Timeless Review: The War to End All Wars (Season 2 Episode 1)

Lucy, Wyatt, and Rufus reunite on Timeless Season 2 Episode 1, “The War to End All Wars,” for a stellar Season 2 premiere. Not only is the mission for the rest of the season clearly set up, but the bulk of the episode brilliantly focuses on Lucy, her Mother, and their complicated relationship.

But first, a very brief bit of historical background.

World War I is a turning point in women’s history. It is the first time women across class lines formally organize in support of the war effort, the first time women serve in positions within the military, and the first time women are granted official uniforms. Ultimately, the role American women play in the war is an important reason they win the right to vote in 1922, only a few years after World War I ends.

So, it does not seem a coincidence that World War I is the setting for the main storyline of this episode, which highlights its female characters and two of World War I’s greatest unsung heroes, Marie Curie and her daughter, Irene.

Unfortunately, women’s contributions are often glossed over or left out of the historical narrative and World War I is no exception. While Timeless keeps the focus on exploring what Lucy is experiencing and going through, the show also manages to sprinkle in just enough history to shine a little light on women’s war efforts and on the lives of Marie and Irene Curie.

It can’t be easy for the writers to balance the need to keep things exciting by moving the plot along, develop the characters, and accurately portray a major historical event but Timeless pulls it off. Bravo!

Lucy’s awe at meeting historical figures never gets old and seeing her Mother also share a bit of that excitement early in the episode creates a quick, connective bond between the two characters. Of course, this eventually makes their parting at the end even more painful.

Lucy and Carol: We’re historians!

Abigail Spencer and Susanna Thompson do a tremendous job selling the complicated Mother/Daughter relationship. At this point, I really should want Lucy as far away from her Mother as possible, but they are so enjoyable together that I also still want them to work things out? That’s the result of good writing and great performances.

Carol: You can’t smell history in books.
Lucy: ‘Cause you wouldn’t wanna.

Emma, who I did not remember much about from the first season, makes a memorable villain now that she is out from Garcia Flynn’s shadow. Although I am typically wary when shows set up rivalries between female characters, I am very interested in seeing the dynamic between Emma and Lucy play out going forward.

Emma’s stone cold approach in forcing Lucy to kill an innocent soldier makes her an antagonist worth watching. It also pushes Lucy’s character into deciding exactly how far she is willing to go to take down Rittenhouse. Not only does this choice give insight into Lucy’s state of mind, but she also refuses to excuse herself for it at the end of the episode.

I appreciate that Lucy takes responsibility for her actions and the show offers no easy resolution or simple answer here. Lucy will have to live with her choice and the knowledge that she is now a person capable of taking a life.

It will be interesting to see if this affects the way she views Garcia Flynn and his past misdeeds.

So, while the writers are busy putting Lucy through the wringer, what’s going on with Wyatt and Rufus?

Rufus is busy being a boss, fixing the Lifeboat, helping to bring Lucy back, and confronting Wyatt about his feelings for their missing team member. What a big change from the quiet, not-so-sure-of-himself Rufus we meet in Timeless Season 1!

WWI Officer: What regiment are you with?
Rufus: The black one.

And Wyatt. Oh, Wyatt.

In a brilliant bit of gender role-reversal, it is the male romantic hero whose storyline is entirely motivated by his romantic feelings while the heroine, Lucy, is busy trying to save the world. Wyatt also later serves as emotional support for Lucy, which is usually a role the heroine fulfills for the male character.

How much do I adore that the one scene in this episode referencing a character’s potential love life takes place in a truck on the Western Front of World War I between two dudes — Rufus and Wyatt?

A lot, I adore it a lot.

And you know what? It does not detract from or demean Wyatt’s character in any way for his storyline to be so focused on his romantic feels. In fact, it makes him even more attractive.

I can’t be the only one thinking that right?

This is a great start to Timeless Season 2 and now that we know there are ten historical events to visit in future episodes it will be fun speculating what they might be. The next episode feels too far away!

One Last Historical Fun Fact

The mobile x-ray units, or “petite Curies,” designed by Marie Curie saved thousands of lives in World War I and may never have come to fruition if Curie had not solicited funding from a French women’s organization and later received the money to purchase a fleet of vehicles from a wealthy female donor.

Women are awesome and get stuff done, is what I’m saying.

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

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Timeless airs Sundays at 10/9c on NBC.

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