Timeless Season Finale Review: The General / Chinatown (Season 2 Episodes 9 and 10)

Timeless closes its second season with a two-part finale featuring an appearance by Harriet Tubman, a significant loss for the Time Team, and a few surprising plot twists resulting in a game-changing development for Season 3.

Everything kicks off on Timeless Season 2 Episode 9, “The General,” as the team travels back to 1863 South Carolina to meet Harriet Tubman and stop Rittenhouse from changing the outcome of the Civil War.

I am not going to go into a deep-dive but 1863 South Carolina is 100% in my historical wheelhouse, so bear with me as I definitely have some thoughts about this portion of the finale. Mainly that, once again, Timeless does a really great job representing the past in a fresh way.

Most people know about Tubman’s role with the Underground Railroad but, as with Madame Curie on Timeless Season 2 Episode 1, “The War to End All Wars,” the show chooses to highlight a less well-known story about a popular historical figure. Namely, Tubman’s time as a scout and spy for Union forces during the Civil War and her role in the Combahee Raid.

It really is impressive how Timeless is able to fit so many important details into their historical features in such a small amount of time. They even correctly identify the regiment (2nd SC) Tubman works with to plan and execute the real raid.

Plus, in a little stroke of genius, the writers use the fact that the real Harriet Tubman did experience “visions” to tie into Jiya’s storyline. This offers some nice connective tissue between the two plots, even though they occur more than 150 years apart.

No matter what happens, I will forever love Timeless for giving us the scene where Harriet shoots the Confederate man who catches her escaping with a group of enslaved workers. It’s perfection if you watch it on a loop. Just saying.

Anyway, the real story of the Combahee Raid needs no additional drama as it is even more remarkable on its own. Google it, you will not be disappointed.

While the historical plot for, “The General,” gets an A-plus and Jiya’s season-long struggle with her visions receives some intriguing forward momentum going into the finale, there are a few points where this episode struggles a little. This is partly the result of pacing issues.

The 10 episodes in Timeless Season 2, with only half including Wyatt/Jessica, are just not enough to really build a version of that relationship viewers can get invested in. Not to mention, their relationship is consistently shown to make Lucy feel miserable so it makes it difficult to feel positive about it.

And Wyatt. Geez.

These last two episodes really do a number on this character. His behavior after learning Jessica may have ties to Rittenhouse does nothing to make him sympathetic to viewers. Not to mention that at the same time he is being snippy about his pregnant wife, we also see him exhibiting jealousy over Lucy and Flynn teaming up.

When Jessica proves herself a baddie, steals the Lifeboat, and kidnaps Jiya, it is not sadness I feel for Wyatt. Instead, I’m just glad this completely obvious plot point is finally out in the open.

The kidnapping leads directly into the finale on Timeless Season 2 Episode 10, “Chinatown.” There are a few great moments and some stellar performances from Abigail Spencer and Claudia Doumit, but the episode races through plot points so quickly some of the emotional beats do not land as they should.

Even though it is terribly sad, the resolution to Jiya’s premonitions and her attempt to prevent Rufus’s death is very well done. As a character, Jiya grows the most in Season 2 and her development in the finale is very rewarding to watch.

Not only does she once again prove herself smart and resourceful by hiding the LifeBoat for the team to find in the present day, but her resolve at keeping Rufus alive is very effective. Of course, this makes it all the more tragic when she saves Rufus only for him to die later.

Claudia Doumit really nails the subtle shift in Jiya’s demeanor when the team finds her after she’s lived in the past for several years. She is Jiya, but clearly, an older more experienced Jiya. And her pain later on, especially in the quieter moments after the Time Team returns to the bunker, is palpable.

Lucy is also put through the emotional wringer and Abigail Spencer delivers another great performance. Too much of Lucy’s storyline in Timeless Season 2 is wrapped up in Wyatt angst and Garcia Flynn relationship-building, but this episode finally brings some closure to Lucy’s storyline with her Rittenhouse agent Mother, Carol.

Mostly because Carol is killed by Emma in a great surprise twist early in the finale.

Unfortunately, given the breakneck pace of this episode, Carol’s death does not really get the focus it deserves. Possibly the intent is to see Lucy dealing with this in Season 3, but the moment itself feels a bit lacking . . .

Still, Abigail Spencer makes me feel all the things in the brief moments we see Lucy reacting to losing her mother. Unfortunately, this small scene almost seems more about Lucy and Flynn than Lucy which is a little frustrating.

It also feels pretty significant that Lucy gives away her locket, is this her way of letting go of both her mother and her sister?

If so, *sob*

Adding to Emma’s significant body count in the finale, she also kills her Rittenhouse boss Nicholas Keynes.

Yay, Emma!

But then she shoots Rufus.

Boo, Emma!

Seriously though, Emma is a much more interesting, useful villain than Keynes. He essentially did nothing all season except attempt to take away women’s right to vote and change the outcome of the Civil War – which most likely would result in slavery still existing. So, he’s sexist and racist.

Good call, Emma (and Timeless writers).

Also, kudos to both Annie Wersching and Abigail Spencer for that brutal final fight scene. Of course, Emma gets the upper-hand pretty quickly but you can really feel Lucy’s pain and desperation as she confronts the person responsible for the deaths of her mother and friend.

Rufus continues to be a highlight of nearly every episode. His relationship with Jiya is one of the show’s strongest components and his refusal to leave her behind even though it might (and does) result in his death makes him a true hero.

Malcolm Barrett proves he capable of handling lighter moments and dramatic ones with equal skill. I really feel his anger at Wyatt after Jiya is kidnapped and his death is just – well, maybe I’m still crying. So what?

The loss of an original Time Team member is clearly a heavy one for everyone in the bunker, but it is Jiya and Connor Mason’s sorrow that really did me in. I love how Timeless continues to build on and strengthen Mason’s ties to both characters.

What does not work for me here is Wyatt confessing his love for Lucy as they commiserate over Rufus’ death. Sorry, this is a character who was threatening to leave the bunker with his pregnant wife only a short time before his stupid choices lead to his friend’s death and now he tells Lucy he loves her?

Nooooooooooooooooooooope. No. Uh-uh.

Thankfully, Timeless closes out the finale with a surprise appearance by future!Wyatt and future!Lucy who return precisely to give our team a chance to save Rufus. Meaning, the odds are good we’ll get Rufus back in Timeless Season 3.

If there is a Timeless Season 3.

Please, let there be a Timeless Season 3!

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

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Timeless airs Sunday at 10/9c on NBC.

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