Tell-Tale TV Series Premiere Panels: Time After Time

It seems like all the major networks are trying their hand at a time traveling show. For NBC, it’s Timeless. For The CW, it’s Frequency. And for ABC, it’s Time After Time.

When Dr. John Stevenson (a.k.a. Jack the Ripper) borrows his friend’s, H.G. Well’s, time travel machine to escape to the future, it’s up to H.G. to follow after him and bring him to justice. Naturally, this is not as easy as it seems.

Below, some of our writers share their thoughts on the series premiere of Time After Time Season 1 Episode 1. You can join the discussion by leaving your thoughts in the comments.

Our panelists are:

• Christine Laskodi, associate editor for Tell-Tale TV
• Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, associate editor for Tell-Tale TV
• Allison Nichols, associate editor for Tell-Tale TV

Did you enjoy the premiere of Time After Time?

Lizzie: Strangely enough, more the second time around than the first time I saw it at SDCC. There it got lost among much better pilots, but this time, I could appreciate the good things about it, and I was even touched during the scene where H.G Wells looks at the TV screens and realizes that the future is not exactly as he envisioned. So, it was better, yes. It still wasn’t “I can’t miss this show” good.

Allison: I liked it. While I did get bored at times, this was definitely a show that benefits from a two-hour pilot. It helps to set the stage.

I really, really love Jane, and you can’t help but to root for H.G. as he tries to do right, and you also want to give him a hug when he realizes that the only Utopia in this age is a night club. However, it does not earn a spot on my DVR.

Christine: I didn’t HATE it, but I definitely wouldn’t tune in for another episode. I think it’s a great concept — but I don’t think it was executed quite right for network TV. ABC has tried this type of show before (remember Wicked City?) and failed. Like Allison, I’m pretty okay with giving things another shot, but this isn’t making it into my rotation.

What’s the show’s biggest problem?

Lizzie: Pacing. I think some things happened way too fast, and some things took way longer than they should have, and it kind of leaves you a bit unbalanced, like you don’t know what’s coming next, but not in a good way.

I also don’t really feel any emotional connections yet — and I know it’s been one episode, but some pilots make you fall in love with the characters right away. This one just made H.G Wells look endearing, and that’s it.

Allison: I don’t really buy that H.G. and John are/were friends. I feel like their friendship should be a huge part of the show. Aside from H.G. and John referring to the other as a friend, I never would have guessed that they were based on how they interact with each other.

It would be fascinating to explore how someone handles learning that a close friend of theirs is Jack the Ripper. Do you try to save your friend or give him a chance to reform or explain? Do you think about to every instance and blame yourself for missing the clues? There’s so much to explore there.

Their friendship helps sell why H.G. journeyed through time to capture John, or at least it would set it apart from every other time travel show that features chasing someone through time.

Christine: I just don’t quite understand why H.G. cares so much. I mean, of course I get why he cares so much, but like Lizzie said, it all happens quickly without much explanation, so I don’t quite feel the emotional connection for why he cares.

It feels like the show relied on the fact that the audience would be smart enough to fill in the blanks on their own, and to me that just feels a little like lazy storytelling.

Who or what do you want to see more of?

Lizzie: There are not enough Latina main characters on TV, and just for that, I’d love to see more of Genesis Rodriguez’s Jane. I also found H.G Wells to be much more endearing than I expected, so I wouldn’t mind some more of the fish-out-of-water elements.

Allison: I definitely want to see more of Jane because she’s my favorite character, even though she’s ridiculously stupid for taking a STRANGER home with her. Yeah, she pulled out a gun, but he could have killed her long before then.

I also am curious about Vanessa and whether or not what she has said is true. I’m fascinated by her involvement in all of this, and what led H.G. to reach out to her in the first place. Also, total side note, but can we all agree that her husband is going to end up being a bad guy?

Christine: Jane was absolutely, hands-down the best part of the show. I always like to see strong, bad-ass females on TV.

H.G. has the potential to be interesting, but unlike Lizzie, I think telling fish-out-of-water stories with him, or at least too many, would get old very quickly. And man — I WANTED to like John. Is that awful? I’m predisposed to like any character Josh Bowman plays, but his interpretation just fell a little flat.

What was your favorite quote/moment from the premiere?

Lizzie: “The man who raises his fists first is the man out of ideas.” – H.G Wells

Allison: I loved watching H.G. react to this world. His fascination and delight brought a smile to my face, and then when he turned on the news, my heart broke for him. Those scenes made me fall in love with him.

Christine: It was a totally small moment, and maybe it’s the ‘shipper in me, but I liked Jane thinking that H.G. was a crazy actor — it felt like the “AHA! They’re TOTALLY gonna love each other after they work this out!” moment.

What did you think of Time After Time Season 1 Episode 1? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Time After Time airs Sunday at 9/8c on ABC.

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