Critic Reviews

Magnificent. .... “Fellow Travelers” cycles through many time periods and historical LGBTQ markers — all vividly brought to life. But first and foremost, this is a love story, one that breaks your heart.

The eight-part miniseries benefits from its fairly novel (and thematically complex) historical backdrop, but it develops into one of the year’s best dramas through its rich characterizations. The casting of the leads is a particular achievement.

Equal parts political thriller and steamy, doomed romance, “Fellow Travelers” proves to be an addictive yarn that, despite its period setting, feels vital and relevant in 2023 America.

Showtime’s lively, insightful, and often devastating historical drama. .... Nested within a case study of gay political life in the second half of the 20th century are eight episodes of gorgeous romantic drama in a medium that rarely seems suited to the genre.

A complex, intimate, captivating and visually stunning portrait of anguish and desire.

It’s not just the sex that makes Fellow Travelers so great. It’s also the show’s ability to use wildly erotic fornication as a tool to increase its emotional resonance. The eight-episode limited series looks and feels like classic prestige TV, earning all eight hours of its runtime thanks to cunning writing, terrific editing, and some of the best lead performances of the year. This is can’t-miss television, brought back from its shallow grave.

The love between Tim and Hawk is never confused or abandoned for another plotline but woven into the show's other themes expertly. This is one of the best miniseries of the year.

The limited series works best in the ’50s and the ’80s, when the writers decide to strip away any unnecessary minor characters and, instead, keep the focus on Hawk and Tim’s inextricable connection. But all in all, this is the kind of devastating love story for the ages, brought to life with the undeniable talents of Bomer and Bailey, that will stay with you long after the end credits roll.

Unlike romances that wither on the vine whenever their leads pry themselves off each other, “Fellow Travelers” holds its grip on the audience throughout its eight-hour run.

What most satisfies here is the unpredictable way these men’s stories develop across all that history. .... The series’s greatest achievement is its commitment to its characters as characters — dwelling gently on their peculiarities and inconsistencies and never letting them become allegories for larger struggles.