Fellow Travelers (miniseries)

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Fellow Travelers
File:Fellow Travelers logo.png
Genre <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Created by Ron Nyswaner
Based on Fellow Travelers
by Thomas Mallon
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Composer(s) Paul Leonard-Morgan
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 8
Production
Executive producer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Producer(s) Anya Leta
Cinematography <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Editor(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Production company(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Release
Original network Showtime
Original release October 29 (2023-10-29) –
December 17, 2023 (2023-12-17)
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

Fellow Travelers is an American historical romance political thriller television miniseries based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Thomas Mallon. Starring Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey, it centers on the decades-long romance between two men who first meet during the height of McCarthyism in the 1950s. The series premiered on October 29, 2023, on Showtime following an October 27 release on Paramount+ with Showtime.[1]

Premise

After a chance encounter in Washington, D.C., in the 1950s, Hawkins Fuller (Bomer) and Timothy Laughlin (Bailey) start a volatile romance that spans "the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s, the drug-fueled disco hedonism of the 1970s and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, while facing obstacles in the world and in themselves".[2]

Cast

Main

Supporting

  • Will Brill as Roy Cohn[4]
  • Chris Bauer as Senator Joseph McCarthy[4]
  • Matt Visser as David Schine[4]
  • Christine Horne as Jean Kerr, aide to Senator McCarthy and later his wife[4]
  • Erin Neufer as Mary Johnson, a closeted secretary in Hawkins' office and friend of Tim[4]
  • Keara Graves as Miss Addison, a secretary in Hawkins' office who is a true believer in McCarthyism
  • Chelsea Russell as Stormé, an entertainer at the Cozy Corner
  • Andy Milne as Andre, the pianist at the Cozy Corner
  • David Tomlinson as Eddie Kofler, a young government employee who Hawkins sleeps with and later turns in to investigators
  • Jane Moffat as Helen Smith, wife of Senator Smith
  • Mike Taylor as Leonard Smith, son of Senator Smith and brother of Lucy
  • Rosemary Dunsmore as Estelle, Hawkins' mother
  • Michael Therriault as Fred Treband, an investigator working to purge homosexual employees from the U.S. government
  • Jude Wilson as Jerome, a San Francisco youth taken in by Marcus and Frankie
  • Brittany Raymond and Teagan Sellers as the adult and teenage Kimberly, daughter of Hawkins and Lucy
  • Etienne Kellici as Jackson, son of Hawkins and Lucy
  • Morgan Lever as Craig, Hawkins’ "boy toy" on Fire Island

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Teleplay by [5] Original air date [6]
1 "You're Wonderful" Daniel Minahan Ron Nyswaner October 29, 2023 (2023-10-29)
In 1950s Washington, Hawkins Fuller is a war hero moving up the ladder at the State Department, flirting with women while enjoying clandestine sex with men and avoiding emotional entanglements. Everything changes when Hawk meets religious Tim Laughlin: they begin an affair that puts them in jeopardy. In 1986, married Hawk receives a mysterious package and decides he must see Tim. Series premiere.
2 "Bulletproof" Daniel Minahan Dee Johnson November 5, 2023 (2023-11-05)
When the State Department begins investigations into suspected homosexuals, Hawk distances himself from Tim, who questions his faith. Hawk’s colleague Mary comes under suspicion. Journalist Marcus loses his job after a dispute with Roy Cohn but is comforted by drag performer Frankie. Needing cover, Hawk draws closer to Lucy Smith. In 1980s San Francisco, Hawk observes gay life in the AIDS crisis when Tim’s sister forbids him to see Tim.
3 "Hit Me" Destiny Ekaragha Story by: Ron Nyswaner
Teleplay by: Brandon K. Hines & Jack Solomon		 November 12, 2023 (2023-11-12)
Hawk and Tim go on a road trip that turns sour when Tim realizes Hawk is using the trip to dig up dirt on Senator Smith’s enemies. Marcus and Frankie’s encounter with a racist bouncer nearly tears them apart. Roy is desperate to keep David from being drafted, and Jean Kerr questions McCarthy’s masculinity. In 1980s San Francisco, Tim withholds forgiveness until a medical emergency gives Hawk a chance to prove he’s worthy of it.
4 "Your Nuts Roasting on an Open Fire" James Kent Anya Leta November 19, 2023 (2023-11-19)
As the government’s purge of homosexuals continues, Hawk faces a polygraph test about his sex life and publicly courts Lucy while involving Tim in a desperate plot to destroy McCarthy and Cohn. Marcus makes peace with his attraction to Frankie’s feminine persona. David has been drafted, and Roy threatens to destroy the Army. In 1980s San Francisco, Hawk meets Marcus and Frankie’s adopted son, and Tim recruits Hawk to help his AIDS activist group.
5 "Promise You Won't Write" James Kent Katie Rose Rogers & Robbie Rogers November 26, 2023 (2023-11-26)
Roy Cohn’s obsession with David Schine leads to the televised Army-McCarthy hearings and national scandal as McCarthy’s allies attack Senator Smith, threatening to expose family secrets. Hawk tries to protect Smith while hiding his secret life from Lucy, although a tragedy brings them closer. Marcus must decide between his love for Frankie and his new job at the Post. Exposed to McCarthy’s – and Hawk’s – true natures, Tim makes a life-changing decision about his future.
6 "Beyond Measure" Uta Briesewitz Dee Johnson December 3, 2023 (2023-12-03)
It’s 1968, and Tim’s an anti-war protester sought by the FBI. Hawk and Lucy have a settled life, two children and a country house – the perfect spot for Tim to hide. Out of touch for years, Hawk wants Tim back in his life, and Tim – on his way to becoming a priest – can’t resist Hawk’s charms. Marcus puts aside his career to care for his aged father while denying himself romance. Frankie becomes a counselor for “girls” left behind by society.
7 "White Nights" Destiny Ekaragha Brandon K. Hines & Ron Nyswaner December 10, 2023 (2023-12-10)
It’s 1979, and Tim, now a social worker in San Francisco, travels to Fire Island where he suspects Hawk is drinking himself to death after a family tragedy. Hawk takes Tim on a tour of "gay paradise", indulging in dancing, drugs and unbridled sex until things take a dark turn. In San Francisco, Marcus and Frankie are drawn into the explosion of gay rage prompted by the verdict in Dan White’s murder trial. Hawk’s adult daughter, Kimberly, challenges Lucy to share the truth about her marriage.
8 "Make It Easy" Uta Briesewitz Story by: Ron Nyswaner
Teleplay by: Anya Leta & Jack Solomon		 December 17, 2023 (2023-12-17)
In 1957, Hawk and Tim reunite at Senator McCarthy’s funeral and try, one last time, to find a way to be together, but the pressures of impending fatherhood may force Hawk to commit an act of betrayal. In San Francisco, in 1986, Hawk seeks redemption, seeing Tim through a medical crisis and facing Lucy, who arrives with an ultimatum. Marcus and Frankie are stunned by news concerning their adopted son, Jerome. Tim makes a wrenching decision that will change Hawk’s life forever. Series finale.

Production

Development

A television adaptation of Mallon's work was in development as a co-production from Fremantle for Showtime as of October 2021.[7] Showtime officially greenlit the series in April 2022, with the screenplay written by Ron Nyswaner who also serves as executive producer. Other executive producers include Daniel Minahan, who is directing the first two episodes.[8]

Casting

Alongside the greenlight announcement in April 2022, it was announced Matt Bomer would executive produce the series and star as Hawkins Fuller.[8] Allison Williams joined the cast in June as Lucy Smith.[9] It was announced in July that Jonathan Bailey would star opposite Bomer as Tim Laughlin.[10]

Filming

Principal photography began in Toronto on July 27, 2022, and wrapped on December 9, 2022.[8][11]

Release

Episodes of the series were released on Paramount+ with Showtime two days prior to their debuts on Showtime.[1][6]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 62 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.40/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "A queer romance with the full breadth and depth of an epic, Fellow Travelers is a moving showcase for Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey's captivating on-screen chemistry."[12] On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13]

Fellow Travelers was named among the best TV shows of 2023 by Variety, The Washington Post and The New Yorker.[14][15][16]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2024 29th Critics' Choice Awards Best Limited Series Fellow Travelers Pending [17]
Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Matt Bomer Pending
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Jonathan Bailey Pending
81st Golden Globe Awards Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television Fellow Travelers Pending [18]
Best Performance by an Actor, Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television Matt Bomer Pending
28th Satellite Awards Miniseries & Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Fellow Travelers Pending [19]
Actor in a Miniseries, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television Matt Bomer Pending
Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries & Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television Jonathan Bailey Pending

See also

References

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External links

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