Loved this (and the last) episode. It’s one of my favorites in the entire series.
Jay D
2025-05-15 11:31:52 +0000 UTC
Jack London wrote "Call of the Wild" and "White Fang," both of which I read in middle school and loved them. I read my share of Twain as well, but I liked London's stories more. And yeah, Twain is seriously grating. Not what his voice really sounded like... Twain experimented with dictation on wax cylinders but none survive. An actor named William Gillette grew up as a neighbor of Twain's and knew him well; Gillette later did a vocal impression of Mark Twain which was, according to those who knew the writer, spot on. Gillette was recorded doing his impression of Twain, and the recording is easy to find on YouTube. It doesn't sound irritating like in Time's Arrow.
Ben Anderson
2025-04-16 17:42:39 +0000 UTC
honestly at first when they said they were gonna stop doing letter grade i was a bit disappointed... but i really do like you guys writing how you really feel about the episode and not trying to equate it to a letter grade. what you wrote on the boards was so much better. Great choice to move away from specific grades.
Stretch Incredible
2025-04-02 22:56:24 +0000 UTC
Sorry that you guys feel you have to fight for your opinions so much :/ Maybe I didn't feel it back then, as I could only catch Star Trek irregularly on TV. I didn't have any cliffhanger tension or anticipation for a big season opener. This is just a nice little story, maybe B tier for the setting and time shenanigans. I can see in hindsight how it's lackluster for a season finale/opener.
Crewman #6
2025-04-01 02:36:50 +0000 UTC
The police officer Riker palm strikes has played police officers many times in his career.
You saw him as one in _'The Big Goodbye'._ His most well-known role is as Sergeant MacDonald in _'ADAM-12'._
Paul D
2025-03-31 19:44:00 +0000 UTC
That's a good way of describing it: Star Trek does Doctor Who
Some people like it, and some just don't.
Kristopher
2025-03-31 12:35:24 +0000 UTC
It's not the best, but it has a place in a ton of people's hearts for being so Doctor Who in its premise and execution.
Tiggy Tigali
2025-03-31 11:33:12 +0000 UTC
Ok, I've added Patrion just to get into season 6. Damn you boys for making me put another app on my phone! 💪(Shake fist) As a teenager in the '90 I was informed of American writers, so this made me giddy! The actor playing Samuel Clemons is a recurring actor so he faded into the background. I was so hoping for more with Whoopie so I absolutely agree on needing more! But, I know this is not what you experienced, this is when DS9 was being made so all of it will be lacking in substance
Kate Courtney
2025-03-31 05:32:42 +0000 UTC
Woo Hoo more YouTube fun and the 'wisdom' of the collective..
Badger
2025-03-31 04:08:22 +0000 UTC
Before this episode: Mark Twain was a well-respected literary figure beloved by all.
After this episode: No one wants to talk about Mark Twain because of how annoying Jerry Hardin's performance is.
Seriously though, Hal Holbrook should have done this. He did a one man show as Mark Twain for decades and was far better and far less annoying.
(He was the priest in John Carpenter's The Fog.)
King Cabernet
2025-03-31 02:51:45 +0000 UTC
Admittedly not the best written season finale/opener.
It’s almost like the writing/production staff was distracted working on another project…
Kurt Linke
2025-03-31 02:13:09 +0000 UTC
I only will say this in defense of Riker: There are times when the only option you have left is the more violent/military option. In Worlds and in Arrow Riker is in charge with an alien force threatening Earth. He isn't wanting to endanger Picard, but the alternative is letting the Borg attack Earth or these creatures mess with Earth's history. From a military perspective, it's lose 1 life or endanger billions. The weapon didn't work in Worlds, but the "SHOOT HIM!" option was the correct one here, with the only issue being the time travel being unreliable in the name of dramatic tension.
PS: Please don't stop doing grades. If you think it's a D, say so. Engage!
Andrew Buel
2025-03-31 01:50:11 +0000 UTC
As a season starter, it's isn't all that but still some good moments. Mark Twain is bad but I still enjoy the episode. Overall I'd rate it a B.
Dru Blood
2025-03-31 01:44:58 +0000 UTC
Jerry Hardin enjoyed playing Twain so much he had a one man show that ran for like 15 years. Jerry is 96 but hasn't had a role since 2014.
I like Jerry, been seeing him in roles most of my life...but Twain was a kinda trash in this episode and served no good purpose. It was like a literary in-joke that even lit-nerds probably shrugged at.
The pair of episodes is low C rating, the crew hard carried these 2 episodes.
James W.
2025-03-31 01:06:05 +0000 UTC
Oh yeah, and I like Mrs. Carmichael. That's it. The two-parter is a "D".
Charlie's Illiteracy
2025-03-31 00:51:59 +0000 UTC
Mark Twain's kind of grating. The best thing about the whole story is Data beating the card sharps in poker.
Charlie's Illiteracy
2025-03-31 00:51:20 +0000 UTC
Love the adjusted format and I'm glad part 2 was more enjoyable. I've admittedly got nostalgia glasses as I was 11 when I first saw this.