The Reel Review
Two men endure four decades of romantic hardships, from the Lavender Scare of the 1950s to the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), Jelani Alladin (tick, tick… BOOM!) and Allison Williams star in this historical LGBTQ+ romantic drama series based on Thomas Mallon’s 2007 novel.
This exceptionally well-written series is an important examination of the challenges LGBTQ+ individuals experienced during that not-so-distant era, also addressing the added challenges faced by gay people of color. Fictional characters blend with portraits of real-life figures (Joe McCarthy, Ray Cohn) to help capture the horrific treatment LGBTQ+ people endured to survive those more repressive times – be it the constant fear of being outed, emotional isolation, deception in order to survive and later, civil disobedience to gain long-overdue civil rights.
With an impressive attention to detail, series creator Ron Nyswaner (Homeland, Philadelphia) accurately captures life in each of the four decades. Bomer and Bailey both give electrifying performances as the star-crossed lovers, with graphic nudity and sex scenes that are unflinching in their honesty. Williams (Get Out) also gives a moving, career-defining performance as the long-suffering wife. Fellow Travelers is a moving contribution to the LGBTQ+ experience. That ending is a total heartbreaker.
REEL FACTS
• The Lavender Scare of the 1950s occurred when President Dwight Eisenhower called on the horrifying practice of rooting out LGBTQ+ employees from federal and state governments. Thousands of lives were ruined – fired or denied employment.
• The eight-episode mini-series expanded on Mellon’s novel by including the story of a queer Black couple – journalist and a drag performer/activist.
• Roy Cohn’s lifelong obsession with his nose is real. His mother got him a nose job (which was botched) as a young boy.
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