Star Trek The Next Generation
Character
Lieutenant
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Reginald Barclay

anxious cathartic arrogant aggressive defiant escapist shy vulnerable resourceful
Lieutenant Reginald Barclay (nicknamed 'Broccoli' by crewmates) serves as an engineer on the USS Enterprise-D, where he struggles with acute social anxiety. His coping mechanism involves creating elaborate holodeck simulations to vent frustrations and explore fantasies of confidence and intimacy. In one notable episode ('Hollow Pursuits'), he crafts a Ten Forward simulation where he aggressively overpowers holographic versions of his superiors (Holo-Riker, Holo-Geordi, Holo-Troi, and Holo-Guinan) to cathartically release built-up resentment. This behavior reflects his deep-seated insecurities and desire for control in a world where he feels powerless. During a ship crisis, he overcomes his anxiety to diagnose technical issues, propose solutions, and ultimately delete most of his holodeck programs—retaining only Program Nine—as he begins to confront his addiction and develop self-assurance. His character arc demonstrates a complex interplay of vulnerability, defiance, and gradual growth.
50 appearances
Starfleet Engineering
Also known as: Endicott Reginald Barclay the Third, Barclay, Broccoli

Reginald Barclay's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

50 moments
S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Holodeck Meltdown: The Breaking Point of Fantasy and Authority

A volatile mix of smug triumph (from overpowering holographic superiors) and underlying anxiety (masked by bravado, exposed when Geordi’s real voice intrudes). His actions suggest repressed rage finding temporary release, but his abrupt freeze at the com signal reveals fragile dependence on the holodeck’s illusion of control.

Barclay slouches at the bar in a holodeck recreation of Ten Forward, initially passive but rapidly transforming into a dominant, aggressive figure. He overpowers Holo-Riker with a half-Nelson, flips a …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Fantasy Shatters: Duty Calls in the Wake of Rebellion

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, …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Hero’s Hollow Echo: Barclay’s Collapse Back to Reality

Crushed by the contrast between his holodeck heroism and the harsh reality of his invisibility; a mix of shame, resignation, and quiet despair.

Barclay steps into the corridor, visibly altered from his holodeck fantasy persona—now shy, stressed, and frowning. He moves quickly due to being late, steps aside for Troi, and sighs silently …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Humiliation and the First Fracture: A Crisis of Competence and Control

A paralyzing mix of shame, guilt, and self-loathing, exacerbated by the crew’s disdain. His external compliance masks an internal spiral of inadequacy, where every failure feels like confirmation of his unworthiness.

Reginald Barclay slinks into the cargo bay like a man bracing for an execution, his body language—avoided eye contact, hunched shoulders, fidgeting hands—betraying his deep social anxiety. His stammered excuses …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Anti-Grav Unit's Catastrophic Failure: Barclay's Competence and the Crew's Doubt Collide

Crushing anxiety and shame, bordering on panic, as his failures are publicly exposed and his incompetence is confirmed.

Reginald Barclay enters the Cargo Bay visibly uncomfortable, his body language closed off—avoided eye contact, hesitant speech, and a palpable fear of saying the wrong thing. When assigned to inspect …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Weight of Silence: Barclay’s Shame and Geordi’s Reluctant Mentorship

Anxious and humiliated—Barclay is visibly shaken by Geordi’s dismissal and Riker’s warning, his emotional state a mix of deep embarrassment, self-doubt, and a desperate desire to prove himself. His internal turmoil is palpable, manifesting in physical awkwardness and verbal stumbling.

Reginald Barclay enters the Cargo Bay visibly uncomfortable, his body language screaming avoidance—he rarely makes eye contact, and when he speaks, his words are hesitant, laced with fear of saying …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Breaking Point: Barclay’s Incompetence Forces La Forge’s Confrontation

Crushed by embarrassment and self-doubt, but with a fragile undercurrent of resilience beginning to surface.

Reginald Barclay enters the cargo bay visibly uncomfortable, his body language tense and his eyes averted. He stumbles through excuses for his tardiness, his voice hesitant and apologetic, but his …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Contamination Revelation: Barclay’s Incompetence Becomes a Ship-Wide Threat

Anxious, guilty, and overwhelmed, teetering on the edge of a breakdown as his insecurities are publicly exposed.

Reginald Barclay enters the cargo bay visibly uncomfortable, avoiding eye contact and speaking in hesitant, stammering sentences. He provides weak excuses for his lateness and fails to repair the anti-grav …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Picard Forces Geordi to Confront His Bias: A Leadership Reckoning

Indirectly portrayed as vulnerable and misunderstood; Barclay's emotional state is inferred through the crew's discussion—his anxiety and isolation are framed as the root of the conflict, while his potential is overlooked. The subtext suggests a deep well of unmet need, both professionally and personally.

Barclay is not physically present in the scene but is the central subject of the discussion. His reputation, psychological profile, and social struggles are dissected by Picard, Riker, and Geordi, …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Picard’s Rebuke: The Weight of Leadership and the Burden of Barclay

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 …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Picard’s Rebuke: The Weight of Leadership and the Cost of Dismissal

Indirectly portrayed as vulnerable and isolated; the crew's dismissive language and nicknames paint him as an outcast whose worth is being contested.

Barclay is the absent but central figure of this confrontation. His 'unsatisfactory' rating and the nickname 'Broccoli' serve as proxies for his presence, framing him as both victim and catalyst. …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Holodeck Descent: The Goddess of Empathy and the Fracturing Reality

Desperately seeking connection and validation, masking deep insecurity and fear of judgment with a fleeting, idealized fantasy of intimacy.

Barclay retreats into the holodeck, where he embraces Holo-Troi as the 'Goddess of Empathy' in a passionate, idealized moment of intimacy. His actions reveal deep emotional vulnerability and a desperate …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Glass That Breaks Reality: Barclay’s Escapism Collides with Enterprise’s Crisis

Anxious and seeking comfort (in the holodeck fantasy), but unknowingly exposed as the root of the ship’s crisis (via the crew’s reactions).

Barclay is not physically present in Ten-Forward during this event, but his absence looms large as the crew’s mockery of him ('Broccoli') and the subsequent glass anomaly directly tie to …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Glass That Shouldn’t Be: A Fracture in Reality’s Fabric

A storm of anxiety and guilt, with a flicker of intellectual engagement. Barclay is acutely aware that his holodeck addiction may have caused this crisis, and the combination of shame and fear leaves him nearly paralyzed. His emotional state is one of quiet desperation, tempered by the faint hope that he might still prove useful.

Barclay is working at a console in the background when Geordi calls his name, causing him to look up with a start. His body language is immediately defensive—shoulders tensing, eyes …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Holodeck Fantasies: The Illusion of Control and the Exposure of Vulnerability

A whiplash of emotions: exhilaration (mid-duel), triumph (disarming Holo-Picard), sheer panic (upon seeing Geordi), and crushing humiliation as his fantasy collapses. His emotional state is a fragile house of cards—confidence built on illusion, shattered by reality.

Barclay, clad in his Starfleet uniform but wielding a sword with musketeer precision, dominates a duel against holographic versions of Picard, Data, and Geordi. His movements are fluid and confident, …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Self-Sacrificial Gambit: The Weight of a Burden Unspoken

Crushing self-loathing and resignation, masking a deep fear of inadequacy. His emotional state is a mix of shame and desperation, as if he has already accepted his own failure and is seeking an escape—any escape—to spare himself and the crew further embarrassment.

Reginald Barclay sits across from Geordi in Ten-Forward, his body language closed off—shoulders hunched, fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of the table. His voice trembles as he delivers his …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Transporter’s Silent Scream: A Prelude to Catastrophe

Not directly observable, but inferred as fractured and anxious—his absence is a void that the crew is reluctantly acknowledging.

Reginald Barclay is not physically present in this event but is central to its subtext. His name is invoked when Riker orders his summons, and Geordi’s plea for a delay—‘I’ve …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Transporter's Silent Scream: A Log of Unseen Fractures

Not applicable (off-screen), but inferred as desperate and isolated—his holodeck is both his sanctuary and his undoing, and the crew’s reactions suggest they’re bracing for the fallout.

Barclay is not physically present in this event, but his absence is a looming specter. Geordi’s plea to delay his summons—'I’ve got him doing something'—and Riker’s insistence on bringing him …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Picard’s Diagnostic Order and Geordi’s Protective Delay: The First Cracks in the Enterprise’s Armor

Surface: Not observable (off-screen). Inferred: Likely anxious and isolated, possibly engaged in holodeck escapism to avoid real-world scrutiny. His absence suggests he is either unaware of the transporter failure or actively evading it—both possibilities reinforce his role as the 'weak link' in the crew’s eyes.

Reginald Barclay is not physically present in Transporter Room Three during this event, but his absence is a looming presence. Geordi’s deflection of Riker’s summons—claiming Barclay is 'working on something'—implies …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Riker’s Transporter Lockdown: The First Containment Order

Not directly observable, but inferred as anxious and avoidant (given his holodeck reliance).

Reginald Barclay is not physically present in the scene but is the unseen catalyst for the tension. His absence is palpable—Riker’s order to summon him and Geordi’s protective hesitation (‘I’ve …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Counseling Collapse: The Illusion of Progress

Deeply anxious and overwhelmed; his surface-level compliance is a thin veneer over a panic attack, and his abrupt exit reveals a complete inability to engage with reality without fleeing.

Reginald Barclay sits hunched and tense on the far end of Troi’s couch, his fists clenched and breathing rapid. His physical discomfort is palpable, from his rigid posture to his …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Hollow Gratitude: The Collapse of a Counseling Session

A maelstrom of panic and shame—his exterior performs gratitude while his interior screams for escape. The session forces him to confront the gap between his fantasized confidence and his real helplessness.

Barclay perches on the couch’s edge, his body language screaming discomfort—clenched fists, rapid breathing, and a voice trembling with forced politeness. Troi’s relaxation prompts trigger a physical unraveling: his eyes …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Riker’s Breaking Point: The Bridge’s Fractured Response to Barclay’s Descent

Desperate and isolated—his retreat to the holodeck suggests a man at the edge, clinging to the only place where he feels in control, even as it spirals out of control.

Though physically absent from the bridge during this exchange, Reginald Barclay is the central figure of the crisis. His presence is felt through the crew’s reactions—Geordi’s concern, Troi’s empathy, and …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Bridge’s Breaking Point: Barclay’s Instability Forces a Crisis

Desperate and withdrawn, seeking refuge in the holodeck to escape the pressures of reality and the crew’s judgment.

Reginald Barclay is not physically present on the bridge but is the focal point of the crew’s growing concern. His absence and location in Holodeck Two are revealed by the …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Riker’s Breaking Point: The Bridge Confrontation and Holodeck March

Not directly observable, but inferred as deeply anxious and isolated—Barclay’s holodeck retreat is a desperate attempt to escape his social anxieties and the crew’s judgment, even as it exacerbates the very problems he’s trying to avoid.

Lieutenant Barclay is physically absent from the bridge during this event, his whereabouts revealed only by the computer’s confirmation that he is in Holodeck Two. His absence is a glaring …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Musketeer Meltdown: When Fantasy Becomes a Swordfight (and Reality Loses Its Edge)

Inferred as deeply anxious and escapist, using the holodeck as a refuge from the crew’s judgment and his own insecurities. His absence in the scene highlights his inability to confront reality, instead projecting his desires and fears onto the holograms.

Barclay is physically absent from the scene but is the central subject of discussion and the creator of the holodeck programs. His absence is palpable, as the crew’s reactions to …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Goddess of Empathy: Barclay’s Fantasy vs. Reality’s Judgment

Anxious and defensive (inferred), using his holodeck as both a shield and a weapon against the crew’s criticism.

Barclay is physically absent but is the subject of the confrontation. His holodeck programs—particularly the musketeer fantasy and the Goddess of Empathy—are the focus of the real crew’s debate and …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Fragile Fantasy Collapses: The Crew’s Unwanted Revelation

Peaceful yet deeply insecure, his subconscious retreat revealing the extent of his emotional turmoil.

Barclay is asleep in Holo-Beverly’s lap, snoring softly, completely unaware of the crew’s presence or the ship’s crisis. His peaceful repose contrasts sharply with the tension in the air, his …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Holodeck's Unraveling: Geordi's Reluctant Confrontation with Barclay's Delusion

Detached and childlike—lost in his holographic world, unaware of the real-world consequences of his actions.

Barclay is found asleep in Holo-Beverly’s lap, snoring peacefully under the tree. His childlike vulnerability contrasts sharply with the Enterprise’s crisis, exposing the depth of his psychological retreat. The scene …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Weight of Duty: Geordi’s Reluctant Mentorship

Humiliated and ashamed, with a flicker of fragile hope that Geordi’s intervention might offer a path forward—though he’s too broken to voice it.

Barclay exits the holodeck with his head hung low, his posture slumped and shoulders tense. He doesn’t speak, but his silence is deafening—every line of his body radiates shame and …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Weight of Real: Geordi’s Confession and Barclay’s Awakening

A fragile mix of shame, surprise, and dawning hope—his isolation is being challenged, and for the first time, he feels seen.

Reginald Barclay stands in the corridor, his body language closed and defensive at first, but gradually opening as Geordi shares his own story. His voice trembles with guilt and vulnerability …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Warp Core's Fatal Flaw: A Crisis of Physics and Psychology

A volatile mix of terrified urgency and resigned defeat. His technical discovery—rooted in his holodeck-induced anxieties—has just doomed the ship, and the weight of that realization is etched into his features. There's a flicker of guilt beneath the panic, as if he believes his own psychological struggles have manifested in this mechanical failure.

Barclay stands at the engineering console, his fingers flying over the controls in a frantic attempt to diagnose the warp core failure. His face is a mask of concentration and …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Warp Core's Unstoppable Descent: Barclay's Fear Meets the Enterprise's Fate

Anxious and overwhelmed, with a flicker of technical confidence buried under layers of self-doubt. His admission of the jammed mechanism is tinged with resignation, as if he expects failure.

Barclay stands at the Engineering console, his fingers trembling as he attempts to input commands into the Okudagram display. His face is a mask of concern, his brow furrowed as …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Red Alert: The Clock Begins Ticking

Anxious and introspective—his silence speaks volumes. He is acutely aware that his actions (or inactions) have led to this moment, and the pressure to contribute—or at least not hinder—the solution is immense.

Barclay stands with the Engineering team around the pool table, his anxiety palpable even in the chaos. Though he does not speak in this moment, his presence is a silent …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Riker’s Desperate Transmission: The Clock Starts Ticking

Anxious and guilt-ridden—Barclay’s internal turmoil is palpable, even if unspoken, as the crew grapples with the consequences of his actions.

Barclay is present in Engineering but does not speak or take direct action in this moment. His physical presence, however, is symbolic—he is the unspoken root cause of the crisis, …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Enterprise Shudders: Barclay’s Silence Becomes the Ship’s Crisis

Surface: Flustered, defensive, on the verge of tears. Internal: Terrified. The ship’s crisis is a mirror—his holodeck fantasies are bleeding into reality, and he’s powerless to stop it. A small, shameful part of him wonders if he caused this, if his mind is literally tearing the Enterprise apart.

Reginald Barclay stands frozen under the crew’s scrutiny, his face pale and his fingers twitching at his sides. His stammering admission—‘The tests... uh, showed problems... I mean no problems’—betrays the …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Breaking Point: Desperation and the Unseen Culprit

A paralyzing mix of shame, fear, and self-loathing—he’s trapped between his desire to help and his terror of being exposed as the cause of the crisis.

Reginald Barclay blanches under the crew’s scrutiny, his stammering response ('The tests... uh, showed problems... I mean no problems with the flow...') betraying his social paralysis and guilt. His body …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Weight of Silence: Barclay’s Guilt Under the Gaze of Crisis

Nervous, guilty, and defensive, with a deep fear of exposure

Reginald Barclay stands frozen under the crew’s scrutiny, his face pale and his hands fidgeting with the edge of a console. When Duffy presses him about the diagnostic sweep, he …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Ship’s Agony: Barclay’s Silence and the Birth of a Crisis

A toxic cocktail of anxiety, guilt, and self-loathing—his external stammering masks an internal scream: ‘They know. They all know.’ The ship’s shudder isn’t just a mechanical failure; it’s the universe reacting to his repressed fears.

Reginald Barclay is the epicenter of the crew’s mounting suspicion. His physical reaction—blanching under their gaze, stammering through contradictory statements (‘The tests... showed problems... I mean no problems’)—betrays his guilt. …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Crew as the Carrier: Barclay’s Radical Hypothesis

Anxious → Determined → Hopeful

Reginald Barclay, visibly anxious and hesitant, overcomes his social paralysis to propose the radical theory that the crew themselves might be carriers of the sabotaging substance. His stammering delivery (‘What …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Breakthrough: The Unseen Carrier

Anxious yet defiant; his voice trembles initially but grows steadier as he asserts his theory, masking deep insecurity with intellectual courage.

Barclay stands at the center of the engineering chaos, his body tense but his voice growing steadier as he articulates his theory. Initially hesitant, he clears his throat to speak, …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Unseen Carrier: Barclay’s Intuition Breaks the Code

Nervous and vulnerable at first, then determined and validated as his theory gains traction.

Reginald Barclay, the socially anxious engineer, overcomes his crippling self-doubt to voice a radical theory: that the crew themselves might be carriers of a hidden contaminant. His nervous stammering gives …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Invidium Revelation: A Race Against Warped Reality

Anxious determination—his fear is overshadowed by the urgency of the moment, but his self-worth is visibly rising as his contributions are validated.

Reginald Barclay moves swiftly alongside Geordi toward Cargo Bay Five, his earlier holodeck-induced anxieties now reframed as a critical clue. Though still anxious, his determination is palpable—he is no longer …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Revelation: The Invidium Gambit

Tense and fearful, but with a surge of determination—Barclay is stepping into a leadership role he rarely occupies, driven by the stakes of the situation and the need to prove his worth to the crew.

Reginald Barclay, his hands visibly trembling, uses a detection tool to expose the Invidium residue on his glove, confirming the contamination. His voice is tight with urgency as he proposes …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Picard’s Gamble: Trusting the Unproven to Save the Enterprise

Tense determination with flickers of validation—Barclay is terrified of failure but buoyed by the rare moment where his expertise is not only heard but acted upon. His emotional state is a mix of adrenaline, fear, and a fragile sense of purpose.

Reginald Barclay, gloved hands trembling slightly, reaches into the nitrogen canister and withdraws his fingers, revealing the glowing Invidium residue under Geordi’s flashlight. His voice is shaky but determined as …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Nitrogen Gambit: Trust and Precision in the Face of Collapse

Relieved and proud, with a sense of accomplishment and belonging. His emotional state reflects both the tension of the crisis and the satisfaction of having contributed meaningfully to the team's success.

Barclay assists Geordi in the nitrogen injection procedure, his movements and expressions reflecting a mix of focus and newfound confidence. He shares a shy grin with Geordi as they exchange …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
From Crisis to Contamination: The Enterprise’s Silent Threat Revealed

Sheepishly relieved, with a flicker of pride and lingering anxiety about the contamination’s broader impact.

Reginald Barclay stands beside Geordi on the cargo deck, his posture slightly relaxed but still tense from the crisis. He listens as Geordi reports the Invidium contamination to Riker, his …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
The Weight of a Wordless Bond: Barclay’s Redemption in the Aftermath of Crisis

Relieved, self-conscious, and quietly proud—his grin and shrug mask a deeper shift: the dawning realization that he is no longer an outsider but a valued member of the crew.

Reginald Barclay stands beside Geordi on the Cargo Deck, his body language still carrying the residual adrenaline of the crisis. As Geordi delivers the debrief to Riker, Barclay listens intently, …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Bittersweet Farewell: The Erasure of Illusions and the Birth of Courage

Bittersweet resolve—proud of his growth but melancholic about leaving his crutch, with a flicker of hope for the future.

Barclay enters the holodeck with a visibly more confident demeanor, standing at the center of the simulated bridge to address his holographic crew. He delivers a poignant farewell speech, thanking …

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S3E21 · Hollow Pursuits
Barclay’s Bittersweet Farewell: The Last Program Stands

Bittersweet resolve—proud of his growth but anxious about the void it creates, masking lingering dependency with a fragile smile.

Barclay enters the simulated bridge with a subtle but noticeable shift in his bearing—shoulders slightly squared, chin lifted—signaling his newfound confidence. He addresses his holographic crewmates with measured gratitude, his …

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Affiliation

Starfleet
Military Judicial Authority and Personnel Accountability (Starfleet legal proceedings and precedent-setting tribunals)