Unleashing the Ultimate Battle of Wits: Moriarty vs Data in Star Trek: TNG

Summary

Lt. Commander Data proves to be too smart for the holodeck mysteries, requiring an adversary as smart as him, leading to the creation of Moriarty.

Moriarty manages to become self-aware and adept at utilizing the Enterprise's computer systems. Nevertheless, despite all his efforts to break free from the holodeck, Data and his team outwit him ultimately.

Lt. Commander Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation faces off against an incredibly intelligent Sherlock Holmes antagonist. In the episode titled "Elementary, Dear Data" from season 2, Data and Lt. Geordi La Forge visit the holodeck to solve a Sherlock Holmes-style mystery. Data's fondness for the consulting detective was first discovered in a previous episode called "Lonely Among Us" in season 1. Now, Data finally gets the chance to fully embrace his inner Holmes. As they await rendezvous with the USS Victory, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the USS Enterprise-D, Geordi offers to play Dr. Watson to Data's Sherlock.

With his extensive knowledge of every Sherlock Holmes story, Data proves to be too intelligent for the holodeck mysteries. In an attempt to challenge Data, Geordi asks the computer to create an adversary capable of defeating him. However, this turns out to be a grave mistake as any adversary would need to be as intelligent as Data, if not more, to stand a chance against him. In order to achieve this, the computer bestows sentience upon Holmes' infamous nemesis, Professor James Moriarty. Moriarty gains the ability to perceive the Enterprise and access its computer systems.

TNG Created Moriarty To Be Smarter Than Data, But Is He?

The Enterprise-D's computer devised Moriarty to possess the same knowledge as Data in order to defeat him. After Geordi requested a more formidable adversary, Moriarty gains access to the Enterprise computers and realizes his presence on a starship. Upon learning about Captain Picard, Moriarty eventually expresses a desire to be freed from the holodeck. Geordi's command implies that while Moriarty may have the capability to defeat Data, he would require additional information gathering time to accomplish it.

Moriarty makes a reappearance in the TNG season 6, episode 12, "Ship in a Bottle," with an unwavering determination to find a means of escape from the holodeck. He fabricates a holodeck program that successfully deceives Captain Picard, Data, and Lt. Reginald Barclay into believing that Moriarty has successfully left the confines of the holodeck. Despite the intricate nature of Moriarty's simulation, Data ultimately uncovers the deception. Ultimately, Picard, Data, and Barclay outsmart Moriarty by allowing him to believe he has escaped the holodeck and the Enterprise, while in actuality he remains within a highly realistic simulation.

Who Is Actually Smarter In Star Trek TNG: Data Or Moriarty?

While Moriarty surpasses the average hologram in intelligence, he cannot outmatch Data and his positronic brain. Although Moriarty may have the ability to defeat Data, it does not mean he is inherently smarter. While Moriarty can access the Enterprise computer like any human, Data possesses immediate access to vast amounts of information and a photographic memory. If Moriarty had access to technology like Voyager's EMH Doctor's mobile emitter, he could potentially reach the same level of intelligence as Data.

However, Data's constant learning and growth, including an upgrade in Star Trek: Picard season 3, puts him at an advantage. Moriarty, who appears in Picard season 3 as a manifestation of Data's mind trying to communicate with Captain William Riker, lacks the experience and is burdened by the fact that he began his existence as a fictional character. It is unlikely that Moriarty could keep pace with Data. While Moriarty was designed to defeat Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation, his limitations as a hologram prevent him from truly outsmarting the highly advanced android.