Mark Twain in Times Arrow

Posted by JarkDawson_syn@reddit | TNG | View on Reddit | 21 comments

Does anyone else find the presence of Mark Twain's character in Times Arrow make it virtually unwatchable? My mom and I just watched it together and were practically plugging our ears toward the end of part two because the fake crooning voice the actor puts on is so unbearable to listen to. I swear, that character is such a corny, over-the-top, ridiculous caricature, with a voice beyond grating, it does a complete disservice to the man who was Mark Twain and lowkey tanks the whole two-parter because he gets sooo much screen time in part 2. If only someone had recast the role or just told the actor to stop talking in that stupid voice! I love the costuming, time-travel plot, the main cast in 19th-century earth...but it's pretty much ruined by the constant nails-on-a-chalkboard warbling by MT.

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TLOE@reddit

Late reply, but that is apparently how Clemens actually was IRL-boisterous and loud, but this portrayal is exaggerated to say the least. It's largely because of a veteran character actor going over the top (as was common during the time period it was made) and obviously having fun with the role. There are many plot issues and a casual disregard of the show's lore to some extent, mainly because the actors wanted to do something in period costume but using the holodeck again was not an option.

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jasonmtitus@reddit

I thought it was kind of funny to have him snooping around. Kinda surprised I liked the character at all considering he named one of his characters with the n-word.

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StOnEy333@reddit

I always looked at it from the point of view of people looking back 100’s of years and creating an over the top persona of the character. Sorta like how Shakespeare is to us now. If you took a Shakespearean actor from the present and dropped him in a Shakespeare play in the 1,600s they would probably say the same thing as how most feel about Twain in these episodes. What’s with the voice and the accent?!

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msears101@reddit

It is based on an impression of an impression. Obviously not perfect. It is reasonably close to how he talked. I am a huge Mark Twain (Samual Clemens)

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houtex727@reddit

Supposedly, Val Kilmer's version of Twain is very good.

And if that's what he's supposed to sound like... yeah, I can see where you'd be loathin' that guy's version. :)

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spud9mn@reddit

The character being Mark Twain had no payoff, which is the stupid thing. There’s some allusion there, but it failed and just got more annoying with the Jack London reference. That character could have been Johnny B. Notaridiculousvoice and the show would have been better for it not having the distractions. The main story needed two episodes to work, but they filled a quarter of it with trash.

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ShiroHachiRoku@reddit

Twain was played by Jerry Hardin who played Deep Throat in The X-Files. He’s also Melora Hardin’s dad who’s best known as Jan in The Office.

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ShiroHachiRoku@reddit

Mark Twain was played by Jerry Hardin who played Mulder’s dad in The X-Files and whose daughter Melisa Hardin played Jan in The Office.

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RepresentativeAnt128@reddit

I tried following that story, even restarting it a few times and just couldn't. It's so boring.

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JarkDawson_syn@reddit (OP)

It would have been a lot better without the shoe-horning in of a cartoony caricature of a famous writer who apparently talks like he's on sesame street.

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Happy1327@reddit

Jack London was also in it. His character was fun.

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JarkDawson_syn@reddit (OP)

Jack london was great!!

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TomBirkenstock@reddit

It's bonkers, and I absolutely love it. No show would do something similar today, and that's because all modern show runners are fucking cowards.

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Happy1327@reddit

I feel the same sometimes but I do think I remember hearing someone involved with the production saying at an event that the actor parleyed this roll into a one man stage show about twain staring himself reprising this role. Apparently it was reasonably successful. I can't find the source so perhaps I'm miss remembering but the memory is there

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JarkDawson_syn@reddit (OP)

Thank god I'm not alone...every time he appeared on screen again my mom would say "Oh god, more."

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Alex_gold123@reddit

It's been a while since I've seen that episode but all I remember is that awful voice

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JarkDawson_syn@reddit (OP)

I can't stop hearing it and I finished the episode two hours ago. It's embedded in my brain cells (barf)

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venuscat@reddit

It's maddening (the voice). One of the worst guest stars on the series, IMO.