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« David's Traveler Blog
Cloak and Dagger
Traveler's summer run has officially begun and, like you guys, I'm enjoying the ride so far. This show has been a labor of love for the people who made it, and it's great to see the show find such a devoted fan base after just two episodes. The fact that so many of you have started forming theories about Will Traveler and the Drexler Bombing has me fired up about where the show is heading. This interaction is one of the great hallmarks of the "cloak-and-dagger" genre, where individuals are placed into situations where their actions become representative of entire governments and political climates. And the audience starts asking what they would do if they were in that situation. Whom would you trust? How would you react? And most importantly for Traveler, where would you run?
I was watching a great show on the History Channel this week called Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed. (OK, OK. Now that I've admitted to being a Lost and Star Wars fan, you might be picturing me as a dude who spends most of his day in his bathrobe. But I assure you, I am wearing pants as I type this at 2 pm.) This show talked about the genesis of the Star Wars story line and how it reflected the times in which it was created. A time when America was locked in a war it wasn't sure it could win. A time when the American government had lost the trust of its people. A time when American values were changing. Hmmm. Sounds a lot like today, right?
Well, I won't even attempt to draw a parallel between Traveler and something as sacred as Star Wars. But the climate of uncertainty in the '70s also led to some of the greatest cloak-and-dagger thrillers ever made, specifically Three Days of the Condor and Parallax View. Movies that both entertained their audiences and made them think about the world in which they lived. This mantle has been passed down to television in the 21st century, with shows like 24 and Prison Break, as well as Battlestar Galactica, The West Wing and The Sopranos, taking an active role in reflecting society's unease with its current political leadership. Now, let me point out, this is not something divided down the party line of Democrats and Republicans. Regardless of party affiliation, it's getting harder to believe that one voice can make a difference in today's democracy. And that last idea will become key to Traveler.
As for the near future, things will get tougher for Jay and Tyler before they start getting easier. As you saw in "The Retreat" (which is available to stream on ABC.com if you missed it on Wednesday), Jay and Tyler's Carlton Fog safety valve is no longer an option. That Mystery Man behind the Drexler Bombing, so perfectly played by the chilling Neal McDonough, infiltrated Carlton's estate and nearly killed Jay and Tyler.
So where do you go now? Do you head for the border? Spend your life on the run, knowing that someday you'll awaken to find a man with a gun entering your musty hotel room in Argentina? Or do you turn back and fight? Try to figure out who you're dealing with and how to stop them? By now you know our two guys. You know that Jay and Tyler will head back to Yale. To New Haven. The place where this all began… and the title of this week's episode.
In "New Haven" you can look forward to learning more about Jay and Tyler's lives at Yale. You'll get a chance to see the FBI in action as they leave New York and follow their fugitive's growing trail of evidence while the Marlow/Chambers rift widens. And yes, there will be more Will Traveler. The enigma. An individual whose actions might one day have a lot to say about the world in which we live.
Enjoy the show. Continue to spread the word. And for those looking for some fun Traveler stuff on the web, check out whoiswilltraveler.com. And please keep the questions coming. Next blog entry will be a Q&A based on your comments from the last three blogs!
See you down the road,
Dave
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Jun 4, 2007 4:40 PM
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David, I love you. I haven't been this excited about a new show since I saw the pilot for Lost. But I'm living in fear that it will be taken away from me after only 8 episodes. What are the shows future chances currently like? Please tell me there is some hope for a second season.
And Neal McDonough! Wow, that was a surprise and a casting coup. I adored him in Boomtown, I hope he figures prominently in the upcoming eps. Talented actor for sure.
I'm also happy to hear that you plan to focus on the friendship between the guys, as that is the part of the show that keeps me coming back the most. Tyler especially is intriguing.
Kudos!
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Jun 4, 2007 10:03 PM
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David,
I did keep asking myself all kinds of questions about what I would do while watching. That's what I love about these kind of shows. I am always questioning myself when watching show LOST and Heroes. What I think the most though is that I really need to hit the gym. I am not in shape to be on the run like these guys! 
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Jun 5, 2007 5:14 PM
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Dave, I thought the same thing as countryqueen when I watched Viola Davis running after Tyler. I was more breathless than she was when she caught him!
Seriously, I love the way you're setting this up - with conflict on the "government" side as well as the uncertainty between Jay and Tyler about what's happened with Will...... I hope you'll continue to explore that side of it as well!
I can hardly wait for tomorrow night's episode!
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Jun 5, 2007 11:24 PM
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Dave, I thought the same thing as countryqueen when I watched Viola Davis running after Tyler. I was more breathless than she was when she caught him!
Seriously, I love the way you're setting this up - with conflict on the "government" side as well as the uncertainty between Jay and Tyler about what's happened with Will...... I hope you'll continue to explore that side of it as well!
I can hardly wait for tomorrow night's episode!
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Jun 5, 2007 11:24 PM
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I am liking this show, but am afraid to get too attached. I learned my lesson with "Surface" and "Jericho"---both shows I loved and lost. Anything that isn't the same as other shows don't seem to last very long. Here's hoping this will last at least until we get some answers.
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Jun 6, 2007 3:07 PM
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First off I have to say how much I love the show. It's well written, well acted and really made me think about who I would turn to in this situation. One thing I wonder about of course has to do with the mysterious Will.
Regardless of who Will really is, and how he came to be a part of Jay and Tylers lives how much of Will's friendships with the guys was actually real? I mean you live with two guys for two years, some sort of attachment must have been made even if the reason they met each other in the first place wasn't all too admirable.
So I guess Im wondering if the show is going to address Wills true feelings about Jay and Tyler as people and as friends despite everything else that has and will continue to go on.
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Jun 6, 2007 5:18 PM
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This is an AMAZING show. I'm hooked...so much that I want to look for spoilers. I'm not going to though because I want to enjoy the show and yell at the TV when something is about to happen.
Hopefully this goes on to another season. Tonight's episode (06/06/07) was amazing...can't wait to see what happens next.
I'm wondering if Tyler's "ex"- girlfriend has something to do with it...and who was the man that ran into Kim? Who was the man in the limo? So many questions!
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Jun 6, 2007 11:24 PM
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I'm loving it! Thank you and keep up the hard work!
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Jun 7, 2007 1:26 PM
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