Just a few years ago, there wasn’t a lot to do with time travel on TV. The closest might be the occasional reference in a show. Not sure if it was all the hype leading up to Back To The Future Day last year or something else, but all of a sudden, it’s becoming a big thing.
These days, time travel is becoming a trend with six shows on air and four pilots recently ordered by various networks. One of the goals of Time Travel Nexus is to give you a one-stop shop for everything time travel.
So what time travel is on TV these days and what’s going on with your favorite time travel shows? My goal is to let you know and keep you updated as news comes.
First off, let’s take a look at what’s on air today. I’m so excited to get to talk about Time Travel on TV with you all.
- Doctor Who
When discussing time travel on TV, I have to lead off with this one. Perhaps the longest running primetime drama in television history, Doctor Who has been known for sending one mad man and his blue box through space and time for over fifty years now.
Doctor Who follows the adventures of an alien known as The Doctor who travels through time and space with his companions in the TARDIS (that’s Time And Relative Dimension In Space). Thirteen Doctors later, the show has no signs of stopping any time soon.
Everyone has a favorite Doctor; some allow themselves to justify having two by allowing one Classic Who (anything before 2005’s reboot) and one from New Who (anything after the reboot).
To answer the question, my favorite is the Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant. Though from Classic Who, I love the Fourth Doctor who was brought to life by Tom Baker.
This series has given birth to spin offs, books series, comic books, and a line of audio dramas from Big Finish Productions. As we get going, we will be taking a look at all of these.
Over the last five years, Doctor Who has hit a ratings slump, but with the change in leadership announced, 2017 might see it on the rise again. I’d like to offer Chris Chibnall my congratulations on the new job. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings to the show.
Doctor Who airs on BBC or BBC America and is on hiatus until 2017 with the exception of a Christmas special airing Christmas Day 2016.
- Legends of Tomorrow
The newest show to join the ranks in time travel television, Legends of Tomorrow honestly surprised me. I saw the preview and figured that just because of the time travel I would enjoy it. But from start to finish of the pilot, I was in love with the concept and was left wanting more.
Starring Arthur Darvill, previously a companion on Doctor Who, who plays Rip Hunter, a man from the future who has travelled back in time in order to stop an immortal dictator from being able to take over the world 150 years in the future.
Rip is joined by an ensemble cast made up of characters who were introduced in either The Flash or Arrow. Rip tells them in the pilot that he chose them because if something happens, history won’t miss them and this group is out to change their destinies and save the world at the same time.
Legends of Tomorrow airs Thursdays at 8 on the CW.
- The Flash
I’ll be honest; I debated throwing this one into this post but decided that it deserved a mention. In its first season, time travel was integral to the plot of The Flash and I’ll admit I was geeking out over all the temporal talk.
But in season 2, we’ve made the jump from time travel to the multi-verse (but I haven’t quite stopped geeking out yet).
Nevertheless, I decided that it deserved a mention in the “time travel shows still on air” section because I wouldn’t be surprised if time travel comes back into play at some point, particularly because of the comic series’ rich history of utilizing it.
Barry Allen is The Flash, a “meta-human” with the ability to run at incredible speeds. He uses those abilities to help save Central City with the help of his friends at Star Labs.
While the current arch involves the multi-verse, fans of time travel will enjoy the show and as I said before, I wouldn’t be surprised to find that it uses time travel again.
The Flash airs on Tuesdays at 8 on the CW.
- Outlander
This one was an interesting one to put in. Claire Randall is transported from 1945 to 1743. She proceeds to attempt to change history while she is stuck in the past. From what I’ve read, the show doesn’t show the repercussions of her meddling in Season 1, but that’s going to change in season 2.
Outlander is different from the others on this list because it doesn’t use science and/or machines to do the time travelling, nor (once again from what I’ve heard) has there been any time travelling since the beginning of the show.
Based off the hit book series by Diana Gabaldon, by the same title, one would be curious to see how the shows follows the book (I guess the next best comparison would be Game of Thrones?)
Outlander, airing on Starz, is currently in-between seasons. Season 2 begins on April 9.
- The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show
A reboot of the animated classic, this Netflix-exclusive show features Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman who host a time travelling TV where “anything can happen” using the WABC (wayback) machine.
Guests have included, Winston Churchill, Mozart, the Wright Brothers, and Cleopatra.
The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show’s first season can be found on Netflix.
- 12 Monkeys
The classic Terry Gilliam film has recently spawned a TV series based upon the same premise. A man named Cole travels from a post-apopcolyptic future to the present day using a dangerous and untested form of time travel. His mission: to prevent a catastrophic pandemic which in the future has all but wiped out humanity. He is joined by virologist Dr. Cassandra Railly.
12 Monkeys airs on Syfy and is currently between seasons, with Season 2 beginning on April 18.
- 11.22.63
A recently divorced history teacher is offered the chance of a life time, to go back in time and stop the assassination of JFK. The problem is, time doesn’t like to be messed with.
11.22.63 is an eight-part Hulu Original Series, with the first episode available beginning February 15.
Not only are these six shows currently airing, but various networks have ordered pilots for a total of four new potential time travel shows. Now, I don’t have a lot, but here’s what I managed to find.
I’ll admit, details are brief, but I’ll make sure to include updates as they come.
- Time After Time – ABC
Using the book by Karl Alexander, The Following’s Kevin Williamson has created a show that will allow us to follow the adventures of a young H. G. Wells and his time machine.
- Time – NBC
Supernatural’s Eric Kripke and Shawn Ryan have teamed up to make a show about an unlikely trio who will travel through time to battle a villain who plans to manipulate time and thwart human history.
- Unnamed Pilot – Fox
Formerly named In Time, this show is currently going without a name. Phil Lord and Chris Miller are 2 for 2 this pilot season.
The unnamed pilot takes a group of three unlikely friends who find a way to travel through time but end up irrevocably messing with their lives back in 2016.
- Time Travelling Bong – Comedy Central
No, you didn’t read that wrong.
Two cousins discover a time travelling bong and travel through time. When it breaks, they are forced to bounce along the space-time continuum. They’ll discover there is no time like the present.
Suffice to say, time travel is alive and well on television. Don’t worry, I’m going to go back and take a closer look at these as well as keep you up to date as soon as I know more details on the pilot orders as I can find them.
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