Jammer's Review

I would give it 3 stars. It was intriguing and fun as set-up but the payoff in part two really was underwhelming.

But here I was curious about what was going. The reveal of Data's head was shocking when I first watched the show. The chronicling by Data of the alien's realm was spooky and effectively done matched by the away team finally phasing into it. I thought the snake cane and two aliens in their 19th century garb were terrifying. I was genuinely concerned by Data's trip into the past--some of the scenes stalled yes but overall I thought the episode got the job done in what it set out to do--I liked the Data/Geordi scene in Ten Forward discussing Data's mortality, Guinan's cryptic comments under her breath and the cliffhanger of the crew stepping into the past had me wanting to know what was going to happen next.

Was it as powerful as BoBW's? No but that was in a league of its own. I still looked forward to the season 6 premiere.

I love the paradox in this episode (Futurama even re-used it with Bender's head), that is classic sci-fi, but Jammer is right, it's lacking in energy, particularly the weak cliffhanger.

I also see this episode as the answer to the question: "Why does Guinan see her relationship with Picard as 'beyond friendship, beyond family'?" which many fans consider un-answered.

I see it this way: When Guinan first met Picard, it was not the first time he had met her. Conversely, when Picard first met Guinan, it was not the first time she had met him. So their relationship really is *beyond* friendship and family- it's a recursive friendship that goes beyond linear time.

I read on Memory Alpha that this was originally just going to be a one-hour finale, but with DS9 revving up the producers were afraid fans would assume TNG was to be canceled, so they half-baked a 2-parter to ensure the fans stuck around for season 6.

Smart idea. Stupid episode. Though the guy playing Twain is the spitting image.

Right comments on the pacing and urgency complaints--but I found the inverse to be true regarding sluggishness, the 19th century scenes charmed and moved (yes and wanked a bit) while the 24th century scenes stuck out as tired routine Enterprise mumbo-jumbo. The second part was strangely better, but I think 2.5 stars is fair on the low side for this one. Given how wonderful I found Twain's speech at the reception, I'd give it 3 stars).

Sidenote : while we all appreciate Trek's openminded fairness (I hope), how is it that Guinan as a black woman in the 19th century is able to move about in such circles. I applaud it from the stance of personal ethics, but it completely sidesteps the reality of the time and place.

Yeah... for some reason, when I saw this two-parter as a kid, I loved it, but I think i was really into Back to the Future heavily at that point, so, I loved it.

Years later, that nostalgia and love for the episode is still there, but, I can now see the flaws, and how the episode just stops, almost as an act break. It's kinda dissapointing. Still like it a lot though, depsite it's flaws.

I loved this episode. It gets a little slow side but at the same time I felt that was a decision by the producers for the 19th century setting. And I also agree that I find it highly unlikely any black woman would so freely be found in the upper echelons of San Fran society in 1893.

As for Mark Twain, it seems that he makes or breaks the episode. For those that liked the performance, the episode works, for those that find it overdone, they don't like it. But Mark Twain WAS an overdone person, the actor that portrayed him did a fantastic job, and he liked JUST like him.

The aliens scenes were creepy, and although there was the usual technobabble, it was not worse than usual.

I would say that behind BOBW and all god things, this is easily the next best 2 parter in TNG.

I remember the buzz about this episode on the BBSes when this was "expected" - all the speculation (based on pre-release semispoilers): "Mark Twain!?" "Guinan in the 19th century?!" "Data's head??!!" It was a severe letdown. If the information about it being stretched into a two-parter is right, frankly I'm not surprised. The aliens in this episode are abysmal. No *depth* at all. On the other hand, I was one of the ones who also noticed the explanation of two of Guinan's earlier remarks - not just the "beyond friends and family" thing, but another. Guinan also told Geordi (why is he almost always Geordi and not Mr. LaForge?) in "Booby Trap" (IIRC) that she was attracted to bald men because a bald man was kind to her once. People at the time took it to mean Picard, but very few people noticed the possible explanation in this episode - or rather its sequel.

I'm a big fan of this episode, but I recognize it for what it is, a bit of fluff.

It sure ain't no "Mr Worf, fire!" But it is fun none the less. I quite like Twain/Clemmens, and from what little I know about him I believe that he would be something like that.

I found Jack London to be miscast... far too over eager.

I think the episode is worth it for Data's poor acting when he accidentally lifts the anvil with one hand in front of Jack. "Ow!"


Hmmm, now I know who Leonardo DiCaprio based "Jack" on in Titanic, it was Jack London from this episode. That would explain the bad acting and annoying character.

I probably would have sighed a bit at this season finale if I were an adult when it first aired some twenty years ago. (Instead I ate it up undauntedly like I did with all things space as a five-year-old. But I digress.)

Following "Best of Both Worlds, Part I" and "Redemption, Part I" this episode definitely doesn't hit the mark. But as a small piece in the great tapestry of Trek, viewing it while ignoring its place at the end of the year, it's a solid three-star excursion. Fun all-around.

My biggest problem with this episode was a minor logic flaw. The Enterprise finds Data's head underground on Earth from 500 years ago. They follow a fossil ON THE HEAD (or in the cave, I don't recall) that leads them to Devidia II.

Subsequently, Data argues with Picard that it is irrational for Picard to keep Data on the ship on this mission, as we have no idea when he will be sent back in time. And Picard agrees! "then I'll be irrational!"

Has everyone forgotten that the sole reason they are on this planet is because something from this planet will be on Data or in the cave or whatever when Data goes back in time? There is DIRECT connection between this planet and Data's going back in time. It is not irrational to keep him on the ship.

However, if the Enterprise had had simply gone on any other old mission and Data happened to get sent back in time, we'd complain that it's awfully coincidental that his time travel was mere days after his head is discovered. The only reason I don't shout at the TV over the fact that it's mere days between head-discovery and Data's being sent back in time IS because his time travel occurs on Devidia II during the investigation into the head and the clues from the cave. The head discovery leads Data to the time jump.

I still hate that they don't acknowledge that this away mission might be a bit more risky for Data to join than had they gone to Bajor or Vulcan.

PS: This episode was the start of a new Trek Era for me. The first 5 seasons were, for some reason, different to me than the last two. I considered the former to be the "classic TNG" episodes while I considered the latter to be the "trying to be TNG, but not quite living up to it" episodes. Not that some of Season 6 and 7 weren't good episodes, but they just felt like they were written, directed, acted or produced a bit differently. A different look or feel to them, starting with this episode. I think the characters were a little less formal and a little looser starting with this episode. That annoying forced humour that showed up in Nemesis and Insurrection started to show a bit in seasons 6 and 7, and the writing just wasn't quite up to par. I think I started "regularly" watching TNG around this episode, so maybe that's why I feel this way, but I always feel like seasons 6 and 7 were like someone "coming back" to TNG after a period of time and trying to start it up again but not quite succeeding. You'd never see something like Fistful of Datas in Seasons 1-5 (ok, 2-5).

TH, I completely agree with you. I have voiced my complaints about the scoring that got terrible about half-way through season 5, but I agree with you, there is a sort of "forced" to the relationships between characters that starts occurring in season 6 and 7, and it becomes blatantly forced in the movies.

I have traced it to Picard smiling. I HATE Picard smiling. Everyone else seems to think it is character growth, and i am Ok with the last scene in "all good things", but for the next 2 seasons it is simply a "softer" Picard that I find unwelcome. I have said before here, that I find "yelling" Picard from season 1 far more enjoyable to watch than "Picard day smiling idiot" from season 7...

@TH and Nick P.

I absolutely agree. Season 7 in particular has this utter blandness in it, as if someone sucked all the joy out of storytelling and replaced it with by-the-numbers plotting and character work. In fact, it reminds me of Voyager to be honest.

Maybe it has something to do with some of the writing staff moving off to DS9? Just guessing...

@Paul :

That's odd, because I found the declining quality of TNG to be it's attempt at embracing a DS9-style world-view, with the introduction of Ro and the Maquis (and of course the Cardassians and "Bajora") as well as dropping the so-called "no-conflict rule," etc. TNG had to make room in its Universe for DS9 and in so doing nearly lost its soul--the evidence is in the writing. As for the staffing, I'd have to look it up, but this blah episode here was written by two of Trek's most honoured and well-remembered writers, Menosky (Darmok, Muse, Nth Degree, Blink of an Eye) and Piller (need I say more than BOBW?).

@ Paul, TH, and Elliot.

I wonder if part of it was the actors. I noticed this in later season of Seinfield. I sometimes wonder if when an actor portrays a character long enough, he sort of stops acting. I feel like in season 7 it is very noticeable that I am watching Stewart, Frakes, Sirtis, etc.. Vs Picard, Riker, and Troi. It is really noticeable with Troi, watch her in the 2nd season versus season 7 and it is almost gross. I feel like she rolled out of bed in the morning, said a few lines, and ran with her check out of the building. The only episode I enjoyed watching Troi in any any of the last 3 seasons was season 6 "face of the Enemy".

Well, I don't really see DS9 influence in those weak S6 and S7 TNG episodes. Their weakness is a result of bad... I don't know, crafting, I guess. They are bad because they are bad, not because someone shoved DS9 morals down our throats.

A total flop. As per the last few comments above, there does seem to be a marked change in the last half of this season in quality, from the acting to the scripts, to the cinematography (everything has a somewhat washed out look, like the contrast or brightness button has been turned a bit too low). Compare this soul snatching story to the Soul Hunter episodes on Babylon 5, which were spookier.

Nick, excellent comparison with Seinfeld. I wholeheartedly agree; is it the acting? Maybe partly, but I still think it's the writing mainly. The writers in the last two seasons of BOTH series started taking things to extremes and far-fetched scenarios that you wouldn't see in earlier season [edit: in fairness, I think Seinfeld came back with many strong episodes in the last season after a bad second last season. In Seinfeld, the whole premise of the show-about-nothing was that these were scenarios everyone could relate to or get into - a soft-talker who you nod at and you agree to something you are unaware of; Dating a virgin (or someone shy about sex); someone in front of you buys the last Rye; someone walks in on you getting dressed and spreads a rumour... etc.

As the show went on, the characters and plots grew further unbelievable and out-of-character (Kramer finds the Merv Griffin Show set and his life becomes a talk show; J.Peterman pays Kramer for his life; Kramer lives/cooks/etc. in his shower; Kramer somehow becomes hosts to Japanese businessmen and lets them sleep in a chest of drawers? [I note a Kramer pattern here] Jerry, Kramer and Elaine’s boyfriend all go get vasectomies on a whim Jerry becomes a video bootlegger, Sometimes it was the premise that was unbelievable and other times it was how the premise was handled, eg: Elaine eats Peterman’s cake and gets effectively no punishment; Elaine promotes Eddie the Army guy and suffers no real consequences, George flys to Akron to give a comeback zinger to a colleague; The Postal Service stalks and harasses Kramer because he doesn’t want to receive mail anymore.).

The acting gets a bit exaggerated along with the writing and it all spirals into too much. This all culminated in the finale which was completely unbelievable and over the top. However, I don’t think I could instantly identify “that’s a season 9 episode” just from the visual appearance like I could on TNG. “The Cartoon” in which Kramer vows silence, Elaine draws a cartoon for the New Yorker and Kathy Griffin has a one-woman show about how evil Jerry is. Other than the fact that Kathy/Sally has ridiculous success so quickly, the episode is fairly down-to-earth and could easily fit into season 6 or 7.

On TNG, besides some extreme plots, (Fistful of datas, Rascals, Schisms, Phantasms) I think there was just something about, as you say, the scoring, the lighting, the video tape... something that just SEEMED different, and yes, perhaps more Voyagery.

EG: Go to memory alpha and look up A Matter of Perspective vs. Second Chances (I'd link, but they are disabled in comments). Or else go to the Troi article. Look at the early shots of her compared to the one of her rapidly aged from Man of the People. The latter shot is far brighter, less contrast and less saturation - more blues less yellows.

Something was just "brighter" and more artificial about the lighting and the sets and even the shots of the ship. I can't put my finger on what it is, but it was noticeable enough that I recognized a change, and can easily tell you from most screenshot whether an episode is pre- or post- season 6.

But I still think it's the writing. You have shows like Relics in that time that are still wonderful. They do LOOK different, but they end up as good episodes. Whereas timescale, a plot I could see having been done in season 4, just seems off in season 6. Having Picard draw a happy face? In season 4, he might have given an unusual Order or said something confusing that didn’t make sense, but he wouldn’t have acted like he was 10 years old. They would have been more subtle. And Picard’s impression of the lecturer who kept "talking and talking" - he would never have been that casual pre-season 6. He was portrayed as taking everything in life seriously and rarely joking about a distinguished lecturer. It was too out of character. The look was half of the problem while the script was the other half, I think.

As a slight post-script to my previous posts, I'll note that the first time I saw the online preview clip for the new TNG BluRay upgrade (the clip that shows some encounter at farpoint footage with lots of wipes to show you the original vs. cleaned up footage), it got to the panel showing Picard and Q and the wipe turned their uniforms from a sort of dusty mauve to a striking scarlet, and that's when I realized fairly conclusively that lighting and colour are a significant part of what made the seasons really stand apart. As soon as they wiped to the new colours, I felt like I could have been watching a shot from season 7. I also realized that when shot in proper colour, I actually didn't mind the season 1/2 jumpsuits that much. Picard looks a lot better in it when the colour is on.

I'm really curious to see if a full episode of the BluRay changes my perception of the early episodes. I'm also hoping they do what they did with TOS and provide the unremastered and remastered versions via the 'alternate angle' option.