stuck with the program. He was a Starfleet officer. He did his duties. This character blew me away.
but picard's like "since when are we such A**holes?" - that was great
"Some of us are Barclay."
Thank you, Steve, this video was amazing. It is one of the first of yours I watched (and most certainly not the last), but it stands out for me and will continue to do so.
I have been suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder for quite some time, and ever since I saw Hollow Pursuits it has touched me more deeply than any other episode from any Trek show. I watched it so many times over I can't even count them.
I am Barclay. I feel with him every single moment and I see myself in his every action, in every word and stutter, in the way he walks and stands, in the way he moves his hands, not knowing what to do with them. And yes, what he said to Geordie in the scene you mentioned is so painfully accurate (even though I do admire him for even going to parties). "... I wind up alone, in a corner, trying to look comfortable examining a potted plant." It hits so close to home.
Though I understand (but not completely share) your dislike for ST Voyager, I want to add something about it you might have overlooked. In Endgame, in the "original" timeline, you see him, years after the other episodes happened, having partially overcome his anxiety, speaking in front of a lot of people. And this gives me hope. Hope that I too can get better, that I too will one day be able to interact with people on a level which is closer to normal than now.
I am happy and also touched to see that other people see Barclay the way ore close to the way that I do, that they, that YOU dedicated a whole video to it.
In my opinion Reginald Barclay is Star Trek's greatest hero. And he is mine.
Thank you again for doing this video, Steve. You are amazing.
me too.
Barclay’s character arc winding up in Voyager was GREAT. He got to demonstrate that someone with “very focused interests” and neuroticism could be as valuable or MORE valuable than the regular action heroes. He was indeed the bravest and best of the recurring characters on TNG. A hero for the rest of us indeed.
I loved Deanna’s reaction to Barclay’s vision of her in the Holo Deck.
Troy: this is great he’s expressing his imagination.
She sees his interpretation of her.
“Oh, I am going to kill him”.
Of all of the Star Trek characters Broccoli's was the most...human.
The one character to have anxiety issues.
Well played.
"....H-uuuǘ-man."
He.._ was and always._. will be.._ my fave.
"...hue....mahhn..."
Barclay doing Cyrano in The Nth Degree is some of the best acting on the entire show.
he saved the Voyager. I love that episode, where he finds the voyager despite facing restrictions by his superior.
"without access to a qualified mental health professional." -- ROTFLMAO!!!!
Hey, that's offensive to the true counselor of the ship!
*Guinan takes offense.*
Barclay always made me feel represented as an autistic and socially anxious person. To be afraid of basic social interaction and the mere presence of being around people, especially crowds or/and strangers, seems to be seldom understood by other people. And the comfort of being by yourself and indulging in fantasy all the time is very appealing to someone like me or Barclay. And to see him continue to do well and show his value as a person despite facing the same struggles I do, always felt inspiring to me.
That describes least one third of Sci/Fiction Fandom. These people attend conventions because they know they're going be accepted thus less anxiety and stress involved.
Hey you sound like me exactly
Interestingly this is the experience of many people who have trouble forming social bonds, with all sorts of groups of likeminded people.
Fandoms can do this for people, gyms, the military, even volunteering with a charity. Finding a group you already feel some sort of connection to can be great for getting a little bit more comfortable with social interaction.
Barclays line to Geordi about writing things down to say at a party and then not talking to anyone always resonates with me because I've been in *exactly* that situation.
As an awkward 12 year old sci-fi fan, I can tell you this episode, and Barclay's character, really hit home. Great use of a secondary character to explore a very real world issue.
I always found Barklay to be rather brave. Not because he was terrified of social interaction, but because despite that terror, he still worked with people who intimidated him. He still tried to get the job done. He wasn't always successful in fitting in, but we can't all be Picard, nor should we have to.
It seems a bit weird and unnecessary to repeat the conclusions made in this video and present them as your own.
pfft.. this is the internet. he probably didn't watch the whole video
You can't be brave without fear.
I think barclay was the necessary counterpoint to Picard, and brilliantly so.
Mitchell Horton, that is so well shown in the episode "The Realm of Fear" where Barclay's transporter phobia is revealed. He was terrified and yet he went into the transporter and, as it turned out, saved the missing crew.
I agree for the most part with you on this but I think the "he's a hero" aspect would have been stronger if you'd continued on his time in Voyager. Not the fanboy stuff, but his efforts and work to bring them home were so impressive!!
Agreed Barclay during Voyager he blossomed.
what i found most endearing about barclay in voyager was that the crew had insufficient contact to see his social anxiety and awkwardness. and so all they could see were his actions and his results. they were touched and impressed that someone they had never met would go to such great lengths to do so much for them of his own initiative.
True bravery is not the lack of fear, it's being scared but still doing what has to be done none the less.
And yes, I relate to this so much I'm on the verge of tears
Without your contribution they are nothing
Barclay is definitely one of my favorite characters. Dwight Schultz did a really good job of portraying that type of skiddish and shy attitude, it almost felt palpable. I think that's what makes Barclay so good. He's the most relatable character in the series, and not because he's shy and nervous, but because he seems to grow and adapt to them. In all of Barclay's recurring episodes, you can tell he has been changing and getting more comfortable with himself. I would dare say that both he and Data are the best characters in the show, because you can tell they are new characters by their last appearance.
Compare that to all of the other characters. I love Picard, I love the entire crew of the Enterprise, but I do find it crazy how Picard can be abudcted by the Borg, become assimilated, then get rescued and cured back to being a normal human being, and outside of ONE episode, the psychological trauma from this event is never addressed again. Business as usual on the Enterprise after this happens. Picard seems no different, and this is okay. It shows that he's an ideal "hero" character, but stoicism is not necessarily a trait that all heroes must possess. The best heroes are the ones that can be related to, the ones that are vulnerable. The ones that change and adapt as their story progresses. I think that's what makes Barclay such a good character.
I agree that a relatable character can keep people engaged to the story, but a hero needs to be a role model, an obtainable ideal that can be achieved with enough effort. They do over-do it with Picard but in terms of storytelling in general it's a good choice to have someone like Picard as the "hero" character
As someone with autism, I really approve of this video. Very important message, regardless of whether you're on the spectrum or not.
Yes, this so very much.
Agreed. It's a rare glance into the perspective of those of us who exist just outside of the social realm. It's a way of asking the group to consider the inner-life of the outsider.
This. After I was diagnosed late in life, I re-watched his episodes and finally understood what the hell not only I was going through, but what others must have thought of me in a similar situation in the US military. Barclay's character was (un-intentionally or not) so similar to those of us on the spectrum. At least for me anyways.
Still love his character, the genius simmering in the scared character was always evident, and Dwight Schultz is just amazing in those kind of performances. Side note: I liked him on Voyager, and was just glad his character was around.
That feeling when you realize why ever since you were young you've only really like Seven of nine and Tuvok, and found Lon Suder strangely intriguing.
I would say Data is more autistic than Barclay. You don't need to be autistic to have social anxiety and he's aware of how socially awkward he is. Data on the other hand doesn't know when to stop talking and isn't aware of his lack of social skills.
My favorite is when Barclay is fanboying over Zephram Cochrane in First Contact to the point that Geordi yells at him.
He inserts himself into voyager, THEN HELPED BRING THEM HOME.
Well, I mean, if that kind of thing impresses you . . .
Possibly the best crossover performance, at least for the TV shows and perhaps with the biggest impact on the plot, save for Worf in DS9
Like the true engineer that he is, Barclay became obsessed with trying to find a solution to the problem and didn't let conventional wisdom get in the way.
Steve Shives Now, now, I do think this is another testament to Barklay's courage. The man allowed himself to be assimilated into the fandom of Voyager to get the job done. :P
Steve: You're breaking the sarcasm meter.
I love Barclay. This episode connected me with a character I could empathize with and who was a LOT like me. He's my second favorite character right behind Data. ❤️
Same
He’ll always be Murdock to me, love that dude...
I know which Murdock you mean (A-Team), but that name always connects to MacGyvers archenemy in my brain.
@@FriedrichHerschel same
I always referred to him as H.M. Barclay.
Howlin' Mad Murdock!
"If I thought nobody wanted me around, I'd be late and nervous too!" is maybe more important a line than "There are four lights".
Didn't Barclay get Voyager back to earth? Kind of heroic.
T Razz, broke into a secure facility to do it, if I remember correctly...
He got them back into contact with earth.
kilroy987 Yes. However, In our reality, Good Deeds NEVER EVER go UNPUNISHED. Read Bill, The Galactic Hero series of books...
No he did not, please reference Star Trek Voyager Season 06 Episode 10 Pathfinder ------- EXCELLENT EPISODE
@@AceTheBathoundProductions WOW, B,TGH! Are you a CHINGER SPY!?
Always loved Barclay, and especially this episode.
One of Guinan’s shining moments, and Barclays “just shy...” speech always gives me chills.
Such a great depiction of a transcendent problem. I believe anyone can relate in some way.
I can totally relate to Berkeley. I have crippling social anxiety and I cope by living online and gaming a bit too much. I also have depression which sometimes makes communicating hard and causes me to isolate myself. So I often find fantasy characters feeling more like friends then my real friends. Everybody tells him he's just shy like they try to tell anybody with anxiety but it's definitely more than that!
theduke ofweasels, I've known a couple of guys who were in the same boat - really anxious in social situations, but they come out of their shell when they are with friends they are comfortable with. They still struggle sometimes but the good news is they have friends who can be support. I think one day you will find your moment 😊
I might *be* in said boat myself. I don't get much in the way of "anxiety" but I have real problems with body language and tone of voice. Maybe for some people its an unconscious process, but not me.
Like Barclay, I'm constantly thinking about how I'm sitting and where I'm putting my hands and all the little details. I put it down to growing up with bipolar disorder. When your emotions are completely out of step with everyone around you, the first trick you learn is how to suppress your affect. The second is how to pretend like everything's fine.
The third trick is learning that putting on an act will only get you so far. You can't live your life if your coping strategy is pretending not to be yourself. If you want real human connection, you have to accept that all human beings (including yourself) have flaws. And that's fine.
As someone on the spectrum, I can identify with this so much. Further, I can see Barkley as a fellow autistic, and feel intense empathy for him. ASD can be the source of so many of these issues, this episode has deep resonance for me, and I didn't even realize why when I first watched it. Since realizing that I'm autistic, however, I've become much more aware of these traits in others.
theduke ofweasels
Thanks for writing my comment for me ha
@@VeritechGirl Thats basically me. Im quite, often garble my words or muck up what i want to say when talking to strangers (and hells bells if its a woman i find attractive) and will stand at the back of a group and avoid being interacted with. BUT get me with my small group of friends and im one of the loudest and most talkative among them... sometimes even a little to talkative.
He was my favorite actor on both star trek and the a team. I have a nagging feeling he was so popular because he really did struggle with these things in real life. In his bio he did struggle and suffer as a child and had to overcome a lot, so when he plays this broken, vulnerable man it's more real than an actor not having gone through that would. I guess him and I have a shared pain.
he did a great job of playing a holographic version of himself that was suave, smooth, and the life of the party. i figured he must have been more like the smooth guy in real life in order to play both an awkward person and a smooth person.
@@0biwan7 One thing Dwight himself said was that he failed most auditions he ever went to because he would become so anxious, he definitely drew from real experiences for that character.
Best line from Barclay: "Computer, end program." (from the end of the episode with Moriarty)
One of the top moments in the series.
I always felt the holodeck homage in Futurama was directly in honor of that episode.
I remember Barclay playing Cyrano. Not just acting, but an actor changing rapidly playing an actor. We always called it Flowers for Barclay, but in reverse, because like you said, his likability comes from being naturally awkward. Thank you for the video.
Barclay is that rarity in the _Star Trek_ universe: a misfit. He's come through the same gauntlet which is Starfleet Academy as the rest of the crew, yet somehow with his quirks and anxieties intact, which of course, makes him the interesting character you cite here. Indeed, Barclay will go on from here to "The Nth Degree," not only showing his increasing adaptation to the Enterprise environment, but some of Dwight Schultz's more serious chops as an actor.
In thinking about Barclay, I am reminded of a slightly similar character in ST:TOS: Mr. Bailey of "The Corbomite Maneuver." Because TOS was still in its formative period, a fractious character such as Bailey may be allowed in because the requisite discipline needed to perform in the hostile environment of space either wasn't fully appreciated by the writer (in this case, Jerry Sohl) or was simply ignored. Bailey winds up being thrown in as a plot device - the crewman who snaps. Still, Bailey comes around, even as Barclay does, and they and the ship and the phenomenon which is _Star Trek_ all benefit as a result.
ensign Ro was a misfit. And a HUGE number of characters on Voyager were misfits, starting with that pilot (the admiral's son)
I always kind of wondered though, would someone with Barclay's level of confidence really have what it takes to become a Lieutenant in Starfleet?
@Dan C: In most comparable organizations a greater focus is put on filtering out the overconfident.
underconfident: greater tendency to err on the side of caution.
overconfident: fools rush where angels fear to tread. (when this type of guy calls for help you can bet you'll get just in time for his funeral ... if you are lucky enough to not be with him)
*Imagine what the rest of Starfleet's crews have if they aren't filled with the Fleet's best like Riker*
This was a fantastic episode that should relate with thousands of people in society whose future failure are deeply related to their anxiety...their true potential is never met, due to lack of confidence.
I believe that Barclay mind-melded with the Enterprise's supercomputer.
Also established long-range communication between the Alpha Quadrant and the Delta Quadrant where Voyager is
Wow, what a thoughtful analysis of this overlooked character. Dwight Schultz portrayed Barclay so well that I can't imagine any other actor in that role.
Barclay is one of the few human character in starfleet.
there are A LOT of human charters in starfleet. I would argue that there are less shown aliens in Starfleet shown in the shows.
I would say that's the point, every member in Starfleet *know* they are fully expendable for the greater good of humanity and its progress. Not only are they willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, they are expected to. They are a science/exploration vessel first, with militaristic capabilities second. Relying on diplomacy, tactical analysis at every turn, and team-work to achieve their goals. How realistic this is, I don't know. Gene was also against the idea of having characters change throughout the series.
It's why I hated the movies: Picard for instance became this guy who could go on to become a full-on action figure, completely out of character.
The Other is Chief O'Brian .
+Arylwren1
I don't think you understood what +Adam Spencer meant by the word "Human". Hint: it's not "Being a member of the species of Homo Sapiens".
_[The 4-line YT comment bug drives me crazy. Anyone else?]_
Iminur Computorz In the movies there was usually a decent if not good reason Picard got into the action more, most of the time it was Ryker destroying his damn ship. (Remind me to never lend my spaceship to Ryker). Picard wasn't much out of character but movies being what they are put him in the action more due to the plot.
"I can see the univers as a single equation, and it is so simple"- That line made my eyes shine.
'Using the holodeck in the exact same way as most of the show's fanboys would.'
TRUTH!
5:42 I thought that was a SENIOR staff meeting.....so what the hell is "acting ensign" Crusher doing there?!
Like Barclay, he was invited.
His mom's banging the captain obviously 😂😂
Guinan always has been a better ship's counselor than Troy was.
Troy treated him as some sort of freaking leper, constantly reminding him of his "difficulties" and exhorting him to be more "normal." :/
I never appreciated Guinan when I watched TNG the first time. I kept seeing Whoopi Goldberg. It was only when I rewatched TNG years later that I realized how much of an integrated part of the ship she was, always there for those with a problem, and always with sound and appropriate and correct advise. No wonder Q is afraid of her. (I wish they had gone into that a bit more.)
Yes! My education is in psychology, and I always cringe soooo hard when I see Troy "treating" someone by nagging and scolding them until they do something rash and counterproductive.
Good bartenders tend to be good counselors.
Troi...not Troy.
"my only friend on this entire ship is a robot man" ... lol
Yes, some of us ARE Barclay. As someone with Asperger's, AD/HD, anxiety, and awkward social skills, I always thought that Barclay was the one "Trek" character most likely to actually share my diagnosis. And however much I'd like to say otherwise, he was one of the characters I had to admit to having the most in common with.
And lay off the "Voyager" arc: he actually played a huge role in getting them home.
Agreed, my husband and oldest son are diagnosed with Aapergers, high functioning and I am a social worker who works with individuals on the spectrum and he is remarkably similar to people I know well. The focus on performing a duty that challenges them and excites but completely awkward when having a conversation. I see similarities between his use of the holodeck and my own son's use of video games as a way to recenter. The only action I don't see is stimming, but that action can be repressed and varies greatly by many people, my son waves his hands and my husband taps his toes, which isn't as obvious.
I too have Asperger's, so I know exactly what you're talking about.
I loved what they did with Barclay in Voyager! I also felt like his on-going Voyager- crew holodeck program was very much in-character for what we'd seen from him prior.
Mia J ....and some of us literally stim. Addiction is rough.
I only wish they'd have a female character similar to Barclay, though I can still identify with him because of my bipolar
You forgot to cover when Barclay was turned into a living computer. I love that episode...
Barclay is the man. His reappearance in Voyager was one of the highlights of that series, IMHO.
Thank you for the tribute to Barclay. Everyone else has said it much more eloquently than I could, so I will just add my love for the fantastic character that could only have been played by Dwight.
Great analysis!!!! From the very first episode where Barkley was introduced, I was a huge fan of his character for exactly the reasons you delineated! Here was a character, amid all these superhuman, super-talented, super-adjusted people, who was just a regular guy struggling to fit in. Feeling inadequate around all these god-like people. And yet his talents, though apparently modest compared to the others, saved the day on several occasions. Despite his flaws, he proved himself to be a valued and important member of the team. He was the most human of all the Star Trek characters.
Yep, this is your best so far, and Barclay is among my favorite characters. I see Barclay as a sort of "alter ego" of another character played by Dwight Schultz - Murdock from "The A Team".... Murdock was zany, confident and funny while Barclay was straight-laced, uncertain and very serious.
I think that’s honestly one of the best Star Trek fan videos I’ve seen in a while. Thanks for that. It’s also worth pointing out that Barkley becomes a hero for the voyager crew in that he facilitates communication between them and earth.
Barclay episodes are some of my favorite.
And don't forget his appearance in First Contact! I've always thought they wrote the Barclay character as an homage to the geeky Trek fans. And I am one of them!!
At least he's a somewhat positive tribute to the fans. Star Wars got Kylo Ren - a Darth Vader fanboy who hates change.
Star Wars also got Rey - a girl who adores the original series so much that she tries to do what her heroes did and ends up helping to save the galaxy.
It's almost like they're talking about two different parts of the fandom. One that's toxic and the other that's not!
ALMOST!
Sally Caves (the author of "Hollow Pursuits", stated that she wrote Barclay as a satire of Trek fans who can't separate the show from reality.
And he became one of the most relatable characters on the show.
How's that for irony?
He was instrumental in making contact with Voyager, years after they vanished, if memory serves me.
@@davidcolby167 To me she came off as a Mary Sue, getting powers right off the bat and defeating enemies without even trying. I like female protagonists (look at Ellen Ripley from Alien series for example) but least we see Ellen change and grow into her badass self.
The episode where the alien probe made him super smart and capable and confident is something that we've all daydreamed about at some point.
Barclay is my favorite broccoli.
Barkley and Tilly are the most relatable characters in Star Trek
And Dwight Schultz later guest starred on Babylon 5 as a homeless veteran with PTSD in season 2 episode The Long Dark.
A great episode too! ...I mean, I liked it...
...okay, I like every Babylon 5 episode, I may be biased...
He didn't just have PTAD, he was also having his sould slowly sucked out by some Lovecraftian Alien Horror from the dawn of time
Shit, I spaced that. I love that episode so much more, now. Garibaldi and Barcley, FTW!
...and previously he was a howling mad helicopter pilot in vietnam, and a soldier of fortune.
Dwight Shulz' monologue about "just shy" is so perfect. It brings a tear to my eye.
I didn't have the mental vocabulary to articulate the idea at the time TNG originally aired, but Barclay reminded me of my own social anxiety. If I had access to a holodeck, I'd probably run simulations like his.
Every human whos being honest with themselves would say they would do just what he did in the holodeck... those who say they wouldnt are lying big time... i sure as hell would.
Rewatched this... The actor who played Barclay does such a great job at portraying anxiety. He reminds me of my brother who sadly passed away at 36. My brother was fairly depressed, lacked self confidence and had a lot of social Anxiety. The look on Barclay is spot on... and Reminded me of my brother.
So sorry for your loss. I glad seeing Barclay can bring you some pleasant reminders in addition to the pain.
It's worth pointing out he pretty much saves Voyager in that series, his neurotic obsession causing him to stick at it, after sensible people tell him there is no hope.
And I think he improved even more with Commander Harkins and Admiral Paris sort of mentoring him.
He's the eccentric, mis understood Boffin
That episode where he becomes a super intelligence and controls the ship is one of my all time favourites!
We are all Broccoli.
BeingABear I do similar job to Mr. Barclay.
We are Groot
Very good of you to describe this important thing; how feeling awkward is a very basic human condition! It's something that I think should be included even more in shows like this.
Man. This is a very deep, insightful and thought provoking video, with plenty of common sense reasoning. Right next to Q, Barkley is (in my opinion) one of the few characters where EVERY episode he's in is a good one. Thanks so much for sharing.
Wow! This is an AWESOME video!
The Nth Degree made me cry and is a really encouraging episode for us social introverts. I LOVE Barclay.
Janeway and Reg: opening.
"I know, I know, she's 18, but, bbut."
"Reginald, she's not a little girl anymore."
"I know, maybe we should have..."
"Stop, we discussed this. Space is not something we just "trek" through. It's a concept, both in body and mind."
"Kathryn, I know I'm bbeing...I know I have to let go, but I'm..."
"Worried, yes Reginald, I feel it too. Letting go isn't easy, for parents. But we adopted her because we love her. We wanted to make sure she knew there were at least two people who saw her for what she was and embraced her for it. We wanted to protect her, from all hurt harm and danger, but we can't do it forever. We can't be there every time she stumps her toe."
"But..."
"Yes, if there was ever an award for a father who was "there" to comfort there child, every time they stumped their toe, it would be you."
"Kathryn...I guess I'm being a little overprotective."
"A little, Reginald you called Starfleet Intelligence to do a background check on him, overprotective is an understatement."
"Like you didn't do a check yourself?!"
"Okay, I'll admit I was a little concerned, but Ambassador Worf reassured me, he comes from a noble house and has only the most honorable of intentions. Let them be themselves. At this point, that's all we can do."
"And if it doesn't work out, you'll call the Sixth Fleet?!"
"No, I'll call upon the services of a simple tailor."
"A, tailor?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, a tailor!"
"Yep."
"So when do you leave?"
"The delegation will arrive in 12 hours."
"I hope the Romulans will be more apt to your proposal, considering who you are."
"Well, wwith my outline and mmmy "hero" status as of late, they should at least listen to my ideas."
"You'll do fine Commander Barclay!"
"Thank you, Admiral Janeway."
[Kiss]
"Where have you been all my life?"
"On the other side of the galaxy, drinking the worst coffee ever replicated."
[smile] [kiss] [embrace][kiss]
Barclay is quite easily the most realistic member of the Enterprise. While everyone get's irritated by even the slightest decrease in workplace efficiency, Barclay experiences anxiety like many people would. He's beautifully imperfect, and has trouble venting properly in a galaxy of clean-cut "professional's".
Oh man that reading Rainbow line was terrific. I had to pause the video I was laughing so hard.
Willis Raabe Me too!!!
As someone with severe anxiety issues, I can not rightly articulate how I felt seeing even just a supporting character sit down with his well-adjusted friend, trying to explain having severe social anxiety issues, saying "You don't know what it's like, being afraid all the time..."
I wish the writer had gone all the way and had him say "...and knowing you're afraid of literally nothing, just AFRAID," but it was still amazing.
Even in 2018 ST:TNG is still my favorite tv show of all time
MickeyKnox here here!
While I can understand how a show might have that effect on someone at a particular stage of their development, I have to ask: Stuck in the Past much?
Personally, I was affected by The Inner Light enough that it changed my worldview; I even bought that episode as a standalone disk.
And every show has its turkeys. (Shades of Gray, anyone?)
Okay, I'm Commander Shepard, and you can guess my favorite game on the Citadel.
What's wrong with proclaiming that TNG is their fav show? Would you begrudge someone for stating that their favourite composer is Mozart?
Every Trek has had some truly shocking episodes, maybe more than one, take discovery for example, just because it's new doesn't make it good.
You should try The Expanse
Oh yeah! Big time! Nothing comes close IMHO...
I loved this one. Barclay always struck a chord with me too.
I liked him on Voyager.
Him on there was definitely one of the highlights.
Dwight Schultz gave us some of the most iconic TNG episodes like Hollow Pursuits and Nth Degree. I can't love TNG without loving Barclay.
His heart, his loyalty to getting the toughest job done. His ability to never get a girlfriend. But seriously he reminds me of Tesla
Before I even watch the video, the title spoke to me. I never thought about it before, but it is very true. Reg has the best arc of anyone in the franchise, and I HOPE he shows up in Picard
People tend to forget that time Picard breaks down in a vineyard.
That is my favorite scenes, hands down, for that character.
I liked Barclay on Voyager. He was still struggling with confidence issues, especially after leaving a place he had struggled to find a place in and ultimately succeeded, only to wind up in another place with people who didn't understand him yet again. Ultimately, he proved to himself that he could make things work again even with new people that he had difficulty with, and managed to widen his circle of friends yet again as well as his confidence reaching new levels. He discovered that he could succeed at life, and that his success on the Enterprise wasn't just a fluke.
I found Barclay relatable on a lot of levels. I've always thought that if I was a member of the crew of the Enterprise, I'd be friends with Barclay. One thing about his character that stands out to me is that his isolation causes him to see everyone else as they look from an unbiased distance, and when he builds his fantasy life, it is a reflection of the people who live and work near him, yet always at an arm's length. His fantasies are heavy with patriarchal, sexist overtones, which is a direct reflection of the people he observes in order to try and understand social dynamics, but his intentions are also revealed in a more subtle way. And what he's really craving is inclusion and acceptance. To be understood and not be rejected for his differences. The weirdness of his fantasies states more about his crewmates than it does about him.
Barclay would have hosted a D&D group on the Enterprise.
The first “conversation” between Picard and Geordi earned you one subscribe, sir.
Barclay is a shy introvert, and they are usually the smartest because their interests consume them. It takes a lot of courage to step out of ones comfort zone, especially if you think no one likes you. Barclay had constant counseling from Deanna, and the crew of the Enterprise works very hard to pull him out of his shell. Without their encouragement, he wouldn’t have gotten to where is was by the time we see him in Voyager. He is an amazingly talented officer who only needed some confidence and a few friends to show just how brilliant he is! It shows that everyone has something to offer, if you just give them a chance! I always loved Barclay, because I am very much like him. The anxiety can be crippling, but he pushed through! He is one of the most courageous characters, because his enemy is himself, and that’s the hardest enemy to defeat. Once he accepted this is just how he is, he’s able to work through it. Sometimes fighting isn’t the answer.
"His enemy is himself": what an observation!
Been reading these comments and it seems this video struck a chord. Then your comment drew me in personally because it's how I've seen myself since my youth. I don't think most people can relate to being their own worst enemy. It's easier to identify someone else to fight with. We all know "a house divided cannot stand."
There is a God in heaven, and He knows each one of us better than we know ourselves. I don't know what your personal struggles are, but I see from your perceptiveness that you have a purpose here. Thanks....
What a great analysis of a complex character. I really enjoyed your report. First time I've been here, won't be the last!
Live Long and Prosper.
You actually brought me to tears when you described the scene in which Barclay says goodbye to the holodeck.
erase all programs filed under Reginald Barclay.
Except... Program Nine.
InnocuousRemark LoL. It brought me to tears during the Duffy glass melted scene. How we didn’t end up down the “self abuse” track is anyone’s guess.
9:08 or 9:24 or wherever you count the "what it is" Admission.....
Not tears, not 100% coverage icecold goosebumps, but similar like an "electric wind" or some such.
Barclay is True Genious personafied in Heroness 🤘😎🖖
Poignant thoughtfully analytical breakdown of the B man. Like you I always liked him but never delved within myself to ascertain why, but your breakdown of why hit every point and mad absolute sense. This is my first watch of your stuff, will be continuing and will check out the podcast.
4:06 "Since when are we such assholes"
I half expected you to jokey point to the first 2 seasons XD
But yea Barclay is a solid and relatable character
what a great show. really important analysis on this character. he also redeems himself on Voyager and becomes an even bigger hero. thank you for this episode. i know so many of us can relate .
The reason it makes sense that Barclay is a Voyager fan is that they appear to be a ship of imperfect people, succeeding against the odds. Janeway is pretty perfect, like Picard, and Tuvok is Vulcan, but the Maquis are all way beyond misfits in normal Federation society, Seven and the Borg kids came from and still acted like reviled monster-enemies, and Kes and Neelix were total outsiders. Even the Doctor, super competent at his job, isn't really designed for all that social interaction and independence. And yet, they're making it work. VOY was a Barclay-style show. DISCO has arguably done something similar.
That makes perfect sense.
Brave is the one who stays and fights...
but more brave is the one who is afraid, but fights anyway
@6:05 - Barclay's first "Shut up. Wesley" moment: subject of his next holodeck session, confirmed.
Barclay has done more for Starfleet and his crewmates than 99% of all Star Trek characters. Love this video.
Frake is so tall that Braclay's actor can't even chokehold him properly. XD
Barclay was also a hero in Voyager !
ST Voyager was and still is THE BEST Star trek tv show EVER !
I really hope for a ' Voyager MK2 ' with ' Kathryn Janeway ' as an admiral and ' Harry Kim ' as
the captain of the new Voyager MK2 !
Barclay has always been one of my favorite Star Trek characters. I see more of myself in him than any other character.
i just watch this episode just now and see this, totally agree.
Is not easy to face your demons
He was always my favorite member of the A-Team.