In the Timeless universe, it’s never over
Sci-fi series goes on fan-powered mission for its ‘NBC finale’
SANTA CLARITA, CALIF.— On a November afternoon on the missile-silo set of Timeless, it’s as if no time has passed since May’s Season 2 finale.
Time-travelling heroes Lucy (Abigail Spencer) and Wyatt (Matt Lanter) are just where viewers last saw them, facing future versions of themselves — actually, stand-in doubles — as they learn there’s a chance to save their late friend and colleague Rufus. That discovery sets the show’s two-hour finale (Thursday, 8 p.m. on Global TV) in motion.
For the actors facing doppelgangers, “it’s a little weird,” Lanter says during a break. “We’re literally interacting with ourselves. I don’t think I’ve ever done that, having to talk to myself. It’s unique.”
As the scene ends, future Lucy tosses off a “Merry Christmas,” a seasonal theme that plays out throughout the finale.
But Lucy, Wyatt and their colleagues, Flynn (Goran Visnjic), Jiya (Claudia Doumit), Agent Christopher (Sakina Jaffrey) and Connor Mason (Paterson Joseph), are hardly in a holiday mood. Christmas itself is on hold, maybe even cancelled, until the Lifeboat team can find their friend and bring him back to life.
Cancelled, unfortunately, is a familiar word for Timeless, a low-rated show with a supremely devout fan base of “ClockBlockers” that was cancelled and revived after its first season, cancelled again after May’s cliffhanger-heavy closer and finally resuscitated for the upcoming finale to provide closure for fans.
Even then, executive producer Shawn Ryan won’t concede Timeless is forever out of time even though there are no immediate prospects and the actors no longer are under contract.
“I keep terming it the NBC finale. I don’t call it a series finale. This is the definitive ending to the NBC journey of the show and it may be the end of the show,” says Ryan, who says the two one-hour episodes will play like a seamless movie. “I’ve been down this road twice before, being told the show was dead only to find out the show wasn’t dead. We’ve all seen examples, whether it’s Veronica Mars or Firefly, (revived) shows that have really deep fan bases, which our show certainly does, being able to reappear in some form, whether they’re movies or something else.”
Spencer sees strength in adversity as she leans on some humour: “I’m just wondering if we’re going to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most cancellations of a show. It’s like the show that won’t die.”
Even if Timeless can’t find another life, much remains to be done in the upcoming episodes, which resolve those cliffhangers and connect themes that go back to the pilot.
In the first hour, the timejumping Lifeboat crew travels to 1848 California, during the Gold Rush, in pursuit of Rufus (Malcolm Barrett). Later, they materialize in the Korean War on Christmas Eve in 1950. They also contend with Rittenhouse foes Emma and Jessica and a heretofore unidentified enemy awaits.
Actors and producers won’t reveal the eventual fate of Rufus, but it’s pretty obvious the return of the beloved character — there’s a #SaveRufus trending hashtag — will be a nice Christmas present for fans: Barrett appears in the finale and his character sure looks alive in publicity photos. As Lanter puts it: “I can’t say what happens to Rufus, but what would we be if we couldn’t get him back?”
The finale also provides new information about Lucy’s journal; the mysterious and powerful enemy, Rittenhouse; and the consequences of travelling to a time where a character has gone before.
“If you travel to a time where you already exist, there are seri- ous side effects,” Ryan says.
He says the finale also “brings some clarity and closure” to character relationships, including the Wyatt-Lucy-Flynn triangle.
“Oh, the ‘ships,’ ” Spencer coyly jokes of her character’s potential involvement with Flynn or Wyatt, who dropped a surprise “I love you” in last season’s finale. “I didn’t know what a ship was until this show. I was like, ‘We have to learn about sailboats?’ ”
Visnjic cagily says: “Flynn-Lucy fans are going to be happy and Wyatt-Lucy fans are going to be happy.”
Meanwhile, Jiya is heartbroken over the loss of Rufus, the emotional toll of a character relationship that was “a surprise” to Barrett and a sign of the show’s inclusivity.
“Me and Claudia had chemistry in rehearsals early on. To me, I always thought, ‘This is never going to go. They’re never going to focus on us, two characters of colour having a relationship.’ They paid off on that and created a full relationship between Rufus and Jiya that has paid off,” he says. Although the actors say they’re game for more Timeless, they’re happy to give fans closure.
“Returning was a bittersweet experience. It was one that we didn’t quite expect, but we were thankful for the opportunity,” Barrett says. “Honestly, (fans’) dedication, enthusiasm and relentless energy has been unparalleled.”
The finale has whet Visnjic’s appetite for more.
“They gave us these two episodes. They could have given us eight more to finish the whole season. In Season 2, we started getting really good in telling the stories,” he says. “But, hey, you never know. It’s Timeless.”