Timeless Review: The Salem Witch Hunt (Season 2 Episode 4)

Well, my Lyatt heart is in pieces after Timeless Season 2 Episode 4, “The Salem Witch Hunt.” Thankfully, the rest of the episode offers plenty to enjoy as Flynn joins Lucy and Rufus for a mission to the year 1692.

The Salem Witch Trials are one of the most well-known tragedies in American history. However, the truth about what actually happened to the “afflicted” girls and how the hysteria their accusations caused led to the deaths of 20 people is still a topic being debated by historians today.

(My favorite theory involves the possibility some of the accusers were actually tripping on hallucinogenic bread fungus.)

It makes sense the writers set Flynn’s first team mission during this period as the storyline for both the team and the historical characters touches on issues of trustworthiness.

Rufus and, to a lesser extent Lucy, are not really sure if Flynn is trustworthy. And later on, Lucy must decide whether to trust her mother, Carol.

This offers a slight parallel to the way the population of Salem is living in fear their neighbors and relatives may betray them at any moment. It is very impressive that Timeless is consistently able to select historical settings that compliment the character arcs each episode is exploring.

Of course, the writers then go one step further and use their platform to raise awareness and highlight the stories of people and events during these periods which are often overlooked. In this case, the show takes a moment to address the reasons the Puritan women this episode features are targets of a literal witch-hunt.

After facing accusations from her own mother and being arrested, Lucy’s speech to her fellow prisoners really throws into focus how fear, bigotry, and prejudice can be found underlying some of our worst moments in history and that it is still with us today.

It is a nice moment for the show and the character, and I am glad the writers took the time to include it.

Moving on.

One of the big focuses of, “The Salem Witch Trials,” is Flynn’s addition to the Lifeboat. It is always risky to shake-up a popular team by introducing new characters, but in this case it really works.

Flynn adds an unstable element to the team and their missions. As a viewer, you never really know what he might do to accomplish his goal of ending Rittenhouse which adds a nice bit of tension to his interactions with the other characters.

Plus, Flynn is clearly stepping into the role of the attractive bad boy who gets to wear cool leather jackets (even in Puritan Massachusetts) and make jokes at our heroes’ expense. I certainly don’t mind at all, as Goran Visnjic is very nice to look at and I enjoy Flynn’s snarking ability.

It is also interesting to see how his presence affects Lucy and seems to be revealing a different side of her character. While at the home of one of the Puritan accusers, she signals to Flynn to commence with his harsher methods for obtaining information. Once again, Lucy is demonstrating a more ruthless outlook on defeating Rittenhouse.

She is certainly not the same Lucy we meet in Timeless Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot.” Her experiences and choices have brought her to a more, morally gray understanding of what must be done to accomplish the team’s goals.

Reuniting with Wyatt and Rufus seems to be helping Lucy check some of the darker impulses she shows on Timeless Season 2 Episode 1, “The War to End All Wars.” However, with her brief moment of happiness with Wyatt abruptly ending, the continuing stress of her mother’s alliances, and Flynn’s more disruptive presence it will be interesting to see where Lucy’s character goes from here.

While Lucy is off saving Benjamin Franklin’s mother (who had 10 kids by the way – 10!), Wyatt is coming to terms with learning his wife, Jessica is actually alive thanks to Rittenhouse.

To be honest, there isn’t much to say here. This is a classic ship-stall for Wyatt and Lucy and feels like a waste of time when we could be learning more about Rufus, Jiya’s premonitions, Mason’s difficulties, etc.

Wyatt also ends up looking really wishy-washy as it pertains to Lucy, given it’s only been a day or two since they kissed and . . . well, you know.

Anyway, he does not come off as being terribly conflicted in this episode. Since he ends it by asking Jessica for another chance I’m left wondering if his feelings for Lucy are really that strong. I’m Team Lucy, is what I’m saying.

And on the topic of relationships, Rufus and Jiya also hit a little bump. Their post-mission discussion about Jiya’s premonition leads Rufus to make a dumb choice.

I mean, it is understandable Rufus would think the best course of action would be for Jiya not to tell him about what she sees. However, her premonitions also came true when he did not know about them. Also, this really sucks for Jiya who now must deal with experiencing seizure-like visions, but can’t tell anyone what they are about.

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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