The Kennedy Curse: Timeless The Kennedy family has long been associated with a tragic and mysterious curse that seems to haunt them through the generations. The curse has manifested itself in various ways, including assassinations, accidents, and untimely deaths. This curse has captivated the public's imagination and has become part of the Kennedy family's enduring legacy. It all began with Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the eldest son of Joseph and Rose Kennedy.
, the eldest son of Joseph and Rose Kennedy. Joseph Jr. was a promising young man with a bright future ahead of him.
Timeless Season 2 Episode 5 Review: The Kennedy Curse
Timeless continues to experiment successfully with its storytelling as JFK enters the present, posing questions beyond just his own fate.
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This Timeless review contains spoilers.
Timeless Season 2 Episode 5
As Timeless gets more creative with its formula, it becomes clear how many possible permutations of time travel intricacies and lesser-known historical tidbits the show is able explore. Having JFK in the present could have come across as extremely gimmicky, but it actually served the larger story quite well in a number of ways. While the investigation had only small moments of action and stretched credibility at times, the important relationships evolved in a manner that wouldn’t have seemed possible even at the start of this season. This shift in the group dynamics, in fact, was the greatest success of “The Kennedy Curse.”
Keeping the mission to 1934 in the background was an interesting way to frame things. Rather than belabor the details of the sleeper mission to Kennedy’s prep school, it was enough to just show the end result of Flynn rushing in to the rescue. Viewers can simply use their imagination to picture the enjoyably rough interactions between Rufus, Wyatt, and Flynn or even the circumstances under which they would leave Flynn behind to make room in the life boat for a young John F. Kennedy. Whether we believe Flynn actually dispatched three Rittenhouse sleepers is beside the point, especially when he wordlessly shares a beer with Lucy in a much more important and strangely poignant ending.
The story of JFK is one of the most understated history lessons we’ve gotten in Timeless. The curse that gives the episode its name is mentioned as Kennedy astoundingly finds out about his own death and those of his siblings, but its implications go by quickly. The mention of his chronic illness brings us the factoid of the week, but it also guides both Lucy and her mother to him in the hospital. The most interesting subtext, however, came from watching Kennedy, the man who helped pass the Civil Rights Act, enjoy the diversity of kids in the modern era. It was subtle and quick, but it fulfilled the weekly historical requirement in an innovative fashion.
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Arguably, the whole adventure was designed as an illustration of the topic of debate between Jiya and Rufus. Jiya believes her prophecies (which Connor now knows about, intriguingly) are steered by a higher power as guaranteed truths, but Rufus believes things can be changed and does in fact try to save Kennedy from being assassinated. Does the change in venue from Dallas to Austin for the altered timeline prove that the president’s assassination was meant to be or not? And was Kennedy’s path altered further in ways we don’t hear about? That might explain the half dollar changing its face to that of Nixon — unless that wasn’t a permanent change.
But again, the episode isn’t really about Kennedy anyway; he just provides the mission for Wyatt, Lucy, and Jessica to go on so that their issues can be hammered out along the way. Regardless of how preposterous it is that Agent Christopher would allow her to join in, Jessica being included reflects both her own helpfulness, such as when she comes up with the name of an anti-psychotic drug that convinces the clerk to tell them about Kennedy’s whereabouts, as well as Lucy’s continued relevance in pointing them towards the hospital and trusting Wyatt to escape with a paper clip. As Jessica says, “I’d go with the historian on this one. She’s kept you alive this long, right?” Right!
The interplay between the two women couldn’t have been orchestrated better, from the initial awkwardness to Jessica’s final realization that Lucy and Wyatt were an item. Putting aside Jessica’s quick acceptance of the time travel concept (what choice did she have?), her willingness to defer to Lucy garnered sympathy while making viewers realize along with the historian that Wyatt’s years with Jessica really do trump Lucy’s more recent albeit more intense feelings. In the end, Wyatt telling Lucy, “I regret nothing,” seals the deal, and all but the most hardcore Lyatt/Wucy shippers can accept that… for now at least.
The only really weak aspect of the episode was Carol’s misguided attempt to threaten Agent Christopher into keeping Lucy off the mission because, come on, why was Agent Christopher even out in her car at all when Wyatt and Lucy were already on the case, especially without Rufus, Connor, or Jiya aware of her absence? Agent Christopher did give us a nice motherly moment as she expresses pride in Lucy’s refusal to be sidelined despite Carol’s threats, but otherwise, the side plot felt forced.
While Nicholas Keyne’s attempt to place a more controllable president like Nixon in JFK’s place was an intriguing idea, the episode ended with that confusing image of the changing face on the half dollar. What an odd and confusing visual to include, one which should have erased JFK from everyone’s memory as Connor mentioned earlier! In any case, the time travel complexities are always a fun touch to this popcorn sci-fi show, not anything to obsess over, and hopefully Timeless will continue to experiment with its form and bring us innovative stories each week.
He had plans to enter the world of politics and was even being groomed to become President of the United States. However, fate had other plans for him. In 1944, Joseph Jr. tragically died while serving in the United States Navy during World War II. This marked the beginning of the Kennedy curse. The curse continued to unfold when John F. Kennedy, Joseph Jr.'s younger brother, rose to become the 35th President of the United States. Despite his many successes, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, in 1963. This event shocked the nation and further fueled the rumors of a Kennedy curse. Tragedy struck the Kennedy family once again in 1968 when Robert F. Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's younger brother, was assassinated in Los Angeles while running for President. This sequence of assassinations left the nation in disbelief and further solidified the belief in the Kennedy curse. The curse seemed to take an even more peculiar turn when John F. Kennedy Jr., son of John F. Kennedy, tragically died in a plane crash in 1999. John F. Kennedy Jr. was a charismatic and promising figure in his own right, and his death only added to the mystique surrounding the Kennedy curse. The Kennedy curse has also affected the lives of other family members. Ted Kennedy, the youngest of the Kennedy brothers, faced numerous personal and professional challenges throughout his life. These included a scandal involving a fatal car accident in which he was involved in 1969, as well as health issues that plagued him in his later years. Although he managed to have a long and successful career in the Senate, the shadow of the curse loomed over Ted Kennedy as well. The Kennedy curse is not limited to the immediate family. Numerous other family members and relatives have also faced tragic fates. This includes Kathleen Kennedy (Kick), who died in a plane crash in 1948, and David Kennedy, Robert Kennedy's son, who died of a drug overdose in 1984. The curse seems to extend beyond the Kennedys themselves, impacting those who are connected to the family in any way. The Kennedy curse has fascinated scholars, historians, and the general public alike. Many theories have been proposed to explain the curse, ranging from suggestions of hidden enemies to mere coincidence. Some attribute the curse to the family's involvement in politics and the controversy that surrounded them. Others consider it a classic case of confirmation bias, where tragic events are selectively remembered and attributed to a curse. Regardless of the cause, the Kennedy curse is a phenomenon that continues to captivate the public's imagination. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the unpredictable nature of fate. The Kennedy family's enduring legacy, combined with the tragic events that have befallen them, have solidified the curse as a timeless part of their story..
Reviews for "Illuminating the Shadows: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Kennedy Curse"
1. Sarah - 1 star
I found "The Kennedy Curse: Timeless" to be highly disappointing. The story was lacking depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, making it difficult to stay engaged. The writing style also left much to be desired, with clunky dialogue and a lack of descriptive imagery. Overall, this book failed to live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it.
2. Tom - 2 stars
"The Kennedy Curse: Timeless" had the potential to be an intriguing read, given the fascinating history of the Kennedy family. However, it fell short in many areas. The pacing was uneven, at times dragging on unnecessarily, while at others rushing through important plot developments. The characters were poorly developed and it was difficult to form any sort of connection with them. Additionally, the author's attempts at suspense and tension felt forced and lacked the desired impact. Overall, this book felt like a missed opportunity.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "The Kennedy Curse: Timeless," but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The plot was convoluted and confusing, with too many subplots and unnecessary details that distracted from the main storyline. The characters lacked depth and their actions often felt unrealistic. The writing style was also disjointed, making it difficult to follow the overall narrative. While the concept of exploring the Kennedy curse was intriguing, the execution fell short, resulting in a disappointing read.