You’re Wonderful – As the first episode of Fellow Travelers begins, Marcus Gaines (Jelani Alladin) drives through a neighborhood in 1986. Hawkins ‘Hawk’ Fuller (Matt Bomer) hangs out with Lucy (Allison Williams) and others at a party. Lucy says she almost gave up her dream of moving to Italy with the man she loves. Hawk says she settled with going with him in the end. When Lucy sees Marcus, she tells Hawk to invite him over to say hi. Hawk goes over to tell him they’re celebrating since he has finally been posted to Milan. Marcus asks if they can talk about Tim in private. In private, Marcus explains that Tim asked him to drop by when he heard he was coming to DC. He says he is tired of going to funerals. Tim is organizing his life and settling things. He wants Hawk to have something.

Marcus can’t tell Hawk how much longer Tim has left. As for Hawk, he claims he is careful. Marcus says Tim has had a couple of romances although nothing lasted because something kept getting in the way. Tim doesn’t want to hear from Hawk. Marcus tells him he has a beautiful family and life so he hopes it was worth it. Once Marcus leaves, Hawk looks at the gift Tim gave him.

1952 – Hawk is told he is at the wrong party since his man is a Democrat. Hawk says he is neutral like Switzerland. He notices Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey) sitting nearby so he asks him what he wants to drink. Tim asks for a glass of milk. During the speech, Hawk mouths something to Tim before stepping away. Later, Hawk hooks up with another man. After they have sex, Hawk hears on the radio that there was a landslide victory for the Republican party. The sex partner identifies himself as Eddie Kofler (David Tomlinson). Hawk calls himself Milton.

Eddie says he knows the score since many of his friends will trick with a guy and press them for money. He isn’t like that because he has a job at the State Department. Eddie asks for his number. Hawk refuses and wants his lighter back. Later, Hawk talks to two men about the Voice of America. As he leads them out, he says Miss Addison (Keara Graves) will send over the tickets to the City Series. Once the men leave, Hawk confirms the Voice of America lives to see another day. Mary Johnson (Erin Neufer) thinks it is a good program. Miss Addison asks if she can get Hawk anything, but he says he is on his way out.

Hawk tells Miss Johnson not to be jealous. If Morton asks, he wants her to tell him he is having lunch with Senator Smith. Outside, Hawk sits with Tim who says he worked on the New York campaign. They briefly talk about Tim’s career before Tim admits he looked up Hawk in the Biographical Register. Hawk asks about his milk-drinking habit. Tim jokes he thinks his parents thought it’d make him taller. Tim introduces himself before saying the threat of Communism is real. Hawk assures he isn’t red. Hawk suspects Tim memorized his entry. He asks for Tim’s number. Hawk tells him to not stare at the park police because they have to hit their quota before the end of the month.

Tim says he needs to go because it is noon mass at St. Joseph’s. Hawk will spend the afternoon picturing Tim kneeling in prayer. Hawk goes inside to the hearing. He sits next to Marcus who tells him about Gerard David Schine. Roy brought him in as an anti-Communist consultant. He is the heir to the Schine family hotel fortune. During a break, Hawk is told McCarthy is sending Cohn and his sidekick to Europe to expose commie influence in their overseas libraries. Librarians have started burning books in anticipation of their visit. Hawk tells Senator Smith (Linus Roache) this isn’t time to take a noble stand against McCarthy. Smith informs Hawk that Lucy is back. They step into the hallway and see Cohn fussing over the new boy.

Betsy (Bella Caballero) yells at Tim to tell him he has a phone call. Hawk tells him that he is going to give him an address. He admits it took him a few days to find the right job for him. It is a job as a junior assistant with writing duties. Hawk tells him to watch out for Joe’s hands. Later, Joe McCarthy (Chris Bauer) asks Jean Kerr (Christine Horne) how Tim is working out. She calls him an eager beaver. Joe talks to him about being a Catholic. Since they know their sins are going to be forgiven, they might as well commit a few. Miss Johnson tells Miss Addison that Mr. McLeod in security will be conducting investigations in their division next month. Tim arrives asking about Hawk who is out. Tim wants to give him Thomas Wolfe’s Look Homeward, Angel.

Mary promises she’ll make sure Hawk gets it. When Hawk visits, Tim tells him he isn’t accepting visitors. Tim tells him that the book was a thank you. Hawk talks about kissing Tim who tells him no. Tim admits he is grateful to be working for him. Hawk asks him to keep his ears open and tell him what he is asked to research. Tim didn’t realize he had ulterior motives. As they eat, they talk about Tim’s past. After his relationship with Bob, Tim asked him if God would forgive them. Bob thought he would, but he could never forgive God for making him what he was. Tim ends up getting naked for Hawk before they have sex. Once they finish, Hawk tells Tim he is going to call him Skippy because it suits him. Tim looks at a picture of the Virgin Mary on the wall and seems distraught.

Hawk tells him they’ll turn her toward the wall next time. Before long, Hawk visits again with a gift. After having sex again, Tim shows Hawk pictures of his family members. Tim says they love the part of him that they knew. He doesn’t know anything about Hawk because he never talks about his family or politics. Tim has heard rumors. For instance, Jean Kerr says Hawk is unofficially engaged to Senator Smith’s daughter Lucy. Hawk says he doesn’t like being questioned like a witness at one of McCarthy and Cohn’s show trials. Hawk insists he isn’t engaged to anyone at the moment. He doesn’t vote because he doesn’t see the point and feels the same way about God. Tim feels like a hypocrite when he goes to church.

Hawk doesn’t want him to do anything he doesn’t want to do. Tim says he just wants to know him. Hawk claims he does. Later, Hawk speaks to Mary during a party. As he eyes another man, she asks him about Look Homeward, Angel. Mary tells him that Tim seems sincere. George Bauers (Jameson Kraemer) interrupts and asks to speak to Hawk in private. George informs him that he is being investigated since they caught him coming out of the Chicken Hut. He insists he loves Sylvie and adores his kids. McLeod needs names. If George doesn’t produce names, they’ll tell Sylvie everything. Hawk tells him to give them the name of someone with low-security clearance who can survive being banned from government work.

George doesn’t ask the names of his tricks since he can barely stand looking at them. Hawk tells him to hold out and he’ll try to put in a word for him. George thinks Hawk is lucky to have all those war medals because they make him bulletproof.

1986 – Hawk calls Congresswoman Johnson who says she is about to be an ex-Congresswoman. She knows he is calling about Tim. Mary says she still talks to him when he is well enough or his sister when things get bad. Tim expects Hawk won’t show up so he doesn’t want to be disappointed. If he wants to see Tim, he should probably do so soon. Mary insists he won’t get better because the government is letting people die. She gives Hawk his address.

1952 – One day, Hawk sees Eddie carrying a box out of the building. He tries to speak to Hawk who attempts to flee. Hawk stops and pretends not to know him. Eddie curses him and calls him stuck up, but Hawk remains adamant that he doesn’t know him. Hawk makes it to his office where Miss Addison tells him good morning. Hawk rushes into his office to call George Bauers. He tells George that he has a name for him. Tim listens to his boss talk to others about strategy before they shut the door on him. Tim goes to Hawk’s place to tell him he heard something. Hawk agrees to get him a drink although he doesn’t have milk. Tim takes  a beer instead. Tim notices he has an ornament of the Jefferson Memorial. Hawk takes it back before learning about the argument about Eisenhower at Tim’s office.

Eisenhower. is going to issue an executive order and they’re worried the President is trying to undermine them with it. Mr. Cohn thinks the smart move is to make people think McCarthy and Cohn are behind the order and that they forced Eisenhower to do the right thing. Tim asks what Hawk is going to do with this information. Hawk says he always tries to protect the senator from his own best impulses. Tim wants to go to the party, but Hawk tries to convince him not to go. Tim asks if he is his boy. Tim gives him oral sex. Then, they go to the party and Tim watches Hawk speak to others. Hawk tells him he’ll take him out later for some real fun. Tim is introduced to Marcus when he comes over. Marcus tells Tim he is a stringer for The Courier.

Tim calls it the black paper before quickly apologizing. Marcus says he’ll be just fine if that is the worst thing anyone says to him tonight. He says they’re in the same club. In one respect, they’re perfectly suited to each other. Marcus explains that they prefer sex without emotional engagements. Hawk speaks to Lucy who says her dad has plans for them. They soon learn that David Schine and Roy Cohn have arrived. Marcus invites Tim to go someplace way more exciting. The three of them to go a gay-friendly club. Tim is told to get away from Hawk if the red light comes on the register because it only takes the cops three seconds to come downstairs. Tim tells Hawk that he has stopped wondering if it is right or win because he doesn’t care. He asks Hawk if he is going to marry Lucy.

Hawk walks away without answering. Once Tim catches up with him, Hawk says he just wanted to have a fun night. Hawk says he is sweet but that’s all it ever was and that’s all it can be. Tim reminds him he committed mortal sins for him. He doesn’t know how Hawk only cares about what he wants to care about. Tim calls him the coward.

1986 – Hawk receives a letter. Lucy didn’t look inside although she suspects it contains plane tickets. Hawk admits he has to take a quick trip. Lucy knows where he is going because she heard him talking to Mary. She’d like him to be home when the rental agent comes on Friday. Lucy asks if he is dying. Hawk admits he doesn’t know. He tells Lucy that she is everything to him. Lucy argues he wouldn’t be going if that were true.

1952 – Tim prays. A priest offers to take his confession. Tim admits that’d help, but he can’t make a confession today. Tim reveals he’s had carnal relations and it’s not a woman. The priest insists God will forgive him and make him pure if he is truly sorry. Tim says the problem is he felt pure when he committed the sin. He isn’t sure how he can be sorry for it. George meets Hawk to tell him he used the name and they’re going to let him resign quietly. They picked the kid up and told him they were going to open an investigation. He tried to kill himself so they had to pump his stomach. Although George thinks he owes the boy something, Hawk tells him to stay away from him.

McCarthy announces the new executive order while Hawk puts money in an envelope for Eddie. Hawk leaves the money for Eddie. McCarthy says an investigation can be opened based on an accusation even when it is made anonymously. Later that night, Hawk approaches Tim to tell him Kenny was the name of his first lover. Hawk was with Kenny when he picked up the paperweight on their senior trip. Kenny liked beautiful things. When the other kids started teasing him about it, Hawk separated from him. Hawk admits he deserted him. They both went into the army. Hawk thinks Kenny signed up because he wanted to stay connected to him somehow.

Kenny died on the beach trying to take Luzon. Hawk wants to come up to Tim’s room and hold him tonight. Tim confesses he is afraid of Hawk and doesn’t know what to do. Hawk says he should go inside, shut the door, and lock it behind him. Tim says the lock is broken so Hawk comes inside with him.

1986 – Hawk calls Tim from a payphone to tell him he is in San Francisco. Hawk asks about seeing him. He wants to give Tim the number so he can call. Tim hangs up.

1952 – Hawk and Tim go into Tim’s apartment and hug.

1986 – Hawk finally hears the phone ring before the episode ends.

 

Fellow Travelers Review

The opening episode of Fellow Travelers did a good job of introducing the characters and setting up the core story. There is real potential for the series to become deeply emotional in a couple of more episodes. Some viewers may be put off by the graphic sex scenes while others may actually like that aspect of the series. The primary issue with the opening episode was the story which really didn’t hit its target.

The whole political angle has been done so many times before so that wasn’t particularly interesting. However, that has the chance to put Hawk in some risky predicaments in future episodes. The pacing is pretty slow so the eight-episode count for the season is very concerning. At the very least, Tim is sympathetic and will be even more so in the scenes from the future since he is likely suffering from AIDS.

On the other hand, Hawk isn’t very likable so there is room for that character to develop as his relationship with Tim develops. Due to Tim’s situation, the season could easily take an emotional turn and create some unforgettable moments. The first episode didn’t deliver in that area, but I think that’s where it’ll really shine when it finally does.

The episode scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of Fellow Travelers are available on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising on Reel Mockery here. Discuss Fellow Travelers and other shows at the Reel Mockery Forum.