In 1987, Ulrich seizes an opportunity. The kids return to the cave with the time machine, and Jonas learns of a loophole that could change the future.
Tropes:
- Anti-Villain: Noah tells Charlotte that everything he did till then (murdering Claudia and the children) was all so that Adam will grant him his daughter back, and points out how she was under his nose all this time.
- Big Damn Reunion: Between Mikkel and Ulrich in 1986 with the latter having endured 33 years at an asylum to see his son again. The reunion is short-lived though as authorities quickly drag the old man back to the institution.
- From his perspective, Noah's reunion with his daughter, Charlotte.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Martha lashes at her mother for ignoring her remaining children with her desire to find Mikkel and Ulrich.
- Catapult Nightmare: Adult Jonas has a dream of him and Martha sleeping together when a portal starts to form above her stomach, and wakes up like this.
- Determinator: Noah fondly remembers how little Charlotte refused to die when she was a baby, grabbing her father's fingers.
- Even when he's in his eighties, Ulrich is hardly dissuaded in his plan to escape with Mikkel, and promises Egon and Ines that he will be back to bring Mikkel to his rightful time.
- Claudia doesn't let the incident at the power plant go, as she's convinced about the wormhole forming in the caves. Bernd concedes defeat genially as he informs Claudia about the true outcome of 'the Incident' at the Power Plant.
- Dramatic Irony: As Mikkel himself can attest to, the time-travel passage is closed, but Ulrich doesn't know that, which means his escape plan was doomed to fail from the start.
- Katharina notes the irony of seeing Mikkel back when they were young, but being unable to recognize him until it was too late.
- Claudia urges Egon to move in with her, in order to prevent his death. Egon is surprised at Claudia's urgency, 'as if he was inches away from his death'.
- Driven to Suicide: Jonas's aim is to prevent his father Michael from doing this, so he travels to June 20, 2019, breaking the 33-year cycle, to save him.
- Elder Abuse: Ulrich, once recaptured is restrained very painfully. He's now pushing 82 at the very least.
- History Repeats: Egon thwarts Ulrich's escape plan again when he was close to the caves with a shot to the air, but this time Ulrich is unaware that the passage is closed.
- Implied Death Threat: Franziska tells Bartosz coldly that they will leave him for much longer this time, forcing him to talk.
- Internal Reveal:
- The kids (excluding Bartosz) find out about the time travel and the time machine.
- Mikkel meets his father and finds out that he has travelled back in time as well, only 33 years further.
- Noah informs Charlotte about the impending apocalypse in 2 days.
- I'll Kill You!: Ulrich promises to kill Egon the next time they meet as the latter as he (once again) thwarts his escape plan.
- Missed Him by That Much: Martha and Magnus miss their father by mere feet as the old man recognizes his children.
- Katharina couldn't tell Martha and Magnus she has already found their brother and father as they're too angry to talk to her.
- Mundane Utility: Adam dryly points out he can use the improved time machine and his knowledge to invest in specific shares and get richer.
- Pet the Dog: Even though saving Mikkel/Michael will erase Jonas and Adam (or perhaps because it will erase them), Adam allows his younger self a chance to save their father.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Katharina and Stranger!Jonas to Hannah about her affair with Ulrich.
- Ret-Gone: Adam bluntly tells Jonas this will happen to both of them as well as all the events of the series till now if Michael is dissuaded away from committing suicide. Adam notes that Martha and the rest of the town will live, though.
- The Reveal: Noah reveals to Charlotte that he is her father.
- Sic Mundus have created a machine using 1921 God Particle that voids the 33-year cycle, in other words, it can be used to travel to any time they want.
- Small Town Boredom: Clausen deliberately antagonizes Katharina and Hannah regarding the boredom in Winden.
- Slipping a Mickey: Ines puts a sleeping pill into Mikkel's drink.
- The Slow Path: Ulrich unwillingly did this, having lived in an asylum for 33 years until he manages to break out and reunite with Mikkel.
- The Unreveal: Noah didn't tell Charlotte about who her mother is, though.
