Timeless Review: Karma Chameleon (Season 1 Episode 13)
Wyatt’s number comes up on Timeless Season 1 Episode 13 “Karma Chameleon.”
If “Karma Chamelon” isn’t stuck in your head after reading that episode title, you’re totally lying. If it’s not, go look it up on YouTube and then join me in singing it on repeat as we take on Wyatt’s biggest episode yet.
The trouble with Wyatt’s story has always been the Jessica element. The fact is, the dead, fridged wife trope is not only insulting — it’s unoriginal. I can name two other shows off of the top of my head starring two brooding heroes with dead significant others named “Jessica.”
Exploring Wyatt’s final snap to stop her death from happening is rich material for Matt Lanter, however, and he does it with aplomb. It’s not hard to understand Wyatt’s desperation, because the sheer scope of it is all over every scene he’s in.
Wyatt and Rufus in the 1980’s is a special kind of hilarious.
Rufus is totally at home in a world where The A-Team is airing for the first time and Ms. Pac-Man is brand new, which gives the episode some much-needed levity in the middle of both Wyatt’s and Rittenhouse’s drama.
In fact, Rufus’ comfort in the 1980’s just goes to show you that a geek will find a way to fit in anywhere.
The true tragedy here is that breaking the law doesn’t do anything to stop Jessica’s death. Wyatt accidentally succeeds in stopping the conception of his wife’s murderer, but at a cost — he unwittingly leads a man to his death.
This is a classic time travel trope (try saying that five times fast) but one used quite skillfully here. Meddling with time comes at a cost, and causes collateral damage that echoes through all of history.
How heavy that will weigh on Wyatt takes a back burner in the face of the truth that he and Rufus stole the Lifeboat for nothing. Jessica, as Rufus gently implies, was likely always meant to die.
Did Flynn know he was giving Wyatt bad information? Or is someone lying to him, too? I’m hoping that we get an answer either way, and I have a suspicion it may surprise even Flynn.
Lucy steps up in the present to take on some business of Rufus’, but falls into the same trap Timeless seems to keep setting. That is to say: Lucy gets kidnapped again. If there’s a running tally on how many times she’s been grabbed, I’d love to see it.
The standout moment of the episode is one Lucy and Denise share while swapping information in a car.
The relationship between these two women is perhaps my favorite little surprise in Timeless’ world; I had hoped that Lucy would slowly make more female friends, and so the bond that she shares with her de facto boss is a lovely development. They argue over the right course of action to take, but they’re both still on the same team — for now.
Stray Thoughts
- As Seen in Vancouver: Lucy spends a great deal of time under bridges in this episode. I sure hope they had her in layers, because it’s been a cold Vancouver winter so far.
- RIP Anthony. I’m kind of surprised you survived as long as you did.
- Jiya needs to be upgraded to a series regular, stat. And here’s hoping her relationship with Rufus can withstand this latest stumbling block.
- Hi, I’m Brittany, and I’m happy to be covering Timeless from now on!
What did you think of this episode of Timeless? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
Timeless airs Mondays at 10/9c on NBC.
Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Brittany Rae
Brittany is a writer and avid TV blogger hailing the infamous year of 1989. She trained at Vancouver Film School in screenwriting for television and film, and has gone on to become a graphic designer and blogger in her free time. When she’s not watching the Food Network, she’s trying to consume every bit of sci-fi television she can get her hands on (current favorites include The 100, Person of Interest, and Doctor Who). She’s always up for female-led dramas and, of course, a literal interpretation of the phrase “Netflix and chill."
2 comments
Lucy’s sister is also being fridged. I see that you’re not bitching about that. So why? You want Wyatt to quickly get over Jessica so that the Lucy/Wyatt romance can start in earnest? According to Lucy’s journal, Wyatt continued to mourn Jessica for a long time. It’s not surprising for a guy who had a lousy childhood with an unpleasant parent.
Whoa, I think you severely misunderstood me here!
One – Fridging only really applies to female love interests who are killed to further their male partner’s story.
Two – I didn’t forget about Lucy’s sister! Not all parts of the episode make it into reviews, but I am very much invested in that story and Lucy getting her back.
And three – I don’t ship on this show! I have no stakes in Lucy/Wyatt, and I personally think it would be WAY too soon for it to happen.
I hope that clears things up!
Comments are closed.