Jonathan Bailey Explains Why Fellow Travelers Is 'Vital TV'

Summary:

• Fellow Traveler is a Showtime mini-series based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Mallon.
• The show follows Tim (Jonathan Bailey ) and Hawk (Matt Bomer) through four decades filled with important events in U.S. history.
• Jonathan Bailey claims the show to be ‘vital’ for today’s audiences.

If there's one thing we desperately need from our television, it's more education. While we can all enjoy a funny sitcom about a family struggling to make ends meet in the 90s, or a fantasy dragon show, there's always a place for shows that help us exercise our minds.

That doesn't necessarily mean that the show in question is a documentary. In fact, even slightly more historically accurate pieces would be more than enough to get viewers thinking. While Jonathan Bailey is no stranger to period dramas through his involvement in Netflix 's Bridgerton, it's another of his shows that he finds more educational.

While the romantic tales of Bridgerton are truly exciting and fun, and they make you feel closer to the 19th century, it's another of his shows that Bailey wants everyone to see. Fellow Travelers, which premiered on Showtime on October 29, is the television that the actor considers ‘vital’ to the world today.

What Is Fellow Travelers About?

Fellow Travelers is a TV show based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Mallon. It stars Jonathan Bailey's Tim Laughlin and Matt Bomer as Hawkins Fuller.

The events of the novel take place over several decades, beginning in the 50s and ending in the late 80s. The story follows the lives and relationships of two men involved in government work in the U.S. at the time of the Lavender Scare. The dark page in American history led to the forced outing and deaths of many gay people in the U.S. government.

Like many critics and viewers who have already had a chance to watch the show, Bailey understands the importance of the show shining a light on the way past atrocities have affected several generations of people. He shared his thoughts with BBC's The One Show:

“What’s extraordinary about this is that it tells a love story over four decades. And you follow Tim and Hawk through some extraordinary moments in American history. But it starts at the time which is referred to as the ‘Lavender scare’. I knew nothing about it, and that is why it’s kind of a vital TV, I think. <...> No one knows about it,” he said.

It's not only the 50's that would catch your attention, as the show would take viewers and characters through the events of the Vietnam War in the 60's, the rise of disco in the 70's and the AIDS crisis in the 80's. Unfortunately, this is not a story with a happy ending, but it's a realistic one and one that needs to be seen.

If you are ready to ride the emotional rollercoaster that is Fellow Travelers, you can tune in to Showtime every Friday for a new episode.