# "Timeless" New Time Travel Show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2016, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613 "2016-10-04T03:05:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/1 "2016-10-04T03:05:42Z")
I just finished watching the pilot. Seems good, certainly lots of potential. My only concern is that it will become trope heavy. Did anybody else watch it? Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/2 "2016-10-04T03:49:28Z")
I enjoyed it. They’ve included a intriguing conspiracy as a subplot. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out. They did seem to fall back on the old Trope that people meant to die will fulfill that destiny. The lady reporter couldn’t be saved. I’d almost bet Lincoln won’t be saved either. 😃 The time machine looks like a giant eyeball. The hatch is the pupil. Is that on purpose? Or just a badly designed prop? I hope every episode won’t include discrimination against the black character. That could easily be over done. This subject has been covered before. Time Cop  with Jean-Claude Van Damme is an example. They did surprise me by letting the team return home. I just assumed they’d be stuck in the past chasing this guy. I guess returning home opens up new storylines. I’ll keep watching for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/3 "2016-10-04T03:59:10Z")
We watched and enjoyed it. I got a definite “Warehouse 13” vibe from it. Obviously, no artifacts, but something about the way the team is kind of pulling together. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/4 "2016-10-04T05:21:11Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I hope every episode won’t include discrimination against the black character. That could easily be over done. I would imagine he would have been subjected to much worse IRL than what we saw in the show. But yeah, we wouldn’t want stuff like that to interrupt your viewing pleasure. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/5 "2016-10-04T06:05:01Z")
The show’s plot involves stopping a guy from using a stolen time machine to change historical events. It’s not a show about civil rights in historical periods. That show could certainly be developed and written. It might even get great ratings. I simply hope they keep this show primarily focused on the Time Cop element. Once in awhile discrimination may come up and be part of the story. There’s no need to artificially force it into every episode. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/6 "2016-10-04T16:50:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The show’s plot involves stopping a guy from using a stolen time machine to change historical events. > > It’s not a show about civil rights in historical periods. That show could certainly be developed and written. It might even get great ratings. > > I simply hope they keep this show primarily focused on the Time Cop element. Once in awhile discrimination may come up and be part of the story. There’s no need to artificially force it into every episode. Sure, we wouldn’t want any accurate depictions of racism in the US. What a downer! ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/7 "2016-10-04T17:41:02Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I simply hope they keep this show primarily focused on the Time Cop element. Once in awhile discrimination may come up and be part of the story. I thought they did something clever with the discrimination angle in last night’s pilot though: In the scene where the good guys are in lock-up: Rufus (the African-American character) is unable to create a distraction by asking for water. But he is able to goad the racist cop into walking off to get a buddy to come beat on the mouthy “boy”. That bought Wyatt and Lucy enough time to work openly on their cell’s lock. It was chancy for Rufus, as Wyatt only opened his cell in the nick of time to prevent an imminent beatdown. The name of the time machine’s pilot … Rufus Carlin. Is someone on the creative team a fan of Kevin Smith? That’s basically a double name-check to Smith’s film _Dogma_. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/8 "2016-10-04T17:56:06Z")
Rufus certainly aided the team’s rescue. That was a good scene. I thought it was cool when he casually asks the girl out after returning from the mission. He had developed a new confidence that had been lacking before. I almost didn’t recognize Matt Frewer. He had a small role as a lab tech. It was his distinctive voice that I recognized. He looks so different now that he’s old. Max Headroom and Psi Factor were over twenty years ago ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/9 "2016-10-04T18:02:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > They did seem to fall back on the old Trope that people meant to die will fulfill that destiny. The lady reporter couldn’t be saved. But… but… …they actually _did_ prevent (or at least delay) the Hindenburg disaster. Historically, 36 people died, but (unless I misheard) didn’t they say that she was the only casualty? Television time-travelers aren’t supposed to be able to change historical events! It… it… just isn’t done! ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/10 "2016-10-04T18:03:50Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I almost didn’t recognize Matt Frewer. He had a small role as a lab tech. It was his distinctive voice that I recognized. He looks so different now that he’s old. Max Headroom and Psi Factor were over twenty years ago I guess you didn’t follow _Eureka_ or _Orphan Black_. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/11 "2016-10-04T19:13:38Z")
> [@Cartoonacy](#): > > But… but… > > …they actually _did_ prevent (or at least delay) the Hindenburg disaster. Historically, 36 people died, but (unless I misheard) didn’t they say that she was the only casualty? Television time-travelers aren’t supposed to be able to change historical events! It… it… just isn’t done! That’s one of the things which I think might make this show great. Upsetting the status quo and getting a peek at the alterations could be fun. I like that they are making some of the changes personal as well. What I hope they _don’t_ do is try to link them to the episode. The sequence of events that changes things is going to be very complex. There’s no reason to say that little girl you saved from the fire eventually did blah blah blah that had a direct effect on your life. I prefer it to be kept subtle, or better yet unknown, and indirect. Maybe every now and then they can show us the causal links just for variety. The problem with trying to write these causal links is that more often then not they’re written badly and sound silly. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/12 "2016-10-04T19:30:04Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > The name of the time machine’s pilot … Rufus Carlin. Is someone on the creative team a fan of Kevin Smith? That’s basically a double name-check to Smith’s film _Dogma_. Wrong movie. George Carlin played Rufus the time-traveler in 1989’s _Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure_. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/13 "2016-10-04T19:35:36Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Sure, we wouldn’t want any accurate depictions of racism in the US. What a downer! That’s not the show I want to watch, though. If that’s where it goes, I’ll stop watching. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/14 "2016-10-04T19:38:32Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > That’s one of the things which I think might make this show great. Upsetting the status quo and getting a peek at the alterations could be fun. I like that they are making some of the changes personal as well. What I hope they _don’t_ do is try to link them to the episode. The sequence of events that changes things is going to be very complex. There’s no reason to say that little girl you saved from the fire eventually did blah blah blah that had a direct effect on your life. I prefer it to be kept subtle, or better yet unknown, and indirect. Maybe every now and then they can show us the causal links just for variety. The problem with trying to write these causal links is that more often then not they’re written badly and sound silly. That’s something I’d like to see them keep- the idea that _every_ change in the past, no matter how minor, can end up having huge changes in the present. For the travelers, the only constant would be their teammates- everything else is subject to change. I could totally do without the bit about how they can’t interact with their past selves, though. Timecop ruined that bit for me. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/15 "2016-10-04T19:55:12Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Wrong movie. George Carlin played Rufus the time-traveler in 1989’s _Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure_. Hang on now – Chris Rock played Rufus (the 13th Apostle) in _Dogma_, and George Carlin had a long-ish cameo playing a cardinal in the same film. However … good memory on your part! Looks like Kevin Smith was perhaps name checking Bill & Ted 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/16 "2016-10-04T20:16:07Z")
> [@](#): > > I could totally do without the bit about how they can’t interact with their past selves, though. Timecop ruined that bit for me. See \*\*Looper \*\*for how it can work well. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/17 "2016-10-04T21:26:33Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > That’s not the show I want to watch, though. If that’s where it goes, I’ll stop watching. It’s obviously going to be a component of the show or they wouldn’t have made the point of addressing it in the pilot. If you are going to have an African American traveling to earlier times in the US it would pretty much be impossible to leave it out because his treatment by other people is going to definitely be an issue. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/18 "2016-10-04T22:13:18Z")
I wonder if their “expert” history professor will quickly get confused by the changes in history? She’s an expert in her own time line. It’s going to be difficult for her to keep up with what changes. A lot of lives were saved on the Hindenburg and it’s hard to know how that altered upcoming events. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/19 "2016-10-04T22:21:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I wonder if their “expert” history professor will quickly get confused by the changes in history? She’s an expert in her own time line. It’s going to be difficult for her to keep up with what changes. > > A lot of lives were saved on the Hindenburg and it’s hard to know how that altered upcoming events. I’m wondering if the book that was written by her will end up being a record of the true history so that the time line could be restored. One thing I did like is that the show introduced just enough little mysteries to be intriguing, such as the book, Rittenhouse (sp?), etc. I’m definitely giving the show at least 3 more episodes. If it keeps being good then I’ll watch it the entire season. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613/20 "2016-10-05T00:41:09Z")
This one of those not too deep shows that I know I’ll enjoy without having to think too deep about. A couple of things that annoyed me. The cops were looking at the pistol from the future like it was a Buck Rogers ray gun. They might be slightly curious about the exact make but it’s not like semi-auto handguns were unheard of. There was a reason why the standard Army handgun was called the M1911. Also when she was reading who was going to be on the return flight it was like they just picked random names. Omar Bradley? He was just some lieutenant colonel then. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeless-new-time-travel-show/767613.md?page=2)