The Big Goodbye
"The Big Goodbye" | |
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Star Trek: The Next Generation episode | |
Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 12 |
Directed by | Joseph L. Scanlan |
Written by | Tracy Tormé |
Featured music | Dennis McCarthy |
Cinematography by | Edward R. Brown |
Production code | 113 |
Original air date | January 11, 1988 |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Big Goodbye" is the twelfth episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The episode first aired in broadcast syndication on January 11, 1988. This was the second writing credit of the series for Tracy Tormé following the episode "Haven". Rob Bowman planned to direct the episode, but he was switched to "Datalore" due to delays in its production. With Bowman working on another episode, Joseph L. Scanlan became the director.
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. This episode is the first to focus primarily on the holodeck, a technology that can create realistic immersive simulated environments. In the episode, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Lt. Cmdr. Data (Brent Spiner), and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) are trapped, due to a computer malfunction, in a 1940s-style gangster holodeck program with Captain Picard playing the role of detective Dixon Hill.
Tormé credited Gene Roddenberry with the idea for the detective novel, and employed a film noir style using references to The Maltese Falcon (1941). Lawrence Tierney, who appeared in film noir movies in the 1940s, guest stars as Cyrus Redblock. The Dixon Hill setting reappeared in two later episodes in the series and in the film Star Trek: First Contact (1996).
11.5 million viewers watched "The Big Goodbye"; critical reception was mixed. One reviewer found it too similar to
Plot
The
The Jarada demand their greeting earlier than the agreed time and are insulted at having to talk to anyone other than the Captain. The crew tries to communicate with Picard in the holodeck but finds it impossible; the Jarada signal has affected the holodeck's functions, preventing the doors from opening or allowing communication with the crew inside. Lt. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) and Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) attempt to repair the holodeck systems. While inside the holodeck, the group returns to Dixon's office. Mr. Leech (Harvey Jason) appears, having waited for Picard, demanding he turn over an object he believes Jessica gave him. When Picard fails to understand, Leech shoots Dr. Whalen with a gun, and the crew discovers that the safety protocols have been disabled, as Whalen is severely wounded. As Dr. Crusher cares for his wound, Picard and Data discover that the holodeck is malfunctioning, and they are unable to exit the program. Mr. Leech is joined by Redblock and continues to demand the object. Hill's friend Lt. McNary arrives and becomes involved in the standoff. Picard tries to explain the nature of the holodeck, but Redblock refuses to believe him.
Outside, Wesley finds the glitch, however he cannot simply turn off the system for fear of losing everyone inside. Instead, Wesley resets the simulation, briefly placing Picard and the others in the middle of a snowstorm before finding themselves back in Dixon's office. With the reset successfully clearing the malfunction, the exit doors finally appear. Despite Picard's warnings, Redblock and Leech exit the holodeck, but dissipate as they move beyond the range of its holoemitters. As they leave the holodeck, Picard thanks McNary, who now suspects that his world is artificial and asks whether Picard's departure is "the big goodbye", to which Picard replies that he does not know. Picard reaches the bridge in time to give the proper greeting to the Jarada. The Jarada accept the greeting, heralding the start of successful negotiations.
Production
The initial idea for Picard's detective based holodeck program came from series creator Gene Roddenberry and other writing staff. Tracy Tormé received credit for writing the episode.[1][2] Tormé said he added film noir elements, including references to The Maltese Falcon (1941). Redblock and Leech represent the characters played by Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre.[2] The production staff attempted to create the same layout of the detective office from the film.[3] Dixon Hill was originally named Dixon Steele in reference to In a Lonely Place (1950), a film noir starring Humphrey Bogart. However, the name was changed due to similarities with the name of the title character in the American television series Remington Steele. The episode's name is itself a reference to two works by detective fiction writer Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye. Tormé expanded the Jarada a great deal, but because of budgetary restraints they are only heard in the episode.[2] After the episode "Haven", "The Big Goodbye" is the second writing credit of the series for Tormé.[4] Rob Bowman was originally scheduled to direct the episode, but following problems with "Datalore" the filming order was switched, so Joe Scanlan directed "The Big Goodbye" instead.[2]
Scanlan and Tormé recommended filming the holodeck sequences in black and white, but
Tierney was well known for playing villains in 1940s film noirs, including
Awards
Rather than give in to the usual realities of "first-run" and produce a low budget, but profitable program, the producers chose instead to opt for the highest quality in writing, decor, acting, and, indeed, all facets of the production. In doing so, they have set a new standard of quality for first-run syndication and this is exemplified in the episode "The Big Goodbye."
The Peabody Board.[12]
In recognition of its "new standard of quality for first-run syndication", the episode was honored with a
Reception
The episode first aired on January 11, 1988, receiving
After its initial release, a review in TV Guide criticised the episode for its similarity to The Original Series episode "A Piece of the Action", which featured a planet based on 1930s gangland Chicago.[2] Several reviewers re-watched the episode after the end of the series. Keith DeCandido of Tor.com praised the "stellar guest casting" and said that Tierney "own[ed] the episode". He compared the episode to The Maltese Falcon and said that the episode featured "charming performances" by the entire cast. DeCandido gave the episode a score of seven out of ten.[11] Cast member Wil Wheaton called the episode a "fantastic collaborative effort, from Tracy Tormé's script, to Joseph Scanlan's direction, to Ed Brown's cinematography, to every actor's performance. There's a reason 'The Big Goodbye' is the only Star Trek episode to win a Peabody." He gave the episode an A grade.[9]
Writing for Den of Geek in 2012, James Hunt said that the risk of disintegration on the holodeck was "insane" and was rectified in later episodes. He thought that the episode stood out from the others in the first season due to the prototype holodeck story. "The holodeck will break again and again over the years, but rarely in a way any more interesting than this. Not that The Big Goodbye was particularly interesting, but it has the rare fortune of being first," Hunt wrote.[6]
Michelle Erica Green of TrekNation praised the dialogue but felt the episode did not "hold up to a lot of logical analysis". She also said it was a "fun" episode that "set the stage" for holodeck episodes featuring the sentient Professor Moriarty hologram in "Elementary, Dear Data" and "Ship in a Bottle".[16] Writing for The A.V. Club, Zack Handlen observed "a certain flatness" in parts of the episode and considered it "very silly" for the characters to slowly disintegrate after leaving the holodeck. Although he said the holodeck in "The Big Goodbye" was similar to "an Xbox that periodically eats your cat", he gave the episode an overall grade of B−.[17]
In 2016, Syfy ranked this the 7th best holodeck episode of the Star Trek franchise.[18]
In 2017, Den of Geek listed "The Big Goodbye" as one of the top ten ground-breaking episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, noting how it was first 'holodeck episode' on the show and "set the precedent"; it "established how the holodeck could be used to liven up the show and expand its horizons."[19] They note its influence on later holodeck episodes such as "Ship in a Bottle" and "Hollow Pursuits".[19]
In 2019, CBR ranked this the 11th best holodeck-themed episode of all Star Trek franchise episodes up to that time.[20] In 2019, Den of Geek recommended rewatching this episode as background for Star Trek: Picard.[21]
In 2020, Looper listed this one of the best episodes for Jean Luc Picard.[22]
Media releases
"The Big Goodbye" was released on
Notes
- Captain Proton holodeck program in Star Trek: Voyager was filmed in black and white from the episode "Night" onwards.[5]
Footnotes
- ^ Nemecek (2003): p. 44
- ^ a b c d e f Nemecek (2003): p. 45
- ^ a b Gross; Altman (1993): p. 162
- ^ Gross; Altman (1993): p. 161
- ^ Basson, David (June 1999). "Rocket Man". Star Trek: Monthly. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
- ^ a b Hunt, James (December 7, 2012). "Revisiting Star Trek TNG: The Big Goodbye". Den of Geek. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ Hanley (1998): p. 42
- ^ "Lawrence Tierney". The Guardian. March 1, 2002. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c Wheaton, Wil (July 11, 2007). "Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Big Goodbye". AOL TV. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- ^ "Tierney, Lawrence". StarTrek.com. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ a b DeCandido, Keith (June 13, 2011). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: "The Big Goodbye"". Tor.com. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ a b "Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Big Good-Bye". Peabody Awards. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ^ "Primetime Emmy Award Database". Emmys.com. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
- ^ Montgomery, Tony Ruiz, Daniel; Ruiz, Tony; Montgomery, Daniel (May 4, 2020). "All 28 classic 'Star Trek' episodes that won Emmys: From 'The Next Generation' to 'Discovery'". GoldDerby. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Star Trek: The Next Generation Nielsen Ratings – Seasons 1–2". TrekNation. Archived from the original on October 5, 2000. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ^ Green, Michelle Erica (May 18, 2007). "The Big Goodbye". TrekNation. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
- ^ Handlen, Zack (April 30, 2010). ""The Big Goodbye"/"Datalore"/"Angel One"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ Granshaw, Lisa (October 5, 2016). "From baseball to Sherlock Holmes: The top 10 Star Trek holodeck episodes". SYFY WIRE. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
- ^ a b Juliette Harrisson (September 29, 2017). "Star Trek: The Next Generation — 10 Groundbreaking Episodes". Den of Geek. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "Star Trek: Ranking the 20 Best Holodeck Episodes". CBR. January 4, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ "Star Trek: Picard - The Next Generation Episodes to Rewatch". Den of Geek. May 28, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ Martin, Michileen (January 23, 2020). "The best Picard episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation". Looper.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ "Star Trek – The Next Generation, Episode 13: The Big Goodbye (VHS)". Tower Video. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
- ^ Periguard, Mark A (March 24, 2002). "'Life as a House' rests on shaky foundation". The Boston Herald. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ^ Shaffer, RL (April 30, 2012). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Beams to Blu-ray". IGN. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
References
- Gross, Edward; Altman, Mark A. (1993). Captain's Logs: The Complete Trek Voyages. London: Boxtree. ISBN 978-1-85283-899-7.
- Hanley, Richard (1998). The Metaphysics of Star Trek. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 978-0465091249. (subscription required)
- Nemecek, Larry (2003). Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (3rd ed.). New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 0-7434-5798-6.
External links
- "The Big Goodbye" at IMDb
- "The Big Goodbye" at Memory Alpha