Fleming. Ian Fleming.
The team follows Flynn to Nazi Germany in December of 1944, where Wernher von Braun is demonstrating the launch of one of his V2 rockets. They initially believe that Flynn intends to give the atomic core he retrieved in the previous episode to the Nazis, so they can build a nuclear bomb and win the war. Upon arriving, they are quickly discovered by a British spy named Ian Fleming. They pretend to be his American colleagues. At Castle Valar, where many important Nazis are having a party, Lucy meets Flynn and realizes that his true plan is to hand von Braun over to the Soviets, so that they can win the space race and, possibly the Cold War. With Fleming's help, the team manages to retrieve von Braun and flee the castle through a secret passage. Fleming agrees to hand von Braun over to the Americans, and the team returns home. They learn that their adventure inspired Fleming to write another James Bond novel, which was later turned into the best Bond film ever. Rufus and Mason theorize that Anthony plans to use the atomic core to build a battery for the Mothership, so that it never needs to recharge. This is shown to be correct. Rufus tells Mason he refuses to spy on Lucy and Wyatt anymore, but then a man from Rittenhouse threatens Rufus's family on the way home.Tropes
- Ascended Fanboy: Wyatt is a huge fan of the James Bond books, while Rufus is the same for the film versions, so, naturally, they're excited when they meet and start working with Ian Fleming, who would go on to create the character of Bond. They're ecstatic at the end, after learning that Fleming ended up writing a new book, and subsequent 60's era film, about their adventure together in the new timeline; "Weapon of Choice", based on their experience and Wyatt, Rufus, and Lucy are major characters in it.
- Beethoven Was an Alien Spy: The team's encounter with Ian Fleming served as the basis for one of his most popular Bond novels, "Weapon of Choice".
- Bookcase Passage: Lucy remembers that a lot of old European castles have secret passages to sneak catholic priests in and out. Wyatt correctly identifies them as "Priest Holes" after their use by M in Film/Skyfall.
- Dude Magnet: Lucy with Ian Fleming, which is constantly lampshaded by Wyatt and Rufus, much to the formers agitation.
- Everything Is Online: Apparently, Rufus's Prius can be shut down remotely, which is what Rittenhouse does, so that one of them can have a heart-to-heart with him.
- For Science!: The only reason von Braun does anything. When Rufus confronts him about it and asks how von Braun feels about building rockets that end up killing innocent people, von Braun simply replies that he doesn't care who funds his research and development, as long as he gets to advance science. In his mind, a scientist mustn't allow himself to worry about how his inventions may be used by others, lest he stop inventing at all. Indeed, von Braun's work would the reason the US would get to the Moon first.Wernher von Braun: My concern is whether the rockets go up, not where they come down.
- Gratuitous German: Justified, as the episode takes place in WWII. Wernher von Braun is german, and Wyatt got a decent vocal coach to speak the language back when he was in the army. Those characters who aren't native speakers (like Ian Fleming and Wyatt) get their heavy accents lampshaded regardless.
- Instantly Proven Wrong: After recognizing that Wyatt and Lucy aren't real Germans, Ian Fleming pulls them away from the tavern full of German officers and begins berating them for sloppy infiltration. "I swear, you Americans! You couldn't stand out more if you tried!" Cue Rufus coming in with a gun, pointing it at Fleming, who, upon seeing a black man in Nazi Germany, just mutters, "I stand corrected."
- Just Following Orders: Von Braun says this when Fleming almost shoots him for sending the V-2 rockets down on London.
- Overt Operative: Fleming was able to spot Wyatt and Lucy as soon as they walked into the Bad Guy Bar, despite Wyatt's flawless German. Then he spots Rufus (a black man in Nazi Germany) and just shakes his head.Ian Fleming: I swear, you Americans, you couldn't stand out more if you tried.[Rufus walks in]Ian Fleming: I stand corrected.
- Politically Correct History: Subverted as usual; Wyatt openly points out how much Rufus is going to stand out in 1944 Germany. When Ian Fleming points out the same, Rufus covers by saying he's a Tuskegee Airman.
- Shout-Out: Given the team work with Ian Fleming, there are surprisingly few references to James Bond. We get a nod to Skyfall with "Priest Holes", as well as a quip from Ian about Never Say Never Again when meeting Lucy again, but that's about it.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Flynn explains to Lucy that, despite all his smiles to the Nazis, it sickens him to even be in the same room as them, but he has to keep it up to fulfil his mission.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: Wyatt is still dealing with the death of his wife, but he gets really irritated when Ian Fleming flirts with Lucy.
- Young Future Famous People: We're shown Ian Fleming as a young British spy (although he wasn't actually a field agent in Real Life...as far as we know).
