Travelers Season Two Discussion Thread

[Gary7]

Continuum tells a complete story. It had to wrap things up fairly quickly in its abbreviated final season, and didn't run nearly as long as the producers hoped, but it absolutely did provide a decisive conclusion.

Four seasons is actually a pretty good run; most TV series get cancelled after 1 or 2 seasons, but we don't remember them as well as the longer ones, so that creates the misconception that longer series are more common. Although Continuum's seasons were fairly short, so it only had 42 episodes in all. But lots of shows these days have short seasons.

The last season was only 6 episodes, which sucked. After 2nd Alex came onto the scene, things got progressively complicated and rushed. Had to re-watch portions because dialog was sometimes too rushed to fully understand. Didn't like that "master time traveler" ex-machina fix to things and they played around with timelines too much. Even within the science of the show, things went a bit too wonky. While it was a decisive conclusion, it didn't feel "tightly" wrapped up. What's original Kiera to do? Anyway... the series had its moments. Overall, I'm glad I took a chance with it.

 

[Christopher]

While it was a decisive conclusion, it didn't feel "tightly" wrapped up.

Not all conclusions do. Sometimes that shocking Twilight Zone-style twist and "What the hell can we possibly do now?" feeling is exactly the ending a story needs.

But I felt this ending was quite conclusive.

Spoiler

Kiera's arc throughout the show was driven by her desire to get back to her family and lead a happy life with her husband and child. But when she got back, she found another version of herself already living that life. Her family was together and happy, and she knew right away that she could never disrupt that, never ruin their happiness for her own selfish needs. Her series-long quest was decisively ended at that moment, so that was the right place to end that story arc, in the same way that the right place to end a romance is with the wedding and the right place to end a murder mystery is with the arrest. There's always more stuff that happens afterward, more decisions and questions in the future (will the marriage last? Will the defendant be convicted?), but the particular story you're telling ends when its specific driving goal or conflict is resolved. And Continuum's ending resolved all the series's driving goals. The story of how Kiera makes a new life for herself after that moment is a different story arc.

 

[Gary7]

Not all conclusions do. Sometimes that shocking Twilight Zone-style twist and "What the hell can we possibly do now?" feeling is exactly the ending a story needs.

But I felt this ending was quite conclusive.

Spoiler

Kiera's arc throughout the show was driven by her desire to get back to her family and lead a happy life with her husband and child. But when she got back, she found another version of herself already living that life. Her family was together and happy, and she knew right away that she could never disrupt that, never ruin their happiness for her own selfish needs. Her series-long quest was decisively ended at that moment, so that was the right place to end that story arc, in the same way that the right place to end a romance is with the wedding and the right place to end a murder mystery is with the arrest. There's always more stuff that happens afterward, more decisions and questions in the future (will the marriage last? Will the defendant be convicted?), but the particular story you're telling ends when its specific driving goal or conflict is resolved. And Continuum's ending resolved all the series's driving goals. The story of how Kiera makes a new life for herself after that moment is a different story arc.

It was a bit predictable, that with all the upsets to Kiera's original timeline there would have to be...

Spoiler

another Kiera... for who else would be there to progress through it? The original Kiera was absent. And I totally got that. Because her greatest fear was that either her son would never exist, or he'd end up going through the formative years of his life without his mother. And actually... when you think about it, her son no longer existed. Who she saw was really not her son, for a different Kiera gave birth to him.

Of course, her life would have a new arc. But, at least it would have been nice to know some framework of it. We were given absolutely nothing. I would have appreciated something like Alec speaking to her as they walk away from the fountain, saying "Kiera, you know the dangers of staying in this area, that you may stumble across your own self, husband, son, or other family members and friends. We've always helped each other. I'll take care of you, help you get settled in a new place. You're not alone, Kiera."

I just think something like that would've been nice. At least provide a foundation for how she'll go forward, instead of leaving it completely blank.

 

[Christopher]

I just think something like that would've been nice. At least provide a foundation for how she'll go forward, instead of leaving it completely blank.

Sure, it would be nice, but it's not always the job of fiction to be nice. The uncertainty of the ending was a better fit for the tone of the series.

 

[Gary7]

^ Well, maybe I should have said it would have been a "plus." It wouldn't have cost much at all to include it. I don't think it would've ruined anything and left plenty of opportunity for continuance if the chance ever presents itself. Still plenty of unknowns dangling, but at least if the series is never revived it gives a bit more closure for Kiera.

 

[Christopher]

^ Well, maybe I should have said it would have been a "plus." It wouldn't have cost much at all to include it.

Which is exactly why it makes no sense to assume their choice not to include it was some sort of oversight. They gave the story the ending they felt was appropriate. They probably always intended to end the show at that exact point; it was just a question of how long it would take to get there. It didn't feel fully satisfying because it wasn't supposed to, because that wasn't the emotion they wanted to leave you with.

Besides...

Spoiler

Did Kiera really deserve a happy ending? She may have been the protagonist, but she was a willing enforcer for an oppressive, totalitarian state, and it wasn't until the final season that she belatedly came to realize she'd been on the wrong side. She did some good in the present day, but she'd also done a lot of bad things in the future. And for most of the series, she was pursuing a very selfish goal, willing to preserve that dystopia and the suffering of millions just so she could get back to her own cozy family life. Yes, in the end, she belatedly chose to do the right thing and prevent the state from ever arising, but that doesn't totally wipe her slate clean. She was not the best version of Kiera Cameron, the version who deserved that happy ending. Dramatically, she had to pay a price for her bad choices. She succeeded in reuniting Kiera and her family, in creating a timeline where they were never separated and the dystopia never existed, but at the cost that she could never be a part of it, because she was a relic of a darker reality. That is the closure. That is the payoff, quite conclusively.