“The Capture of Benedict Arnold” is episode ten of season one of Timeless.
At the end of the previous episode, “Last Ride of Bonnie & Clyde”, Agent Christopher had asked Rufus about Rittenhouse. Rufus had tried to convince her to drop it, if she wanted to protect her family. She refused, and Rufus agreed to tell her about Rittenhouse.
This episode opens with a man leaving his wife and child, so that they think she’s innocent of whatever he’s done. After he leaves, troops arrive, led by General Washington. George Washington. The man who fled was the notorious traitor, Benedict Arnold.
Lucy is dining with Agent Christopher and the latter’s wife. The invite came as a surprise to Lucy. The thought of Lucy’s mother losing her other daughter – and never remembering she even had her – is really worrying her. So she gives Lucy a disc containing details of her family, so that she can know they existed, if she ever forgets due to history changing.
Connor Mason turns up at Jia’s apartment, where Rufus is. He’s rather drunk. He apologises for getting Rufus in so deeply; Rittenhouse knows that Rufus has been tampering with the recordings, and he’s got one last chance to record the next mission properly.
Flynn has travelled back to September 25th, 1780, when Arnold was going to hand West Point over to the British to help them win the war. Is Flynn planning to kill Washington? This could have a tremendous effect on how the war turns out.
When the three arrive back in 1780, they immediately get arrested by General Washington. Whilst they’re under arrest, Flynn arrives and says he needs their help, or he’ll have Washington shot. Flynn claims that they are spies for him (he’s pretending to be a spy that Washington never met), and they’re going to go an capture Benedict Arnold. Which is odd.
The key that Flynn took in the previous episode opened a clock in which there was a letter. A letter written by Arnold. Who was a founding member of Rittenhouse. Flynn wants them to help destroy Rittenhouse before it really started. Wyatt is rather unwilling – but Flynn says if he helps, Flynn will find out who Wyatt’s wife’s killer is. The three don’t know whether or not to help; Wyatt is willing, Lucy is uncertain and Rufus doesn’t want to help Flynn. He’s also worried because of the recording.
If Benedict Arnold is a founding member of Rittenhouse, which is wrapped up in the United States (and why Flynn was trying to destroy the U.S.), why is he helping the British? Finally, they have a chance to finish off Rittenhouse, but if it’s so entwined in the U.S., what effect will it have on the future? Of course, it’s not going to be that simple.
Quite a bit is revealed about Rittenhouse – and a cliff-hanger ending for once, due to this being the mid-season finale.