Timeless - NBC's "Hard SF" & "Historical" TT Series

[Cli-Fi]

So has anybody watched any of the other time travel shows I mentioned that were coming out. Are they as good or worse than Timeless? I'm wondering if I should waste my time reviewing them on my website.

 

[ctg]

So has anybody watched any of the other time travel shows I mentioned that were coming out. Are they as good or worse than Timeless? I'm wondering if I should waste my time reviewing them on my website.

Nextflix movie, The Discovery.

 

[Cli-Fi]

Nextflix movie, The Discovery.

I could only get through half of it. It reminded me way too much of True Detective Season 2. Which wasn't bad in all, but this movie was worse than that. However, better, than any other of the Netflix Original movies that have come out. It was perplexing enough that I gave it a chance at least.

The problems however, were too great for me to ignore. It just licked the icing of what "the discovery," was for me and it tried way too hard to be deep, hard thinking, and mysterious and from what I saw it really wasn't... As they say in the writing game. There was way too much telling! The plot with the girl was way too predictable too. Even the OA was better. A mixture of True Detective Season 2 and the OA perfectly describes this movie.

BTW, I'll admit that travelers was better than the OA

On another note to Timeless fans, if you follow their twitter it said: Signs point to #Timeless! They said they would pitch season 2 to NBC brass around this time... So. I think sings are positive for renewal.

 

[Cli-Fi]

Eric Kripke on twitter 4/18/2017: So Shawn Ryan & I pitched our hearts out for Timeless. They seemed to dig it. Rest is up to NBC. Cross everything! #RenewTimeless

 

[Ursa major]

I've got to agree with you all about the poor ending of the series, and that it may have been hastily rewritten when a sequel became more likely.

The original ending of the season may have been episode 13 (the one where there was a foiled plot to destroy the Mothership): as late as the 1st of November, NBC ordered three more episodes. Was there time to change any of the earlier episodes by then, given that the first five had already been on the air?

In my opinion, Episode 10, the one where Lucy was, at its end, whisked away by Flynn, might have worked as an "end of season" cliff-hangar, but I doubt that this was ever the plan.

As it was, I thought that finding out what we should have guessed, that Lucy mother was with Rittenhouse, sets up a new dynamic for season two (if it's made).

 

[Cli-Fi]

Timeless unofficially seems like a go for Season 2. Won't know officially until May. The numbers look good. They've been doing a lot of press, and their twitter is incredibly still active. Since nobody watched either Making History, or Time After Time which were it's too biggest broadcasting competitions and since Eric Kripke is an amazing showrunner. It could even be a long lasting drama if moved to fridays @ 8:

Cancel Bear vs. NBC, week 31: ‘Timeless’ will get more time, ‘Taken’ still in limbo

 

[Dave]

Good. I liked 'Timeless' and can't understand why it had to fight to get 13 episodes. 'Time after Time' is a poor substitute.

 

[Cli-Fi]

Good. I liked 'Timeless' and can't understand why it had to fight to get 13 episodes. 'Time after Time' is a poor substitute.

I seem to recall Supernatural experiencing something similar. Eric's other show. High profile scifi is hard to sell and apparently even harder to invest more time into. Especially on the big three networks. WB/CW was a bit friendlier to these things. But Eric is laughing all the way to the bank now. Look how long that's lasted. It's going on 12 years and counting...

 

[Ursa major]

I'm glad they seem to be getting a second season.

For me, the main issue is what the season arc will be. In season 1, the main driver was chasing after Flynn, which solved a lot of the plot issues (specifically why the various locations and times were chosen, and the order in which they were visited). As the "Lifeboat" team began to catch up with Flynn, his motivations and choices became a bit more obvious, but they were still mostly seen at a distance.

With Flynn out of the picture -- unless he's freed in episode 1 and gets access to either the "Mothership" or the "Lifeboat" -- we'll have to fall back on whatever reason the show's makers have assigned to Rittenhouse for wanting a time machine. (They were, after all, funding the project.) So instead of Flynn's desperation to destroy Rittenhouse (desperation that could, perhaps, explain why his decisions may sometimes have appeared somewhat random), we'll have the implementation of Rittenhouse's plan... a plan that was, presumably, worked out in some detail in advance, and was only put on hold when Flynn stole the "Mothership".

This risks some in the audience thinking, "Why are the team going there?" each week, which will put extra pressure on the show's makers to come up with something plausible (at least in retrospect**). I hope they manage it.


(I suppose another driver of season 2's arc could be the discovery of another time machine built by someone else entirely, at which point our trio will be sent chasing after them. I can't say I'm feeling very warm towards this idea -- it would look implausibly convenient -- although I suppose it depends (as ever) on how well it's done.)


** - In the early episodes, the team may be given a specific goal, but no context, and that would be fine by me. Towards the end of the season, though, they'll have to make an attempt (or several attempts) to work out what is going on -- i.e. to determine what Rittenhouse's plan is -- if only to know how to sabotage it, otherwise there wouldn't really be much of a season's arc at all.

 

[Cli-Fi]

I'm glad they seem to be getting a second season.

For me, the main issue is what the season arc will be. In season 1, the main driver was chasing after Flynn, which solved a lot of the plot issues (specifically why the various locations and times were chosen, and the order in which they were visited). As the "Lifeboat" team began to catch up with Flynn, his motivations and choices became a bit more obvious, but they were still mostly seen at a distance.

With Flynn out of the picture -- unless he's freed in episode 1 and gets access to either the "Mothership" or the "Lifeboat" -- we'll have to fall back on whatever reason the show's makers have assigned to Rittenhouse for wanting a time machine. (They were, after all, funding the project.) So instead of Flynn's desperation to destroy Rittenhouse (desperation that could, perhaps, explain why his decisions may sometimes have appeared somewhat random), we'll have the implementation of Rittenhouse's plan... a plan that was, presumably, worked out in some detail in advance, and was only put on hold when Flynn stole the "Mothership".

This risks some in the audience thinking, "Why are the team going there?" each week, which will put extra pressure on the show's makers to come up with something plausible (at least in retrospect**). I hope they manage it.


(I suppose another driver of season 2's arc could be the discovery of another time machine built by someone else entirely, at which point our trio will be sent chasing after them. I can't say I'm feeling very warm towards this idea -- it would look implausibly convenient -- although I suppose it depends (as ever) on how well it's done.)


** - In the early episodes, the team may be given a specific goal, but no context, and that would be fine by me. Towards the end of the season, though, they'll have to make an attempt (or several attempts) to work out what is going on -- i.e. to determine what Rittenhouse's plan is -- if only to know how to sabotage it, otherwise there wouldn't really be much of a season's arc at all.

I really hope that they go with Flynn as the hero of the story theory that has been floated. (Maybe he escapes prison because he has already experience it and knows what's going to happen EG Groundhog day episode.) Flynn as hero makes the most sense, especially in the way that we literally worship these vigilante super heroes in other properties. Flynn is that same exact guy. He knows Rittenhouse is evil at its core, and does anything he could to stop them. He doesn't care about history, because he knows that history is a fraud perpetrated by these evil forces. Lucy et al are basically reluctantly working for rittenhouse and I am sure in a season 2 more of the team members will realize this.

 

[ctg]

The audience needs to see a definitely that Rittenhouse is absolutely evil, because at the moment they could still be good guy and our "heros" really misunderstanding their actions/plans. Flynn can go and another more sinister force can raise - if the producers wants that.

If they want to go down fantasy line, they can even include mystical watchers/police force etc, but that thing has been done to death. To be honest most bold way would be to see the future and the changes before they return and show Lucy's struggle in middle of all this mess.

But I'm not one of the writers. Just a critic. It's their story and they should go boldy with their vision. Maybe even touch the theory of the aliens being TT's and they ultimately try to control the humanity through alternated events.

 

[Cli-Fi]

The audience needs to see a definitely that Rittenhouse is absolutely evil, because at the moment they could still be good guy and our "heros" really misunderstanding their actions/plans. Flynn can go and another more sinister force can raise - if the producers wants that.

If they want to go down fantasy line, they can even include mystical watchers/police force etc, but that thing has been done to death. To be honest most bold way would be to see the future and the changes before they return and show Lucy's struggle in middle of all this mess.

But I'm not one of the writers. Just a critic. It's their story and they should go boldy with their vision. Maybe even touch the theory of the aliens being TT's and they ultimately try to control the humanity through alternated events.

haha I know this is a dummy show, but its kinda obvious that Rittenhouse is evil. If the audience doesn't get that by now I don't know what to tell you. They gotta pay attention more. Sure, one might not trust Flynn, but all these guys are powerful figures in history connected by a secret organization. I have a sneaking suspicion that Rittenhouse = lizard people. That would be awesome!

 

[ctg]

I have a sneaking suspicion that Rittenhouse = lizard people. That would be awesome!

I would rather see some epic observers with own agenda than traditional UFO aliens. If they have to use those then I'd love them going balls deep into the myths. Although if I really push it then follow some Star Trek lines and establish first contact rules.

 

[Cli-Fi]

I would rather see some epic observers with own agenda than traditional UFO aliens. If they have to use those then I'd love them going balls deep into the myths. Although if I really push it then follow some Star Trek lines and establish first contact rules.

That's exactly what I've been thinking about. If Rittenhouse turns out to be lizard people, and Rittenhouse = the Illuminati. It would be a fun take away to delve deep into those conspiracy theories that are oh so popular in pop culture today. With fun Time travel element to boot. I wouldn't put it past them to go that direction. Supernatural has already evolved so much over the years. I don't doubt it.

 

[Ursa major]

Lucy can't be a lizard person!


Can she...?

 

[Dave]

Keep her away from your hamsters and gerbils.

 

[Cli-Fi]

Lucy can't be a lizard person!


Can she...?

Fox Mulder is on the case.

 

[Ursa major]

So the truth is out there, then...?


♪ starts whistling ♪

 

[Parson]

but its kinda obvious that Rittenhouse is evil. If the audience doesn't get that by now I don't know what to tell you. They gotta pay attention more.

Did you watch "Alias?" They did a complete 180 on who the good guys were, actually more than once.

I for one who hate a "lizard people" scenario.

 

[Cli-Fi]

So the truth is out there, then...?


♪ starts whistling ♪

The X-Files just got renewed for season 11. If our theories turn out to be true and it turns into a conspiracy show, X-Files need to be crossed over with it. I know they are on different channels but one can always dream!