(no subject)

[shadowkat]

Saw the pilot of Timeless -- one of the two new time travel sci-fi series. This is the one written by Eric Kripke (Supernatural) and Shawn Ryan (The Shield). It's actually pretty good. Kept re-winding to rehear the dialogue, which was delivered quickly, and the plot is tight. They set up the rules fast, and with more show than tell.

Example:

Wyatt: I don't understand why we can't just go back to a few seconds before Flynn stole the time machine and stop him.
Rufus: You can't go back to a time in which you've already been.
Lucy: Why? What happens?
Rufus: Screws with the fabric of reality in a really bad way. We tried that once and the pilot didn't (shudders) come back right -
Wyatt: What happened to him?
Rufus: Not all of him came back.
Wyatt: Wait? What?

Also, it does show how messing with time can cause a ripple effect in the present. And, the characters don't save the day, exactly. There is a screw-up. Which to be honest was my problem with previous time travel series -- nothing happens, and the characters always save the day, with no real consequences. My other issues with time travel series - 1) they don't always respect the time periods, 2) they over-romanticize the past, 3) they get stuck in time and can't get back and keep changing stuff with no effect on the present (I mean come on) 4) they meet up with doubles of themselves with no consequences -- which just doesn't make sense, 5.) There's no rules or science to it or consequences.

It's one of the reasons I struggled with Outlander, and gave up on it. The Sarah Connor Chronicles on the other hand handled time travel well. As did Star Trek the Next Generation.

So far this show appears to as well. But it's just the pilot.

I guess it's a little cheesy, but no more so than anything else I've watched lately, with the exception of Westworld. Actually, Westworld is the only show I've watched that isn't a little cheesy.

Comments

[liliaeth]

I liked that the profesor lady called them out on the clothing being incorrect for the time period, that the show itself acknowledges that the wardrobe isn't always correct, it lets them get away with a lot more, since there's an in canon reason for it.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

I may give this a try later this week, if it's on hulu. Thanks for the rec.