This TNG villain had a comeback in Star: Trek Picard Season 3 (but the return was not as expected)

When Professor James Moriarty (played by Daniel Davis) first appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation’s holodeck, the crew on board the Enterprise were left shocked when he becomes self-aware and accesses the Starfleet’s system. In the Season 2 episode 3 titled ‘Elementary, Dear Data,’ he was left in the ship’s computer as they did not have the technological support to free Professor Moriarty.

He made a surprise return in Star Trek: Picard Season 3 episode 6 titled ‘The Bounty’, when the Enterprise crew meets the replica of Professor Moriarty at Daystrom station. There is not much information regarding what happened to him, except that he was part of Data’s (Brent Spiner) programming.

Professor Moriarty’s role in The Next Generation was greatly memorable and therefore his appearance in Picard fell short. The audience was left with several questions about the continuity of the character in Star Trek.

What happened to Professor Moriarty in Star Trek?

In Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, episode 3 titled ‘Elementary, dear Data’, while playing Sherlock Holmes in the holodeck, Geordi (played by LeVar Burton) feels that Data is solving all the puzzles easily.

Any holodeck character can defeat Data as it won’t have the ability to outdo Data. So, Dr. Pulaski (played by Diana Muldaur) suggests that they create a mystery with an adversary capable of beating Data. The holodeck ends up creating Professor James Moriarty, who has consciousness.

Things start to quickly spiral out of control when Moriarty decides to take control of the Enterprise instead of sticking to the holodeck script of being a villain. He demands to exist in the world outside. He may exhibit the antics of the quintessentia villain, but for a character with consciousness his demands seem humane. Moriarty says that he believes he is alive and therefore deserves a life beyond the threshold of the program.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) does see his predicament, but he makes Moriarty realize that he is not alive and the technology that would help a character come out of the holodeck does not exist yet. After Picard assures that the crew will work on bringing him out of holodeck, Moriarty gives the ship’s control back to them and returns to the computer memory.

In Season 6 episode 12 titled ‘Ship in a bottle’, Moriarty is reactivated, and he continues to demand for his exit from the holodeck. But it is still impossible. Moriarty tricks the crew and takes control of the Enterprise again, forcing them to find a way. He wants himself and his lover, Countess Regina Bartholomew (played by Stephanie Beacham) to leave the holodeck. He tells the crew that he will give back the control only upon his exit.

Captain Picard convinces Moriarty into believing that they will beam him off the holodeck and so he gives up the power. The crew immediately shuts the computer, but leave him inside a program that will help him experience different adventures through simulations in holodeck.

In Star Trek: Picard Season 3, the Enterprise crew find a replica of Professor Moriarty at the Daystrom station. He makes his grand appearance with his iconic throwback line ‘I think, therefore I am’. Captain William Riker (played by Jonathan Frakes) observes that the Moriarty at the station is much different from the one who was trapped in the holodeck program.

The audience is left wondering about whatever happened to the Moriarty who was destined to live out his ‘life’ in the world of holodeck. There is not much explanation on how the character was revived in his new form. Whether the holodeck is keeping him in the virtual world, or this is the remaining fragment of the antagonist, remains a mystery. It would be interesting to see if Star Trek revives his character in the future .

Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966. The series was cancelled in 1969 due to low ratings, but it later gathered a cult following. Subsequently, the Star Trek universe diversified with comics, animated series, films, and spin-off television shows including The Next Generation and Picard.

ALSO READ: Years later, this Captain Kirk storyline from Star Trek: The Original Series is still heartbreaking

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