Part of what makes Timeless such an appealing series for me is the sense of pulpy adventure that's generally missing in television these days (or at least incredibly rare). Having taken in all of the first season in the matter of about a week and a half before the season two premiere, there's a lot to talk about, but I think I will speak about certain aspects of the show piecemeal as I continue to review the show week by week. Although Timeless is a thoroughly episodic show in the way I like, there is also that long-running conspiracy arc that helps drive each episode, and from the season two premiere, it seems the show is still firmly planted in that story engine with little change on the horizon. And sometimes that's for the better.
That isn't to say there haven't been big sea changes - it's one of the first things you see with the destruction of Mason Industries - but it doesn't feel too much like a dramatic status quo change, rather acting as a change of setting to help facilitate character development. Much of the premiere exists mostly to restore the show back to a familiar status quo by the episode's end so it remains to be seen what interesting developments for season two are coming down the line.
There is some interesting setup for the season coming out of the episode as Carol ends up plucking her grandfather from World War 1. Nicolas Keynes appears to be the inspiration for the time travel program that Rittenhouse ends up funding via Mason Industries; having such a prominent conspiratorial figure to direct Rittenhouse, combined with Carol's knowledge of history is bound to be a dangerous path. It stands to reason that Lucy will have to act as the counterbalance to Rittenhouse's activities in season two.
Otherwise, the survivors of the Rittenhouse attack have moved into an off-the-grid, decommissioned military bunker and feels mostly like a change of scenery considering the rest of the Mason Industries workers were not much more than background dressing anyway. The timeskip of six weeks helps the show settle back into a rhythm rather than leaving everything up in chaos, although it would have been a welcome change of pace, even if it betrays the overall episodic structure for a chance for more serial, or at least non-traditional, storytelling for an episode or two. It feels like there would have been material to have been mined about how everyone moved on from Mason Industries, or how Lucy fared in Rittenhouse house arrest under her mother.
"The War to End All Wars" in essence acts somewhat like an origin story for the Rittenhouse we know and provides them with some more depth than simply some shadowy, sinister conspiracy with roots in mostly famous historical figures. There's always been some mystery to them that seems inscrutable, but being about to ground it closer with the conflict between Lucy and Carol and their broader family tree (even if it symbolizes only a branch of Rittenhouse) makes the cabal seem more easier to picture - if not relatable - than a nebulous force. There are so many dynamics at play that can be explored, so having season two seem to focus specifically on Lucy's relatives and their role in Rittenhouse (more so than just simply her grandfather in the finale) will be exciting to see as it unfolds.
As for Flynn, it's a little strange how he's still a factor unless he's going to provide support in some way to decipher Keynes' writing. Hopefully he is a more active presence given his screentime in season one. It also remains a little odd that Annie Wersching and Susanna Thompson are still billed as guest stars seeing as they seem to be the primary antagonist now that it's no longer Lucy, Wyatt, and Rufus trying to stop Flynn from wrecking history trying to eliminate Rittenhouse, and it's probably Emma and Carol representing some faction of Rittenhouse (alongside Keynes) trying to mold history in their collective imagine. Maybe Flynn will have to be brought back into the fold as an expert on hunting Rittenhouse.
As for Flynn, it's a little strange how he's still a factor unless he's going to provide support in some way to decipher Keynes' writing. Hopefully he is a more active presence given his screentime in season one. It also remains a little odd that Annie Wersching and Susanna Thompson are still billed as guest stars seeing as they seem to be the primary antagonist now that it's no longer Lucy, Wyatt, and Rufus trying to stop Flynn from wrecking history trying to eliminate Rittenhouse, and it's probably Emma and Carol representing some faction of Rittenhouse (alongside Keynes) trying to mold history in their collective imagine. Maybe Flynn will have to be brought back into the fold as an expert on hunting Rittenhouse.
Miscellaneous thoughts:
- Lucy is probably right, you don't want to smell history, especially back on the battlefields of WW1.
- Not too much to see for Jiya and Mason. Mason has an interesting arc setup for the season, but not much movement; same goes for Jiya who simply still suffers from her condition after returning from the past. And interrupting everyone.
- I really wonder how they would keep that smartphone charged though. Guess it was just for short use over the years. Or the real secret Rittenhouse is keeping from us is a smart phone battery that lasts forever.
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