Rittenhouse attempts to shape history in their favor while the Time Team gets help from a few unlikely sources

In NBC’s Timeless 2×02, the Time Team continues to chase after Rittenhouse to prevent history from changing. Mason Industries gets a notification that the Mothership traveled back to South Carolina in 1955. The problem is, nothing of historical significance occurred during that time. Lucy (Abigail Spencer) convinces Denise (Sakina Jaffrey) and the rest of the team to turn to Flynn (Goran Višnjić) for advice, given that they don’t have any other options. Flynn gives them an address he got off another Rittenhouse agent and the Time Team travels back to the Darlington 500. When they arrive they find out that Emma (Annie Wersching) got a head start as they follow the clues to a Nascar legend doubling as a Rittenhouse sleeper agent! Luckily, they get help from Wendell Scott (Joseph Lee Anderson), another Nascar legend. Wendell and Wyatt (Matt Lanter) work together to outsmart Rittenhouse and prevent changes to the timeline.

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The other members of Mason Industries have a tough time dealing with their reality of staying in the secret bunker. Connor (Paterson Joseph) wants to give a speech at a conference, but Denise adamantly opposes. Connor goes behind her back and attends the conference anyway. And when she finds out, there is hell to pay. Jiya (Claudia Doumit) continues to have visions that resulted from complications by traveling with one too many passengers in the Lifeboat. She sees a vision of Rufus (Malcolm Barrett) with a burn on his arm prior to their mission to 1955, only to discover that it might not be her imagination after all!

Here to discuss Jiya’s newfound ability to see the future, the growing partnership between Flynn and Lucy, Rittenhouse’s plans under their new leader, and more is our Timeless roundtable:

Catherine (@Cat_grl6) – Researcher by day, TV addict by night.

Micheale (@highlandgirl65) – Mom, grad student, writer, and sci-fi/fantasy geek.

River (@MISSYriver) – A single mom with a Fangirl heart and passion for writing.

Andrew (@AngryRedHead86) – Movie and TV fan, enjoys music and books.

Robin (@robinrobinson24) – Concert-going, road-trippin’ mountain mama, Timeless fanatic.

1. Timeless continues to portray diversity in history. How do you think Wendell Scott’s story changed from his interactions with the Time Team, if at all?

Catherine (@Cat_grl6): I don’t know how much Wendell’s story would have changed from meeting the Time Team. They actually aren’t supposed to change the past anyway, since it can have serious repercussions if they do. But hopefully meeting Rufus, Lucy, and Wyatt might have given him a little more confidence in himself. And he might also be “giving the nod” more often now! Thanks, Rufus!

Micheale (@highlandgirl65): Wendell Scott, who, as Rufus described, is like the Han Solo of his time, already possessed the determination to succeed despite the odds and knew what he was up against. I’d like to think that his connection with Wyatt, in particular, a white man with whom he shared so much in common, served as a source of encouragement. I’d like to believe Wendell’s story changed for the better, but knowing the prejudice and hatred he faced, I have my doubts.

River (@MISSYriver): I honestly don’t see much of the story changing for Wendell, maybe a new head nod courtesy of Rufus. He won’t stop pushing forward and he won’t stop racing no matter who tries to stand between him and victory. His quote says it all. “Hell, what’s too tough for everyone else is just right for us.”

Andrew (@AngryRedHead86): I believe the team gave Scott even more of a desire to challenge NASCAR and the status quo. Other than that, not much, seeing as he told them why he kept racing.

Robin (@robinrobinson24): We see Wendell’s struggles in 1955 but his outlook is that of a very determined man. We don’t see his skin color in his quest even though everyone else judges him because he doesn’t fit the status quo. It was great seeing Wyatt reveal things about his childhood and his relationship with his father. It gave us a better understanding as to what makes him who he is.

2. We saw the successful partnership between Flynn and Mason Industries to lead the Time Team to Ryan Millerson and the Darlington 500. What do you think is next for this team up?

Catherine: I still don’t trust Flynn. Anytime they need his help, he’ll use it as leverage. So I think eventually they will let him out of jail so he can help with something and he’ll escape somehow.

Micheale: Flynn wants his freedom and knows the information he possesses about Rittenhouse is the key. I think Agent Christopher is going to have to find a way to allow him some freedom before he’s willing to help the team again. I was amazed that he could remember Ryan Millerson’s address, and wonder where Lucy’s journal is. I think we’ll see more interactions between Flynn and Lucy in upcoming episodes.

River: I love Flynn, and I love the way Goran portrays him. I cannot wait to see how he joins the team more. We know he goes to Salem, but does he join the Bunker Gang? How are Rufus and Wyatt going to deal with the change in dynamics? I have so many questions and even more excitement.

Andrew: Flynn might demand that the team help save his family, or even request a reduced sentence. He gave away their first tip for free but warned that the next one would cost them. I do not see him sitting in jail much longer, just because he is so important to the show.

Robin: Flynn will start to have a bigger role with the Time Team in stopping Rittenhouse. He has the most knowledge about what they really want to do with history and why. It only seems like the right progression beside Lucy. His biggest problem will be the others trusting him.

3. We saw a bit of Wyatt’s backstory with his troubled relationship with his father. What character’s past would you most like to see explored on the show?

Catherine: I would like to learn more about Jiya’s backstory. I think she’s going to become very important to the overall storyline and it might be helpful to know more about her.

Micheale: I’d really like to see Rufus’ past explored more this season. We know a little about him and his family, and how Connor Mason “discovered” him, but I think there is so much more to his story. To be honest, I also want to know more about Jiya, Agent Christopher, and Connor Mason.

River: I would love to learn more about Jiya, not only her new ability but where she comes from. I love that spunky nerd genius.

Andrew: Jiya or Rufus would be the next logical choice. However, an episode focused on Mason is probably long overdue, seeing as how he built the time machine in the first place.

Robin: I would like to see Mason’s story in more detail and what really drove him to build the time machine. He had to know that the implications could be devastating to history as it was known.

4. Wyatt opened up about his past to Lucy, and then they got interrupted (again). What was your reaction to them growing closer this episode?

Catherine: The whole time Wyatt was telling Wendell the story about his dad, I kept thinking, “Why don’t you tell Lucy any of this!?” But luckily she overheard at least part of it. As much as I want them to get together romantically, I also love seeing them grow closer as teammates and partners. I think that’s really important.

Micheale: This may come as a surprise, but I wasn’t a hardcore Lyatt/Wucy shipper until the last episode of Season 1! The chemistry between them is amazing (thanks to the wonderful acting of Abigail and Matt), and I love watching them grow closer, but if they don’t kiss soon, I may throw something at my TV. The combination of Lucy being vulnerable to Wyatt and him comforting her, well…THE FEELS!

River: EEEK, screaming, oh my god, oh my god. Just milliseconds from kissing and my heart almost exploded from excitement. I think I still have palpitations. I have loved them since the pilot. There is no judgment, only a deep connection and trust.

Andrew: Wyatt and Lucy are adorable together, however, things just keep getting in the way. I wonder how them becoming closer will change the show’s dynamic.

Robin: Well it’s taken long enough and we have seen that the chemistry was there, it was giving Wyatt enough time to realize he couldn’t get his wife back, even going back in time couldn’t save her. I can’t wait to see where they go with this storyline.

5. Denise and Connor disagree with how to handle his appearance at the conference, and ends with his arrest! Who did you side with and why?

Catherine: I felt bad for Connor but I did have to side with Denise. They all need to keep a low profile right now for the safety of the team.

Micheale: In the end, I sided with Denise because she was right, the safety of the team is more important than anything else, but I also really feel for Connor who lost everything. I understand his motivation and the grief he’s still coming to grips with.

River: I am on Denise’s side on this one. She is protecting the Time Team and I can’t fault her for that. I understand why he is trying to crawl out of the hole he is in but if he is followed back to the bunker or compromised again, then Rittenhouse wins.

Andrew: Denise made the right move. Mason keeps getting off easy and is arrogant. She took him down a peg. I worry that Mason will do something really dumb later on in response, though.

Robin: We can see both sides, although Connor has to realize a public appearance at this point will put everyone in great danger. Denise could have had a little more understanding about Connor wanting to make this appearance, he did give up everything to protect the time machine and team, even if it was funded by Rittenhouse.

6. It seems that a side effect of traveling in the Lifeboat with four people instead of three is that Jiya can now see the future. How do you think this ability will evolve over the course of season two?

Catherine: I think Jiya will (at some point) see one of the Time Team getting killed and will be able to save them by warning them. She is eventually going to have to tell someone — at least one person (Rufus or Connor, probably) what is going on with her. I think whatever is affecting her could be very dangerous for her health but could also be helpful to the Team, so it will be interesting to see how that plays out!

Micheale: I’ll admit, I wish Jiya would confide in someone about her visions. Watching her struggle alone is heartbreaking! I think her ability to see into the future will become an important part of Rufus, Lucy, and Wyatt’s safety this season with Emma wanting to kill them at every turn.

River: I think her visions will progress to the point she can know where the team needs to go to try and stop Nicholas and his cult.

Andrew: Jiya will eventually share her visions with the team. However, I wonder if they could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. They will also keep getting stronger, which is bad for her well being.

Robin: We can see that Jiya is already having physical side effects from traveling with the others. Her physical and mental ailments will continue to grow through the season. The question for me is whether she will share with Rufus and the others what is going on and if it will be in time.

7. Rittenhouse has major plans for history, as shown by Nicholas’s “map.” What is your guess for a critical point in history that they’ll target?

Catherine: The first event that comes to my mind is the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in 1914 because it was the most pivotal event in European history for many decades. This one event caused a World War and changed the landscape of Europe forever. Interestingly, at the end of World War I when the Treaty of Versailles was signed, one of the major critics of the treaty was named John Maynard Keynes. Nicholas’s brother, maybe?

Micheale: Abraham Lincoln was the most prominent figure in the map and based on Nicholas’ speech about creating a perfect culture, it makes sense that Rittenhouse would go back to either the Civil War or pre-Civil War to kill Lincoln, and target ethnic cleansing. How better to create a perfect culture based on Rittenhouse standards than to follow in Hitler’s footsteps, eliminating entire racial and ethnic groups deemed unfit to occupy that culture.

River: I think the 70’s and Lucy’s mom is the key to stopping this new Rittenhouse. If they can change that moment and get Amy back then we won’t have ruthless Carol.

Andrew: Well JFK has already been mentioned via previews, and MLK Jr. was noted as being on the map by someone online. Perhaps Rittenhouse will go back to the Founding Fathers again or hit up the early 1800s when the Industrial Revolution was starting in the US. I am not sure, which is part of the fun.

Robin: We’ve seen how much they have tried to change the past. The Time Team has been there to keep changes to a minimum (for the most part). What if Rittenhouse goes to the future? It won’t matter having a historian because we don’t know the future.

Final Verdict: Timeless has us rooting for the underdog as the Time Team prevents Rittenhouse from drastically changing history

Rittenhouse has dangerous plans for the past, and the Time Team is able to stop them on the mission to 1955. They prevent the Rittenhouse sleeper agent from setting off a bomb which would kill some of the key players in the car industry. Wendell plays an important part of the mission and we can only hope that he went on to do great things and continue to challenge the status quo in the racing world. Connor puts Denise in a precarious position and she makes the difficult decision to forcefully remove him from his conference. It is to protect the safety of the entire team, especially considering Rittenhouse is ramping up their efforts to shape the past in their image. Jiya develops a surprising side effect of time travel and we can’t wait to see if this will be advantageous to the team; although she could still use a doctor that specializes in time travel! We don’t have a clear idea of what Rittenhouse wants the present to look like, but we certainly hope the team can continue to prevent major changes to history.

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The Timeless season premiere set the bar high for this season, and the second episode continues the momentum. Timeless is the perfect balance of drama and mystery with a dash of humor. Lucy acknowledges Wyatt’s fanboy tendencies regarding his Nascar heroes and Rufus references Han Solo as any Star Wars fan would. Timeless continues to portray diversity throughout history, as history was not exclusively for white men.

In the next episode, Wyatt opens up to Lucy about why he joined the team. He was in a difficult mindset and took the mission because he didn’t care about what happened to him. But that has changed. They share a kiss during their mission and the Lyatt shippers could not be more excited! Thankfully, we only have to wait a week until the next episode of Timeless.

Timeless returns Sunday, March 25th at 10/9c on NBC