'The Time Traveler's Wife' Episode 3 Review: Things get complex as HBO series puts Clare in focus

Rose Leslie shines as Clare even though Theo James manages to hold the attention 
Rose Leslie as Clare in 'The Time Traveler's Wife' (HBO)
Rose Leslie as Clare in 'The Time Traveler's Wife' (HBO)

Contains spoilers for 'The Time Traveler's Wife' Episode 3

Much of the focus finally moves to Clare (Rose Leslie) after the first couple of episodes focused on Theo James' Henry DeTamble. 'The Time Traveler's Wife' Episode 3 is finally about the wife who was forced to adapt to the life of the man who could travel through time and appear at different stages of her life. It is a one-of-a-kind love story, that borders between earnest and creepy at the same time. It just feels unnatural for a man to meet younger versions of the woman he is supposed to marry, all the while influencing her in a way that her life solely revolved around her lover who met her 152 times.

There are also elements of rape in the third episode when Clare, then 16, decides to explore life outside of Henry. She goes to a party, meets a jock named Jason, and whether she just wanted to have normal sex or "liked it rough" as the teen puts it, she ends up with bruises and burns on her body. An enraged Henry finally spills the beans saying he's her husband before disappearing again, and that sets the tone for what will probably be one of the more complicated love stories.

RELATED ARTICLES

'The Time Traveler's Wife' star Theo James jokes his smoldering physique had help: 'It's all lighting and CGI'

'The Time Traveller's Wife': HBO drama gets thumbs up from fans despite critics panning show

What makes 'The Time Traveler's Wife' a show worth tuning into is the writing. The series gets, despite the multiple timelines a breezy watch, and that's one of the things that work in the show's favor. Then comes the plotline where Clare realizes that she loves Henry. She starts realizing it as early as 13, and by the time she's 16, call it the raging hormones, but she wants to get to know the time traveler up close. But such is the phase of a teen that things can get pretty complicated pretty quickly and that's Episode 3.

The HBO series continues to be a breeze, and the spotlight is rightly on Clare. If the first two episodes were all from the point of view of Henry, the third finally sheds light on how Clare felt in her growing-up years pining for a man who had been with her for the longest time. Their complex relationship, further made worse perhaps by getting married will be the next storyline.

'The Time Traveler's Wife' airs Sundays at 9 pm ET on HBO.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

The 10-episode series reunites Poehler with Mike Schur and follows a Greek dig that leads to an international conspiracy.
3 hours ago
The Oscar winner also responds to the campaign to save the canceled series and addresses a possible return.
4 hours ago
The eight-episode series follows a grieving wife rebuilding a Minnesota high school hockey team after a tragedy.
7 hours ago
‘Raising Kanan’ creator explains the finale’s Ghost and Tommy cameo, Raq and Kanan’s last image and what comes next.
8 hours ago
The 'Furious' Season 1, Episode 5 ending brings Alice and Catherine closer to the truth as two separate investigations collide.
8 hours ago
Rhaenyra makes a surprising announcement to the public after ordering the death of High Septon in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 finale
11 hours ago
Alys Rivers finally reveals her tragic past in the ‘HOTD’ Season 3 finale, but her story does not appear in ‘Fire & Blood’.
13 hours ago
Helaena becomes the latest sacrifice in the Targaryen Civil War after her heartbreaking death in the 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 finale
13 hours ago
Netflix announced the partnership with Rockstar Games as excitement around 'GTA VI' continues to build
15 hours ago
‘House of the Dragon’ Ulf White’s story has a very different ending in the book
16 hours ago