Continuum Review: Two Isn't Better Than One

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Time travel is really complicated. Let's just get that out of the way right up front.

If you haven't been watching Continuum, then you've been missing out - and it's time to catch up because Continuum Season 3 Episode 1 didn't waste any time trying to explain to newcomers what the hell was going on, any more than it intended to explain to you in detail the ins and outs of the space time continuum. 

You just need to jump in and get your feet wet!

This hour was presented brilliantly... with very few hiccups. Kiera found herself in her little glass cage captured by the Freelancers and Alec was off in a new timeline-- one week previous to the events from the end of Continuum Season 2.

Continuum Season Premiere Pic

Kiera's time in the cage was brief, as the Freelancer's realized Alec's abandoning of their timeline meant it was about to disappear. Since he removed himself from the line, everything he later achieved in the timeline (such as inventing time travel) ceases to exist in short order. The Freelancers, it turns out, aren't the big bad, but rather the guardians of the timeline. Traveling through it is prohibited unless for extreme purposes.

They explain to Kiera the only way she'll ever find her way back is to help them by going to the new timeline Alec created to try to fix his mistakes. Some people live and die without consequence. Alec isn't one of them and apparently, they're realizing, Kiera isn't one either. She's necessary. 

It takes her a while to agree to work with them and in the interim she makes an escape attempt with Garza. They make a good team. Although Garza was fairly lethal, there was always something about her that made her appealing. She wasn't rotten to the core, but perhaps misunderstood. Garza sacrifices herself trying to create a diversion for Kiera and her fate is sealed.

I was a little confused about the current, disintegrating timeline because Freelancer Curtis Chen was alive after having been killed by Kiera last season. He mentioned he would explain that, but I think I missed it. Other than the removal of Alec in the timeline, what else had changed?

Kiera agrees to work on behalf of the Freelancers, learning there are two Alec Sadlers in the new past timeline and there will be two Kieras. Her job will be to determine which Alec will be the one to go on to create the future they need to keep the timeline in tact (as in tact as it can be since it's fairly frakked up). What will she do with the other Alec?

When Alec lands a week earlier in what becomes our new baseline for the series, he buries his time ball under some brush in a park (and he's a genius?). Then he strikes out to find Emily. He's thinking mainly with the little brain, but once he finds Emily and assures her that he loves her no matter what and -- Hey! Let's go to Thailand! -- he remembers Kiera.

He settles things so that Kiera doesn't get set up for Gardiner's murder, Travis never gets his hands on the second suit, Kellog gets angry at the news of what Escher has accomplished and sets him up for a great fall. Whether Alec imagined Kellog would have Emily kill Escher? Who knows. He probably didn't care thinking they'd be off in Thailand.

I'm assuming Jason (Alec's son) is keeping FauxAlec (what else can we call him at this point, poor bastard?) busy while original Alec takes care of business since he found him on the street. Other assumptions are that Carlos and Betty are fine as wine since that timeline's Kiera is no longer in trouble.

As this is going down, our Kiera arrives in her massive time machine and immediately frees Garza after sharing a story she couldn't know unless they had experienced something deeply personal. Garza will likely be an ally of Kiera and be free of Liber8's clutches down the line. Kiera then surrenders to the Freelancers and through the verified dots on her hand she's now a part of their group(ish). She can always use more people on her team.

The thing is, Kiera is a little different. She's not the happy go lucky Kiera who thought she was close to going home. Alec betrayed her for a teen's wet dream and now she has to deal with two of them. Back in Alec's lair he discovers Kiera dead, a bullet through the head. He's distraught and apologizing, weeping that he's sorry and he changed something. But did he change something that got her killed?

I'm betting that Kiera killed herself. She did wonder if she might be her best ally, but in thinking it over, she could have also realized that she might be her biggest hindrance. She would have to agree with herself about everything. She has a lot more knowledge about things than she did even a week ago causing her decision-making scope to be off kilter. In order to have full, unfettered access to all of the information she needs, she has to be Kiera Cameron. Running interference with herself won't work.

I could be wrong.

How is it going to play out with two Alecs? One a little hardened, a murderer after seeing his girlfriend killed. A time traveler. The other betrayed by himself. His girlfriend stolen out from under his nose -- by himself. How can that end well?

Kiera is pissed and she has a right to be. I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to the always incredible Rachel (Mrs. Kershaw) Nichols. She solidly plays Kiera but allows her supporting players to shine as well. We can always use another show with a strong, yet compassionate woman who can kick some ass.

This is going to be an amazing season. 

Which Alec will usher them to the right future?

Minute by Minute Review

Editor Rating: 4.8 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.3 / 5.0 (28 Votes)

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.

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Continuum Season 3 Episode 1 Quotes

Soon you'll know everything I know. Soon you'll see the battlefield for the first time.

Chen

You can't escape your fate, Kiera.

Catherine