Time’s Arrow, Part II is a fitting conclusion to its predecessor. Much like Part I, this episode is interesting enough, doesn’t make very many mistakes, but is just too drawn out and unremarkable to be a two-part episode — let alone the conclusion to a season ending cliffhanger.

Picking up where we left off, the crew of the Enterprise finds itself in 19th century San Francisco, on the trail of aliens who are hunting humans for, as we learn, food. Of course, how it came to be that a race of aliens evolved that could feed on humans, and only humans, is as absurd as it is implausible. But that is the basis for this two-part set.

The crew have, somehow, managed to procure clothing and lodging. Though, apparently, they don’t have any money for rent. And this subplot of rent is barely comical, and is completely pointless.

Halfway through the episode, the crew confront the aliens and, in the confrontation, Data’s head gets blown off. Leaving Picard behind to tend to the wounded Guinan, the crew returns to the Enterprise with a beheaded Data and Samuel Clemens in tow. Clemens peruses the ship and waxes philosophical (with Troi, of all people) about how humanity has changed. I suppose that is the message of the two episodes, but it rings hollow due to the fact that it is buried beneath so much exposition, and such a plodding … well … plot.

In the end, LaForge attaches the old Data head to the current Data body and Data is revived just in time to deliver a message from the captain about how to destroy the aliens for good. Clemens returns to his time, giving Picard the means to return to his time. Picard finally meets with the future Guinan and now we know how the two once met.

Oy.

What convoluted nonsense to get us this far. Now that we know how Picard and Guinan met, I find the revelation to be exceptionally anticlimactic. And despite the initial change of pace of San Francisco, there is little memorable to the episode — even counting the “cameos” of Samuel Clemens and Jack London.

Time’s Arrow, Part II is at best an average episode. I rate it a bit more harshly because it was intended to make a bigger splash than it did.

Topics: Time Travel
Filed under: TNG Reviews