Ok, so I have feelings about this and all the #Clockblockers who campaigned for it's renewal in 2017 will know the struggle is real. They'll remember the disappointment when we heard it had been cancelled, and how elated we were when we heard that we changed NBC's mind.
So I'm going to tell you why you should jump on the Lifeboat with us, because I promise you it's worth it.
It's honest about history: Not only does Timeless maintain as much historical accuracy as humanly possible when it comes to events, but it is real about the times.
Any of my fellow Whovians will remember Martha (incredible, GOOD, Martha), and the Shakespeare episode. She's black and asks the Doctor if she'll be ok--to which he responds yeah and tells her to just walk around like she owns the place because that always works for him--a white guy. While I don't condemn them for sidestepping an issue people are afraid to talk about, it does encourage the glossing over of history which isn't stellar. History is mess. It's awful, and mean, and unfair.
History is horrible--but it's ours.
Rufus (Malcolm Barrett) is black, and in the Pilot he tells his boss he doesn't want to time travel because there's "no place in American history that would be awesome" for him. Truth--and when he, Lucy and Wyatt ultimately have to--his skin color is handled with brutal honestly. People stare and glare and ignore and harass--and that's important. It's important for us to realize the reality of history. It shows us how far we've come and the areas we still need to work on. It helps to understand the context of our reality and how we got here--what evens led to our culture, our mindsets, and our beliefs.
Lucy (Abigail Spencer) deals with sexism. They go back to the 1960's and she tells off a guy who chides her for not getting him coffee, they go to 1754 and a doctor won't respect her opinion, telling Wyatt "not to trust a woman". It's honest. She can't just walk around with confidence, and neither can Rufus. They have to prove themselves.
Wyatt (Matt Lanter) is a white guy and almost never has a problem--he's a white guy.
But their differences are relevant because they frame their situations in the past. It limits their options. To blend in they have to conform, and conformity means different things for them in each era they visit.
It's easy to dismiss a time traveling show as a silly sci-fi thing that doesn't hold too much value, but it does. The honesty of this show brings to light social issues that exist. My mom used to make jokes about feminism. She doesn't anymore. It made her realize just how much headway was made and how much she benefited from that--it made her realize that we still have work to do.
This show has the power to make people realize how much racism and sexism is internalized in our society and in our culture--and just how much of that we don't often realize. If we want to change we have to realize.
Timeless is willing to be truthful, and we will never be able to move forward if shows like it are cancelled. It teaches in a way that entertains--it doesn't turn anybody away. It beckons you in and makes you love possibility. It makes you love history.
This show inspires people in a way that made NBC bring it back for season two. That is only the beginning of what this show and what this fandom is capable of. We just need more time--and of course there are a million more reasons why this show is awesome. The obscure historical figures, the acting, the writing, the characters--the ships (Riya and Lyatt forever), but this is what impresses me the most about the show and why I encourage you to give it a try if you have time.
Grab a snack, buckle up, and explore history with us.
Timeless can be found on Hulu as well as the NBC app. It airs live on Sundays at 10/9c. Watch and tweet live if you can, #Timeless.
Together we can #RenewTimeless.
Sincerely,
Cori
So I'm going to tell you why you should jump on the Lifeboat with us, because I promise you it's worth it.
It's honest about history: Not only does Timeless maintain as much historical accuracy as humanly possible when it comes to events, but it is real about the times.
Any of my fellow Whovians will remember Martha (incredible, GOOD, Martha), and the Shakespeare episode. She's black and asks the Doctor if she'll be ok--to which he responds yeah and tells her to just walk around like she owns the place because that always works for him--a white guy. While I don't condemn them for sidestepping an issue people are afraid to talk about, it does encourage the glossing over of history which isn't stellar. History is mess. It's awful, and mean, and unfair.
History is horrible--but it's ours.
Rufus (Malcolm Barrett) is black, and in the Pilot he tells his boss he doesn't want to time travel because there's "no place in American history that would be awesome" for him. Truth--and when he, Lucy and Wyatt ultimately have to--his skin color is handled with brutal honestly. People stare and glare and ignore and harass--and that's important. It's important for us to realize the reality of history. It shows us how far we've come and the areas we still need to work on. It helps to understand the context of our reality and how we got here--what evens led to our culture, our mindsets, and our beliefs.
Lucy (Abigail Spencer) deals with sexism. They go back to the 1960's and she tells off a guy who chides her for not getting him coffee, they go to 1754 and a doctor won't respect her opinion, telling Wyatt "not to trust a woman". It's honest. She can't just walk around with confidence, and neither can Rufus. They have to prove themselves.
Wyatt (Matt Lanter) is a white guy and almost never has a problem--he's a white guy.
But their differences are relevant because they frame their situations in the past. It limits their options. To blend in they have to conform, and conformity means different things for them in each era they visit.
It's easy to dismiss a time traveling show as a silly sci-fi thing that doesn't hold too much value, but it does. The honesty of this show brings to light social issues that exist. My mom used to make jokes about feminism. She doesn't anymore. It made her realize just how much headway was made and how much she benefited from that--it made her realize that we still have work to do.
This show has the power to make people realize how much racism and sexism is internalized in our society and in our culture--and just how much of that we don't often realize. If we want to change we have to realize.
Timeless is willing to be truthful, and we will never be able to move forward if shows like it are cancelled. It teaches in a way that entertains--it doesn't turn anybody away. It beckons you in and makes you love possibility. It makes you love history.
This show inspires people in a way that made NBC bring it back for season two. That is only the beginning of what this show and what this fandom is capable of. We just need more time--and of course there are a million more reasons why this show is awesome. The obscure historical figures, the acting, the writing, the characters--the ships (Riya and Lyatt forever), but this is what impresses me the most about the show and why I encourage you to give it a try if you have time.
Grab a snack, buckle up, and explore history with us.
Timeless can be found on Hulu as well as the NBC app. It airs live on Sundays at 10/9c. Watch and tweet live if you can, #Timeless.
Together we can #RenewTimeless.
Sincerely,
Cori
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