History YMMV / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E21HollowPursuits

** Reg's fighting and beating up co-workers (granted holo-ones) who act as EntitledBastards reflects what many people wish they could do to people who bully and disrespect them but are unable to do so due to similar circumstances.

* OnceOriginalNowCommon: The notability of this episode largely surrounds the main characters who are TheAce at their jobs having to deal with a character who, while talented, had such anxiety he couldn't function in the real world. Later episodes and later Star Trek shows would be a lot more engaged with flawed characters who have dysfunctional attributes and the topics discussed in this episode (including a very tame depiction of holodeck romantic indulgences) comes across fairly quaint.

* ValuesResonance: Awareness and sympathy for mental and behavorial health issues such as anxiety disorders have only increased since the episode premiered.

** This may be justified as LaForge [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E6BoobyTrap once fell in love with a holodeck program]] and likely understands what Reg is going through. Also, his doppelgänger is basically just him in a costume, while Riker's is unusually short, and Troi's is a blatant (in-universe) MsFanservice.

** This may be justified as LaForge [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E6BoobyTrap once fell in love with a holodeck program]] and likely understands what Reg is going through.

* ValuesResonance: Awareness and sympathy for mental health issues such as anxiety disorders have only increased since the episode premiered.

** Barclay's depiction of Troi on the holodeck is usually thought of as just straightforward lust for an unattainable attractive woman, and she reacts with judgment and anger (as one would expect, if she were just any work colleague being treated this way). However, she's his therapist, and it's not uncommon for therapy clients to develop feelings of love and/or attraction to their therapist; it's part of what's called "transference," and some schools of therapy actually centre on identifying and interpreting transference. Typically, though the therapist obviously wouldn't encourage or reciprocate feelings of attraction, they would take a non-judgmental attitude and support the client in talking through such feelings and their meanings, without using the phrase "muzzle it."

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: The notability of this episode largely surrounds the main characters who are TheAce at their jobs having to deal with a character who, while talented, had such anxiety he couldn't function in the real world. Later episodes and later Star Trek shows would be a lot more engaged with flawed characters who have dysfunctional attributes and the topics discussed in this episode (including a very tame depiction of holodeck romantic indulgences) comes across fairly quaint.

** When Geordi, Riker, and Troi are going through Barclay's "Three Musketeers" program and they see their holographic selves, Troi tries to say there's nothing wrong with Barclay invoking their images in the program, to which Riker retorts "[[ThereShouldBeALaw Well, there ought to be]].". In "Galaxy's Child", Geordi would see himself get into this situation when Dr. Leah Brahms encounters her holographic doppelganger from "Booby Trap" and accuses Geordi of exploiting her image to produce a holographic love toy.

* HarsherInHindsight: After watching "Recap/BlackMirrorUSSCallister", it's a [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential good]] [[AndIMustScream thing]] for those holodeck characters that Barclay is a fundamentally decent guy and not a CompleteMonster.

** Barclay's depiction of Troi on the holodeck is usually thought of as just straightforward lust for an unattainable attractive woman, and she reacts with judgment and anger (as one would expect, if she were just any work colleague being treated this way). However, she's his therapist, and it's not uncommon for therapy clients to develop feelings of love and/or attraction to their therapist. Typically, the therapist would take a non-judgmental attitude and support the client in talking through such "transference" feelings and their meanings, without using the phrase "muzzle it."

** Barclay's depiction of Troi on the holodeck is usually thought of as just straightforward lust for an unattainable attractive woman. However, it's not uncommon for therapy clients to develop feelings of love and/or attraction to their therapist. (Typically, the therapist would take a non-judgmental attitude and support the client in talking through such "transference" feelings and their meanings, without using the phrase "muzzle it.")

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Riker's behavior even before learning about the holoprograms comes across less as dissatisfaction with Barclay's work, and more a personal hatred for the guy. One detail that's missing is just how long Riker's been dealing with Barclay's problems. (Judging by the early conversations he has with Geordi and Picard, it's probably been a while.)

* ValuesDissonance: While Reg is still sympathetic, his habit of creating hologram versions of his co-workers and supervisors to either beat them up or make out with them ''is'' more than a little creepy. Holo Troi in particular sets off a lot of alarm bells. Then again, Reg is fully aware they're not real.
** The episode can come across to modern audiences as being more than a little dismissive of various conditions such as Aspergers' due to being made during a time when higher functioning autism was not as well known as it is today.

* AngstWhatAngst: Geordi seems totally fine, even understanding, of his musketeer doppelgänger, an interesting contrast to Riker and Troi.

* ValuesDissonance: While Reg is still sympathetic, his habit of creating hologram versions of his co-workers and supervisors to either beat them up or make out with them ''is'' more than a little creepy. Holo Troi in particular sets off a lot of alarm bells.