Il était une seconde fois

Literal: It was a second time English release: Twice Upon a Time

by Nathalie Leuthreau and Guillaume Nicloux, directed by Giillaume Nicloux

Release: 12 February 2019
Format: TV Episode
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adults
Content: Definite Time Travel
Original Language: English

At first, Vincent’s only plan for the mysterious 600mm wooden cube that provides a tunnel to the past is to make sure that Louise doesn’t break up with him four months in the past, but new circumstances soon raise the stakes. Then it gets weird in this four-part miniseries.

— Michael Main

En fait, je suis passé dans un cube, et ça . . .

I actually went through this cube, and it . . .

English

DEBUT

[ex=bare]Il était une seconde fois | It was a second time[/ex], at the Berlin International Film Festival, 12 February 2019.

VARIANTS

1 English variant

TRANSLATIONS: No translations.

TAGS(SPOILERS!)

Time Periods

Circa AD 2000 to 2099: All episodes, past and present, take place in 2016 and 2017.

Timeline Models

Do Over: Vincent seems to have a one-time chance to do things right with Louise.
Resilient Timeline: Despite Vincent’s efforts, Louise still dies.

Time Travel Methods

Luggable Time Machine: The cube, although perhaps the word machine is too strong, given that it has no controls.

Themes

Fix Your Own Past!: Initially, Vincent wants only to save his relationship with Louise.
Repeat until You Get It Right: The end hints that Vincent may have to try to save Louise again and again.
Save “Lois”!: Eventually, Vincent wants to save Louise’s life.
Travels into Yourself: Vincent’s mind travels into his earlier body (as shown by his unburned hand in Episode 4).

Groupings

Il était une seconde fois (TV series)

TIME TRAVEL ITINERARY (SPOILERS!)

From Vincent’s basement, various times between June and November 2017 ⋙ to the same location, nine months earlier. Multiple round trips. Note: Vincent is the only successful traveler.

INDEXER NOTES (SPOILERS!)

Episode Titles—The title, “Ti amo,” of Episode 3 is Italian, although it is still a French episode.