Timeless Episode 8 (S2) – The Day Reagan Was Shot
Previously on…
You just know when that starts with events from the previous season you are in for an intense and emotional episode. The moment we are reminded of the flashdrive Denise gave Lucy with her family’s pictures on it, just in case, I started holding my breath. I don’t think I was able to breathe again until the end when I was absolutely sure that they were all okay. The relief came to a jarring halt with that confession at the end.
The Mission
We start this week’s episode with John Hinckley Jr. writing his creepy confession letter to Jodie Foster (#MeTooForJodie). We watch the events of March 30, 1981 play out as history remembers.
When the Mothership jumps, no one questions the assumption that Rittenhouse is going back to change history so President Reagan does not survive the assassination attempt. You can’t really blame the team. It is the most logical assumption – but in between the opening scene and the Time Team assembling, we have a scene with Denise at home with her family. It’s not a special scene. It doesn’t set up some big action scene or reveal a kidnap plot. It’s just a sweet scene depicting a normal family on a normal morning. Parents getting their kids off to school, wives saying goodbye before heading off to work.
What this scene does though is remind the viewers of just how much our characters have to lose if Rittenhouse wins. It makes you wonder if this new mission is really about Reagan at all.
How to Handle ‘My Girlfriend Saw Me Die in a Vision’ 101
Is there an actual class for that? If there is I would like to sign Rufus Carlin up for it, please! Last week we saw Rufus and Jiya finally have an actual serious discussion about her visions. We got apologies and the two of them agreeing to move forward and deal with what’s coming together. Hurray!
This week we see Rufus backpedaling. He’s actively pushing Jiya away thinking that it’ll make it easier for her when he dies. It’s the same thing her dad did when he was dying and thankfully Jiya is having none of this shit. She calls Rufus out on it telling him it doesn’t make it easier it just makes him a douchebag. Rufus handles this very well and sulks off to the kitchen where Lucy and Wyatt call him out on that. I might have felt a little bad about everyone ganging up on Rufus if I wasn’t so damn happy that it was getting results.
That’s right! Rufus caved and told his friends about Jiya’s vision of his death and they assure him they will not let this one come true.
Lyatt sidenote – despite everything that has happened and the wall that is now between them this scene shows that these two are still so in sync with each other. “The Alamo” gives me Lyatt hope.
The Twist
It’s Team Millennial to the rescue as the rule about not being able to travel back in your own timeline means those with “life experience,” as Connor puts it, will have to sit out – grounding him and Flynn. As much as I loved watching Wyatt swallow his pride and ask Flynn if he was coming, I loved watching Jiya volunteer to go even more. Her last ride in the Lifeboat didn’t turn out so well, leaving her with the visions that have caused so much anxiety and fear. No one could hold it against her if Jiya had decided to never travel in it again. The fact that she’s willing to go shows a level of courage that most people don’t possess.
Timeless has done such an amazing job of creating its characters. Unlike some shows it doesn’t just focus on the main players but makes sure that even the supporting ones are three dimensional and interesting.
Denise is not present when these plans are made and that little nagging sensation I’ve been feeling since the previously on is beginning to grow into full on panic. Connor saying he’s called several times with no answer doesn’t help – dead zone logic or not. The panic subsides when Denise arrives at the bunker safe and sound but the relief is short lived when she drops the bombshell that the reason they went back to that day is not Reagan.
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