Time's Arrow

After the silly, dull "The Inner Light", TNG returns to form with this excellent, important two-parter.

When Data's head is found in a long-abandoned mine or Earth, the crew investigates, which leads to Data being transported to the 19th century.

It's interesting that even though Data has no grasp of contractions, he's able to speak French, which has mandatory contractions.

It's also nice that Guinan is finally given something to do. This episode starts to elaborate on the close relationship between her and Picard, but there are still many unanswered questions.

Captain Picard gets an interesting call to return to earth, there's been an archaeological find of great importance near San Francisco. Now Patrick Stewart's hobby is archaeology, but there are competent archaeologists on earth.

But they wouldn't know what to make of what they found. It's the detached head of Commander Data and it's been there since roughly around the turn of the 20th century.

As Brent Spiner is an android his observations are detached and clinical. His fellow crewmen on the Enterprise aren't sure how to treat him either.

There is alien activity and Spiner goes back to the late 19th century in San Francisco and meets up with Mark Twain played by Jerry Hardin and a young bell boy Jack London played by Michael Aron. And there's Guinan too whom we know measures her life in millenia. Spiner's meeting with Whoopi Goldberg is most interesting.

All this setting the stage for the succeeding episode. I know my appetite was whetted.

On of TNG contains some remarkably strong episodes while continuing to push the boundaries of what could be achieved within an episodic television format. It is notable for the tragic loss of its creator, Gene Roddenberry, who died on 24th October 1991 at the age of 70. His influence upon the positive depiction of humanity and diversity in Science Fiction endures to this day. Senior Trekker continues to score all episodes with a 5.

Time's Arrow is one of my favourite two part stories of the whole series. At its heart it has a well-constructed time travel story which unfolds gradually in order to set up some splendid historical scenes and give us the pleasure of seeing Whoopi Goldberg take centre stage. That said, of course it is not for everyone; Senior Trekker just can't help loving this type of beautifully constructed visual treat and appreciates all the detailed work that has gone into the sets and costumes. Even though we all know that 19th Century San Francisco was never really that clean.

The regular cast are clearly having a wonderful time and anyone who has difficulty accepting them out of their usual uptight uniforms or who dares to ask: "who's minding the ship?" shouldn't bother watching this one - it's not for you. All the guest actors rise to the occasion but Jerry Hardin as Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) steals every scene he appears in and went on to make this special characterisation his own in a number of one man shows.

Character actor Jack Murdock was also unforgettable as the ill-fated "forty-niner" (the name refers to a veteran of the 1849 Gold Rush and by 1893 could well have been synonymous with a hard-luck story). Nor should we overlook one of the last opportunities to see Mark Alaimo without his more familiar evil Cardassian make-up, as the New Orleans card sharp who proves no match for Data's poker skills.

While we are wrapped up in the more enjoyable aspects of this story it is easy to overlook the horror of the soul-sucking aliens or, indeed, the cholera epidemic that provided a cover for their activities. We might also wonder whether San Francisco high society would really have been sufficiently enlightened to have treated Madam Guinan as an honoured guest, however wonderful it was to see her out of her flying saucer headgear and so splendidly attired.

I take GREAT Offense to those who pan this episode and particularly when they pan the great job Jerry Hardin ("Deep Throat" from The X-Files) did with Mark Twain. I've heard recordings of Mark Twain impersonators who knew him in his lifetime, and I've seen the rare footage Edison did of him, this marries the two. So we can literally SEE Mark Twain speak and walk and it is just done SO well, even compared to Hal Holbrook's great work.

In fact, I believe this episode happened. These two episode are so well written, and the concept is so odd, that I have to ask, which alternate universe did it come from? It's not the usual Time Travel gimmickry. As usual my formula for great Time episodes are when it's accidental, and I would say Data stumbling from Dividia II in the 24th Century to Market Street in 1893 San Fransisco is one great bumble.

And he does not lose a beat, he immediately picks up a newspaper and starts getting his bearings - AND a Poker Game with Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo) and Mr Mott in human form, who says "Go to Blazes" to Joe Fallinghawk, the other card shark.

But what is of great importance here is Guinan's role in this, we finally get some great background of the character, and to see her with Mark Twain and Data just tickles me.

These Dividia II Aliens were so strange, so bizarre, and what they were doing so Insidious that my skin crawled. And that "Ophidian"... Shudder.

Data has to inspect his own 500-year old head, which is another creepy thing. "It has happened, it Will happen" - Only Data sees this logically without any fear.

But Mark Twain gets more than he bargains for when he eavesdrops on Guinan and Data. And why is that kid "Jack" at the Hotel so familiar? When I say I believe this story happened, well, "it has happened, it will happen..."

This episode begins with Data's head being discovered in San Francisco. Judging by the looks of it, it's been there for a very, very long time! When the Enterprise (including Data with his head intact) inspects this archaeological site, they find a weird transport beam and Data is sent back to 1893! He is stuck there and ends up meeting Mark Twain, Jack London and Guinan. But, since this is well into the bast, Guinan (who for some weird reason is on Earth) does not recognize him. He also learns that there are weird creatures going into our past to harvest human beings! Can the Enterprise crew figure out a way to get Data? And, can they stop these things from killing humans from the past?

This is the first of a two-part episode. I actually think part one is a bit better--mostly because it has less Mark Twain (who seemed a bit too present and hammy in part 2). Enjoyable and different.