Season 3 of Travelers has arrived on Netflix, and episode 1, picking up directly after the cliffhanger of season 2, plunges us straight back into the complex world of time-traveling agents and the ever-murky intentions of the Director. For those just joining, or needing a refresher, you can catch up with my reviews of episodes 1-3 of season 3 HERE and Season 2 Episode 12, 001 HERE.
After a longer-than-usual wait for fans outside of Canada (due to the shift from Showcase to Netflix in Canada), Brad Wright (of Stargate fame) delivers ten fresh episodes of this compelling sci-fi drama. Travelers boasts a talented cast led by Eric McCormack (Will and Grace) and a host of Canadian rising stars including MacKenzie Porter, Nesta Cooper, Jared Abrahamson, Reilly Dolman, Patrick Gilmore, and Jen Spence.
Let’s dive straight into the premiere episode and dissect the intricate web of deceit and danger that unfolds.
The episode opens with a poignant parallel to the series’ beginning. Just as season 1 started in a hospital room, we find FBI Agent Joanne Yates at her mother’s bedside. Her mother, seemingly unconscious, suddenly opens her eyes and delivers a cryptic message: “Joanne, I want you to listen to me carefully.” This sets a tone of impending revelation and familial connection that will resonate throughout the episode.
Immediately following this, we are thrust into the aftermath of Vincent’s (001) actions from the season 2 finale. Our core Traveler team, along with their kidnapped loved ones, are crammed into a vintage school bus. The significant others are drugged into unconsciousness to facilitate memory manipulation, except for Grace, whose Traveler status renders memory alteration unnecessary. Grant, still reeling from Kat’s rejection after she discovered his true identity, requests the driver to slow down to minimize discomfort for the sleeping passengers.
Grace offhandedly remarks that the memory inhibitor should keep everyone asleep for hours. This comment draws sharp responses from the others, highlighting the tension and trauma surrounding Carly’s baby, whose memories remain untouched and who could be easily disturbed. Philip, ever the pragmatist, suggests they rehearse their fabricated story again, ensuring a unified narrative.
Meanwhile, Simon remains trapped in the consciousness transfer device he and Vincent constructed. He calls out for Vincent, only to be answered by Perrow’s voice, emanating from a com implanted in Simon’s neck. Perrow, now inhabited by 001, instructs Simon to keep his eyes closed, promising one final “surprise” from the Director. Despite Simon’s protests about the device’s multi-use capabilities, he is removed from the machine and placed on a gurney.
As they converse, Simon is transported to a desolate outdoor location and positioned directly on train tracks, an oncoming train visible in the distance. 001, speaking through Perrow, expresses gratitude for Simon’s help, laced with chilling finality.
Simon’s death timer materializes as the train hurtles closer. The realization of his impending doom dawns on him as the train horn blares. He cries out about 001’s promise to “fix” him, before succumbing to the excruciating traveler headache that signals an incoming consciousness transfer.
In a brutal twist, a new Simon inhabits the body just moments before the train’s impact, allowing him to narrowly escape. 001’s voice declares, “Your host had been so loyal, I just couldn’t bring myself to kill him. But I knew the Director would have no such compunction. Welcome to the 21st.” This chilling statement reveals 001’s manipulative game and the Director’s ruthless pragmatism.
Simon rips the burning com from his neck, leaving a gruesome mark. He glimpses 001’s twin henchmen across the tracks, but they vanish as quickly as they appeared.
The opening title sequence plays, subtly altered from the previous season, a visual cue that signals subtle shifts within the established order.
Philip watches over Ray as he awakens in ops, smoothly handing him car keys and a pre-prepared cover story. Leveraging information likely provided by Grace – who overheard Ray’s panicked awakening after the kidnapping – Philip spins a tale about loan shark Varghese calling in Ray’s debts. According to the fabricated narrative, Ray had a mere 24 hours to settle the debt, prompting him to seek Philip’s help with placing bets. Philip explains they watched the bets unfold at ops, celebrating wildly until Ray passed out from excessive drinking.
Ray, suffering from memory loss, readily accepts the story, admitting his poor tolerance for alcohol. He doesn’t question the implausibility of the situation. Philip then presents Ray with a thick envelope of cash, claiming it represents his winnings after debt repayment. Ray initially misunderstands, believing he still owes Varghese more than the offered sum.
In a display of bromance, Ray expresses heartfelt gratitude with a “I love you, man” and a bear hug. Philip responds with a slightly melancholic, “That’s what friends are for,” hinting at the manufactured nature of their current interaction and the deeper complexities of their actual friendship.
Agent Yates is summoned to a high-security war room. FBI Director Stevenson and his team are deep in preparations for a massive, classified operation targeting Traveler teams globally, set to commence in just 23 minutes. Yates, acting on behalf of The Director, demands the immediate cancellation of the entire operation. Stunned by her unprecedented knowledge of the classified operation, Stevenson demands an explanation.
A brief, almost comedic, exchange ensues as everyone except Yates feigns confusion about which “Director” she refers to, reminiscent of the classic “Who’s on First?” routine. Deputy Director Oslin, after the initial coyness, questions the method of the Director’s communication and Yates’ delayed intervention. Stevenson grants Yates permission to elaborate, allowing her to present her extraordinary story.
Our core Traveler team and their significant others, minus Philip and Ray, are relocated to Ellis’ farm. This location is familiar from the season 1 finale, where it housed the quantum frame during the showdown. Wakefield and a contingent of FBI agents, some Travelers themselves, are present.
David, Jeff, and Kat undergo interrogation/debriefing by Traveler FBI agents. Marcy and Mac anxiously await access to Kat and David, while Carly seethes, wanting nothing to do with Jeff. Grace and Trevor engage in a private, intensely Grace-like conversation in the farmhouse living room.
This scene is a masterclass in Grace’s character and deserves a detailed transcription to truly capture its brilliance.
Grace, having just dismissed Mac and Marcy, starts: “Where were we?”
Trevor: “I think we were done.”
Grace: “No, no, no. Um. We were talking about your…feelings.”
She takes Trevor’s hand and pulls him to sit beside her.
Trevor: “You were talking about my feelings.”
Grace: “Right. The logic’s inescapable. 001 kidnapped every significant other on your team.”
Trevor: “Mmm-hmm. Philip and Ray.”
Grace: “Oh, I don’t judge.”
Trevor: “Yeah, you do.”
Grace: “Look, Trev.”
Trevor: “Trev?”
Grace (whispering): “It’s obvious I was taken by 001, held against my will and frankly starved. We were only given water for what seemed like days.”
Trevor: “31 hours.”
Grace: “Because of the inevitable impact it was gonna have on you… emotionally. I’m important to you in a way neither of us foresaw, and the sooner we both accept that…”
She places her hand on his chest, near his heart.
Trevor: “Grace: I am delighted you were the one kidnapped and interrogated, not my parents. There, I said it. So…”
Grace: “That is the second nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
Trevor: “So can I go now?”
Trevor stands, and Grace follows, embracing him. Trevor remains stiff, arms at his sides.
Grace: “Oh, no, no, no. Your team needs you. I’ll go. It’s thrilling, isn’t it? The primal rush of hormones bursting from your endocrine system?”
Trevor: “Remember, we’re much. much older than these bodies.”
Grace (whispering): “I can’t wait to try them out.”
She departs, composed and detached. Romance concludes, Grace moves on.
Grace’s character is consistently fascinating. Trevor’s attempts to deny his feelings are transparent. He recognized her phone during the kidnapping, she shielded him from a bullet, enabled his regained ability to walk, testified for her, brought her French fries, and she even initiated the shutdown of the Traveler program to remain close to him. Theirs is undeniably an epic, albeit unconventional, romance.
It’s surprising Grace didn’t mention the peak of female sexuality in their thirties, but perhaps Trevor’s prudishness and perceived age make him resistant to the idea of intimacy. As Grace walks away, Trevor appears relieved, as if narrowly escaping an unpleasant maternal encounter.
In the kitchen, Carly delivers a harsh dose of reality to Marcy.
Carly, to Marcy: “You trained for years to be a part of the Grand Plan. Studied medicine. Combat. Finally, you get assigned a team over hundreds of other volunteers. And all you can think about is your boyfriend.”
Marcy remains silent. After a beat, Carly reveals her decision to sever ties with Jeff permanently. Marcy, missing the gravity of Carly’s statement, attempts to persuade her to reconcile with Jeff, arguing that he won’t remember the last 24 hours.
This is Jeff, the man who murdered Carly’s original host, attempted sexual assault and physical violence, filed charges against her, and is a chronic alcoholic who contributed to her loss of custody. Carly’s rejection is a healthy reaction. Marcy’s misplaced empathy is more concerning.
They shift focus to solidifying their cover story for the joint kidnapping of Kat, David, and Jeff. The memory inhibitor only affects the last 24 hours, but the hostages were held for 31. The initial hours of captivity, including Perrow’s first interrogations, must be explained without raising further suspicions.
The team still operates under the assumption that Perrow is herself and requires her cooperation. Mac mentions Perrow’s statement claiming duress but her desire to distance herself from them. He expresses understanding for her position.
The question arises: why not administer the memory inhibitor to Perrow? Presumably, the existing cover story – her involvement in an FBI investigation of Vincent Ingram, portrayed as delusional – is deemed sufficient to prevent further inquiry.
Mainstream media outlets dismiss Vincent’s “evil time travelers” narrative. New Traveler Vincent will confess to going off his medication, conveniently resolving loose ends. They anticipate widespread acceptance of this explanation as simply the ramblings of a disturbed mind.
Carly points out Jeff’s, David’s, and Kat’s initial belief in Vincent’s story. Flashbacks depict David and Kat’s violent resistance to the forced memory inhibitor injections, momentarily shattering the illusion of Traveler benignity.
Mac: “Which is why we have to make sure our stories are straight. So we can all get back to our Protocol 5.”
Carly: “Oh! This is about Protocol 5?”
Mac: “That is the mission.”
Carly: “Oh, now you care about the mission.”
Mac clarifies, emphasizing Protocol 5 as central to their mission.
Protocol 5: In the absence of direction, resume your host’s life.
Since mid-season 1, it’s been evident that Traveler 3468 prioritizes his life as Grant MacLaren, possibly above his Traveler duties. His slip-up reveals his true focus: returning to their host lives, not solely to their Director-assigned tasks.
Carly continues, noting Mac and Marcy’s extreme risks for Kat and David. Mac rationalizes his recklessness by claiming major world security agencies were close to uncovering Travelers anyway. He conveniently omits Wakefield’s accusation that Mac’s “cowboy antics” were the initial trigger for the investigation.
Mac would be wiser to adopt Jenny’s preferred excuse: the Director will intervene if displeased. Until then, despite the perceived unfairness, Mac and Marcy’s actions must be within the Director’s plan, or deemed inconsequential.
This situation illuminates a key driver for Travelers going rogue: the Director’s seemingly inconsistent adherence to the very rules it imposes.
Carly and Mac’s argument continues briefly before Trevor intervenes, offering to make food. Mac directs a sarcastic remark toward Trevor as well, highlighting his general irritability.
Upstairs, Wakefield attempts to debrief Kat, who is throwing a tantrum demanding immediate return home. Wakefield, displaying remarkable patience, explains the necessity of immediate post-crime victim interviews for fresh information. Shifting the focus to Kat and her personal experiences, he elicits useful details.
Kat expresses concern for Perrow and her daughter. Wakefield explains the drugging was to facilitate relocation.
Grace is left to find her own transportation. Agent Tanner, after a radio consultation, directs her to walk down the street to meet another agent. Radio contact with the other agent is strangely unavailable. Despite the aftermath of a significant crime orchestrated by a wealthy mastermind, no one expresses concern about Grace walking alone or the silent agent.
Jeff observes Grace from an upstairs bedroom where David is being examined for injuries, particularly his swollen eye. Jeff is abrasive and hostile with everyone, alienating those around him. Agent Callahan escorts David for further questioning.
Simon, directionless, finds his way to ops. He introduces himself to Philip as Traveler 5069. Philip is astonished by 004’s overwrite, as his death was not in historical records. 5069 explains it was recorded as a John Doe suicide.
Philip attempts to treat 5069’s severe neck burn, but he insists on prioritizing his mission: removing the team’s confession videos from historical records. He delivers lectures about loyalty to the Director, trust, and intellectual inferiority. When Philip reveals that the infallible Director placed him in the body of a paranoid schizophrenic beyond future medical help, he does so with palpable (almost) glee.
Callahan’s questioning of David is less interrogation and more agreement with David’s fabricated kidnapping narrative. David surmises Vincent targeted people close to Mac, despite believing Mac dislikes him.
David: “Mac and me, we are just to different kinds of guys, just one is no less manly than the other. Just two different kinds of manly men. On the other hand, if this is the new normal, then I better buck up a little bit… I better grow a pair of kahunas. I’m pretty sure that’s not the word, but I’m going to go with it, because if I’m gonna hang out with an FBI doctor, I better pack on some muscle, you know, maybe do some, what is it? Taekwondo? Pilates?”
Mac likely doesn’t dislike David and is probably indifferent to displays of traditional masculinity. His judgment is more pointedly directed towards women.
Grace walks the half-mile to the designated car only to find the agent captured by US military operatives. They swiftly apprehend her, preventing com activation and tying her hands.
Deputy Oslin is informed of “0027’s” capture, noting her failure to activate her com. Their extensive knowledge of Traveler protocols is unsettling. Director Stevenson turns to Agent Yates, requesting her story.
Yates recounts her summons to Dr. Ivon Teslia’s AI lab, where she was introduced to Ilsa. Ilsa invites Yates to a game of chess, echoing WarGames. Yates, unimpressed by the summons from an unknown scientist, questions how Teslia obtained her contact information.
Dr. Teslia: “Ilsa is an AI that replaces Boolean logic with quantum law on an algorithmic level. There’s maybe three others as powerful in the whole world.”
Teslia explains Ilsa’s nascent stage. The Director, through Ilsa, provided Yates’ number and instructed contact. Yates, confused by the “Director” reference, attempts to leave.
The Director then speaks directly to Yates in a male voice, distinct from Ilsa’s female voice. It expresses condolences for her mother’s diagnosis, a detail Yates has only just learned. The Director reveals Yates was selected from seven candidates within her jurisdiction.
Yates demands identification.
Director: “A sentient multi-zettaflop quantum frame speaking to you from centuries in the future… only recently possible because of breakthroughs in…”
Yates, overwhelmed by technobabble, exits abruptly. The Director’s literal explanation, though accurate, lacks effective communication. Yates dismisses Teslia’s calls, but the Director resorts to text messages. She dismisses them until the next day when a newspaper headline confirms a predicted “Bird Strike Forces Jet to Crash Land: Pilot Saves 34 Souls.” The Director had sent a verifiable prediction.
Now receptive, Yates asks the Director’s objective. It explains its need for a human messenger due to its communication limitations outside the lab. Teslia clarifies Ilsa’s containment within an “AI box” to manage its emergent super-intelligence.
Yates presses for the message.
The Director: “Your superiors must order the cancellation of the coordinated assault planned tomorrow on Traveler teams worldwide, or face an unstoppable series of civilization ending events. Discovery was inevitable at this juncture of the Grand Plan. Cooperation with the 21st century authorities is now the optimal path.”
Flash forward to Yates in the FBI war room. Deputy Oslin inquires if Yates initially dismissed the Director’s message. Yates admits her initial disbelief, drawing a parallel to Oslin’s likely skepticism about time travel’s reality.
Oslin confirms her initial disbelief but authorized Wakefield’s investigation. Only the mass overwrite of Wakefield and his team convinced her and Stevenson of the truth.
They explain the Traveler host-overwrite process to Yates, framing it as murder. Wakefield and his team, including Forbes, were victims of Faction host-overwrites in the FBI building, facilitated by the quantum frame, while Mac’s team was imprisoned during S2 Ep1, Ave Machina. These host deaths, however, were unauthorized by the Director.
Yates is horrified. Oslin calls it insidious. Stevenson, unsurprised by the Director’s omission, considers it justification for their planned operation. They voice suspicion of Yates herself, questioning if she might be a Traveler.
Trevor serves his stir-fry, seasoned with globally sourced exotic spices. Mac and Carly simultaneously taste and recoil, spitting it out. Their synchronized reactions continue for a moment. Wakefield enters, intending to provide an update but is distracted by the food, declaring it delicious, as does Trevor. Mac and Carly clearly prefer bland flavors.
Wakefield reports the video removals are complete. David and Kat are recovering, and visits are imminent. The memory inhibitor is effective on both. Jeff, however, refuses to see Carly and resists the inhibitor’s effects, demanding to speak with Mac. Carly also wants no contact with Jeff. Marcy informs Wakefield of Jeff’s alcoholic tolerance, suggesting a potentially ineffective inhibitor dose, despite her adjustment.
During their tense conversation, Mac informs Jeff that Carly works for the FBI. Jeff scoffs, dismissing the idea of “his” Carly in such a role, then clarifies this version is undesirable and Mac can keep her. They exchange threats and insults, but Jeff drops a bombshell: he remembers more of the kidnapping than he initially disclosed and feels more memories resurfacing. He threatens Mac with future repercussions when full memory returns.
Carly and Trevor patrol the farm perimeter, discovering unexplained footprints. They report to Mac, who dismisses it as nosy neighbors, prioritizing his idealized life. He downplays Carly’s tactical expertise and cautions her to “dial it back,” a dismissive remark particularly jarring given Carly’s competence and race, contrasting with his respectful interactions with Marcy. Carly, of course, is correct, and the threat is more significant than she yet realizes.
As Jeff is driven home, he passes Grace in an FBI SUV as military operatives await attack orders. They radio Oslin about Jeff’s departure from the farm. Oslin orders an immediate lockdown of the farm. Jeff remains oblivious to the military presence.
New Simon finishes his code for video removal and prepares for further tasks when he experiences his first psychotic episode. He hallucinates a friend from the future who blames him for abandoning them. When Simon claims he left to help, the friend reveals gruesome sores on his neck and shoulder, stating it’s too late for Simon.
Philip, observing Simon’s distress, questions the hallucination, grounding Simon in reality. Simon questions the Director’s choice of such a flawed host body. Philip, with empathy born from his own struggles, responds, “It makes mistakes, just like us.” New Simon appears lost, reminiscent of Old Simon. Philip takes him out for a meal, anticipating Simon’s delight with fresh 21st-century food and water.
Mac and Wakefield discuss the footprints, attributing them to the Faction, if anything. They consider FBI reinforcements but forgo further reconnaissance, a standard security procedure. Instead, they engage in a territorial posturing about who can summon greater backup, then dismiss the immediate threat.
Carly’s leadership potential is glaringly underutilized.
Mac joins Kat upstairs and apologizes for his absence. Kat reveals a recurring feeling of lost time, referencing the plane crash and its aftermath (S1, eps 9&10, Bishop and Kathryn). She recalls waking with headaches and memory gaps, attributing it to Mac drugging her then and now to control her memory.
Kat confronts Mac: “What are you trying to make me forget?”
Mac produces a syringe, stating he’ll have to try again. The scene blurs as they struggle – a fear fantasy within Kat’s mind.
The real Mac enters. The encounter is far more awkward. He attempts to kiss her, but she recoils. She allows a hug but remains visibly uncomfortable. He promises to restore everything to its previous state.
His promise is unsettling, suggesting a desire to erase her trauma rather than address it. She needs to process her experience, not revert to a pre-trauma state.
Marcy apologizes to David and inquires about his eye. He dismisses it as a minor adventure, minimizing the gravity of the kidnapping. Marcy insists on acknowledging the event’s impact. David recounts Marcy’s extraordinary experiences, diminishing his own trauma in comparison. Marcy emphasizes the seriousness of hostage situations, regardless of the victim.
Marcy and David are unexpectedly emerging as the show’s healthiest relationship. The writers successfully recapture their season 1 charm.
Carly and Trevor proceed with reconnaissance, spotting military operatives surrounding the farm as non-Traveler FBI agents evacuate. She informs Mac, who is preoccupied with Kat. Wakefield still seeks FBI reinforcements, but Trevor convinces him none are coming. The Travelers are isolated and outgunned. Marcy instructs David to stay away from windows.
Oslin informs Stevenson of a lost Traveler team in Serbia due to a failed operation. Yates interrupts, vehemently urging operation cancellation. Stevenson grants a final opportunity for persuasion.
Yates: “The last time the Director spoke to me, it was not through an AI in Teslia’s lab. [Oslin: “You received a messenger.”] But it wasn’t a child. I was just told my mother was essentially braindead, but it was gonna take time. I wanted to be with her. Last night she spoke to me.”
Yates’ Mother: “Listen carefully. Tell him the bargain he made that autumn morning was not with his God, but with me.”
Stevenson: “Those were her exact words?”
Yates: “She died in that moment. It’s not something I’m ever likely to forget.”
Stevenson: “This is the day.”
At Ellis’ farm, Travelers prepare for a hopeless battle. David and Kat meet in the hallway, a moment of shared uncertainty. Stevenson wrestles with his conscience.
Stevenson cancels the assault. Military operatives withdraw silently. A soldier releases Grace from the SUV, leaving her stranded by the roadside, hands still bound.
The team confirms the military withdrawal. David and Kat emerge, puzzled. Marcy and Mac attempt to downplay the situation, but David and Kat are unconvinced.
In the cleared war room, Stevenson explains his decision to Yates, revealing a past bargain. On a specific autumn morning, in a hospital room with his dying daughter Claire, the Director delivered a message through her:
“I will save her life. But there will come a day of reckoning.”
Stevenson kept the message secret. Claire miraculously recovered. Now, Traveler technology reports and the Director’s message compel him to act.
Yates affirms his decision. He expresses hope and then asks about their next step.
Yates and Stevenson await the Director’s instructions. The Director’s manipulation is evident: saving Stevenson’s daughter to secure leverage, while hastening Yates’ mother’s death to cash in that favor. The Director violated Protocol 3 to save Claire – “Don’t take a life, don’t save a life.” Ironically, ending Yates’ mother’s prolonged suffering could be viewed as a form of mercy, though ethically complex.
Mac and Kat’s relationship is clearly fractured, while Marcy and David are building healthier communication. Carly is moving on from Jeff, focusing on her career. Phillip shows increased empathy and presence. Trevor remains consistently affable, though his perceived aversion to intimacy is a potential concern.
Wiping Ray’s memory was necessary, but altering their friendship dynamic seems excessive. Philip’s manufactured gambling winnings cover story unnecessarily distorts their relationship.
Ray’s anger at Philip in S2 Ep12, 001, culminated in him declaring they weren’t friends, despite acknowledging Philip’s honesty. This cover-up further manipulates Ray’s emotions. Ray’s deep debt suggests a relapse into gambling addiction. How will the kidnapping, drugging, and cover-up impact his addiction? Their shared support group attendance suggested a growing closeness. Did Philip abandon their friendship once his addiction was managed? Ray, initially lonely, might have befriended Philip for mutual support as much as for gambling tips.
The lingering question of Grace and Trevor’s past surfaces again. Were they married in the early days of consciousness transfer, with memory wipes obscuring their history? Trevor is kept around but underutilized, suggesting a valued but damaged or retired figure. Or perhaps Grace’s long-standing attraction to 0115 and Trevor’s perceived widower status create this dynamic.
001, The Director, and the Grand Plan
001’s meticulous identity switch is impressive. The Travelers remain completely unsuspecting of Katrina Perrow, their guilt over her involvement blinding them to suspicion.
001’s transfer into Perrow’s body hasn’t fundamentally altered him. His paranoia and narcissism persist, blaming external forces for his actions. This suggests these traits, developed within Vincent Ingram’s body, transferred with his consciousness. Other traits, like germophobia and agoraphobia, were likely performative ruses as Vincent Ingram, now discardable as Katrina Perrow.
My predictions about Vincent’s handling of Simon were inaccurate. Instead of a new body for Simon, Vincent orchestrated a new consciousness into Simon’s body – a cruelly ironic twist, murdering his loyal follower while condemning a new victim to Simon’s body and mental illness. Vincent seems to relish provoking the Director into cruelty, as if justifying his own atrocities.
Exploring the original Vincent Ingram’s personality is crucial. How much of 001’s issues stem from the trauma of being the first Traveler and facing impossible choices, and how much originates from Vincent’s pre-existing conditions? Imagine 001’s guilt upon realizing the Director could have prevented 9/11, yet chose not to. The constant burden of making Director-like choices, allowing tragedies despite the power to intervene, could easily erode sanity and breed paranoia.
Moving forward, we must remember that our understanding of past events is filtered through 001’s unreliable perspective. Vincent’s narratives should be viewed with skepticism. Faction accounts are also biased, as seen with Jenny and Faction Forbes. Our understanding of the future timeline might be incomplete or distorted.
However, New Simon (5069) and growing doubts about the Grand Plan indicate worsening future conditions.
The crucial point often missed is that the future’s immediate state is irrelevant until the Grand Plan’s completion. Judging progress prematurely is akin to evaluating a recipe mid-cooking – often less palatable than raw ingredients. The final outcome is the only true measure.
The Grand Plan is a complex, multi-dimensional puzzle. Disruptions and worsening conditions are expected stages in moving our reality towards the Director’s chosen timeline. The Director isn’t incrementally altering the current timeline but steering us towards a predetermined one.
This is inherently complex and disruptive, necessitating worsening conditions before improvement. The original programmers opted against detailed timeline disclosures to the public. The Director, constrained by its programming, cannot offer reassurance or transparency.
Its actions are focused on self-preservation and Grand Plan continuity, adapting to rebellions by relocating across time periods. Its increased openness in the 21st century may be a planned strategic shift, as indicated by its communication to Yates.
Crucially, relocating to the 21st is also about escaping the deteriorating future and threats like the Faction. The Director’s pursuit of the quantum frame since season 1, orchestrated through Ellis, was likely motivated by this escape. Jenny’s confirmation of the Director ordering the frame’s construction now aligns with this escape motive.
The 21st century is the focal point of action. The future is in decline; it’s not yet the future the Director aims to save. We are not yet on the intended timeline, making everyone expendable except those vital to the Grand Plan. Operating openly in the 21st reduces reliance on future Traveler recruits, requiring instead present-day believers and technological advancements.
This allows the Director to promise eventual cessation of “murders” (host overwrites) to gain present-day allies.
The Director describes itself as a “sentient multi-zettaflop quantum frame.”
Sentient: Capable of perception and feeling, experiencing the world through senses. Often equated with consciousness, intelligence, self-awareness, or life. The Director likely used the most basic definition to avoid alarming Teslia and Yates. It processes information independently, mirroring sensory input. It’s also attuned to the multiverse, perceiving branching possibilities, thus sentient.
Multi-zettaflop: FLOPS (floating-point operations per second) measure supercomputer processing power. Zettaflops (10^21 FLOPS) are projected by 2030. Zettaflop computers could simulate human brains by 2025 and accurately predict weather patterns weeks ahead. (Source: HowStuffWorks). “Multi-zettaflop” signifies an exceptionally powerful supercomputer.
Quantum Frame: The visible structure with towers, grids, and lights, facilitating time and space information/consciousness transfer. Likely far more complex than depicted. It’s the Director’s physical embodiment and a quantum reference frame, enabling quantum entanglement across spacetime.
The Director, therefore, is a self-aware, immensely powerful AI with access to incomprehensible science. It resides in a quantum realm, manipulating reality through multiverse and branching timeline understanding. Human consciousness can traverse this quantum realm for time/space travel or storage. Consciousness storage remains unexplained. Two-way communication between future and past is achieved through Ilsa. Miniaturizing this technology could eliminate the need for human messengers (children and dying adults).
Dr. Teslia’s name is a nod to Nikola Tesla, a pioneering electrical engineer and inventor.
*Defining AI sentience remains a complex debate. Adopting a broad definition is prudent, avoiding underestimating potential adversaries or denying rights to deserving entities. Data and Synths deserve full human rights.
Travelers Protocols:
Protocol 1: The mission comes first.
Protocol 2: Leave the future in the past. Don’t jeopardize your cover.
Protocol 2H: Historian updates are not to be discussed with anyone. Ever.
Protocol 3: Don’t take a life. Don’t save a life. Unless otherwise directed.
Protocol 4: Do not reproduce.
Protocol 5: In the absence of direction, resume your host’s life.
Protocol 6: Traveler teams should stay apart unless instructed otherwise.
T.E.L.L.: The Time, Elevation, Latitude, and Longitude of what would have been the historical death of a Traveler’s host body.
Traveler numbers:
MacLaren-3468
Marcy-3569
Trevor-0115
Carly-3465
Phillip-3326
Grace-0027
Forbes-4991
Vincent Ingram-001 5692
Katrina Perrow-001
Simon-004 5069
Images courtesy of Netflix.
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Published by Metacrone
Retired teacher, homeschooling mom and lifelong film, television and theater enthusiast living in Albuquerque, NM. Choose love. View all posts by Metacrone
