Fellow Travelers Is A Soulful and Intensely Human Tale Of Facing The World and Yourself
Political staffers Hawkins Fuller (Matt Bomer) and Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey) weave in and out of each other’s lives after meeting during the height of the Lavender Scare of the 1950s in Fellow Travelers. Despite the impending threat of getting caught, their undeniable love for each other only intensifies in the tumultuous years that follow. Their volatile relationship spans decades through the Vietnam War protests, the drug-fueled disco hedonism, and the AIDS crisis, all while they face obstacles in the world and in themselves.
The series is based on the 2007 fictional novel of the same name by Thomas Mallon and explores the genres of historical fiction, romance, and political thriller. Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bomer have undeniable chemistry from the first episode that only seems to grow as the season progresses.
Many know Jonathan Bailey from his remarkable work in Netflix’s Bridgerton, but the actor has musical skills as well. He really shines in this series, bringing a depth and emotional vulnerability to a seemingly hopeless romantic and religiously devout character. He depicts the both the struggles and joy of loving, learning, and growing as a queer man in the 1950s who also chooses to believe in God. His story is one of many, proving that if you are going to love, love loudly, proudly, and without shame or guilt.
Matt Bomer encapsulates the harsh reality of wanting to love freely while also conforming to society’s expectations. His character subtly and eventually loudly defies expectations, rules, and the pressure of working for the United States government during an extremely tumultuous time. He also shows the complexities of wanting and having two opposing things and not wanting to hurt or disappoint any of the people in his life. He shows grief, love, courage, and bravery in an honest and touching way.
Jelani Alladin’s character Marcus is a standout in the series. He intensely depicts the inner turmoil of wanting to uphold everyone’s expectations of him. The way in which he carries himself, especially when trying to make change in a time where the majority were not accepting or encouraging Black people is equally inspiring and devastating. His relationship with his race and sexuality posed an obstacle during that time, but he defied all of that to become a compassionate and influential person.
There is so much packed into the short eight episode season including the AIDs crisis, the communist Red Scare, horrifically blatant racism, and the gut-wrenching treatment of the queer community by the United States government. Rooted in real events, the show hones in on the emotional lives of those who were once forced to hide not only themselves, but their love for others. Best said by Bailey’s character Tim, “It’s not who we sleep with, it’s who we love.” Fellow Travelers is soulful, provocative, emotionally devastating, and intensely human.
Fellow Travelers is streaming on Paramount+.
