Picard would have been a better show if it had featured a vengeful landlady time travelling to hunt down Picard. "Mr Pickarrd! I will never forget about the rent money!"
Yeah, it's a good one. I think I'd say the same. It's a nice play on an old sci fi trope but that's okay. And on top of the decent storytelling, it's just a fun episode. Twain's great. This intellectual and charming writer with a wit like a loaded gun on a hair trigger, but he's been tempered and molded by his southeastern American upbringing so that he's the furthest thing possible from a stuffy old academic, and put him in a classic fish out of water scenario, that's just gold. If that doesn't make you smile, there might be something seriously wrong with you. What was it Sisko called Dukat that time? Anhedonic?
This was one of my favorites as a kid. Fun adventure where you’re reminded that the gang are a family. Plus it’s a Guinean episode that hints at her mysterious backstory, always welcome.
16:30-ish Agree with your take on Picard being very close to Data. He wasn't just Data's friend, he was his mentor. He obviously guides other officers on their careers and such. But he was teaching Data very different things, which made their relationship unique. Picard is very uncomfortable when Troi does Captain Picard Day because he is supposed to be a role model for the ship's children, something he would rather avoid. But he was very comfortable being Data's role model and found it a rewarding experience. In most ways, Picard was more of a father to Data than Soong.
I also wonder if Picard's evolution from arrogant ruffian to stoic captain made him feel responsible for those lost on a journey of self. He clearly shows regret for his past and seems to wish somebody had told him what an ass he was
This has always been one of my favorite episodes. The idea that Picard would have to go back in time to ensure he and Guinan, who we all know have known each other for a long time, would meet really tickled my brain and helped me wrap my non severed head around how time travel might work. Edit: Just googled it and Jerry Hardin is still alive! He’s 93! He always seemed super ancient back when I was a kid watching this episode.
Every time I watch that time travel episode, it occurs to me Data's head is 500 years older than the rest of his body. It's satisfying to know somebody acknowledging this fact as well! Thank you!
I agree that Time's Arrow is largely overlooked because nothing of serious consequence to the series happened. Still, it was an enjoyable two-parter that I kile to revisit from time to time... no pun intended.
My take on Twain taking Troi's reassurance that all is good in the future at face value is that he appreciates an attractive woman and he's a bit smitten with her, so she can just keep talking her pretty little head off and all is good, as simple and as 1992 TV as that. I also liked this episode but didn't love it until later, kind of an acquired taste perhaps. Can't wait to see your review of the Dr. Moriarty 2 parter separated by I think 4 seasons. That is a great pair.
I didn't grow up on TNG (we were a TOS family), and as an adult on vacation one summer I stumbled on a TNG marathon in progress (in the middle of season 5, probably?) on some channel or other and started watching it just to watch it. Time's Arrow stands out as the episode that fully drew me in and made me want to keep watching. It's a really fun time and the low stakes make it a good entry point if you don't know much about the show yet and have started watching at random.
The Anvil has been a running gag with me and a few of my buddies for 30 years now. Anytime we pick up anything that is lighter than we expected, it's, ouch!
One of the most impressive aspects of Times Arrow is that is a time-travel paradox episode that has, to my memory, very few plot holes that can come about due to the nature of time paradox stories, but here the plot closes it’s own circle pretty neatly.
Mark Twain very much showcased the curiosity inherent in his original profession as a journalist in this episode. I think the reason Troi’s answer satisfied him is that all the writers wanted her to do was reassure him that humanity wasn’t going to become a military dictatorship. The common man would be taken care of, and Starfleet’s main purpose is exploration and diplomatic missions. Their being a space navy is secondary.
One of my favourite episodes, some parts are comedy gold. Additional, I think the hotel owner was Irish not English. I think you may now be banned from the Emerald Isle.
"Time's Arrow" as a cliffhanger is one of the cornucopia of reasons why I adore TNG's fifth season. Once again they thought outside the box and defied fan expectations by doing a non-gimmicky, off-the-the-beaten path story that eschewed big stakes and massive space battles. TNG season 5: you are the model of Trek at its best. *le sigh*
I for one am glad that Picard and Guinan met in "Time's Arrow". Just imagine the awkward 21st century encounters where she doesn't know who he is that were narrowly avoided.
Thing is, his name convinces her to help. I don’t see why that would be the case unless she does remember him, but more by name than by appearance (especially given he’s meant to be, what, 40 years older than in this episode). Like, I’m sure she’s come across plenty of other old bald guys who reminded her of him in the interim. S2 has plenty of problems but I’ve always thought the Guinan continuity stuff was overblown.
@@kaitlyn__L IMO she is such a poorly explored character that any mysteries around her are justifiable. It's not even that she would be awkward. She didn't know anything about him. Just think of it like maeeting your friend's partner after hearing a lot about her. It's not hard to feign ignorance
@@kaitlyn__L Tbh I forgot that she did remember his name. Yes, he's older and she will have met many other bald guys, but the extent to which they stretched this whole "she doesn't know him"-thing was ridiculous imo. S2 really disappointed me and this point was no exception. I understand that others might not be as bothered by it.
Pamela Kosh was indeed English, but the character she played (Mrs. Carmichael) was Irish. Unfortunately, she died last year. Time’s Arrow is my favorite TNG time travel episode.
I think its believable for Mark Twain to take her at face value. After all, he's standing in a star ship in the 24th century. If that were me, I would probably take a lot of things at face value.
I think historically he also desperately wanted that fate for humanity. He wanted it to be true. And as the audience we are expected to accept it's truth and so have no reason to share his initial skepticism
A better Twainish reply from him would be a doubting smirk and "Well, Ms. Troi, I think I will have to take this bold claim of yours at face value... for now." And then cut and the episode proceeds as it was.
I loved the bit where Jack asked what Data was building, and Data response was to ask him what he thought it was, then told him that it was a good guess. I do not know if Data has a directive to avoid out right lies, but that is a clever way to avoid lying nonetheless.
Data has ethical subroutines that influence his behaviour, and part of that is upholding principles he is sworn to protect. Starfleet, at least in the TNG days, promoted a duty to the truth. So while Data can lie and will do so if necessary to protect a greater good, he'll try to avoid whenever possible.
The scene between Guinan and Picard in part 1 is one of all-time favourites of the entire franchise. Using the cocktail as the metaphor to describe the impact of the two of them not meeting is inspired. The subtlety of the scene is beautifully played by Goldberg and Stewart. What might seem inconsequential scene at first glance has a devastating conclusion. Guinan's rebuke of Riker in Best of Both Worlds is what inspires his to save the Federation. Without her everything falls apart.
The idea that Picard isn’t any more fond of Data than any other member of his command crew is from The Most Toys when everyone thinks Data exploded and Picard is mostly just like “wow. That sucks. Aaaannnnyway… do an investigation but otherwise, we have shit to do” and it is Geordi that is the one most affected by his loss. That said, that was Season 3 and the characters grew over time together. Still, Geordi and Data’s friendship definitely took a backseat to Picard and Data because those characters were just more popular so they just say they are the closest to give them more focus in the movies and Picard
I thought it looked creepy the first time I saw it at first broadcast. The material they used must've shrunk a bit after drying. Still, it was way better than the wigged mannequin head they used for Lore in "Datalore." 🖖😎👍
I remember watching this as a teenager in '92 (or '93 - it was in the Netherlands), on a tiny tv in my attic room. I just loved the backstory around Guinan.
Honestly, the Twain-Troi exchange... should have been Twain-LaForge. "I'm an officer. They gave me sight. BTW, thanks for Huckleberry Finn. Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high. Take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!"
Human ancestor to Gul Dukat!? Nice catch! Also, Data's head is 500 years older than the rest of his body from now on! Fkn Ayyy! After this, that's how I'll always see Data.
The use of Guinan in this episode was brilliant. So brilliant that it makes the recycling of this idea in _Picard_ season 2 fall even flatter than it would have if it had been an original idea. You can't live in the past, am I right?
This is one of, if not the, favorite Star Trek episode(s)/story of all; including all of the other shows and comics in the franchise as well. Like you say, it's not the most impactful to canon or in-universe matters, nor the one whose acting and writing outshines everything else before or since. But it is the one I could watch the most and what I find myself usually thinking back to when someone or something brings up Star Trek. On its own its fun and has the comfort food vibe that TNG and TOS could do so well; it even has a feel to it that would fit right in in TOS. And what I especially liked was it made me feel as if I was watching come to life one of those 1920s/'30s pulp sci-fi short stories I use to pour over whenever I can across them or one of the better-made stories from the pre-Marvel Age Silver Age sci-fi anthology comics (usually by Ditko or Kirby). I found myself picturing all the possibilities of what could happen next when watching it and during the brutally long wait until the new season's conclusion. And all of that is almost exclusivesly due to the 1800's set portions though I enjoyed the crew's reactions to their friend's mortality). In fact as much as I like this, I realize its what wasnt shown and what didnt happen that still captivates me; how would the great and very (wonderfully) flawed Twain handle an invasion from the future? I'd like to think that somewhere in their universe is still sitting a dusty, unread manuscript by Clemens detailing or inspited by exactly that.
I remember this episode fondly, I did not see it originally in it's original run but maybe a year or two later in reruns (the FOX station had for several years two episodes of Star Trek every day up through the late 90s). It is a really fun episode that really shows how emotionally invested everyone is their crewmates.
One more thing. Discovery gets shit on frequently for having very oddly scaled threats. Let's take a look at this one. In this episode we have time-travelling aliens from somewhere the fuck in outer space who have SOMEHOW EVOLVED to subsist solely on "human neurological energy", and if the crew of the Enterprise wants to stop them from doing this, they need to do a little genocide but it might end up destroying specifically 19th century Earth and not any of the other time frames these aliens have been accused of doing their thing in. Makes "The Burn" look like a fairy tale.
This has always been one of my favourites of the TNG two parters. It’s just such a fun romp. I’m also fond of the detail that the cop _takes away the cane_ from Geordi, who is wearing era-appropriate blind-signalling sunglasses and plausibly needs it, all on the basis of a class assumption - “This is a gentleman’s cane!” It’s kinda grim but it’s a great example of the kind of profiling which is still rampant today, disabled and/or black people are still regularly assumed to have not “earned” any wealth they show. I always look forward to Marc Alaimo’s appearance as well. I love the little writing detail that, although he speaks fluent French and his family is from New Orleans, his character is anglicised enough that he still says its English name while speaking French as opposed to _Nouveau Orleans_ (with 3 syllables in Orleans instead of 2). I also really dig all the other little touches in this episode you mentioned. It’s a great exhibition of the subtle but pervasive character development Data has gone through since he first tried poker in season 2 and didn’t understand as much about the emotions of the rest of the crew. Now he’s better than a bunch of card sharks and can read people well enough to get by in the past! Though I must admit I didn’t realise Jack London was also a real guy like Sam Clemens until just now - the name sounded too fake to me to bother looking up! Egg on my face. You know, I think I’ll go watch it now! _Hrm! Hoo! Hah!_ Lastly, the landlady issue has already been litigated in the comments ;) The way she says her “O”s are the dead giveaway to a British ear, but I can’t blame you for thinking that she was an (I’m guessing) English northerner.
times arrow is definitely a favorite of mine ... and its pacing is pretty much perfect (we waited approximately two months for part two) and so i like to think that part 2 picks up about 2 maybe three months later -- which would definitely give the others enough time get settled ... as far as how exactly they got their clothes and such you are correct -- times arrow just works as a great story without the need to delve too deeply in the minutia because you had to physically wait over the summer to see part two your brain just sort of accepts the situation allowing you to suspend your disbelief enough so that you can just enjoy the tale (its one of the reasons i both enjoy reading and writing fantasy fiction -- if its a good enough story you as the reader can easily suspend your disbelief and sense of reality and get sucked in to the world and the plights of the characters -- as the author you personally set the precedent making it up as you go along crafting 'your' world using 'your' rules ... when asked why a thing happened a specific way you can simply with the words 'reasons dont over think it')
Love these episodes! And Jack was my favorite non space character. He was hilarious and helped the plot move along nicely! Love Mark Twain and love Guinan being there. I would love more information even a movie about Guinans people. Now I have to go back and watch it again! Thanks for the vid!! Keep doing these I love them!
I like to think that by this point in the 24th century, Starfleet has some kind of standard operating procedures for time travelers as far as acquiring what's needful. These are competent, highly trained and experienced scientists and explorers in time and space working in an organization with, at this point at least, a long history of it's people getting stuck in the past. It reminds me of one of my favorite moments in The Walking Dead. This is something like the fourth season or so, we're following Rick, Carl, Michonne, and Daryl when their car is surrounded by a hoard of walkers. The very next cut is to them reloading, recovering bolts, wiping gore off their blades. See also Fury Road, when Max just walks off, beat, explosion, beat, Max walking back with loot and a boot. Sometimes the best way to convey competence is to just skip the shit our characters clearly have no issue handling.
So, while I agree with 95% of your views on Star Trek and I think we’d actually have a great talk if ever given the opportunity, what’s your beef with tin man? I don’t think it’s the best, but it’s definitely not the worst. Maybe you should do retro reviews on some of your least favorites so you can explain why?
This episode confirmed without doubt that temporal loops are a thing in the Star Trek universe, thus allowing us to see other time travel adventures in a completely different light!
Until I watched this, I forgot about this episode. The moment you explained the opening shot, I got a huge wave of nostalgia. When it first aired, I remember thinking it was a fantastic episode, TNG couldn't get much better than this.... and then I grew up, and it slowly got forgotten. It is a fantastic episode, looking back now, I would easily put it in my top ten favorite storylines of TNG, but unfortunately it is also not a very memorable episode, seeing as how I forgot it existed....
I like this double episode. William Boyett plays the police officer. William Boyett is known for playing police officers and detectives in several TV series including Dragnet and Adam 12.
Not one of my favorite episodes, but it IS one that I remember well for story elements, cleverness, and my sister and I have a running inside joke with that damn Twain "Ooo ah" "harumph".
One of my fave episodes…when I first saw it I was totally drawn into the story and could not wait to see how it played out…and,as an adult,the aliens creeped me out and reminded me of the extraterrestrial creatures in the old black and white The Outer LImits episodes ‘The Galaxy Being’ and ‘The Bellero Shield’ which freaked me out as a child and still chill me today. Yep,the landlady was supposed to be Irish.
So, Ginan is played by Whoppi Goldberg 500 years in the past, but in Picard season 2, Ginan is suddenly her younger self - even though it's set in much later in time....! P.S. Liked the "Aliens", reference you did!
This was one of my favorites as a kid. It probably doesnt hold up quite so well as an adult but I always have a soft spot for "fish out of water" episodes and seeing Data try to make a life for himself in 19th century SF is a joy.
Yeah those peeps didn't bother noticing ALL of Picard's concern over the course of the series, nevermind the films. Episodes with solid scenes of evidence: "Tin Man", "The Measure of a Man", "The Offspring", "Clues", "Peak Performance"
One of my favorite episodes of TNG. I agree that you make a good and interesting point about Twain's interaction with Troi. Given your (in)famous dislike of bloated scenes, I am curious how you would tweak the scene/dialogue without crowding the script? Thanks for another thoughtful and thought-provoking video.
Great point Steve….. i have to admit that I didn’t totally buy Picard’s feelings on data in Picard Season 1 but you are totally right… Picard was seriously upset in Time Arrow..great point
The Catwoman 12 inch action figure in the background is one of my favorites, but it did come in a two-pack with Batman. WHAT HAS THAT FELONIOUS FELINE DONE WITH THE CAPED CRUSADER??? 🐈⬛ 🦇
The part of me that's fond of the Mirror Universe episodes let out a little cheer when the torpedoes annihilated the Devidians' habitat. Hey, Steve, how about doing the Mirror Universe episodes at some point? Those are always fun to pick apart. 🖖😎👍
As awesome as Star Trek is, can we talk about how the senior staff of Star Fleet ships just leave their ships unattended? I mean, sure Worf was left in charge, yet there was no reason for the entire senior staff and Captain to go to the planet. Damn, Geordi wasn't that great an engineer. It always took him hours to do modifications, when a lot of other engineers only took 3-20mins.
I knew who Jack London was the minute he said his name was "Jack". I've also known people who had no idea who Jack London was, even after the show was done!
I love this episode and this was a fab review of it. I know a lot of people aren't enamoured of it so was unsure which way you would go, but you make some great points and descibed it really well.
I am amazed after watching so many of your videos, that you didn't notice or neglected to mention the similarity to "A Connecticut Yankee" story line, though obviously inverted. Otherwise, great review!
10:44 ya know... the HD updates for TNG are fantastic. They really are. But... sometimes... things are supposed to be shown in SD. Jerry Hardin was only about 63 when he played Twain in this episode, right about the same age as Twain himself would have been give or take a few years. I give all respect to Westmore and the TNG makeup department... but the poor guy looks like he is wearing a rubber mask of Jerry Hardin playing Mark Twain, it's so unsettling.
I had this one on VHS as a kid and watched it endlessly. I also impersonated Mark Twain endlessly, probably to the frustration of my family. It holds a special place in my memory.
It always bothered me that apparently an advanced android head had been under such a densely-populated, well-known place as San Francisco since the 19th century and conveniently nobody found it until after the android it came from existed so people would know what it was.
I think the Troi and Twain conversation is quintessentially what Star Trek is about. The conversation involves something implausible for our current capitalist nightmare. It discusses how humanity can solve our biggest problems and that money and greed doesn't need to rule the world forever. It also asks and answers the question, "why do anything when money isn't the main motivation?". It's aspirational science fiction, folks.
I'm confused about how Gul Dukat has a human ancestor. Of course, the entire human/alien children (such as Spock) are biologically impossible. Even if you posit a common ancestor, which requires a lot of explaining, the species would have divereged too far to ever produce offspring. But that's letting science get in the way of good stories, and I prefer good stories.
Time's arrow is great because it actually happened to all of the crew. Many episodes like this get conveniently erased from the timeline, or only one character remembers the events. They hit that reset button and move on. The episode of Strange New Worlds you plan on reviewing next is a prime example of this issue.
standout unremarable character.... the boarding house mistress.... "MISTER PICKERD!" ..... I can still hear her voice and I haven't watched the ep in maybe around a year! :D
This has been my favorite episode for like 30 years, and it never occurred to me before watching this video that Data was faking his injury with the anvil.
I always hated this episode to the point that I skipped it on re-watches of the series. However, after watching your review I may have to revisit it. Looking back, It didn't help I first saw it when it aired and I was 8. (I thought Data was dead for a summer and somehow a very frightening time traveling snake was involved in his murder)
Of the two parter season bridging episodes, I remember BOBW the best (who doesn't) actually followed by Time's Arrow. It's a cute little episode with its own charms and unique stories.
![F.HERO Ft. JSPKK x ลำไย ไหทองคำ x M-PEE - ไม่สนิทบิดหมด (Thai Riders Anthem) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kPJZ0UihBfk/mqdefault.jpg)
Picard would have been a better show if it had featured a vengeful landlady time travelling to hunt down Picard. "Mr Pickarrd! I will never forget about the rent money!"
I thought of that too
Like the kid from Better off Dead
I want my two dollars
I REALLY wanted PIC S2 to be related to Time’s Arrow. Them going all AU instead was…disappointing.
Mark Twain paid that bill for Picard. They explicitly state that in the episode.
@@WaffletigercatMark Twain was a liar and a scoundrel.
Personally, Times Arrow is one of my favorite episodes.
Agreed
Me too. This kind of cornball fun is great way to spend 2 hours.
"Times Arrow" is top 5 for me. Maybe top 3.
Yeah, it's a good one. I think I'd say the same. It's a nice play on an old sci fi trope but that's okay. And on top of the decent storytelling, it's just a fun episode. Twain's great. This intellectual and charming writer with a wit like a loaded gun on a hair trigger, but he's been tempered and molded by his southeastern American upbringing so that he's the furthest thing possible from a stuffy old academic, and put him in a classic fish out of water scenario, that's just gold. If that doesn't make you smile, there might be something seriously wrong with you. What was it Sisko called Dukat that time? Anhedonic?
Saaaaaame.
Best part of Time's Arrow is Mark Twain calling Worf a werewolf
Now let's imagine if Q had roped Twain into the events of Qpid. Connecticut Yankee, anyone?
I can imagine Riker calling him Mr. Wereworf thereafter.
This was one of my favorites as a kid.
Fun adventure where you’re reminded that the gang are a family.
Plus it’s a Guinean episode that hints at her mysterious backstory, always welcome.
Her introduction bombarding Data about telling her father she’s not done listening yet!
16:30-ish Agree with your take on Picard being very close to Data. He wasn't just Data's friend, he was his mentor. He obviously guides other officers on their careers and such. But he was teaching Data very different things, which made their relationship unique. Picard is very uncomfortable when Troi does Captain Picard Day because he is supposed to be a role model for the ship's children, something he would rather avoid. But he was very comfortable being Data's role model and found it a rewarding experience. In most ways, Picard was more of a father to Data than Soong.
I also wonder if Picard's evolution from arrogant ruffian to stoic captain made him feel responsible for those lost on a journey of self. He clearly shows regret for his past and seems to wish somebody had told him what an ass he was
‘Picard doesn’t care about Data’ is one of the dumber takes Ive heard. I guess they never watched much of the show?
And more of a father to Riker than Kyle.
I mean First Contact's climax is literally Picard risking his life to rescue Data from the Borg Queen.
@@gateauxq4604
It was RLM.
So they definitely did.
I always liked the little juke Data did to sidestep the guy who tried to stop him from meeting Guinan. His eyes focused forward like it was nothing.
This has always been one of my favorite episodes. The idea that Picard would have to go back in time to ensure he and Guinan, who we all know have known each other for a long time, would meet really tickled my brain and helped me wrap my non severed head around how time travel might work.
Edit: Just googled it and Jerry Hardin is still alive! He’s 93! He always seemed super ancient back when I was a kid watching this episode.
He looks younger in his TNG S1 appearance (when aliens kidnap the ship’s children). The old makeup in this episode is really good.
Loved the reference to the "Human ancestor of Gul Dukat" lol
Every time I watch that time travel episode, it occurs to me Data's head is 500 years older than the rest of his body. It's satisfying to know somebody acknowledging this fact as well! Thank you!
I agree that Time's Arrow is largely overlooked because nothing of serious consequence to the series happened. Still, it was an enjoyable two-parter that I kile to revisit from time to time... no pun intended.
My take on Twain taking Troi's reassurance that all is good in the future at face value is that he appreciates an attractive woman and he's a bit smitten with her, so she can just keep talking her pretty little head off and all is good, as simple and as 1992 TV as that. I also liked this episode but didn't love it until later, kind of an acquired taste perhaps. Can't wait to see your review of the Dr. Moriarty 2 parter separated by I think 4 seasons. That is a great pair.
I didn't grow up on TNG (we were a TOS family), and as an adult on vacation one summer I stumbled on a TNG marathon in progress (in the middle of season 5, probably?) on some channel or other and started watching it just to watch it. Time's Arrow stands out as the episode that fully drew me in and made me want to keep watching. It's a really fun time and the low stakes make it a good entry point if you don't know much about the show yet and have started watching at random.
The Anvil has been a running gag with me and a few of my buddies for 30 years now. Anytime we pick up anything that is lighter than we expected, it's, ouch!
6:55 i always assumed the "english landlady" was actually irish because she has an irish accent, not english.....i think lol
“This episode from 1992…”
Thanks for making me feel extremely old, Steve 😅
One of the most impressive aspects of Times Arrow is that is a time-travel paradox episode that has, to my memory, very few plot holes that can come about due to the nature of time paradox stories, but here the plot closes it’s own circle pretty neatly.
The costumes in these episodes are gorgeous.
According to Rowan J. Coleman; this episode is the closest TNG has come to imitating Doctor Who
Unless you count "Assignment: Earth" 😉
Mark Twain very much showcased the curiosity inherent in his original profession as a journalist in this episode. I think the reason Troi’s answer satisfied him is that all the writers wanted her to do was reassure him that humanity wasn’t going to become a military dictatorship. The common man would be taken care of, and Starfleet’s main purpose is exploration and diplomatic missions. Their being a space navy is secondary.
One of my favourite episodes, some parts are comedy gold.
Additional, I think the hotel owner was Irish not English. I think you may now be banned from the Emerald Isle.
Oh, damn, have the English and the Irish been famously not cool with each other for centuries? Hmm. Oopsie!
Everyone remember, Picard is French…
They may have had the odd, very small, heated discussions.
Then there was that time on Angel when Cordelia said to the clearly Irish Doyle that someone else was "from your part of England."
"Time's Arrow" as a cliffhanger is one of the cornucopia of reasons why I adore TNG's fifth season. Once again they thought outside the box and defied fan expectations by doing a non-gimmicky, off-the-the-beaten path story that eschewed big stakes and massive space battles. TNG season 5: you are the model of Trek at its best. *le sigh*
I for one am glad that Picard and Guinan met in "Time's Arrow". Just imagine the awkward 21st century encounters where she doesn't know who he is that were narrowly avoided.
Thing is, his name convinces her to help. I don’t see why that would be the case unless she does remember him, but more by name than by appearance (especially given he’s meant to be, what, 40 years older than in this episode). Like, I’m sure she’s come across plenty of other old bald guys who reminded her of him in the interim. S2 has plenty of problems but I’ve always thought the Guinan continuity stuff was overblown.
@@kaitlyn__L IMO she is such a poorly explored character that any mysteries around her are justifiable. It's not even that she would be awkward. She didn't know anything about him. Just think of it like maeeting your friend's partner after hearing a lot about her. It's not hard to feign ignorance
@@kaitlyn__L Tbh I forgot that she did remember his name. Yes, he's older and she will have met many other bald guys, but the extent to which they stretched this whole "she doesn't know him"-thing was ridiculous imo. S2 really disappointed me and this point was no exception. I understand that others might not be as bothered by it.
Pamela Kosh was indeed English, but the character she played (Mrs. Carmichael) was Irish. Unfortunately, she died last year.
Time’s Arrow is my favorite TNG time travel episode.
Less than a minute in and I'm like: Ok, Lore. Calm down. 😂 Ah man, I love this stuff. Thanks for filming and posting these.
I think its believable for Mark Twain to take her at face value. After all, he's standing in a star ship in the 24th century. If that were me, I would probably take a lot of things at face value.
I think historically he also desperately wanted that fate for humanity. He wanted it to be true. And as the audience we are expected to accept it's truth and so have no reason to share his initial skepticism
A better Twainish reply from him would be a doubting smirk and "Well, Ms. Troi, I think I will have to take this bold claim of yours at face value... for now." And then cut and the episode proceeds as it was.
I loved the bit where Jack asked what Data was building, and Data response was to ask him what he thought it was, then told him that it was a good guess. I do not know if Data has a directive to avoid out right lies, but that is a clever way to avoid lying nonetheless.
Data has ethical subroutines that influence his behaviour, and part of that is upholding principles he is sworn to protect. Starfleet, at least in the TNG days, promoted a duty to the truth. So while Data can lie and will do so if necessary to protect a greater good, he'll try to avoid whenever possible.
@@renatocorvaro6924
It appears to be a variant of The Laws of Robotics.
Lying to people is likely to harm them.
I liked this episode because Guinan has some sort of agency. She's such a great character, but we rarely see her go out on her own.
The scene between Guinan and Picard in part 1 is one of all-time favourites of the entire franchise.
Using the cocktail as the metaphor to describe the impact of the two of them not meeting is inspired.
The subtlety of the scene is beautifully played by Goldberg and Stewart.
What might seem inconsequential scene at first glance has a devastating conclusion.
Guinan's rebuke of Riker in Best of Both Worlds is what inspires his to save the Federation.
Without her everything falls apart.
The idea that Picard isn’t any more fond of Data than any other member of his command crew is from The Most Toys when everyone thinks Data exploded and Picard is mostly just like “wow. That sucks. Aaaannnnyway… do an investigation but otherwise, we have shit to do” and it is Geordi that is the one most affected by his loss. That said, that was Season 3 and the characters grew over time together. Still, Geordi and Data’s friendship definitely took a backseat to Picard and Data because those characters were just more popular so they just say they are the closest to give them more focus in the movies and Picard
And can we talk about how good that prop head looks?
I thought it looked creepy the first time I saw it at first broadcast. The material they used must've shrunk a bit after drying. Still, it was way better than the wigged mannequin head they used for Lore in "Datalore." 🖖😎👍
I remember watching this as a teenager in '92 (or '93 - it was in the Netherlands), on a tiny tv in my attic room. I just loved the backstory around Guinan.
Honestly, the Twain-Troi exchange... should have been Twain-LaForge. "I'm an officer. They gave me sight. BTW, thanks for Huckleberry Finn. Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high.
Take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!"
I like the inclusion of Mark Twain in a time travel ep since he wrote a time travel story: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Don't ever follow Worf's suggestion, he would've killed everyone again
Human ancestor to Gul Dukat!? Nice catch! Also, Data's head is 500 years older than the rest of his body from now on! Fkn Ayyy! After this, that's how I'll always see Data.
The use of Guinan in this episode was brilliant. So brilliant that it makes the recycling of this idea in _Picard_ season 2 fall even flatter than it would have if it had been an original idea. You can't live in the past, am I right?
This is one of, if not the, favorite Star Trek episode(s)/story of all; including all of the other shows and comics in the franchise as well. Like you say, it's not the most impactful to canon or in-universe matters, nor the one whose acting and writing outshines everything else before or since. But it is the one I could watch the most and what I find myself usually thinking back to when someone or something brings up Star Trek. On its own its fun and has the comfort food vibe that TNG and TOS could do so well; it even has a feel to it that would fit right in in TOS. And what I especially liked was it made me feel as if I was watching come to life one of those 1920s/'30s pulp sci-fi short stories I use to pour over whenever I can across them or one of the better-made stories from the pre-Marvel Age Silver Age sci-fi anthology comics (usually by Ditko or Kirby). I found myself picturing all the possibilities of what could happen next when watching it and during the brutally long wait until the new season's conclusion. And all of that is almost exclusivesly due to the 1800's set portions though I enjoyed the crew's reactions to their friend's mortality). In fact as much as I like this, I realize its what wasnt shown and what didnt happen that still captivates me; how would the great and very (wonderfully) flawed Twain handle an invasion from the future? I'd like to think that somewhere in their universe is still sitting a dusty, unread manuscript by Clemens detailing or inspited by exactly that.
I remember this episode fondly, I did not see it originally in it's original run but maybe a year or two later in reruns (the FOX station had for several years two episodes of Star Trek every day up through the late 90s). It is a really fun episode that really shows how emotionally invested everyone is their crewmates.
I have no idea what I did before discovering your videos, but I know my life was less rich for the absence.
Serendipitous it is, that you always come through when I am most bored. Thanks!
One more thing. Discovery gets shit on frequently for having very oddly scaled threats. Let's take a look at this one.
In this episode we have time-travelling aliens from somewhere the fuck in outer space who have SOMEHOW EVOLVED to subsist solely on "human neurological energy", and if the crew of the Enterprise wants to stop them from doing this, they need to do a little genocide but it might end up destroying specifically 19th century Earth and not any of the other time frames these aliens have been accused of doing their thing in.
Makes "The Burn" look like a fairy tale.
This has always been one of my favourites of the TNG two parters. It’s just such a fun romp.
I’m also fond of the detail that the cop _takes away the cane_ from Geordi, who is wearing era-appropriate blind-signalling sunglasses and plausibly needs it, all on the basis of a class assumption - “This is a gentleman’s cane!” It’s kinda grim but it’s a great example of the kind of profiling which is still rampant today, disabled and/or black people are still regularly assumed to have not “earned” any wealth they show.
I always look forward to Marc Alaimo’s appearance as well. I love the little writing detail that, although he speaks fluent French and his family is from New Orleans, his character is anglicised enough that he still says its English name while speaking French as opposed to _Nouveau Orleans_ (with 3 syllables in Orleans instead of 2).
I also really dig all the other little touches in this episode you mentioned. It’s a great exhibition of the subtle but pervasive character development Data has gone through since he first tried poker in season 2 and didn’t understand as much about the emotions of the rest of the crew. Now he’s better than a bunch of card sharks and can read people well enough to get by in the past!
Though I must admit I didn’t realise Jack London was also a real guy like Sam Clemens until just now - the name sounded too fake to me to bother looking up! Egg on my face.
You know, I think I’ll go watch it now! _Hrm! Hoo! Hah!_
Lastly, the landlady issue has already been litigated in the comments ;) The way she says her “O”s are the dead giveaway to a British ear, but I can’t blame you for thinking
that she was an (I’m guessing) English northerner.
Oh no, he does say Or-le-ans instead of Or-leens. Still, the part about saying _New_ instead of _Nouveau_ stands!
times arrow is definitely a favorite of mine ... and its pacing is pretty much perfect (we waited approximately two months for part two) and so i like to think that part 2 picks up about 2 maybe three months later -- which would definitely give the others enough time get settled ... as far as how exactly they got their clothes and such you are correct -- times arrow just works as a great story without the need to delve too deeply in the minutia because you had to physically wait over the summer to see part two your brain just sort of accepts the situation allowing you to suspend your disbelief enough so that you can just enjoy the tale (its one of the reasons i both enjoy reading and writing fantasy fiction -- if its a good enough story you as the reader can easily suspend your disbelief and sense of reality and get sucked in to the world and the plights of the characters -- as the author you personally set the precedent making it up as you go along crafting 'your' world using 'your' rules ... when asked why a thing happened a specific way you can simply with the words 'reasons dont over think it')
Love “Time’s Arrow”!
Love these episodes! And Jack was my favorite non space character. He was hilarious and helped the plot move along nicely! Love Mark Twain and love Guinan being there. I would love more information even a movie about Guinans people. Now I have to go back and watch it again! Thanks for the vid!! Keep doing these I love them!
I like to think that by this point in the 24th century, Starfleet has some kind of standard operating procedures for time travelers as far as acquiring what's needful. These are competent, highly trained and experienced scientists and explorers in time and space working in an organization with, at this point at least, a long history of it's people getting stuck in the past.
It reminds me of one of my favorite moments in The Walking Dead. This is something like the fourth season or so, we're following Rick, Carl, Michonne, and Daryl when their car is surrounded by a hoard of walkers. The very next cut is to them reloading, recovering bolts, wiping gore off their blades. See also Fury Road, when Max just walks off, beat, explosion, beat, Max walking back with loot and a boot. Sometimes the best way to convey competence is to just skip the shit our characters clearly have no issue handling.
So, while I agree with 95% of your views on Star Trek and I think we’d actually have a great talk if ever given the opportunity, what’s your beef with tin man?
I don’t think it’s the best, but it’s definitely not the worst. Maybe you should do retro reviews on some of your least favorites so you can explain why?
I’m definitely a big fan of Data-centric episodes… I’d love to hear Steve talk about either Data’s Day or A Fistful of Datas
Times Arrow is fun and exciting episode, one of my favorites.
This episode confirmed without doubt that temporal loops are a thing in the Star Trek universe, thus allowing us to see other time travel adventures in a completely different light!
Until I watched this, I forgot about this episode. The moment you explained the opening shot, I got a huge wave of nostalgia. When it first aired, I remember thinking it was a fantastic episode, TNG couldn't get much better than this.... and then I grew up, and it slowly got forgotten. It is a fantastic episode, looking back now, I would easily put it in my top ten favorite storylines of TNG, but unfortunately it is also not a very memorable episode, seeing as how I forgot it existed....
After you finish reviewing the time travel episodes I'd love to hear your thought on Rascals.
I like this double episode. William Boyett plays the police officer. William Boyett is known for playing police officers and detectives in several TV series including Dragnet and Adam 12.
Time's Arrow was great!
I appreciate you man. Please keep doing you and congrats on the button!
Not one of my favorite episodes, but it IS one that I remember well for story elements, cleverness, and my sister and I have a running inside joke with that damn Twain "Ooo ah" "harumph".
One of my fave episodes…when I first saw it I was totally drawn into the story and could not wait to see how it played out…and,as an adult,the aliens creeped me out and reminded me of the extraterrestrial creatures in the old black and white The Outer LImits episodes ‘The Galaxy Being’ and ‘The Bellero Shield’ which freaked me out as a child and still chill me today. Yep,the landlady was supposed to be Irish.
So, Ginan is played by Whoppi Goldberg 500 years in the past, but in Picard season 2, Ginan is suddenly her younger self - even though it's set in much later in time....!
P.S.
Liked the "Aliens", reference you did!
This was one of my favorites as a kid. It probably doesnt hold up quite so well as an adult but I always have a soft spot for "fish out of water" episodes and seeing Data try to make a life for himself in 19th century SF is a joy.
I want to watch it again now.
Yeah those peeps didn't bother noticing ALL of Picard's concern over the course of the series, nevermind the films. Episodes with solid scenes of evidence: "Tin Man", "The Measure of a Man", "The Offspring", "Clues", "Peak Performance"
How in the world did people question Picard's attachment to Data? All four TNG movies basically boil down to "The Picard & Data Show"
A lot of people would prefer those movies didn't exist.
It's understandable.
@@alanpennie8013I know of literally no one in that category.
Time's Arrow is actually one of my favourite TNG episodes, hands down.
One of my favorite episodes of TNG.
I agree that you make a good and interesting point about Twain's interaction with Troi. Given your (in)famous dislike of bloated scenes, I am curious how you would tweak the scene/dialogue without crowding the script?
Thanks for another thoughtful and thought-provoking video.
Your videos are so funny, Steve. 🤗
This also one of my fave episodes. I think the Landlady was perhaps supposed to be Irish😝
Data's comedy and Picard reciting Shakespeare are my favorite parts of these episodes.
Cool. Now I need you to explain the Will Vinton special, "The Adventures of Mark Twain."
That masked Lucifer haunts me to this day.
Great point Steve….. i have to admit that I didn’t totally buy Picard’s feelings on data in Picard Season 1 but you are totally right… Picard was seriously upset in Time Arrow..great point
The Catwoman 12 inch action figure in the background is one of my favorites, but it did come in a two-pack with Batman.
WHAT HAS THAT FELONIOUS FELINE DONE WITH THE CAPED CRUSADER??? 🐈⬛ 🦇
The part of me that's fond of the Mirror Universe episodes let out a little cheer when the torpedoes annihilated the Devidians' habitat. Hey, Steve, how about doing the Mirror Universe episodes at some point? Those are always fun to pick apart. 🖖😎👍
I love Time’s Arrow!!
The "English lady" was supposed to be Irish, but her accent was so atrocious, you probably couldn't tell 😂
The Jack London character was a lot of fun, as was the poker scene. Would have liked to see more of both.
Gawd. The TNG cliffhangers were such torture!
Thanks, Steve. I like this episode.
As awesome as Star Trek is, can we talk about how the senior staff of Star Fleet ships just leave their ships unattended?
I mean, sure Worf was left in charge, yet there was no reason for the entire senior staff and Captain to go to the planet.
Damn, Geordi wasn't that great an engineer. It always took him hours to do modifications, when a lot of other engineers only took 3-20mins.
I knew who Jack London was the minute he said his name was "Jack". I've also known people who had no idea who Jack London was, even after the show was done!
I love this episode and this was a fab review of it. I know a lot of people aren't enamoured of it so was unsure which way you would go, but you make some great points and descibed it really well.
Rewatched this episode last week. I enjoyed it more than I remembered
I am amazed after watching so many of your videos, that you didn't notice or neglected to mention the similarity to "A Connecticut Yankee" story line, though obviously inverted. Otherwise, great review!
10:44 ya know... the HD updates for TNG are fantastic. They really are. But... sometimes... things are supposed to be shown in SD. Jerry Hardin was only about 63 when he played Twain in this episode, right about the same age as Twain himself would have been give or take a few years. I give all respect to Westmore and the TNG makeup department... but the poor guy looks like he is wearing a rubber mask of Jerry Hardin playing Mark Twain, it's so unsettling.
I really liked this episode. The aliens were creapy.
Picard's attachment to Data and guilt about Data's death (in Nemesis) are the only things that _do_ make sense in Picard S1.
One of my all-time favorite episodes.
I had this one on VHS as a kid and watched it endlessly. I also impersonated Mark Twain endlessly, probably to the frustration of my family. It holds a special place in my memory.
I like lower stakes episodes... but I also like large Epic World Ending stories as well.
It always bothered me that apparently an advanced android head had been under such a densely-populated, well-known place as San Francisco since the 19th century and conveniently nobody found it until after the android it came from existed so people would know what it was.
I think the Troi and Twain conversation is quintessentially what Star Trek is about. The conversation involves something implausible for our current capitalist nightmare. It discusses how humanity can solve our biggest problems and that money and greed doesn't need to rule the world forever. It also asks and answers the question, "why do anything when money isn't the main motivation?". It's aspirational science fiction, folks.
4:30 "...Where Data antes up by selling his comm badge to human ancestor of Gul Dukat for $3..." Too funny. I get it.
I'm confused about how Gul Dukat has a human ancestor. Of course, the entire human/alien children (such as Spock) are biologically impossible. Even if you posit a common ancestor, which requires a lot of explaining, the species would have divereged too far to ever produce offspring. But that's letting science get in the way of good stories, and I prefer good stories.
Beta Canon actually mentions in one novel that Dukat is actually related to Gul Macet from "The Wounded" (cousins). 🖖😎👍
One of my all-time favs.
Always loved Time's Arrow. Wish the writers of S2 of Picard had actually watched it. That and Yesterday's Enterprise.
Time's arrow is great because it actually happened to all of the crew.
Many episodes like this get conveniently erased from the timeline, or only one character remembers the events. They hit that reset button and move on.
The episode of Strange New Worlds you plan on reviewing next is a prime example of this issue.
One of my favorites. Having Twain in the episode is corny, but in a good way.
You've actually improved my opinion of this two-parter. Well done.
standout unremarable character.... the boarding house mistress.... "MISTER PICKERD!" ..... I can still hear her voice and I haven't watched the ep in maybe around a year! :D
This has been my favorite episode for like 30 years, and it never occurred to me before watching this video that Data was faking his injury with the anvil.
I always hated this episode to the point that I skipped it on re-watches of the series. However, after watching your review I may have to revisit it. Looking back, It didn't help I first saw it when it aired and I was 8. (I thought Data was dead for a summer and somehow a very frightening time traveling snake was involved in his murder)
This was a great episode. I really enjoyed it. Not sure why some don't agree but to each their own.
Of the two parter season bridging episodes, I remember BOBW the best (who doesn't) actually followed by Time's Arrow. It's a cute little episode with its own charms and unique stories.
Bringing in real historical figures... really a bit more of a Doctor Who plot, isn't it? Still a favorite pair of episodes for me.
Another reason I love it, being a long time Whovian.