Time Traveler’s Wife: What Happened To Henry’s Mother In The Book?

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This article contains spoilers for The Time Traveler's Wife episode 2.

The Time Traveler's Wife episode 2 focused on the tragic fate of Henry's mother, Annette, and rendered her death more accurately to the book than the film. In 2003, author Audrey Niffenegger published her debut novel, The Time Traveler's Wife. The book was a hit, inspiring a 2009 movie and now an HBO series written and produced by Steven Moffat of Doctor Who fame.

The core concept of The Time Traveler's Wife is an intriguing one. It stars Henry and Clare, a couple who are brought together because of Henry's ability to travel in time. There's a sense in which it is a fate story, not a love story, because neither ever truly chose the other; on a surface level, time is fixed in The Time Traveler's Wife, meaning Henry's time travel precludes free will. Clare first met the man she was destined to marry when she was a child, while Henry met a 20-year old who burst on the scene declaring herself to be his future wife.

Related: The Time Traveler's Wife Cast, Character, & Changes Guide

There is a backdrop of tragedy to The Time Traveler's Wife. Henry lost his mother, Annette, when he was just eight years old. His powers saved his life when they triggered, with him jumping out of the car crash that killed her. This lies at the heart of The Time Traveler's Wife episode 2, as Henry acknowledges the painful reality he must revisit every time he is drawn back to see his mother die again.

There have already been hints The Time Traveler's Wifewill change major book details as the series continues, but episode 2 is actually remarkably true to the book. The accident is never seen, but it is described by Henry when he admits why he struggles to cope with Christmastime.