Timeless Season 1 Episode 10 Review: The Capture of Benedict Arnold
Dale McGarrigle
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Flynn and the trio almost nipped Rittenhouse in the bud.
In the end, they just couldn't pull the trigger.
Everyone went back to 1780 to capture traitor Benedict Arnold, who holds the secret to Rittenhouse on Timeless Season 1 Episode 10.
Fortunately, it didn't take long to find out what was on the scroll which Flynn stole from a museum on Timeless Season 1 Episode 9.
The scroll was written by, of all people, Benedict Arnold, who naturally was a founding member of Rittenhouse.
Although, I gotta say, he doesn't really fit the captains of industry motif of other Rittenhouse members. He's more of a footnote in history, which is what happens when you switch to the losing team.
It seems Arnold was a member of the entitled ruling class, which is why he really didn't fit in with the scraggly rebels.
Lucy: One time he paid 1,000 pounds, which would be like $80,000 today, for one bottle of wine.
Wyatt: Who does that?
Rufus: A grade-A douche-nozzle.
The trio was willing to make a deal with the devil if it gets rid of the boogeyman of Rittenhouse hanging over them.
You help me get Benedict Arnold, no more Rittenhouse, no more chasing me through time, your wife's killer found, everybody wins.
Flynn
It seemed simple enough. Kill off the founder of Rittenhouse, and Rittenhouse disappears from history.
Unfortunately, when you're talking secret societies, the devil is in the details. Who knew that Rittenhouse had a son, who had been indoctrinated with his father's poison?
John Rittenhouse: My father says peasants are like the hands of a clock, round and round they go.
Lucy: What does that mean?
John: A peasant is no more capable of choosing his own path than the hands of a clock.
Lucy: Who chooses the path for them?
John: The clockmaker, of course.
Instead, by killing the father David, they ensure that the enraged son would continue his father's legacy. Oops.
So was Lucy wrong to protect John and not let Flynn kill him?
Nah. It was clear Rittenhouse already had disciples who could have just as easily kept his crusade going. Probably easier, since they were faceless minions (not the cute animated kind).
How did Flynn and the trio work together? Not bad, up until he turned on them. Actually, the rescue scene played out like every Western bar brawl, complete with breaking chairs.
Lots of warm fuzzy sides shown for characters outside the big three (four if you count Flynn).
A drunk Mason interrupts Rufus and Jiya's nerd love (videogames and pizza). He explains he's not a bad guy. He just wanted to invent a better vacuum for his poor housekeeper mother.
Turns out he's a great inventor but a lousy businessman, which is why is he, and by extension Rufus, ended up in bed with some bad men.
Rufus rightfully didn't forgive him.
Then there's Lucy having dinner with Agent Christopher and her wife Michelle. (Timeless is nothing if not diverse.)
Christopher feels pain for Lucy's mother for a loss she doesn't even know she has.
As hard as it must be for you to remember your sister, what's worse for me is that your mother doesn't. She has a daughter she doesn't even know existed.
Christopher [to Lucy]
It was a great concept she had of placing a disk about her family in the Lifeboat, so Lucy could tell her about them if,for some reason,they too disappear.
Even Flynn has a soft side, when he's not busy shooting key figures from history. Growing up, he wanted to be a cowboy, which explains all the gunplay.
He even plans to ride off into the sunset after he re-writes history, since he's been a bad man.
By chasing Rittenhouse, I've done terrible things, become something else. I can't bring that into my home. What kind of husband or father can I be after what I've done?
Flynn [to Lucy]
And it's always fun watching Lucy make googly eyes at historical figures, Washington this time around.
Lucy: I know I should be getting used to all this but this one ...
Wyatt: What, that's it's George Washington or that he might want to kill us?
Lucy: Both.
So let's recap: Despite evidence to the contrary, Rittenhouse isn't an individual. Rather, it's a group of the elite manipulating the masses (kind of like the Trump cabinet).
Lucy crossed Flynn one too many times, so he's abducted her to prove that he's right and she's wrong. I'm sure being kidnapped will put her in the right frame of mind.
Since this was the fall finale, watch Timeless online to see if there's any narrative threads you missed week to week.
What did you learn about Rittenhouse? Do you feel sorry either for Flynn or Mason? Who's your favorite historical figure so far (don't say Hamilton)? Comment below.
Dale McGarrigle is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
