October 4, 2023
Watch: Trailer Drops for Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey's Gay Love Story 'Fellow Travelers'
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Showtime has released a full trailer for the Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey-starring miniseries "Fellow Travelers," a work of fiction set during the all-too-real "Lavender Scare" of the mid-20th century.
Based on the novel by Thomas Mallon, "Fellow Travelers" follows two civil servants (played by Bomer and Bailey) who meet and fall in love during a time of extreme homophobia in American society in general and a concerted effort to purge gays from government.
The eight-episode miniseries traces their relationship across decades, according to TVLine, citing the show's official synopsis.
Bomer's character, Hawkins Fuller, "maintains a financially rewarding, behind-the-scenes career in politics" even as he "avoids emotional entanglements – until he meets Tim Laughlin," the synopsis explains.
In the trailer, Bomer's Fuller is interrogated about his politics, as well as being asked, "What is your marital status?"
Replies Fuller: "Single, but there is a special lady in the picture." The woman in question, who is used by Fuller as cover (presumably with no idea of the deception), is played by Allison Williams.
The grilling continues: "Have you ever had inappropriate physical contact with another man?" Fuller is asked. He denies it with a simple "No," but the trailer cuts to a montage of Fuller and Laughlin kissing and rolling around on a bed. Later, Fuller protests to his "special lady," "You're everything to me" – but is that another lie, made necessary by the times? Or are the relationships complicated?
Dialogue between the two men suggests the latter, when Fuller tells Laughlin, "We lie about who we sleep with," and Laughlin corrects him with, "It's not who we sleep with; it's who we love."
After that, we see Laughlin tell Fuller, "I have been in love with you my whole life – my great, consuming love."
Also complicated is the show's upcoming release, both on Showtime and on the streamer Paramount+. TVLine explained how the two services are sharing the property.
"'Fellow Travelers' debuts Friday, Oct. 27 on Paramount+ With Showtime, two days ahead of its linear Showtime premiere on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 9/8c."
Watch the trailer below:
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
