Timeless is an NBC series about three people traveling through time: Lucy Preston, an historian; Wyatt Logan, a soldier; and Rufus Carlin, the pilot. In the first episode, a man named Garcia Flynn steals a time machine and travels back to try and change history. Luckily, the prototype is still available, so the corporation that built the machine sends the newly assembled team back to stop him.
In his travels, Flynn tries to stop the Hindenburg disaster, hinder America’s space program and aid the Nazis during World War II. The team does what it can, narrowly averting disaster each time. History is always changed somewhat, though generally not enough to make a big difference in the present, the only exception being some changes in Lucy’s personal life. Changes Lucy wants nothing more than to change back.
Rufus, meanwhile, is plagued by two things: the fact that he is a black time traveler, and to paraphrase him — there is no time in history that has been good to his people — and the fact that he is forced to record the other members of the team, people that are quickly becoming his friends. Wyatt, on the other hand, just wants a chance to go back in time and save his wife’s life.
The first few episodes I found extremely intense, wondering if Flynn would get away with drastically changing our history. Later, there was more intrigue as the presence of a group called Rittenhouse became more and more apparent as the controlling force in the show.
Whether you prefer intrigue, suspense, or action, you will get plenty of all three in Timeless. This is easily my favorite new show of the season. Try to catch the initial episodes in reruns or on demand. It’s well worth it.