The Journeyman Blog

The unfortunate truth is that “Journeyman” is a show on the ropes, and it doesn’t deserve it. The first ten episodes of this show have been excellent, exploring familiar territory from a mature and satisfying perspective, and it just hasn’t gotten the kind of audience that it should.

This episode provides the conclusion to “Emily”, offering a number of surprises along the way. As the situation began to spiral out of control, particularly in terms of the FBI agent and Jack’s personal involvement with Dan’s ordeal, I was dreading the anticipated “reset button”. After all, the writers had already established that changes in the past could erase knowledge in the present, and the standard solution to the complications introduced in this episode would be just that simple.

Instead, the writers took the less traveled road and let the consequences stand. Jack is now convinced that Dan is telling the truth, which provides Dan with an important ally. Tensions will no doubt continue, especially since Katie and Zach will still be negatively affected by Dan’s travels, but the potential for healing and understanding is there.

Jack is also aware of the fact that the FBI agent’s investigation was non-sanctioned. The implication is that someone in the government knows about the possibility of time travel and has been watching for the signs for some time. One begins to wonder if Livia has been on their radar, or if this has a specific connection to Langley’s research. The bottom line is that Jack has resources to look into any inquiries, but calling on those resources could cause additional problems.

This is probably the strongest time travel scenario shown thus far, which could be a result of tying the consequences of Dan’s decisions directly to his family’s welfare. The paradox at the heart of the story was fun to unravel. Little details, like the constant references to time-appropriate money and the efficacy of antibiotics, added to the realistic exploration of the concept. That sort of thing is easy to miss, but it matters on a practical level.

I’m saddened by the thought that the writers won’t have the chance to explore this new status quo properly. There’s one episode left on the schedule, and then the network has no plans to air the final produced episode. They may choose to cancel the show entirely and release the “finale” on DVD. That would be unfortunate, because unlike some shows that have been given a recent lease on life, “Journeyman” is actually worth the time.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 8/10

Written by Juan Carlos Coto
Directed by Fred Keller

According to some sources on the ‘net, “Journeyman” is facing some unfortunate odds. As with most post-“Heroes” shows, “Journeyman” has been struggling in the ratings, and the network is supposedly getting impatient, despite the lack of options in this writers’ strike era. Apparently the ratings for this episode, and its conclusion in the next installment, will be critical to the show’s future.

It’s hard not to take that kind of talk into account when thinking about this episode, because more than ever, it’s clear that the writers have a solid, character-driven story to tell. Considering how rare that can be, and how often genre fans have begged for it, it’s demoralizing to see such lack of support. “Journeyman” is a complicated series with a very mature outlook. The characterization is spot-on, and the writers always keep an eye to consequences.

The writers have also been fairly consistent with the rules surrounding the time-travel at the heart of the series, and that has never been more clear than in this episode. Livia has warned Dan more than once that changing the past can be a major problem, and that it can get ugly. Throughout the episode, there are hints of something unexpected and terrible coming; in every instance, right up until the end, the writers let the situation defuse ever so slightly.

For instance, at one point, Zach has been acting out and gets in a fight. He complains about a headache and then, when Katie is out of the room, seems to disappear. For just a few moments, Dan and Katie suspect that Zach’s been pulled through time as well, and the implications slam the audience like a lead weight. Once again, the audience is reminded that the mechanism and agency behind the time travel is still unknown, and the effects on Dan’s family could be much, much worse. That’s why the final scene hits home; we know how exposed and fragile the Vassars really are.

That’s also well communicated when it comes to Jack. Dan is thankful when his initial efforts seem to gain Jack’s trust; it seems like the corner might finally be turned on their personal conflict. Dan’s decision to change history, of course, resets the button, and it makes him seem even less stable as a result. With the FBI now checking into nearly every aspect of Dan’s life (and zeroing in on the time travel situations with uncanny accuracy), things are coming to a head.

This is an effective first half of a two-episode mini-arc. If nothing else, the network should allow the conclusion to air, but beyond that, it’s impossible to tell. One would hope that the current strike situation would be enough reason to keep the show on the air until the existing episodes are depleted, but even if that happens, it will still be too little of a great show.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 8/10

Written by Dana Calvo
Directed by Helen Shaver

If the previous episode was all about setting up the impending complications, this episode is when the complications arrive in full force. The FBI investigation mentioned at the end of the previous episode becomes a major issue of contention, as Dan, Kate, and Jack all react to the potential disaster such attention might bring.

At first, I though the quick misdirections and Jack’s evasiveness would be enough to get the FBI off the scent. After all, that’s what usually happens in most shows dealing with the same plot element. Instead, the writers took the more ambitious and satisfying choice. If anything, the FBI is more interested than ever, and they seem to be very focused on Dan’s possible activities.

This brings me to Dr. Langley. Dan’s previous conversation with him suggested deeper knowledge of time travel and its potential sources, but Langley seemed to be more intrigued than anything else. At this point, it’s far more likely that Langley knows the truth about Dan’s situation, and he’s trying to keep himself out of the spotlight. The idea that Dan’s situation is related to some kind of experimental anti-terrorism initiative is intriguing, especially the notion that Langley wants to keep the government from getting the technology.

Along with that new insight into the time travel origins, we are given more information about Livia. The idea that Livia comes from 1948 was completely unexpected, and it introduces a number of new possibilities. First and foremost, it suggests that Dan could find himself falling into longer and longer missions, especially if Livia was displaced in time for several years. Her time with Dan also adds to the overall sense that the two of them were chosen to work together by some unknown agency.

After all, at this point, only Dan and Livia have been shown to travel through time. Livia had been doing so for quite a while, and then she was displaced for years in a time seemingly designed to bring her into a relationship with Dan. Now she seems to be assigned, for lack of a better term, to helping him during his own travels. The underlying message is that a certain rationale is at work, something that has been assumed for some time but now has solid information to substantiate it.

All of these issues contribute to Dan’s growing sense that he’s losing control, and that is reflected in his mission. He can’t escape his roller coaster ride, but he can help Abby survive hers. It’s a tenuous thematic connection, but it works, especially since the intersections give Dan and Livia enough time to talk. One very nice touch is the strain on Dan and Katie’s relationship. No matter how understanding she might be, Livia’s presence gets under her skin, and it’s starting to show.

The constant escalation of overarching elements is taking an already great show and making it that much better. Considering the ratings situation, the additional effect of the writers’ strike is incredibly frustrating. While the strike forces the network to make full use of the material on hand, it works against the possibility of eventual renewal. I hate to think that this show may very well come to a premature end.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 8/10

The typical format for a season arc would suggest that this episode begins the shift from the introductory phase of the season to the complication phase, when previously established plot elements begin to overlap and conflict. This is when the writers begin to show their cards: is this simply an episodic show with a few overarching elements, or is there a more cohesive plan?

The answer given in this episode is rather definitive. All the little mistakes and intersections with history from the first several episodes have come home to roost, and it is not going to be an easy fix. Jack’s personal suspicions have led to something far less discreet and far more impersonal. Where Jack might have held back for Katie’s sake, the FBI has no such compulsion. The final moment of this episode literally changes everything for the Vassar family.

This episode focuses more on the delicate period after Livia’s apparent death, when Dan fell into a personal downward spiral and Katie was the one ready to help him climb back into the light. This kind of story needed time to develop, because now the audience is well-educated on the personal dynamics. Every moment of that fateful night has an effect on Dan and Livia as they struggle to preserve Dan’s “present” existence, and that becomes one of the more important underlying conflicts.

The writers do play fast and loose with the idea that Dan can step into earlier moments in his life without anyone noticing the difference in age, but this has always been one of the conceits of the show. The entire cast seems to look exactly the same for more than a decade, but how else would it work on a television budget? Frankly, I think the show benefits from the attention given to character consistency over technical details.

This is the first time we’ve seen the time travel from Livia’s point of view, which is a very nice touch, and it’s also the longest period of time that Dan has been away from his family. Dan’s absence plays directly into Jack’s eventual confrontation with the FBI, and Livia gets to react to Dan’s “present” lifestyle. This makes Livia a lot more interesting and versatile as a character, bringing her out of the background as a more active presence.

In the end, this is the episode where things escalate to a completely new level, and it does so through careful progression of established plot elements. This requires a talented and patient writing staff. Using the same episode to delve into a key moment in Dan’s past history demonstrates how the deep the focus on the personal cost of this “time travel” can be. That creative decision has made this show the most mature and satisfying series to debut this season.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 8/10