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..."