I studied history in school but I admit (i probably spent more time watching history movies or documentaries, who knows how factual either are). but so interesting she's stretched to somehow be an exact expert on this and that. I get that it's a tv series. But could we see an episode soon where she admits she has no clue at all about this period (maybe say the 1890s) for example.
shareLucy is a history professor. She was picked for this project because of her expertise in history.
It's not like each episode she's just pulling things out of her head that she remembers from high school history classes.
I don't know what they have to say. It makes no difference anyway. Whatever it is, I'm against it.
History professors specialize in a specific narrow period of history, not something all-encompassing like American history or European history. Granted, someone specializing in American history would probably take a wide range of courses while doing their Bachelor's degree, but they'd get more specialized once they get to the Master's and PhD level. It's believable that Lucy would have a general idea about different major events in American history and that she would know really detailed information about a specific time period (apparently the Lincoln assassination in her case). What's not believable is that a person who specializes in mid-late 1800's history would have any clue what types of bras and fabric women were wearing in the 1930's.
shareYes I agree. I actual majored in history, and while I don't teach it or do anything close to history with my degree, I did take a wide range of classes, from the history of Korea to American history to European. Most of the classes were on narrow pieces of history of specific countries once you got past the prerequisite classes. And the teachers were experts in those narrow pieces, but not so much other periods. While taking the classes, I was well versed in those periods but didn't retain a lot of the specifics years later. I can see her knowing a little about different periods, and some specifics about others. But being an expert on every time they have gone to does seem a little extreme. I would like her to say once "I don't know everything!" once. It hasn't been too horrible yet, but to me, recognizing an obscure (to me anyway) French officer from the 1750's was a bit far fetched.
share@wesperkins:
What is so far-fetched about her knowing even obscure things from the past? Obviously she loves history (as much as I do) enough to remember things like that. And obviously she takes the time to make sure that she does the research knows the historical background of every period the trio winds up on---and also because obviously, they have to know everything that's going to happen for their own safety, and also not to mess up the timeline too much. And obviously she looks things up online like everybody else. I really don't get why anybody would find her knowing as much as possible about each period unusual in the first place. It's been made pretty clear from day one why she has to know everything about each period they go to. And,then, some of the historical periods they're been to are just basic American history everyone's learned in school already. Also, there's the thrill of a historian actually getting the once-in-a-lifetime chance to actually meet the real-life historical figures she's only studied about (something both she and Rufus share, and something Wyatt could care less about, since he's all about going in, doing the job, and getting out. )
^THIS
you'd think they might have several other professors on standby to fill in for areas she has no clue about. or at least to give her a refresher course in a few hours prior to the time traveling.
One thing you know if you have studied history AT ALL are that the details are endless. The Civil War alone is a lifetime study. You discover how much the smallest piece contributed to the whole.
I studied ancient and medieval history as an undergraduate at the University of St. Andrews. On a shelf in the library was a book with the dull title "English Wool Trade in the 14th Century." At the time I thought it must be hilariously dull and of interest only to very fusty academics. Only later did I realize that the wool trade was at least as important as - and the cause of - many wars and dynastic arrangements.
Lucy comes across as an enthusiastic amateur with an interest in the dramatic details of history rather than a true historian. She might know her Lincoln but no way would she be up on obscure officers in the French and Indian War.
They really need a large backup team of specialists.
Though this bothers me less than their growing indifference to changing history. Those troops killed in 18th century North America could have had thousands of descendants.
Agreed 100%
shareLucy comes across as an enthusiastic amateur with an interest in the dramatic details of history rather than a true historian.share
^THIS
you'd think they might have several other professors on standby to fill in for areas she has no clue about. or at least to give her a refresher course in a few hours prior to the time traveling.
They're not going to have someone else fill in. She was picked because of her connection to Rittenhouse-not because she was the best. As far as a refresher course, it may come up. It's only been 9 times they've gone out. Not to mention her mother is a historian. It's something she's probably been learning since she was a wee one.
shareShe does seem to know a lot of stuff about everything. It does help that it's all American history. If she ever focused on some part of American history and ever taught or lectured on other parts of it, she may know a lot of that. Really, most of what she's known was 20th century stuff. She didn't know much more about the Lincoln assasination or the French Indian wars than what I could tell you. Wyatt knew about as much about the Alamo as she did (aside from Travis' letter). Future episodes could make her a lot more knowledgeable than she ought to be, but right now she seems to know the most about 20th century (Hindenburg, Bonnie and Clyde, Fleming, Von Braun, Kennedy, Apollo 11, Watergate).
I think so far it's pushed the level of how much she'd know, but I don't think it's too unreasonable.
Yeah, um, so far every episode has been a major historical event. She's not giving a *beep* dissertation on each event, but she knows some stuff about each one. I mean cmon, the Hindinberg, Lincoln's Assassination, the moon landing, Bonnie and Clyde maybe less so, but anyone who saw a History channel show knows enough about it. Hell i never took a college class and I knew what was gonna happen! Also, for what it's worth, it's a show about friggin time travel (not real) and that's okay, but Lucy knows a lot of history and suddenly you can't push the "I believe" button!?! Gtfoh
share@raina
What's not believable is that a person who specializes in mid-late 1800's history would have any clue what types of bras and fabric women were wearing in the 1930's.
What are you talking about? You can pick up any book on the '30's to see pictures of the fashions or watch any '30s movie made back then---nothing far-fetched or unbelievable about that.
^From the story pacing in the first episode (i.e. Lucy getting practically shoved into the lifeboat as they confiscate her phone and give her money), I got the impression that they didn't give her any time to research.
shareWhat's not believable is that a person who specializes in mid-late 1800's history would have any clue what types of bras and fabric women were wearing in the 1930's.
^True, some of Lucy's knowledge could be random history trivia that she happens to know. It's just convenient how her random trivia knowledge matches up with the various missions they go on and the situations they find themselves in. I think it'd be more believable if they spread out the knowledge of random history trivia a bit more (i.e. like how Rufus knew about the black rights movement in the Watergate era, which Lucy knew nothing about). For example, they established that Wyatt is a big James Bond fan and knew about the priest-holes from a book or movie; so what's the point of also having Lucy know about those? Or someone (I can't remember if it was on this forum or another) pointed out that a lot of Texans have to memorize Travis' letter as part of the highschool(?) curriculum. So why not let Wyatt be the Alamo expert?
shareProfessors specialize in a particular area of history. Shes an untenured professor and she saod she wrote a book about the Lincoln assassination, so she probably specialized in 19th century American history. She probably doesn't know a whole hell of a lot about 20th century US history, at least in terms of how they show it where she knows a lot of very specific stuff about names and dates of things like Bonnie and Clyde or JFKs mistress or OSS operations in Nazi occupied Europe.
shareIts suspension of disbelief.However, people here seem to think a person can be either i) "an expert" or ii) "ignorant". In reality you can have varying amounts of knowledge of a certain topic.
She is a historian. Even if she is not an expert in a certain era, she has the knowledge to use resources to learn a basic overview of the era she is going to. Same way as a lawyer can use databases to read up on areas of law (and even foreign law) s/he does not practice in normally.
Just as we don't see them shower or take bathroom breaks or see Wyatt cleaning his guns/practicing, we don't see but are supposed to understand that Lucy is reading up/being briefed on the time she is going to.
Pretty sure that she was also picked due to her link with Rittenhouse, not just her level of expertise *which let's face it, is a level that most other history professor/historians would be at*
"Mother dick!" #NutsoutforAbe
This is probably the most likely explanation for her being picked. I made an assumption in the pilot that her mother was the reason she was picked.
shareA little mystery wouldn't go amiss historically I definitely agree and I'm beginning to find it incredibly annoying when Lucy introduces us to everyone she encounters like a giddy schoolgirl.. 'oh my god that's xxx'.. give the audience some credit.. by now she has been on enough adventures she wouldn't be star struck and the premise of who they are interacting with in each episode has already been established for the audiences benefit, maybe a few mentions regarding obscure figures not commonly known but this repetitive lazy plot pointing isn't pretty or clever.
share^AGREED
shareI can see how you think it is annoying but that is her character. She is someone who would rather be married to her job than a real person. These people are her heroes. I was fortunate enough to grow up around a lot of celebrities and usually do not get giddy whenever I see a celebrity in Manhattan. It's not that exciting to me. However, I am a huge tennis fan and giggled like a little girl when I went to an event with Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and the Williams sisters. It was the same when Wyatt and Rufus geeked out over Ian Fleming. Lucy is a history nerd, she grew up reading about these people in the past and now gets to rub elbows with them? That's cool.
shareI agree, and it is hilarious that almost every time reveals too much about the person's future. Like when she meets Ernest Hemingway early in his career and something like this dialogue takes place:
Lucy: I'm a big fan of yours. I read all your books!
Hemingway: But I only wrote one book.
Lucy: I mean all books you're going to write.
She doesn't know everything, She didn't know about the letter in the Alamo.
shareShe's not just some 'history teacher'. She's one of the 'best' history teachers.
And didn't she just not recognize the Bonnie and Clyde time?
Also, what's not to know? Lincoln's assassination? Watergate? The moon landing? The Hindenburg? Shy of a few details, I knew most of the things she knew, and all I am is a history buff.
I don't think this is too much of a stretch. Plus, if she needs a review, she can Google it just before she goes. We don't need to see WHY she knows so many details. That's not important to the show.
She asked to open a bank account in the 1930? WOW an historian not knowing women could not open accounts without husband, Rufus should never leave the ship, he was in a sun down town so they pretty much left him to be lynched.
share> but so interesting she's stretched to somehow be an exact expert on this and that.
Remember that she's got a few hours between being summoned and stepping into the time machine. That's enough time to google up some quick facts and figures about the target drop. She's been told the date and location.
As a history professor, she probably has heard about whatever incident is going down and knows a bunch of basic facts. She can google the rest pretty fast.
--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?
She sure saved the day at the German Nazi castle when they were about to be all shot, remembering the 'priests hole'. I thought hey where did they get the lanterns, and second that revolving chimney door still works? I would have been stumbling in the cobwebs if I even had thought of it. The symbol she recognized was the fish which the early christians used to draw on the ground I think to sort of see if the person they were talking to was a friend or enemy.
share> She sure saved the day at the German Nazi castle when they were about to be all shot, remembering the 'priests hole'.
Right. That wasn't a fact specific to this castle. That is a fact that any student of history would know.
> I thought hey where did they get the lanterns, and second that revolving chimney door still works?
There are probably lanterns stashed just inside the wall for occasions just like this. When you have to quickly hide, you don't always have time to grab a light.
As for the chimney still working, well, if the Nazis came to power and people were afraid, I'm sure that they would clean and oil the secret panel just in case. I know with Trump's rise to power, I am keeping all my secret passages in working order.
--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?
Are you happy now?
In the Bonnie & Clyde episodes she was given an exact date and place where Flynn had gone at the beginning, May 22, 1934, Arkansas and even the bank name and she knew 1934 Arkansas was "the dust bowl era", but she didn't recognize the date was a day before Bonnie and Clyde were supposed to die in a shootout with the police.
On the show Henry Methvin said they were hiding out at the Stortz Plantation, which is in Arkansas, but in reality Bonnie & Clyde died May 23rd, 1934, in Louisiana, not Arkansas.
I don't know what they have to say. It makes no difference anyway. Whatever it is, I'm against it.
OMG she wasn't only chosen because of her expertise people. She's a Rittenhouse's child! They'd have found a way to bring her into the team regardless of her profession.
share