From: ira2p@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (Iain Robert Asplin)
Subject: Time's Arrow  Addendums
Organization: University of Virginia
Distribution: rec.arts.startrek.current
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 18:35:21 GMT



Last night I reviewed Time's Arrow Part Two and gave it a two out of
ten.  That was mainly based on the story alone, as I feel any review of
any television should be (if the story is bad, then the whole episode
must be considered so too.  If the story is good, then and only then
will I add good production and good acting on top of the script for my
numerical rating.).  

Even though I did not and still do not like the story, there were a 
few things on the cosmetic front I did like and want to mention....

But first,
APOILERS!


SPOILERS!



First of all, I noted with interest that Rick Berman is now the sole
posessor of the Executive Producer credit at the end of the show,
Roddenberry's name no longer appears there.

Second, I noted with other interst that the zooming logo is gone,
and we are now back to opening titles identical to most of season four.
This now throws a hammer into the "titles" works.  By this I mean previos
to this episode, one could tell what season we were in just by the
title sequence as there were differences between every season in some way.
Now that's gone with this episode, as it looks like season six will look
the same as season four post-Wesley.

Onto the episode itself,
I did like the direction, cinematography-wise that is.  For once, it looked
as if the director was actually trying to get some "interesting" looking
camera shots.

Something I haven't seen anyone mention yet is Whoopi Goldberg's
performance.  She clearly plays Guinan quite differently in the 19th century
than she does in the 24th.  The 19th century version really acts less
experienced and younger, and contrasted very well against the 24th
century version, and you can tell it's deliberate on her part.  

I have seen someone mention Troi's tan, and I agree it looks good on her.
That Honeymoon in the Bahamas looks to have been quite lengthy...

One small good point about the script was how it used the abilities
of the ensemble cast, something that hadn't been paid much attention to
since the first season. Dr Crusher gets to do some doctoring, Riker
gets to punch somebody out, Geordi's firing up his VISOR, Troi is talking
to people and getting info, Picard is being the mediator between the
crew and the landlady, Data is being the android, etc....
And best of all, Worf was taken seriously for once!

Now the script still rates a two, mainly for the terrible treatment of the
aliens, but I do note a trend in this script that I did like, and that
is "remembering the powers" of the crewmembers, and their specialties,
and letting them do their jobs.  That doesn't fit very well with this
script which should have been about the alien interference and instead
was about Mark Twain, but if this trend continues this season in scripts
where it fits (i.e. space exploration episodes), then we could be in
for some very interesting treats this year.

how does Time's Arrow bode for the future?  I think this episode is more
a case of "let's get last year behind us, we've got some *really* good
ideas we want to get on the air."  Judging by the trailers (always a
dangerous endeavour), next week's episode looks like it could be well
brill, judging by Marina Sirtis' comments at a Con I was at a few weeks
ago, "man of the People" could be *very* good, "Relics" with Scotty as
guest-star could be nice, and I am most definitely interested in the
Q episode upcoming.....

I guess what I am saying is that when I heard Picard give the Stardate as
"4*6*001.something,"  emphasis there on the six.....I really liked the
sound of that "six."


Here's hoping......


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