Time's Arrow - An Underrated Classic

Admiral Archer

Captain
Captain
So I don't usually hear fellow Trekkies discussing "Time's Arrow, Parts I and II", and when I do it's usually given negative feedback. I personally LOVE this episode, and although I'm not sure where I'd rank it exactly, it is one of my favorite TNG episodes, which is high praise considering TNG is my favorite Trek series from prior to the Kurtzman era.

Why do I love it so much? Well, there are multiple reasons. The story begins by examining a plot point that would sadly become overused in later series and movies but was still brand new at the time: Data's mortality. Hearing Data speak on his life and expectations to be nearly immortal is extremely thought provoking. Speaking of character development, Guinan gets a cool new backstory, which explains how she seems to have so much knowledge about everyone in the crew. When Picard first meets her in the 19th century, it's an iconic moment. Meeting Jean-luc Picard for the first time is not something to be taken lightly, and the show makes sure you feel what Guinan is feeling in that moment. Which takes us to the next reason this episode is awesome: it does time travel WELL. There are a crap ton of Star Trek time travel stories, and about half of them are actually good. This episode is definitely one of the most imaginative examples, featuring actual historical figures such as Jack London and Mark Twain, both treated with genuine respect and care, and both being critical components to moving the plot forward. Twain's comment about a future worth giving up cigars for may seem a bit of a stretch, but we are talking about the honest realization of a man living in industrial era America being told that the 24th century will be free from poverty, disease and war. I know I'd settle for replicated sweet tea for the rest of my life if I could live in that kind of future (and if you know me, you will know sweet tea is to me as cigars seemed to be to Twain). As for the source of our time travel story, the Devidians and their ophidian (snake!) are extremely creepy but imaginatively crafted: we never saw them again, but they were unlike any other creatures in Star Trek. The device they stored the human neural energy in looked like something designed by H.R. Giger (well, even the Devidians and their ophidian looked Giger-esque). As a bonus, the acting in this episode by everyone, even the bit parts, was superb! From the poor 49er who 'fell down a mineshaft", to Mrs. Carmichael (Mr. Pickerd! :guffaw:) to the Devidians disguised as a 19th century doctor and his wife (the latter of which was insanely creepy in her performance) everyone gave their best and were all top notch.

I'm actually shocked so many people don't like this episode. It's a true classic, a whole lot of fun, and a great example of why TNG was the best of the Berman-era shows, at least in this humble author's review.
 
I used to forget it was a cliffhanger rather than a mid-season two-parter
 
I have entirely shallow reasons for liking Time's Arrow - I adore Jean-Luc having to show his suave side with Mrs. Carmichael (something we don't see too often, he's too much of a -lovable- dork usually) and I love his outfit in the past. So yeah. Shallow. Ah well.
 
Well, let's see.

I like the concept of Data facing his own death, the predestination loop (even though it's a bit cliché), and that those Devidians (or whatever their name was) largely stay a creepy, mysterious race (despite that we learn they apparently needed us as 'food'), Picard meeting Guinan into the past and his band of theatre players.

I'm a bit less certain about Mark Twain. While he's not necessarily unsympathetic, he shouts too much for my liking, and also, he's too easily convinced by (the beauty of?) Deanna Troy that they're 'really no oppressors'. (Which is the truth of course, but he's swayed very easily in his viewpoints). A bit like Doc Brown from Back to the Future, a larger-than-life role.

All in all, I'd call it a solid middle tier 2 parter.
 
Has anyone apologized irl for the Picard Series glossing over this episode?

They had some bullshit Explanation for why it didn't matter that Times Arrow never happened, which was falsified by the end of the season, so do I get my money back for renting the video 6 times, buying the video, buying the DVDs and buying the Bluray, and then loyally continuing my subscription to Paramount Plus on the off chance I feel like watching Times Arrow?

I smell a class action.
 
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Has any one apologised irl for the Picard Series glossing over this episode?

They had some bullshit Explanation for why it didn't matter that Times Arrow never hsppened, which was falsified by the end of the season, so do I get my money back for renting the video 6 times, buying the video, buying the DVDs and buying the Bluray, and then loyally continuing my subscription to Paramount Plus on the off chance I feel like watching Times Arrow?

I smell a class action.
Wow, it never occurred to me to reclaim money that way. But I'd broaden the scope. We'll need lots of patience though, as this might become the most complicated case in history, with all that time travel in Trek changing the timeline, starting up parallel timelines, alternate universes, not to mention the entire Temporal Cold War.
 
I think at the time I was disturbed because it was the first Trek episode I could recall in which our people
destroyed the enemy
without any concerns or regrets about it, or attempts to avoid having to. Coincidentally or not, I want to say this episode came out right after Gene Roddenberry passed away.
 
I think at the time I was disturbed because it was the first Trek episode I could recall in which our people
destroyed the enemy
without any concerns or regrets about it, or attempts to avoid having to. Coincidentally or not, I want to say this episode came out right after Gene Roddenberry passed away.
Well, Picard offered to find a substitute for the human neural energy they required (the alien replied there was none).

Not much, I agree, but still.
 
Well, Picard offered to find a substitute for the human neural energy they required (the alien replied there was none).

Not much, I agree, but still.
OK, there’s that; I didn’t remember that part (think I last saw the episode in 1991).
 
I like that episode OK. My mum REALLY likes it, though. She won't stop putting it on the family TV... over... and over... and over. It gets a little boring in a while, but I still quite like it. Solid 7/10 from me.
 
Incidentally, August 13th, 1893 (when Data arrives there) the real Jack London was unlikely to be in San Francisco, as he'd only just returned from 7 months at sea, seal hunting. He returned to Oakland to work in a jute mill for some time. It wasn't until later that year that he'd have possibly shown up there, when he got his 1st story published in the San Francisco Call, on November 12th, at age 17.

Mark Twain OTOH, had left America altogether by 1893, & was living in Europe, seeking cheaper living conditions for his family, who'd fallen on tough financial times, due to some of his poor business decisions.

There, ruined it for you... lol just kidding. :lol:
I actually really like this episode as well. It's positively brimming with terrific guest actors, including bit gambler parts for Marc Alaimo (AKA Dukat) & Ken Thorley (AKA Mot the barber)
 
Might this be a suitable place to wonder why Guinan is attracted to bald men.
Guinan tells Geordi, long before this episode, that she is attracted to bald men, maybe because a bald man was kind to her once.
Picard did take care of her in the past during this adventure....
 
The Devidians were great, Twains "hmhm, hrhr, WOO hah!" is amazing, especially in recuts, the time loop with Guinan knowing what has and will happen, rent is due on Wednesdys and it's a Tuursdy, Guinan's totally relaxed reaction to Data being from a future spaceship where they know each other... it's full of gems
 
I don't hate the episode, I just don't find it particularly memorable overall. It has some nice beats for sure, as others have noted, but for me it never really rises beyond the level of having nice beats. And, as is the norm for TNG, nothing from this two-parter really has much resonance throughout the rest of the series. I guess I hoped that Picard and Guinan "meeting for the first time" might add more nuance to their future interactions, but nothing is lost in those interactions if you miss this. Similarly, Data's musings on his mortality would have worked really well as a prelude to "The Offspring"...but that episode has already come and gone.

As a season finale/opener it's a bit disappointing.
 
These episodes aren't that bad but on some level I find it inappropriate that there's someone in the episode who was an actual person that has passed long before these episodes aired.
 
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