Forgotten Television: Time After Time 2017

A young H.G. Wells (Freddie Stroma) is a hopeful idealist working on his prototype time machine. When his friend, the charming and enigmatic surgeon John Stevenson (Josh Bowman), is revealed to be the infamous Jack the Ripper, Wells is horrified to discover that his invention has enabled John to flee to the future, specifically, modern-day New York City. Determined to stop his friend-turned-monster, Wells follows him through time and arrives bewildered in the 21st century. There, he finds his time machine displayed as an artifact in a New York museum dedicated to his life and works. He meets Jane Walker (Genesis Rodriguez), the museum’s intelligent and resourceful assistant curator, who initially believes he’s just a confused actor, until she witnesses proof that Wells really is who he says he is. As he acclimates to a world filled with technological marvels and social advancements he could barely imagine, but also new dangers and moral gray areas, he remains driven by his belief that humankind is progressing toward a utopian future. However, his chase after Stevenson quickly shows him that the same darkness of the human soul persists. Stevenson embraces the modern world’s anonymity and chaotic pace, seeing it as the perfect hunting ground for his next victims. Throughout the series, Wells and Jane’s alliance grows into a romantic relationship as they face off against Stevenson’s manipulations and murders. They also discover that others in the present know about Wells’ invention and seek to control the time machine for their own ends including a shadowy family legacy that links Wells’ future descendants to the time machine’s secrets. Wells must navigate these conspiracies, protect Jane, and struggle with the moral weight of whether changing the past or future is ever justified.

Developed by Kevin Williamson, Time After Time premiered on ABC on March 5, 2017. It was inspired by the 1979 film of the same name, which in turn was based on Karl Alexander’s novel. Despite an intriguing premise, the series struggled with ratings and mixed critical reception. Critics praised the leads’ performances but found the plot overly familiar and the pacing uneven. Due to low viewership, ABC canceled the show after airing only five of the twelve produced episodes, pulling it from the schedule in March 2017. (though seven unaired episodes were later made available in some regions), leaving several plotlines unresolved, including deeper revelations about Wells’ future lineage and Stevenson’s grander plans.

TIME AFTER TIME – “Pilot” – Using the 1979 novel and movie as a launching point, “Time After Time” chronicles the adventures of a young H.G. Wells, as he travels through centuries, decades and days in the time machine he created. In the pursuit of the charismatic (yet secretly psychopathic) Dr. John Stevenson, better known as “Jack the Ripper,” Wells arrives in modern day New York City, searching for Stevenson after the doctor escapes authorities in Wells’ London home. But instead of the Utopia he imagined, Wells finds a world more aligned with Stevenson’s temperament in a series charged with danger and adventure, and centered in thrills, satire, humor – and most of all, an epic love story, SUNDAY, MARCH 5 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EST), on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Sarah Shatz)
FREDDIE STROMA, GENESIS RODRIGUEZ

It was probably a mistake watching this series after re-watching the original 1979 movie.  Taken on its own, the series isn’t terrible, but in comparison there is so much that is missing from the performances of the leads.  Freddie Stroma and Josh Bowman both do a decent job in their respective roles, but they do not match the gravitas and quiet intensity of Malcolm MacDowell and David Warner. The chemistry between MacDowell and Mary Steenburgen also far surpasses the romance between Freddie Stroma and Genesis Rodriguez. There are some notable differences in plot points between the two as well.  They moved the location from San Francisco to New York City, and Wells’ love interest is no longer Amy Robbins a bank teller, she is now Jane Walker the assistant curator of the museum.  In addition, conspiracy theories and additional characters who are aware of H.G. and John’s presence in the future with their own interest in the Time Machine were added to the show.  Weaving together a richer mythology that an episodic show would need to keep interest from week to week. In the end, the show isn’t bad, the two male leads are decent, and the added plot points were interesting, but it was just missing that magical element that connects with the audience.