The Journeyman Blog

By all accounts, this is the final episode of the series, and fans of intelligent genre drama should be very unhappy at such a turn of events. As this episode demonstrates, there was a keen eye towards continuity, and the writers had a very clear sense of where the story was going. It’s rare to see such consistency, and under better circumstances, this might have been a narrative with depth akin to the excellent and oft-misunderstood “Lost”.

Because of the struggle to keep the show on the air, and the desire on all sides to bring a sense of closure to Dan’s situation, the episode is a bit uneven. On the one hand, the majority of the episode appears to progress as originally planned, adding another layer to the overall mystery of the time travel ability. Other scenes feel shoe-horned into the episode to bring some of the character arcs to a suitable resting place. Unfortunately, any sense of resolution is subtle, because the writers were just beginning to explore the depth of the concept.

As it stands, one can look at “Journeyman” as the story of Dan’s struggle to accept his new state of being. By the end of this episode, Dan has made the conscious choice to continue traveling into the past, promising always to return home. Dan seems to understand the possibility that his life will fall apart, but he’s willing to take that risk. Similarly, Livia decides to build a life similar to Dan’s in her own time, despite their past, and one gets the distinct feeling that they will work together to help others and each other as long as they can.

Evan’s story is yet another cautionary tale for Dan, making it clear that going “off the mission” can have devastating consequences. As usual, every mistake has a consequence. There are interesting hints about the nature of the “powers that be” and their methods. One could speculate that new travelers are “called” when an existing one dies, but the individuals available must meet some unusual characteristics (such as being born during a given celestial event).

Dan’s expository discussion with Dr. Langley builds on the existing mythology by detailing what is known about the travelers. Or, rather, he explains as much as he is willing to reveal. Dan appears to be the last of a select category of humans able to travel through time. The mechanism is unknown, but it is believed that some agency is guiding or controlling the process. Some wish to understand that dynamic, while others clearly wish to exploit it, by any means necessary.

In essence, Dr. Langley brings a little more context to Dan’s experience, but it’s mostly a summary of what has already been revealed. That might have been a means of propelling the story forward had the series survived, but as it stands, it just crystallizes Dan’s new status quo so that the audience can understand what his final decision means. Jack’s interaction with Langley was priceless, however, and it’s great to see how quickly Jack has turned into one of Dan’s strongest supporters.

There’s no denying that “Journeyman” had much more story to tell, and that this “finale” is simply not enough to satisfy fans when it should have been just another strong episode. Hopefully there will be a DVD set in a near future with enough additional information and insight to give a better sense of closure.

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

Final Rating: 8/10

(Series Final Rating: 7.6)

Written by Tracy McMillan
Directed by Steven DePaul

With every new episode of “Journeyman”, it is ever more clear that the writers had a very strong sense of direction. More than that, the scope and depth of the concept had been explored, and the writers were ready to take the logical consequences of Dan’s situation to the bitter end. This episode is the perfect example of taking progressive steps with previously established rules. The possibility was always there, but how many writers would have gone so far?

The twist in question, of course, is the latest exploration of the “butterflies and hurricanes” concept. As seen in countless other films and shows, the idea is that a single event, however seemingly meaningless, can result in catastrophic consequences. In this case, Dan drops a present-day digital camera into 1984 Silicon Valley. Generally speaking, very little has changed; technology has advanced more quickly, but that’s about it. For Dan, however, it means his son was never born, instead “replaced” by a daughter named Caroline.

Dan’s reaction is the emotional core of the episode. The writers had long since established that Zach was more important to him than just about anything else, including Katie. For him, this is a crushing blow, and more than enough reason to go back and restore the timeline. Of course, that’s not how Katie sees it, because she has no shred of memory of the “true” version of reality. Because nothing else has changed, she understands exactly what Dan’s reaction implies, and from her perspective, it means the loss of a daughter.

What makes this so interesting is that the cast sells the dilemma completely. Dan’s loss of Zach was a complete accident; he has no choice but to make things right (even as Caroline tries to understand why Daddy is acting like she’s done something wrong). From Katie’s perspective, Dan is essentially planning Caroline’s murder, callously wiping her out of existence. Nothing Dan says is going to make Katie realize that her own memory of the “new” timeline will disappear as if it never happened.

Meanwhile, Katie is searching for answers, and her sister happened to have a psychic ready to offer a Tarot reading and advice. At first, this seems like a way to address Katie’s growing sense of hopelessness, and the reading reinforces her worst fears: she cannot control the situation in her household. Then Dan walks in on the session, and things take an unexpected turn. The psychic is stunned by Dan’s presence, and mentions Zach by name. Considering that this is within the time where Zach never existed, it’s a chilling moment.

One might have assumed that the role of the psychic was then complete; in a compelling twist, she further reveals that a specific astrological event took place on Dan’s birthdate, an event that only happened once more during the century: Livia’s birthdate. At the same time, Jack was investigating the FBI file on Dan, and discovered that their father had taken a picture between young Dan and Dr. Langley in the 1970s. The implication, of course, is that Dr. Langley knew that Dan was someone to watch in the future.

All of these elements come together (along with some additional compelling character work) in a stunning episode that highlights everything great about “Journeyman” and the potential still waiting to be exploited. Unfortunately, this is currently the penultimate episode for the series. Those interested in seeing the series survive beyond 2007 should visit http://savejourneyman.net/ and join the effort to save the show!

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 3/4

Final Rating: 9/10

Written by Tom Szentgyorgyi
Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter

Despite my high expectations for this show, I’m still impressed by how strong the writing has become. Ever since the shaky first half of the pilot, I’ve been deeply impressed by the maturity of the writing, and that hasn’t changed. The same elements keep bringing me back for every new episode: the insightful exploration of personal relationships, the implications for Dan and Livia, and the dense continuity. Loose ends are few and far between, and that gives the audience a reason to return.

This episode certainly delivered on the first promise. Christmas-themed episodes can be too much of a temptation for a writing staff; they can become mired in nostalgic sentimentality or pretentious self-importance. Above all, they have the annoying tendency of including a holiday-inspired message, draped in the potential for long-term character growth, but often a momentary nod to audience expectation.

This Christmas episode was far more compelling because it left most of the clichés off the table. Instead, it explored some of the realistic aspects of the holidays. Dan found himself remembering his father’s decision to leave, worried that he might be forced to make the same decision. Katie found herself suffering the aftereffects of the traumas of “Blowback”, finding an unexpected ally in the process. Jack and Theresa struggle with the prospect of a future together, even as Jack wrestles with the reality of keeping Dan’s secret. There’s no sense of immediate or magical Christmas resolution to any of the issues; it’s all just a stepping stone to the next crisis.

Similarly, the implications for Dan and Livia had less to do with the holiday and more to do with the inevitable consequence of their situations. The possible layoffs at the Register were established long ago, so regardless of the holiday timing, the issue was going to hit the fan. Dan’s lack of performance was likewise established, a reasonable outcome of his unexpected travels. Livia’s personal situation had been slowly revealed in recent episodes, but Dan’s family life was clearly meant to factor into her decision to marry. It’s all just peeling back on the layers of the story.

Which is why, in the end, the resolution of the layoff situation was such a disappointment. Dan’s gambit should never have succeeded, at least not as presented, and it all smacks of the holiday-inspired sentimentality that the writers had so carefully avoided. More to the point, it hinged on the idea that various characters, otherwise quite observant, would fail to recognize the similarities between Dan Carson and Dan Vassar. Granted, Dan’s ability to reverse his own layoff could be cathartic to anyone currently suffering the same indignity, but it just seems too easy and contrived.

In the end, it’s the difference between an excellent episode and just a very good one, which is hardly a bad position to face. Had the network had its way, this would have been the final episode for “Journeyman”. Thanks to strong fan support, at least two more episodes will see air. Hopefully those episodes will give this first (and possibly only) season an even better sendoff.

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

Final Rating: 8/10