White Nights – As this episode of Fellow Travelers begins, viewers see old footage of 1978 gay marches. Diane Feinstein talks about the fatal shooting of Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk by Dan White. Frankie Hines (Noah J. Ricketts) listens to a report about White’s trial. In May 1979, Frankie finds Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey) looking at a postcard from Fire Island. Tim says he owes his parents a visit and Fire Island is a ferry ride away. Frankie needs him there because the city will explode if White gets off. He doesn’t think Tim should keep holding onto Hawk. Lucy (Allison Williams) isn’t happy to receive a call from Tim who says he is sorry for her loss. Tim tells her that Hawk calls late at night when he’s been drinking.

Lucy says she gave Hawk an ultimatum a few months ago to stop drinking or find somewhere else to live. He left so she doesn’t know where he is. She can’t worry about Hawk because she has a pregnant daughter and soon a grandchild. Tim believes Hawk is in trouble so he wants to see him. He admits he might be asking for her permission. Lucy says Hawk is in trouble before ending the call. Meanwhile, Hawk (Matt Bomer) parties. Tim arrives and is introduced to Rafael, Joel, Barry, and Craig. Tim tells them he is a clinical social worker. Once Hawk comes down, he admits he wasn’t sure Tim would come. Hawk says it has been a few years since they saw each other. There is a general rule about the island that you don’t ask people their last names or what they do for a living.

They explain that people have lives they have to protect back home. Hawk doesn’t like the word gay and instead prefers homosexual. Craig mentions that Hawk has a hard time getting it up. Tim says they at least picked the word gay for themselves. They joke they’re going to have Twinkies and go out to kill some homosexuals. Tim tells them he knew Milk. Everyone did and he was a beacon. When Hawk steps out of the room, the others tell Tim that he needs to see a doctor. Tim soon learns that Hawk has gastritis from alcohol. Craig explains that Hawk doesn’t talk about his family including Jackson. Tim says Jackson died about six months ago of a heroin overdose. Craig claims he knew. Marcus Gaines (Jelani Alladin) teaches at San Francisco State University.

A student says she finds it hypocritical that Dan White is getting so much attention when black folks are killed every day. One student says Dan White is a veteran before arguing the city was being taken over by hippies and homosexuals. After Adam (Noah Denver) stops speaking, Marcus says that’s a good place to end it today. He speaks to Jerome (Jude Wilson) in private about missing classes and still not turning in his midterm. Jerome asks why he didn’t shut down Adam. Marcus wants the paper on Monday. He wonders why he is still wearing the same clothes he wore on Wednesday. Kimberley asks Lucy about Tim. She questions whether Tim is the one Jackson mentioned. Lucy reminds her that her father isn’t there.

If Kim wants to know about her father’s relationship with Tim, she’ll have to ask her father about it. Hawk tells Tim that he swims and runs every day as proof that he is still alive. He is glad Tim is there. He has a business proposition he’ll tell him about over dinner. When they encounter a group of naked men, Tim says they should probably go. Hawk tells him no talking just like church. Frankie gets upset with Marcus and asks if it is happening again. Marcus tells him what happened with Jerome and why he can’t get it up. He believes Jerome is homeless on top of it. They argue briefly until Marcus steps out of the room. Tim tells Hawk how he got out of prison, went to San Francisco, and decided to live an honest life.

When Tim asks Hawk about his family, Hawk claims he isn’t good for them. He tells Tim how he ruined Kimberley’s baby shower. Hawk tries to kiss Tim who stops him and says he is seeing someone named Arthur. He is a poet. Hawk reveals he wants to put the deed of this house in Tim’s name. They could meet up a few times a year and make up for lost time. Hawk insists he isn’t planning to kill himself. Tim believes he wants to hide the house from his family because it’s on gay Fire Island. Hawk gets upset when Tim mentions Jackson. Then, he says he likes Craig because he doesn’t judge him. He admits he might end up at the Rack. As Tim packs, he sees the others outside frolicking by the pool.

Craig finds a picture of Jackson. Tim threatens to tell Hawk that he is stealing from him. Craig says he doesn’t need to steal from Hawk. They look at the picture of Jackson as Tim admits he was completely different than Hawk and exactly the same. Tim warns him he could kill Hawk with the drugs he gives him. If Craig doesn’t give him a couple of Seconal at night, he takes four or five. He claims he controls the supply to ensure Hawk doesn’t overdo it. Tim walks outside and snorts drugs in front of Hawk. They spend time partying together. Kimberley snoops around her dad’s room. She finds the card Tim sent. Jerome goes into the center where Tim works just as Kimberley is on the phone with the receptionist.

Kim learns they’re a nonprofit agency providing services primarily for the gay and lesbian community. After the call, the receptionist asks Jerome to take a seat and she’ll try to find someone for him to speak to. As Tim parties with the others, Dan White is convicted of manslaughter. Marcus wants to walk Frankie home because this could get ugly, but Frankie is going with the others. Frankie says everyone is meeting at the Elephant Walk later If Marcus can find his balls, he’ll be there. Jerome watches them before leaving after Frankie. Tim gets mad at Craig because he told Hawk he went home with someone. They calm down and kiss before Craig walks away. Hawk pleads with Skippy to do this for him. While Hawk has sex with Craig, he asks Skippy to stay with him.

Hawk stops when he sees Jackson’s picture nearby. Craig says he wanted to know and wanted to see him. Hawk attacks him before Tim breaks it up. Tim comforts Hawk as he begins grieving for his son. Marcus pulls Jerome away from the other protestors. He takes Jerome inside where he learns Jerome got separated from Frankie at city hall. Jerome admits he has been living on the street because it is better than getting beat at home. He told his dad he was gay and believes he would’ve killed him if his mom wasn’t there. Marcus wanted to tell his dad before he died but he couldn’t. He has loved a man for 20 years and lived with the consequences. Cops come in and start beating everyone. Lucy and Kimberley watch home videos of Jackson at home.

Lucy says there are things about Hawk she doesn’t understand although she loved their life together. She closed her eyes to things she didn’t want to see. Since Kim and Hawk were always so close, Lucy always thought Jackson was hers. She admits that might not have been right. Kim wants to name the baby Jack if it is a boy. Hawk tells Tim they tried everything to get Jackson clean but he’d always disappear and come back sick. That’s what Hawk did. The thing he wanted most was to not be like him. Hawk believes Jackson always knew he was lying about everything. Tim reminds him that their love was real. He says his family needs him so he needs to stop trying to kill himself. Frankie tells Marcus that they took off their badges and came to break heads.

Frankie says they know they’re not going to just take it anymore. They share a drink to Harvey. A news report tells about the chaos that night. Tim watches the news and says he is needed at home. He believes Hawk is going to do better or at least try. Tim isn’t sure he should care so much. Rafael says people will say he must get over him if he wants to be happy and they’ll be right. It’ll also be the stupidest thing anyone ever says to him. Tim finds Hawk doing drugs. Tim tells him to go ahead and die. He goes on to say his wife and daughter have already buried a son and brother. Tim claims Hawk doesn’t care because he is so selfish. He believes he has wasted his time on Hawk before saying he is done and free. When Tim returns, he walks alongside Jerome and Frankie in a vigil for Harvey.

Hawk calls Kimberley to say he is fine. He asks her to tell Lucy he is coming home. Kim says they have a lot to talk about. In the present, Hawk looks through Tim’s stuff and finds the postcard for Fire Island. At the hospital, he learns that Tim had another seizure. Hawk goes to his bedside and kisses him on the forehead.

 

Fellow Travelers Review

The seventh episode of Fellow Travelers was a mixed bag with a strong ending that sets up a promising finale. The series as a whole has been unbalanced with so much time dedicated to the McCarthy hearings. Then, it seems like the older lives of Hawk and Tim are being sped through and large chunks are being missed.

In that sense, Jackson’s death wasn’t as impactful as it could’ve been. The character wasn’t given sufficient time to really develop and Hawk’s relationship with his son could’ve been developed a lot more. Much of the episode was spent on Hawk feeling sorry for himself after Jackson’s overdose death.

To me personally, Hawk has never come across as a sympathetic character so I often have difficulty caring for him. At the very least, I do have a lot of hope for the finale because Tim’s eventual death could be emotionally devastating. I genuinely hope the finale makes the series worthwhile because I want to feel like my time was well spent. Plus, Tim’s story deserves a fitting ending even though it’ll likely be a sad one.

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 this series and others at the Reel Mockery Forum.