Timeless “Atomic City” was written by Lana Cho and was directed by Charles Beeson who has been a long-time collaborator of Eric Kripke’s. Cho’s other credits include
Minority Report,
Arrow, and
The Playboy Club. This was another solid episode that continued to build the characters. I have to admit that it wasn’t my favorite history lesson so far, however. I was a little tickled that it was set in 1962 (the year I was born – yes, I’m old, deal with it) and aired the day before my actual birthday – so fun!
As the episode opens, Lucy (Abigail Spencer) is looking through photo albums trying to piece together what her life is supposed to be and who Noah (Daniel DiTomasso) is – aside from her “fiancé.” He’s a bit worried that she didn’t come to bed, but he did find her engagement ring. I’m quite likely the sensible way that Lucy is handling this. She isn’t freaking him out by trying to explain the time travel thing – plus that would likely just end up with her being committed!
But she also isn’t simply going to stay and fake her way through it, so it made complete sense to me that she moved back to her mother’s at the end of the episode. The more surprising thing is perhaps Noah’s serene acceptance. He loves her enough to give her the space she needs. Maybe he is a keeper?
The team has to go back to Las Vegas on September 21, 1962. Once again, the production side does a great job with the costuming and sets. President John F Kennedy (Scott Bailey) is there with a whole bunch of important politicians, actors, and mobsters. And, oh yeah, they’re also testing nuclear bombs just outside of town… This was a nice special effect. It seems that Kennedy may be the target when we see Flynn (Goran Visnjic) taking pictures of him with his mistress – Judith Campbell (Elena Satine).
Connor (Paterson Joseph) pulls Rufus (Malcolm Barrett) aside. Connor suspects that Anthony (Matt Frewer) as in on it with Flynn because 30 minutes before Flynn and his men stormed the lab somebody made a call. Rufus insists that Anthony is a victim who needs to be saved – until Rufus finds Anthony unguarded at the bar. Anthony may not be happy about what’s going on, but he’s also not trying to get away. It’s pretty clear that Flynn is holding something over Anthony to make him comply – or maybe he’s simply told him the future? Anthony insists that Flynn doesn’t have anything on him, and cryptically tells Rufus, “Here’s to Christie Pitt.”
The team lands just outside of Vegas just as a bomb goes off. We’ve already seen the entire town partying and “enjoying” the fireworks. Rufus gets the team uniforms to infiltrate the event Kennedy is going to be at. Once again, he’s simply the invisible help. I loved Barrett’s delivery of “I’m invisible. It’s my super-power!” And for once, Rufus does enjoy one of the perks of the job – getting to hear the Rat Pack sing and see them perform!
Wyatt (Matt Lanter) insists that his job is taking out Flynn – any way possible. He insists that protecting the timeline is only Lucy’s job. Wyatt refuses to consider stopping the show because they know it is the one place Flynn will be. Flynn isn’t there for Kennedy but for Judith. There’s a great fight in the kitchen between Wyatt and Flynn, but Flynn gets away.
Rufus tells Judith that they are all cops, but she doesn’t believe him and Lucy gives it up that they aren’t. It turns out that Flynn is blackmailing Judith because she is having an affair with both Kennedy and mob boss Sam Giancana (Peter Grasso).
Interestingly, Connor wants to take out Flynn’s pilot Anthony and Flynn wants to take out Connor’s pilot, Rufus. Luckily, Anthony insists that Rufus is his friend.
Judith is convinced that Lucy is sleeping with Wyatt. They do seem to be growing closer as they are sympathetic to each other’s plight. But it’s more commentary on the opportunities available to women in the early 60s. It’s ironic in the extreme when Judith asks Lucy if she ever wakes up and doesn’t recognize her own life. Judith doesn’t know what’s going to happen and she likes it that way – or so she thinks.
Wyatt wants to use Judith for bait because Flynn is always ahead of them. Lucy is opposed to the plan. Judith wants to know if Wyatt would risk his own wife – and I have to wonder if that isn’t how she died – though we do get a little more insight into that when he tries to send Jessica a telegram. It’s a great gimmick and a direct shout out to Back to the Future 2 – Wyatt’s evidence that it could work! He sends the telegram to 2012 and it says “I know this might be hard to understand, but whatever happens on Saturday, February 11, 2012, let Wyatt take you home and know he loves you more than you’ll ever know.” Did they simply have a fight and she was killed in a car accident? Was it more?
Of course, Judith ends up knocking Wyatt out and meeting up with Flynn because of course, she’s made a deal with him to get the pictures. In 1962, if you didn’t have your reputation, you didn’t have anything! Judith also has to get the keys from the General (Barclay Hope – who has been on Supernatural twice!).
Wyatt apologizes. He tells Lucy, “I don’t believe in meant to be or fate. It’s all just dumb luck and random chance.” It’s interesting that only Lucy who believes in the cause/effect so strongly is the one to have had the most disruption in her life due to the changing timestream.
Rufus also apologizes because he knows what they are after. Only Anthony would call it the Christie Pitt – it’s slang for the A-bomb’s core! The team worries that Flynn will try to jump with the atomic core – which they don’t do in the end. They simply bury it and come back to get it in the present.
I loved Rufus just pretending to be a valet and casually taking a car – invisible remember! I very much liked the game of chicken between Flynn and Wyatt. Lucy goes after Judith and Rufus gets the core, but Anthony gets away when Rufus won’t let Wyatt shoot him.
Anthony does manage to switch the bomb, and Judith maintains that she wouldn’t have helped them if she’d known about the bomb. Lucy tells them that eventually all of Judith’s secrets come out anyway and she is vilified by the public and dies of cancer.
Back in the present, Denise (Sakina Jaffrey) wants to know what Flynn wanted in Vegas. Lucy tells her that it doesn’t matter, they saved Judith and prevented Flynn from changing history. Rufus points out that the team is really starting to gel – so there’s that too! Wyatt lies and says that he never had a clean shot on Anthony to protect Rufus. Denise is determined to just eliminate Anthony now.
Connor asks Jiya (Claudia Doumit) to find Flynn in the present – which she does! Wyatt discovers that the telegram didn’t work – Jessica is still dead. Rufus thanks Wyatt for covering for him. He insists that Anthony is a good guy. Rufus wants to know how they can be sure that they’re on the right side. Wyatt says he’s not paid to wonder why – but you just know that he’s going to get curious.
What did you think of the episode? Is Anthony a good guy or not? Do you think it's possible for Wyatt to get Jessica back? Any guesses yet as to Flynn's end game? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, 12 Monkeys, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The X-Files, Designated Survivor, Timeless, Killjoys, and a few others! I'm active on the Con scene when I have the time. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.
