Timeless Review: Hollywoodland (Season 2 Episode 3)

Wyatt and Lucy get their smooch on (and their clothes off!), Rufus meets superstar scientist Hedy Lamarr, and Jiya might be a superhero on Timeless Season 2 Episode 3, “Hollywoodland.”

Whew, this episode is a bit of a whirlwind with lots happening on all fronts — or backs if you are Wyatt and Lucy. However, while the character moments are stellar, well-written, and well performed the actual plot of, “Hollywoodland,” is a little thin.

Let’s start with the big developments for Wyatt and Lucy.

*whale noises*

*squealing*

Ahem.

Sorry, but Wyatt and Lucy making heart eyes, giggling together, and then smooching their way into a commercial break basically turns me into a goo puddle. This entire sequence is pretty much perfect, moving from funny (the singing!) to cute (the giggling) to passionate (that kiss!) with ease.

Their talk by the pool is especially well done. Lucy’s laugh is infectious throughout the scene and the way the two sort of look at each other and then away, and then look back again – it’s really cute. It is completely believable these two are in “lurve” with one another.

I also love that the writers chose to frame this big, romantic development against the backdrop of Golden Age Hollywood. Some of the most iconic moments in movie romance date from this period. This setting (and Lucy’s gorgeous Katherine Hepburn inspired dress) adds an enjoyable layer of “swoon” to Wyatt and Lucy’s interactions.

Moving on, Jiya also gets some important character focus. Although, sadly for her and Rufus, it is not kissing related.

Jiya’s fear of the doctor possibly discovering something awful is wrong with her, due to her visions, is understandable. It makes me want to hug her – or have Rufus hug her. Even though Jiya says she doesn’t want to know what is wrong with her, it is still pretty gross that Mason knows and is keeping it to himself.

Thankfully, it turns out her fear is unnecessary and she is actually more healthy than before. I am very intrigued by this as it sounds a bit like the beginning of a superhero origin story. Someone get this girl a cape!

This is also a great episode for pop culture references. From Wyatt pitching a musical version of Hamilton to Lucy pitching the premise of Timeless, all these little mentions are delightful. The best, of course, being Rufus (posing as the poet and writer Langston Hughes) reciting the theme song to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Rufus is just the best.

This being an episode set in Hollywood, there are some fun “wink-wink, nudge-nudge” meta-comments in addition to the pop culture references. In particular the line, “no one knows what the writers look like,” made me laugh, along with Lucy’s numerous costume changes.

So, that’s all the good stuff — let’s move to the not-so-good.

Balancing a lot of complicated time-travel shenanigans with character-driven moments is undoubtedly a challenge. Timeless Season 2 is handling this fairly well but definitely stumbles a bit in this episode.

The main plot of, “Hollywoodland,” — to save the iconic film, Citizen Kane, after a Rittenhouse agent steals it — never really feels that urgent. This is mostly a pacing issue, as the storyline essentially comes to a dead stop while Lucy and Wyatt do their thing and Rufus explores Hedy Lamarr’s laboratory.

(That’s not a euphemism. He checks out her actual laboratory . . . because Rufus has a girlfriend.)

Unfortunately, this makes the entire reason Lucy, Rufus, and Wyatt are in 1941 Hollywood feel a little bit like an afterthought.

The villainous father-and-son from this episode are weirdly creepy and, as far as evil organizations go, Rittenhouse is starting to feel less like the Illuminati and more like a batsh*t crazy cult.

Flynn’s prison break, with the Time Team assisting from 1941, is a cool moment. However, the premise for his joining the Lifeboat is incredibly weak.

Not only is there basically a repeat of the scene where Lucy asks for Flynn’s help in Timeless Season 2 Episode 2, “The Darlington 500,” but the idea that he can recall various scribbled notes and doodles from Rittenhouse agents he’s killed is kind of ridiculous.

Yes, even on a show about time travel.

I’m not sure why I can be unbothered by Lucy having an encyclopedic knowledge of all of history, but Flynn remembering random signs is a bridge too far but, it is. I like Flynn and I love Goran Visnjic, I just wish the Timeless writers set this up better.

And finally, after handling Wyatt and Lucy’s relationship so well, the writers decide to dip into the overdone “Significant Other Returns From the Dead” trope.

This is immensely disappointing to me in several ways.

It’s predictable. There were no gasps of shock from my living room, just a few groans because we all know where and how these storylines end up.

Also, the Wyatt/Jessica storyline is by far the least interesting part of Timeless Season 1. I have no interest in revisiting it or spending time establishing Jessica’s character when there are only 7 episodes left and a lot of other characters I’d rather see receive story focus.

Plus, this is most likely going to lead into the worst, most reviled relationship trope ever: A love triangle.

Way to kill my shipping buzz, show.

But, I look forward to giving Timeless the chance to change my mind and prove me wrong! Until then, I’ll just keep the pool scene on repeat.

What did you think of this episode of Timeless? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Timeless airs Sundays at 10/9c on NBC.

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