Ep 1. Pilot

In the season 1 premiere of Timeless, entitled "Pilot," viewers are introduced to a trio of main characters: Lucy Preston (Abigail Spencer), a history professor; Wyatt Logan (Matt Lanter), a soldier; and Rufus Carlin (Malcolm Barrett), a scientist. The episode begins with Lucy giving a lecture on the importance of the Hindenburg disaster to modern American culture. Shortly after her lecture, she is approached by a mysterious organization, led by the enigmatic Garcia Flynn (Goran Višnjić), who claim that they need her help to stop a dangerous terrorist plot.

After being ushered into a secret government facility, Lucy, Wyatt, and Rufus are shown the government's latest technological marvel: a time machine called the "Lifeboat." Flynn has stolen the original prototype and has gone back in time, intending to alter history and change the future. The trio is tasked with traveling back to various points in time to stop Flynn's plan and restore the proper timeline.

Their first mission takes them to May 6th, 1937, the day of the Hindenburg disaster. Lucy is thrilled to have the opportunity to witness the event firsthand and study it in detail, but tensions quickly arise when they realize that Flynn is also there, dressed as a reporter. The team splits up to try and find Flynn and stop him from doing whatever it is he came back to do. Along the way, they encounter a number of historical figures, including Joseph Goebbels and Ernest Hemingway.

Throughout the episode, Lucy's knowledge of history proves to be invaluable as she is able to anticipate Flynn's actions and make educated guesses as to what he is trying to accomplish. However, the team's successes are counterbalanced by their failures, and they quickly realize that altering the past has unforeseen consequences. When they return to the present, they discover that small changes to the timeline have had huge repercussions, and that their actions may have had unintended consequences.

One of the episode's biggest strengths is its attention to historical detail. The sets and costumes are top-notch, and the show makes an effort to incorporate real historical events and figures into the narrative. This gives the show a sense of authenticity and gravitas that could easily have been lost on a less well-crafted program. However, the show isn't afraid to play fast and loose with history when it suits the plot, leading to some decidedly unlikely encounters with famous historical figures.

The performances in "Pilot" are also strong across the board. Abigail Spencer does an excellent job as Lucy, balancing her enthusiasm for history with her growing doubts about the morality of altering the past. Malcolm Barrett's Rufus is a relatable everyman, torn between his loyalty to the government and his ethical concerns about time travel. And Matt Lanter's Wyatt is a charismatic action hero, though his motivations are somewhat less clear than his comrades'.

All in all, "Pilot" is a solid start to Timeless, laying the groundwork for an exciting and thought-provoking time travel adventure. While the episode is not without its flaws (chief among them the show's tendency to rely on exposition-heavy dialogue), it does a great job of establishing the show's central conflict and hinting at the larger mysteries at play. Fans of sci-fi, history, and action-adventure will likely find much to enjoy here, and the episode's cliffhanger ending will leave viewers eager to see where the show goes next.