Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) Time's Arrow (1992) User Reviews

The mystery of Data's head

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 21 July 2015]

The Enterprise is called back to Earth following a shocking discovery in a cavern under San Francisco. The artefact, which has been there since the 1890's is Data's head! Data is unperturbed by this; in fact quite the opposite; he sees the fact that he will die one day as a comfort as it means he is more 'human'. Some evidence in the cavern suggests that there is a link to the planet Devidia II; they head there and find that there is a temporal distortion there. Picard wants to keep Data safe on the ship but evidence suggesting the presence of phase-shifted aliens necessitates his visit to the site. He moves out of phase and follows 'two aliens carrying a snake' then vanishes… when he reappears he is in 1890s San Francisco. Here he sets about building a device to detect the aliens but is distracted when he sees a newspaper featuring a familiar face: Guinan. Meanwhile back on the Enterprise the crew work to build a phase shifting device so they can investigate what happened to Data and Guinan informs Picard that this is one away mission he must take part in; if he doesn't they may never meet.

This, the first episode of a two part story, gets off to a great start with the discovery of Data's head. This immediately sets up a mystery; how did it end up in the cavern and just as importantly how much time does Data have before he meets his unavoidable fate? Unsurprisingly the answer to the latter question is not that long as that is what this story is about. When we learn what the aliens Data followed are doing it is clear that they are suitably creepy yet not too much is given away. As well as the drama we have some great characters; Whoopi Goldberg is great as Guinan; I must say I prefer the restrained performance she gives here to her more comic performances… although there is a hint of that when she meets Data in the 1890s. We also learn more about her character; most notably that she is very old. Guest characters are also fun; most notably Jerry Hardin portrayal of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and Michael Aron's Jack London. As this is the first part of two there is little in the way of resolution but the finale sets things up nicely for part two.

It's All in Data's Head

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 6 September 2014]

The Away team goes to a cave that had not been investigated for 500 years. In it they find a broken watch, a few other artifacts, and, most amazing of all, a tarnished and broken metallic head, that of Commander Data. Apparently, this head has been there all this time and is evidence of some intergalactic invasiveness into this century. Since Data is now alive, something must be done. In a delightful first half, Data finds himself in San Francisco around the turn of the century. He is so out of place, but it is San Francisco. He needs money and gets into a poker game. He rents a room and begins to build a device to go after a couple of time traveling cannibals. Along the way he runs in to Samuel Clemens and a young Jack London. He awaits the arrival of the rest of the crew to assist his efforts. Of course, there are numerous complications, among these the constant meddling of Clemens who believes there are aliens and they are up to no good.

I guess I will see you again in about 500 years. And I will see you in a few minutes.

[CCsito · 9/10 · 24 November 2010]

This episode was the fifth season ending "cliffhanger" episode and was a better one for the series finale, in my opinion. It deals with the discovery of Lt. Commander Data's severed head inside an underground cavern area in San Francisco during an excavation in 24th Century Earth. This discovery introduces the aspect of death to the android and that he doesn't have an infinite life span after all. The underground cavern emits very rare wave transmissions that could only originate from outside of Earth, so the crew becomes involved in a mystery in trying to connect the discovery of Data's head to the wave's source. They discover that aliens are using a device that allows them to go back to Earth's past and that allows them to hunt for their required energy source (which happens to be human neural energy). The Enterprise crew enters the time distortion portal in order to stop the aliens from continuing to extract the neural energy from the San Francisco populace of the 1880s. The theme of time travel has been covered in many science fiction movies and often times, there are gaping logic flaws or illogical plot twists. In this episode, there is a good plot flow and no gaping logic flaws. The only thing that does appear to be a bit flawed is when Data first appears in the 1880s San Francisco streets after entering the time distortion field. As he walks around, none of the people out in the streets take notice of him even though he looks totally different then they do (apparel and skin texture). Other than this part of the episode, this was definitely one of the better one in the series and with the "Inner Light" episode that immediately preceded it, this series reached its peak at the end of Season 5.

Best Portrayal of Mark Twain, Best Two-Parter

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 10 June 2015]

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..."

A trip to the past.

[russem31 · 28 April 2006]

ST:TNG:126 - "Time's Arrow, Part I" (Stardate: 45959.1) - this is the 26th and last episode of the 5th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In this beginning part of a 2 part caper, The Enterprise is recalled to Sector 001 again (aka, the planet Earth), because archaeologists discovered evidence that aliens were inhabiting the planet 500 years before (in the 1890s) - the evidence being triolic waves and Data's head (which they deduce it really is his and not Lore's)! The mystery depends when the waves are traced to Devidia II. There, they encounter what seems like human life forms that are a fraction of a second out of phase.

Then, Data is transported via the Devidian's time distortion portal to 1890s San Francisco, where he (as a Frenchmen, and getting money through poker) meets Mark Twain, and more incredibly, Guinan (played by Whoopi Goldberg)!

Trivia note: Data speaks French! And Worf says a rare "Beam me up".

Time travelin' back to Earth...circa 1893.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 26 November 2014]

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.

Season Five

[zkonedog · 9/10 · 5 July 2019]

The second half of Season Four of Star Trek: The Next Generation really amped up the political aspect of its episodes (conflicts, wars, hard-hitting material, etc.), eschewing the light-hearted or more one-off fare that mostly populated subsequent seasons. That political bent carries over into the first third or so of this season, but is gradually phased out again in a return to more imaginative material. Personally, I think this show thrives on the high-concept plots and character development rather than the "political stuff", so I welcomed the shift back. Suffice it to say, however, that there is a little bit for everyone in this season.

Some thoughts on Season Five...

-The "big episodes" of this season never did much for me. "Redemption", where Worf gets the limelight, kicks off the season on an odd note. Not longer after, "Unification" teases the return of Leonard Nimoy as Ambassador Spock, yet the concept just fizzles out over the span of two episodes. The season finale, "Time's Arrow", is also pretty weak. You can't build an entire arc premise around "Data's head found under San Francisco". So, I really felt that every time the show tried to "go big" this season, it didn't deliver (at least for me). -Fortunately, there are enough episodes "in between" that are engaging and develop the characters without some political bent making things so serious. "Conundrum" is a classic mystery, "Disaster" offers some of the best bits of any TNG episode (Worf delivering a baby, Picard interacting with children), and Ethics sees Worf go through a crisis of the highest order with his son now by his side. These are the types of episodes that TNG thrives upon...interesting plots and then letting the characters interact with each other. -A new character (Ensign Ro) is introduced. While I liked the concept of a fresh face, Ro is almost made too patently unlikeable to ever really work (at least so far). She isn't a terrible addition, by any means, but the idea works better than the execution to this point. -The last spate of episodes this season are pure gold. "Cause & Effect" is high-concept at its best (Enterprise caught in a time loop), "I Borg" brings back everyone's favorite baddies, "The Next Phase" examines a fascinating concept, and then there's "The Inner Light"....easily the best performance from Stewart's Picard on the show to this point. If able, I would bump the star rating of this Fifth Season up to 4.5 based on the quality of the close-out episodes alone.

Overall, then, I thought that Season Five of TNG started off a bit stodgy/stale (much like Season Four ended), but then made a conscious effort to get back to (IMHO) what the show does best. Thus, as the season progresses, we are given episodes were different characters interact with each other and plots worthy of such an imaginative show.

Beginning to end, this is probably the best season of the show so far in its run. The "bad" episodes aren't terrible (more like overcooked or stodgy), while the good episodes are all-time classics. Nothing to shy away from here...the third consecutive solid season in a row for TNG.

Tell me there's better?!

[christian-691-410738 · 10/10 · 1 July 2022]

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ST:TNG episodes EVER!! And Obvs watch part 2. I could watch this over and over! It's the best! So amazing! Okay my review apparently needs to be longer?

If you are going to San Francisco.

[thevacinstaller · 8/10 · 13 April 2021]

I am a fan of getting away from the enterprise and taking in the scenery during an away mission.

I dig the set design for late 19th century San Francisco and loved the high class apparel during the Mark Twain speech ---- specifically Guinan's over the top outfit.

I also enjoyed the design of the aliens. They actually feel like legitimate aliens and the episode was successful in piquing my interest about what these aliens are actually doing and why they are doing it in the 19th century.

The actor that plays Mark Twain is great. I knew Mark Twain and this guy is bang-on.

It was nice to see some genuine human emotion about the future death of data. The scene of Riker telling data, "It's just that our mental pathways have become accustomed to your sensory input pattern" hit me in the feels.

Solid episode.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S5 overall:

• I did the calculations and this season gets an overall score of 7.4 out of 10. This is tied with season 4 for second best score so far.

• one 10/10 for darmok and four 9/10's for ensign ro, the game, cause and effect and the inner light.

• In my view any season that scores a 10/10 episode is a success.

• Ensign Ro makes her first appearance in this season. Oh boy, I do love Ensign Ro. I would be heartbroken that she did not go on to DS9, if not for the fact that Nana Visitor was absolutely amazing in DS9.

• We had a few stinkers this season but no scores below 5 out of 10 and most of those 5/10 episodes were just really, really boring and did not make me want to throw things at the tv.

• Did I mention how beautiful and ferocious Ensign Ro is?

"You are an odd fellow, aren't you?"

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 12 March 2024]

When the Enterprise is summoned to Earth to investigate a five-hundred-year-old archaeological excavation, among the ancient artifacts found is a strange anomaly - it's Data's head! Commander Data (Brent Spiner) himself guarantees the authenticity of his android head because of its specific architecture, as opposed to that of his brother Lore. Investigating further, Commander LaForge (LeVar Burton) discovers a single cell L-B-10445 present that heretofore only existed on the planet Devidia II in the Marrab Sector. With these links established, the Enterprise heads to Devidia, while triolic waves creating a temporal distortion send Data back to Earth of the Nineteenth Century, landing him in San Francisco on August 13, 1893. There he comes across an unusually inquisitive Samuel Clemens (Jerry Hardin), a more than helpful busboy named Jack London (Michael Aron), and by virtue of a newspaper article, he seeks out Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) of all people!

Here's what doesn't make sense to me. Aboard the Enterprise, Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) has a conversation with Guinan in which she asks him if he remembers the first time they met. Picard thinks so, but Guinan assures him that he must be part of the away team on Devidia, or they might never have met in the first place. Which is obviously counterintuitive, because the Captain and Guinan are conversing right then and there. Even if Picard's memory was faulty as to when he met Guinan, they would have had to at some point since she's present on the Enterprise. This is what happens when time travel stories get too complicated.

In any event, this first part of this two-part episode ends with Captain Picard and the rest of the away team disappearing or phasing out of a cave on Devidia II. If you guess they wind up in 19th Century San Francisco you would be right, where the rest of the adventure takes place in Time's Arrow Part II.

Detached and clinical

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 27 September 2017]

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.

A trivial creation

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 24 October 2021]

Enterprise is visits Earth following a surprise archeological discovery.

This is an enjoyable episode that has a lot going on but contains some interesting character moments.

The plot has a brilliant hook with the artefact shown in the introductory scene, however it meanders in a number of directions and extended scenes of philosophical dialogue that kills a lot of the momentum, but is nonetheless entertaining.

All the scenes involving Guinan, Data, and interaction with characters from the past are all good exchanges. Caryn Johnson, Brent Spiner, and Jerry Hardin make all these scenes work well. The prospect of Data at a nineteenth century San Francisco poker table is highly amusing.

Where it falters for a layperson like me is the volume of technobabble. Usually Star Trek characters explain it in a fairly understandable way, but this script just hits you with it without any real clarity.

I enjoyed the cinematography, set design, costumes, and general art design. Plus the special effects are very good, particularly the severed head.

Cheesy and silly

[djzeaman · 3/10 · 5 October 2018]

I've been watching old ST:TNG episodes based on the IMDB rating and everything over 8 stars has been enjoyable...until this two-parter.

The writing is awful. It's campy as can be and brings out the worst in the cast.

Plus the plot isn't interesting. Too bad, they had a great run of 4-5 episodes just before this.

Good temporal episode

[skiop · 19 April 2016]

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.

TNG TOP 06 FAVOURITE EPISODES OF SEASON 05

[iamirwar · 6/10 · 21 September 2022]

Having recently watched each of the 26* episodes of Season Five again, I decided to rate them in order of MY personal preference.

The points awarded to each episode are only used in comparison with other episodes of this season. Those Top 6 shows as listed below are the ones I would choose to put forward from season five and add to my list of Top TNG shows of the entire series.

*In the case of the first episode of Season Five being the conclusion to a two-part episode which began as the Season Four finale, I decided to rate both episodes as a part of Season Five. Therefore 'Redemption, I & II' has been rated in this list and not as part of Season Four.

**The Season Five finale: Time Arrows, Pt I & II will feature in my Season Six reviews.

Each of these S05 'Top 6' shows will be reviewed again once I have completed watching the entire series as part of my REVIEW 2022.

The Inner Light (10/10) I Borg (10/10) Unification I & II (10/10) The First Duty (10/10) Ensign Ro (10/10) Redemption, Pt I &II (10/10)

Several other episodes could have been included in this list, but overall missed the cut simply because I didn't feel they were quite as strong as these six.

Cause and Effect (10/10) Darmok (10/10)

Bottom Four Shows Of Season Five The Masterpiece Society (06/10) A Matter Of Time (06/10) The Perfect Mate (06/10) Ethics (05/10)

Makes for an odd finale

[Mr-Fusion · 6/10 · 25 May 2017]

There's some intrigue in the opening of 'Time's Arrow' - namely, the discovery of Data's head found miles beneath San Fransisco - that has our resident android pondering his own mortality. IT also consumes those around him in a philosophical melancholic struggle over losing a close friend. Eventually, the crew gets down to the business of why that head was there and the time travel aspect is where things begin to stall. Data in the 1890s, especially. Guinan's presence there seems a bit forced, although Mark Twain's scenery chewing is an amusement. Tightened up, this could've been a good episode; but a cliffhanger?

6/10

A Senior Trekker writes.........................

[celineduchain · 5/10 · 17 February 2022]

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.

Just enjoy the ride and try to think about why they have to do this.

[amusinghandle · 7/10 · 30 March 2024]

Star Trek can be hit and miss with 'traveling back in time' episodes but this one is carried by the memorable eccentric performance of Mark Twain.

The wheels come off a bit if you actually think about the episode. Can we get an explanation for why these aliens have to feed on humans? That just can't be an evolutionary thing, right?

The sets/costumes and 'feel' of the episode help to sooth any logical questions that come up.

I feel that the Guinan/Picard reveal was not as impactful as I was expecting based on her previously description of the tight bond they had. I mean --- Any starfleet officer would have done what Picard did, right? Wait a second. Is this even the situation that Guinan is referring to? It can't be, right? Picard would have remember that? I guess they had another climactic situation happen in the past in addition to this one.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S5 overall: An average score of 7.15 over 26 episodes.

This season was actually setting a high bar in terms of 'generally pretty good' episode quality but it hit a snag from episode 7 to 10 that I scored 5/10's.

I was really let down by the glacially paced Spock episode. We got Moore, Bragga, Menosky, Pillar and this is the best they can come up with? I know it's sacrilege to disparage Nimoy .... but this was such a dreadfully boring episode to me.

'Ensign Ro' or 'The Game' are my favorite episodes of the season. Both are tightly written quality episodes. Oh, almost forgot about Darmok --- Darmok is a great one too.

Data Learns of His Demise

[Samuel-Shovel · 5/10 · 1 June 2020]

In "Time's Arrow: Part 1" an archeological dig reveals a destroyed Data head in San Francisco 500 years ago. The mystery leads them to an alien planet with a race out of phase with our universe. An accident takes Data back to past San Francisco where he bumps into Guinan and Mark Twain while he attempts to get back to his own time period.

This feels much much more like an episode of Doctor Who than TNG. The costumes, the villain, the historical figures... I half expected David Tennant to pop in. I love both shows but this ep felt entirely out of place for the Star Trek mythos. Sure, it is reminiscent of "City on the Edge of Forever" for TNG is a different beast than TOS and the vibe of this episode just feels off...