Clues, as the title would suggest, is intended to be something of a mystery episode for TNG. The Dixon Hill introductory sequence with Picard and Guinan sets the thematic tone, and the unexpected appearance of a Class M planet transitions the episode from the holodeck to the Bridge.

The mystery deepens when a wormhole suddenly appears, knocks the crew unconscious (except for Data), and transports the ship some distance away. Data explains what has happened and the ship resumes its original course. What follows are a series of clues that slowly, but surely, contradict Data’s explanation of what occurred.

The pacing, acting and writing to a good job of keeping the mystery engaging and fresh. And the audience is as shocked as the crew when Data’s inexplicable behavior ultimately forces them to question his integrity. Data delivers a convincing performance, walking the line between being Data and behaving in a way that completely contradicts his character.

The clues continue to pile up and, finally, Picard orders the ship to return to the location of the wormhole in the hopes of figuring out what happened, and what has gone wrong with Data. Once there, we learn that, having encountered a powerful and deadly alien force, Data was ordered to lie to the crew by Picard himself — in order to protect the ship and crew. It’s a solid, interesting mystery. But it isn’t exceptionally compelling, either.

One last item of note to the credit of this episode: Data’s erratic behavior evokes the possibility of severe consequences. Picard tells him that not only will a courts martial follow Data’s insubordination, but that Data may even be “stripped down” to figure out what caused the malfunction. And that is what sets this episode apart from Brothers — where Data hijacked the Enterprise with seemingly no repercussions or consequences whatsoever.

Clues is a classic TNG episode that hits all the right beats on its way to a solid, if unexceptional result.

Filed under: TNG Reviews