Source: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC
Loving the Female Protagonist
So far we’re only getting development beyond the time adventures on one character: Lucy. Yes, I miss her sister. Yes, I find her mother a little overbearing (though she’s dealing with engagement party planning so, I’ll cut her some slack there). Yes, I think her surprise fiance is super hot. But all of those things I just said don’t even exist for the other characters in the show. Rufus is the second most developed, and that’s because he actually works at our main setting, so he’s surrounded by a boss and coworkers. It’s exciting to have such a well developed lead, especially when this show is taking on a lot already. And what I appreciate most is that Lucy isn’t even all that nice.
Shit Gets Real
source: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC
When Rufus and Wyatt ask Lucy to stop Lincoln’s assassination as well as Grant’s, shit gets real. Her hard approach to “whatever happened, happened” was eye opening for the characters and for us viewers as to who she really is. But as she lives out the episode, it really nails the bigger theme of: what would you do in this scenario? I loved that from the moment they arrived in 1865 and saw the fireworks it set this intimate tone. Suddenly history was real. It was actual people living actual lives with actual feelings. As long as they can keep this level of intimacy up, I can see this show being a major success. Like, I’m still harboring a slight ship for Lucy and Robert Lincoln.
Not White Washing History
In my first recap I talked about how the race topic was right there in plain sight and blatant language. Almost after school special, I said. But this episode basically responds to me with a big, “Nope, that’s not this show.” Not just the whole history section, but then when they pop back to the present, too. The racism in the show runs from the colored regiment and human trader side of the spectrum all the way to the black British guy manipulating the black American guy through systemic racism (when he mentions Rittenhouse/him getting Rufus out of Chicago and sending him to college etc.). It was really powerful stuff and so not “on the nose” like last episode. That scene between Rufus and Connor got me energized for the whole series.
Source: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC
The history aspect is exciting in its own merit. There’s the potential for us to basically learn history again, since history taught in school is soooo white washed. I hope the writers pursue all of these opportunities.
Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey…Stuff
Okay, I HAVE to discuss this with someone cuz it’s bothering me and I totally didn’t think to ask the showrunner when I had the chance this Sunday (interviews will be up tomorrow!). How does this back to present day work, really? Because it’s like they go back as if they’ve just gone away for lunch and come back. They seem to be gone for like 20 minutes in real time, right? Like, they come back almost exactly at the same point in time, right?
Basically how I see it is that they’ve come back to an entirely different timeline. That when they came back and Amy no longer existed was Timeline 2, then when they came back from the Lincoln assassination in this episode it became Timeline 3. I’m assuming, of course, Timeline 1 was the original timeline at the start of the pilot.
source: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC
So then why does everyone know everyone? And why is everyone right there in that office, remembering to put paper weights on the paper? Essentially the conversation of paperweights would have never happened because it occurred during Timeline 2, yet the paperweights were in Timeline 3. And if that wasn’t confusing enough for you, when does Timeline 2 become Timeline 3? Is it when the time machine lands in the past?
If that’s the case, then wouldn’t there be an entire other set of timelines based on Flynn’s movements through time? And do we know every time Flynn travels or just those deemed “important to history”? What if Flynn needed modern supplies to fix a wound or maybe he was craving a food dish that wasn’t invented yet? They say that he’s “back in the present for now” at the end of the Time Travel Trio’s travel sequences, but what does that really even mean?! What really IS the present? IS THIS WHY THE SHOW IS CALLED TIMELESS?! [insert scream face emoji here]
