Q; How long may matter created on the Holodeck survive outside that environment?
A; This is at first glance a thorny one, isn't it? Well no, not really. My theory is that you have two kinds of matter involved. One kind is relatively simple and is generally inanimate, i.e. water, snowballs, pieces of paper with sketches of starships etc. This is created on the Holodeck by a distant cousin to the food replicators, which as we know can replicate matter. These simple creations can survive outside the Holodeck, but only for a short while, just long enough for Wesley to stay damp in this episode, for Picard to get zapped by the snowball (and display lipstick from a holo-kiss), and later on in the series for Moriarty's artwork to circulate a little. Animate objects, i.e. those that approximate life forms, are far more complex, and cannot survive for more than a few seconds away from the environment of the Holodeck. This theory obviously raises the probability of genuine injury while indulging in fight simulations. To overcome this, my proposal is that the Holodeck is programmed to fashion all weaponry from animate matter. One could further query, how does the Holodeck distinguish between projectiles like bullets, which according to my thinking would be inanimate, and a snowball, which would be animate? Well, we must bear in mind that the deck is a sophisticated bit of gear. Speed, maybe?
Interesting to watch the extras milling about on Farpoint and trying to look like a crowd. Watch for the grey-haired lady; she walks through at least three times.
It is announced that Lieutenant Torres makes a full recovery from the effect of Q's freezing him once he's safe and snug in Sickbay. How did they get him there, though? They apparently managed to sneak him off the Bridge when you and I and also presumably Q were watching the opening credits, so I suppose we're not meant to know . . .
Now just how does Riker mate the saucer section with the hull using only his naked eyes to do the job? In even the most basic contemporary computer flight simulation you have pitch and yaw monitors, cross-hairs etc. to line everything up (except Elite and look how ridiculously hard that is) but on the Flagship of the Federation you don't have doodley squat. As if!!! No wonder when he's done it they all look at each other and smile. I'd be singing Hosannas and strewing rushes in front of the guy. Sheesh!
Why does Picard order "We surrender" to be broadcast in all languages? Has he forgotten that they have a Universal Translator aboard?
I notice that the Away Team religiously tap their badges before speaking when they're planetside. Bet they don't keep that up for long, eh kids?
Observe the chaps and chappesses who monitor the stations at the rear of the Bridge. They take a very keen interest in what is going on around them in this episode, pausing in their endeavours to watch Wesley, Q, the enemy 'ship' and anything else that takes their fancy. No matter, we'll soon lick them into shape!
When said 'ship' appears Picard orders that the Away Team be beamed back aboard. Er, why weren't they?
While Picard is arguing the toss with Q on the Bridge, he pauses to enquire of Beverly, in Sickbay, whether she is 'getting any of this'. She replies in the affirmative. How was she aware of a conversation that was happening on the Bridge?
Zorn screams while he's being transported, which leads me to suspect that whatever the creature uses to teleport him it isn't anything similar to the technology we know and love for, as any fule kno, you can't speak while you're being transported!
When they beam over to the creature/ship, both Data and Riker have mysteriously acquired clean uniforms. Where did they find time to get changed, I wonder?