‘Timeless’ Retro Recap: ‘Stranded’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​You know, it’s been quite a while since we sat down to talk about NBC’s Timeless by way of these Retro Recaps and there’s been a good reason for that. Because tearing through this series well before the series finale would have been a disservice to a show that quite frankly, is about as magical as they come. This is one to be celebrated, and one to be mourned since it is going off the air well before its time So, seeing as to how next Thursday, we bid farewell to the Time Team once and for all with a two-hour series finale on NBC, the time has to come to finish my personal journey through a show that I started a little late.
 
Which means that from here on out, we are powering ahead and recapping the remaining episodes of season one so that I’m ready for any surprises or references that finale might throw my way, which I am sure it will. But more importantly, I need to finish these recaps to properly pay tribute to a series that captivated all of us with its dynamic and relatable characters and outright powerhouse stories and well, I couldn’t have picked a better re-start point when it comes to this series, because ‘Stranded’ was another fine example of how this show can accomplish wonders on a moment’s notice.
 
For this one, basically threw out the standard formula for the show. Gone was the introduction of where we were heading in time, or any understanding of what Flynn and Rittenhouse were up to. Instead, we were plunged right into the moment with the Time Trio in 1754 Pittsburgh and well, it didn’t take long to see why the series forwent the formula aspect in this particular tale, because it made the evil plan that Flynn had put together for them all the more powerful. For as it turns out, the whole point of them being here was not to foil Flynn and Rittenhouse’s plans to change history, no instead, this was a giant trap, one that saw the Lifeboat badly damaged in an era where replacement parts were obviously hard to come by, forcing the team to face the real possibility that they may be trapped in the past for the rest of their lives.
 
Which meant this time around, they were purely on their own, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by hostile forces and this kind of dire straits allowed for the team to not only put their differences aside and apologize for their transgressions, but it also allowed for Rufus to shine like never before. Because he was the only one who could fix the Lifeboat and thanks to his ingenuity, and a wicked awesome plan to communicate with Mason Industries in the future, Rufus was able to save the day and lives, with an assist from Jiya of course and really, the important thing that we saw here was the team working together and understanding one another and that’s a huge deal because in many ways, they’re starting to act the family I was introduced to in season two.
 
When all is said and done however, I have to admit, this was a pretty brilliant episode. After all, it’s rare to see a series break from the norm and it was quite cool to see the team not be stuck to a mission and its parameters and instead deal with their issues and their own potential fate and that made for one compelling tale, one filled with danger and tension and I just loved it. Yet while it is fun to pick up this show again, it is also a bittersweet experience. For every episode watched, brings me closer to the end and well, that’s a shame because this really is a magnificent series. But alas, it’s not quite the time to shed our tears just yet, I’m sure we will all save those for the finale. Instead, I’ll keep on trucking and see what wild adventures still await me. Until next time.    

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