RM18 – S2E01 – This War’s Just Gettin’ Started

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Some information about this episode

In the Season two premiere, the show (unsurprisingly) features historical figures. I’m utterly delighted that they’ve decided to continue the practice this season, because I’m such a history junkie.

This week we’re treated to a cameo by Madam Curie and her daughter Irene. Quite apropos as it’s Women’s History Month. 

Both Marie and Irene were incredibly prolific inventors and discoverers, both winning Nobel Prizes, various Medals, and honored with myriad statues, plaques, and monuments. Marie won TWO Nobel Prizes, one jointly with her husband Pierre – in Physics, and one solo award in the field of Chemistry. Both units of and minerals containing radioactivity are named after the Curies. Marie received two degrees from the University of Paris by 1894, and kept studying all throughout her life. The number of honorary degrees she was given is astonishing, with four in her native Poland alone.

Irene followed in her mother’s footsteps in more ways than one. As is shown in this episode, Irene and her mother served as nurse radiographers in WWI. After the war, she went on to get her doctorate in Science in 1925. She met her husband around that time, and they, like her parents before her, were another scientific team with immense brainpower. Their research dealt with alchemy-like experiments – turning one element into another through radiation. Their discovery not only made radioactive materials easier to produce, it led to the discovery of nuclear fission.

Unfortunately, another thing that mother and daughter had in common is the tragic nature of their deaths. They both suffered from serious illnesses due to radiation exposure. Aplastic anemia in Marie’s case, and Irene passed away from Leukemia.  Tragically, Irene’s husband Frederic also died from radiation-related illness. Pierre, Marie’s husband, was run over by a horse drawn carriage in 1906 and died instantly. It was speculated that he also would have been taken by the same radiation-based diseases as the rest of his immediate family.

The good news is that Irene and Frederic had two children. Helene Langevin-Joliot and Pierre Joliot. Unsurprisingly, they are both incredibly gifted scientists and have carried on the family tradition winningly. Helene is a Nuclear Physicist and is a member of the French Government’s Nuclear Advisory Committee. Pierre is a Biologist and a researcher for the French National Center for Scientific Research.

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Sleeper Cells

In 1918 France, Carol Preston and Lucy try to save soldier Nicholas Keens, with help from Rittenhouse agents planted there at the time. This turns out to be the one who wrote a Rittenhouse manifesto, including the idea of using time travel to alter history in their favor. Also, Keens is Carol’s grandfather / Lucy’s great grandfather.

They Set Us Up the Bomb

In the present, Mason Industries is destroyed in an intentional explosion. The team spends 6 weeks relocating to a secret bunker and repairs the lifeboat. Wyatt believes Lucy is still alive in spite of all attempts to contact her failing. Once they’re operational, they follow the Mothership in an attempt to rescue Lucy. Wyatt and Rufus save Lucy, but allow Carol and Emma to take Nicholas.

Everything Bad is Good Again

Upon their return, they realize that Rittenhouse is still a threat, and Agent Christopher visits Garcia Flynn to get his help. But he will only talk to Lucy.

On September 14

1741 – George Frideric Handel completes his oratorio Messiah.
1752 – The British Empire adopts the Gregorian calendar, skipping eleven days (the previous day was September 2).
1814 – Battle of Baltimore: The poem Defence of Fort McHenry is written by Francis Scott Key. The poem is later used as the lyrics of The Star-Spangled Banner.
1901 – U.S. President William McKinley dies after an assassination attempt on September 6, and is succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt.
1959 – The Soviet probe Luna 2 crashes onto the Moon, becoming the first man-made object to reach it.
1960 – The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is founded.
2000 – Microsoft releases Windows ME.
Notable Births:
1401 – Maria of Castile, Queen of Aragon, Queen consort of Aragon and Naples (d. 1458)
1643 – Jeremiah Dummer, American silversmith (d. 1718)
1737 – Michael Haydn, Austrian singer and composer (d. 1806)
1879 – Margaret Sanger, American nurse and activist (d. 1966)
1880 – Archie Hahn, American sprinter, football player, and coach (d. 1955)
1936 – Walter Koenig, American actor, producer, and screenwriter
1944 – Joey Heatherton, American actress, singer, and dancer
1946 – Pete Agnew, Scottish rock bassist and singer (Nazareth)
1947 – Sam Neill, Northern Irish-New Zealand actor and director
1949 – Ed King, American guitarist and songwriter (Strawberry Alarm Clock, Lynyrd Skynyrd)
1960 – Melissa Leo, American actress
1973 – Andrew Lincoln, English actor
1983 – Amy Winehouse, English singer-songwriter (d. 2011)
Notable Deaths:
1638 – John Harvard, English-American minister and philanthropist (b. 1607)
1715 – Dom Pérignon, French monk and priest (b. 1638)
1836 – Aaron Burr, American colonel and politician, 3rd Vice President of the United States (b. 1756)
1851 – James Fenimore Cooper, American novelist, short story writer, and historian (b. 1789)
1901 – William McKinley, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 25th President of the United States (b. 1843)
1927 – Isadora Duncan, American-Russian dancer and choreographer (b. 1877)
1936 – Irving Thalberg, American screenwriter and producer (b. 1899)
1982 – Grace Kelly, American-Monacan actress; Princess of Monaco (b. 1929)
1996 – Juliet Prowse, Indian-South African actress, singer, and dancer (b. 1937)
2006 – Mickey Hargitay, Hungarian-American bodybuilder and actor (b. 1926)
2009 – Henry Gibson, American actor and (b. 1935)
2009 – Patrick Swayze, American actor, singer, and dancer (b. 1952)

Next Week’s Summary & Promo

The Darlington 500 (TV-PG)

The Time Team chases Rittenhouse to a stock car race in the 1950s where Wyatt (Matt Lanter) learns that his favorite race car driver is actually a Rittenhouse sleeper agent on a mission to destroy the American car industry. To stop the Rittenhouse plan, Wyatt, Lucy (Abigail Spencer) and Rufus (Malcolm Barrett) team up with Wendell Scott (guest star Joseph Lee Anderson), the first African-American NASCAR driver.

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Links from this episode:

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Friend of the show, Michael Ahr, writes about this episode on DenofGeek.com
Abigail Spencer roots for “Wucy”

 

 

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