Fellow Travelers (miniseries)

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]

Fellow Travelers
Genre	Historical romance Political thriller
Created by	Ron Nyswaner
Based on	Fellow Travelers by Thomas Mallon
Starring	Matt Bomer Jonathan Bailey Jelani Alladin Linus Roache Noah J. Ricketts Allison Williams
Composer	Paul Leonard-Morgan
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of episodes	8
Production
Executive producers	Matt Bomer Daniel Minahan Ron Nyswaner Robbie Rogers Dee Johnson
Producer	Anya Leta
Cinematography	Simon Dennis Ronald Plante
Editors	Christopher Donaldson Wendy Hallam Martin
Production companies	Blue Days Films Off-Season Productions Fremantle Showtime Networks
Original release
Network	Showtime
Release	October 29 (2023-10-29) – December 17, 2023 (2023-12-17)

Premise

After a chance encounter in Washington, D.C., in the 1950s, Hawkins Fuller and Timothy Laughlin 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

• Matt Bomer as Hawkins "Hawk" Fuller, a World War II veteran and official at the State Department who vigilantly hides his homosexuality
• Jonathan Bailey as Timothy "Tim" Laughlin, a young and idealistic congressional staffer who becomes entangled with Hawkins
• Jelani Alladin as Marcus Gaines,^[3] a gay reporter chafing at the unofficial segregation of 1950s Washington, D.C.
• Linus Roache as Senator Wesley Smith, a father figure to Hawkins and opponent of McCarthyism (based in part on Lester C. Hunt)
• Noah J. Ricketts as Frankie Hines, a self-assured drag queen and love interest of Marcus
• Allison Williams as Lucy Smith, daughter of Senator Smith, childhood friend and, finally, wife of Hawkins.

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 whom 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

[[Category:Wikipedia pages tagged for copyright problems|]]

No.	Title	Directed by	Teleplay by [5]	Original release 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.
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	Teleplay by : Brandon K. Hines & Jack Solomon Story by : Ron Nyswaner	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	Teleplay by : Anya Leta & Jack Solomon Story by : Ron Nyswaner	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.

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 series being written by Ron Nyswaner who also served as executive producer. Other executive producers included Daniel Minahan, who directed 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

Fellow Travelers won a Peabody Award at the 83rd ceremony for chronicling LGBTQ+ history over 50 years. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 76 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The website's 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] The show was nominated for three awards at the 76th Emmy Awards, Lead Actor in a Limited Series (Bomer), Supporting Actor in a Limited Series (Bailey), and Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series.

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
2023	Golden Tomato Awards	Best Miniseries	Fellow Travelers	Won	[17]
2024	Astra TV Awards	Best Limited Series		Nominated	[18]
		Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie	Matt Bomer	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie	Jonathan Bailey	Won
		Best Writing in a Limited Series or TV Movie	Ron Nyswaner (for "You're Wonderful")	Nominated
	Black Reel Awards	Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series	Jelani Alladin	Nominated	[19]
			Noah J. Ricketts	Nominated
		Outstanding Writing in a TV Movie or Limited Series	Brandon K. Hines & Ron Nyswaner (for "White Nights")	Nominated
	Critics' Choice Television Awards	Best Limited Series	Fellow Travelers	Nominated	[20]
		Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television	Matt Bomer	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television	Jonathan Bailey	Won
	GLAAD Media Awards	Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series	Fellow Travelers	Won	[21]
	Golden Globe Awards	Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film		Nominated	[22] [23]
		Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television	Matt Bomer	Nominated
	Peabody Awards	Entertainment	Fellow Travelers	Won	[24]
	People's Choice Awards	The TV Performance of the Year	Matt Bomer	Nominated	[25]
	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie	Matt Bomer	Nominated	[26]
		Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie	Jonathan Bailey (for "Make It Easy")	Nominated
		Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie	Ron Nyswaner (for "You're Wonderful")	Nominated
	Satellite Awards	Best Miniseries & Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television	Fellow Travelers	Nominated	[27]
		Best Actor in a Miniseries, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television	Matt Bomer	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television	Jonathan Bailey	Won
	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie	Matt Bomer	Nominated	[28]
	Television Critics Association Awards	Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials	Fellow Travelers	Nominated	[29]

See also

• Fellow Travelers (opera)