SummaryThe romance between Hawkins "Hawk" Fuller (Matt Bomer) and Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey) begins in secret in 1950s Washington and spans four decades in this limited series based on Ron Nyswaner's adaptation of Thomas Mallon's novel of the same name.
SummaryThe romance between Hawkins "Hawk" Fuller (Matt Bomer) and Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey) begins in secret in 1950s Washington and spans four decades in this limited series based on Ron Nyswaner's adaptation of Thomas Mallon's novel of the same name.
The eight-part miniseries benefits from its fairly novel (and thematically complex) historical backdrop, but it develops into one of the year’s best dramas through its rich characterizations. The casting of the leads is a particular achievement.
"Fellow Travelers" left me utterly heartbroken! This series is an all-encompassing, high-quality limited drama. Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey deliver performances that are empathetic, heartbreaking, and unforgettable! The confession by Tim Laughlin in the final episode had me in tears. Without a doubt, "Fellow Travelers" and "Succession" Season 4 stand out as my two favourite series of 2023. These two shows have undoubtedly earned a spot in my all-time best-recommended list.
I can't get over how amazing this show is. The acting, the story, the chemistry between them. All while bringing awareness to important topics such as HIV/AIDS and the Lavender Scare. I would highly recommend watching!
The limited series works best in the ’50s and the ’80s, when the writers decide to strip away any unnecessary minor characters and, instead, keep the focus on Hawk and Tim’s inextricable connection. But all in all, this is the kind of devastating love story for the ages, brought to life with the undeniable talents of Bomer and Bailey, that will stay with you long after the end credits roll.
Mainly, though, Bomer and Bailey are the drawing cards. They can’t entirely overcome some of the fundamental issues with how Fellow Travelers has attempted to move through time, and to mix fact with fiction, but they make the fictional part feel real, and poignant.
Yet as good as "Travelers" often is — the performances of Bomer and Bailey in particular — something is missing. There are no female characters of any particular substance or depth. A few arrive, then go, while Williams' Lucy is mostly a sketch of the "long-suffering" variety over too many of these hours.
The messier and more contradictory Nyswaner lets these characters be, the more real they become. Unfortunately, Fellow Travelers drifts in the opposite direction, toward smoothness and bland palatability.
We’ve come a long way from these days and always hopeful that we grow more tolerant with humanity as we can always grow our understanding through looking toward the not so distant political past. This was a forbidden romance to come out in the open during the time period this takes place in, with McCarthyism at the helm.
Not boring, keeps me engaged. Great cast! Would recommend watching! There are several sad yet tender moments these two shared during this difficult time. My heart ️
Fellow Travelers feels pre-digested and lacking flavour. The storyline is screamingly predictable, the characters' responses equally so.
There are many raunchy sex scenes, but the sum of these defines **** men as sex addicts who never have time to talk, think or communicate, except through their bodies. Maybe that's the point?
The actors all try very hard to breathe life where there is very little.
I am *exactly* the target audience for this show.
And yet, I don't like it. The first episode gives too much away. The time period isn't very intriguing. The constant time jumps are confusing because Bomer looks identical 40 years apart. The characters aren't very interesting and they don't behave in believable ways.
Some of the acting is good, and that's the only thing that saves it from a red score.