Timeless Review: The King of the Delta Blues (Season 2 Episode 6)

Rufus and Connor Mason headline a stellar episode that sees the show returning to excellent form as it explores the life and talent of African-American blues musician Robert Johnson on Timeless Season 2 Episode 6, “The King of the Delta Blues.”

Timeless is at its best when it is highlighting marginalized historical events and figures. “The King of the Delta Blues,” is a great example of this. The location of the Depression-era South inhabits every pixel of the screen, from the set design to the costuming.

My favorite scenes are those in the juke joint. The energy and liveliness are palpable and the group of characters viewers meet really feels like a community of friends and family. Connor’s excitement at meeting his music idols adds a nice bit of humor.

Timeless spends the bulk of the ‘A plot’ featuring its black characters, which is refreshing. A quick and extremely effective shot of a “Whites Only” sign reminds viewers of this era’s prevailing bigotry, but it does not linger on it.

Instead, the storyline focuses on Robert Johnson and Connor Mason. For a one-episode supporting character, Johnson comes across as a fully realized person with hopes and fears that reflect the same doubts Connor Mason is facing.

Thanks to good writing and great performances from Paterson Joseph and Kamal Naiqui, these parallel storylines of both characters facing their dark pasts and overcoming their feelings of inadequacy are very well done.

It is especially nice to see a character like Connor acknowledge his situation is of his own making. He takes responsibility for his role in his own downfall and experiences some self-pity but, with Rufus’ help, he is able to move on and regain some of his confidence.

The relationship between Rufus and Connor is also well-developed, with viewers learning about their history together throughout Timeless Season 1. This makes the scene where Rufus offers his former mentor a few words of wisdom and his support really emotionally affecting.

Due to strong performances, viewers are able to feel the depth of the bond between the two characters. I am hoping these two can now rebuild their friendship, as it is great seeing them interact together.

I also want to give a big thumbs-up to the use of Robert Johnson’s music to highlight various moments throughout the episode, especially the very end. It really helps tie all of the threads together, even for the characters who do not participate in Johnson’s storyline.

So, let’s (briefly) talk romance.

Rufus and Jiya are aces in this episode. Even though Jiya’s premonition is a really bad one, it is nice to see Rufus encouraging her to tell him this time instead of the opposite.

However, the opening in which Rufus and Wyatt giggle over Wyatt and Jessica’s apparently loud night-time activities is gross and completely uncalled for – unless the writers really do want me to wish Wyatt away for good?

I suppose this is in service of making Lucy more vulnerable to Flynn’s overtures of “friendship” later on, but I believe that level of in-your-faceness is unnecessary. It makes Wyatt look inconsiderate and Lucy appears even more sad.

(I do appreciate that Timeless is letting Lucy be sad, and maybe even a little passive-aggressively mad towards Wyatt. It makes her character very relatable.)

While I really love a good ship, and I was all-in on Lucy and Wyatt, this whole triangle storyline is really doing both characters a disservice.

A lot of interesting story potential for Lucy is set up in Timeless Season 2 Episode 1, “The War to End All Wars.” Instead of delving into any of it we are on the third episode in a row where her main storyline centers around her love life.

The moment she learns Rittenhouse is on the run and her mother is still alive is more about her interaction with Wyatt than it is about her feelings towards her mother. It’s disappointing.

Also not at all surprising: Lucy and Flynn becoming closer. I can’t tell if Flynn is playing some kind of game here or if he’s just undergone a plot-induced personality transplant. This is not the same character from the start of the season or even the last few episodes.

Goran is making it work though, so bravo!

Hopefully, Lucy’s vodka drinking session with Flynn will help her brighten up. No doubt it will be just in time for Wyatt to start regretting his choice to be with Jessica and start making googly eyes at Lucy again.

Ugh.

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

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

Timeless airs Sundays at 10/9c on NBC.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

 

Timeless Roundtable: Forever Young JFK