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Episode Recap: The Hanged Man
It was all about the butterfly effect on this week's next to last episode of Journeyman.
During a visit from Katie's sister, Dan disappeared on another journey which took him back in time to the back of a camper that was about to fall over the side of a cliff. After helping the mother and son inside the camper make their escape, he dropped his digital camera as he tried to get himself out. He returned to present day for a brief moment before vanishing once again to retrieve his camera from the past.
It was 1984 and both Dan and Livia found themselves wandering around the offices of a software company. The two briefly caught up and discussed Livia's plans to marry her boyfriend in the past before the reason for their appearance in the office park became clear. As it turned out, the mother Dan had previously saved works for the software company and her son was visiting the office trying to make a deal to sell the digital camera Dan had dropped. When Dan tried to steal the camera away, office security escorted he and Livia out of the building allowing the advanced technology to make it into the hands of the software engineers.
Dan resurfaced again in 2007 to what appeared to be his normal life. He resumed the family dinner that Katie had prepared for her sister's visit but when Zack came down for dinner, it wasn't Zack. It was a little girl named Caroline and Dan's son was nowhere to be found. Dan arrived at his office the next morning and made another bizarre discovery about the parallel universe he found himself in. The technology was far superior to anything they had in the real 2007. A single sheet of paper could contain an entire video clip and his desktop computer was something right out of The Minority Report. While Dan wandered around this alternate version of the present, Jack visited with a friend at the FBI to discuss the secret investigation into time travel that the now-deceased rogue agent was working on. While going through the file that the agent was able to dig up, Jack found an old picture of Dan with Dr. Langley that he believed was taken by their father. As Dan and Jack did their thing, Katie had a sit-down with a fortune teller who seemed to have all the answers and was getting a strong reading inside the house.
Dan found himself once again in 1984 with one more opportunity to get his camera back and correct the timeline. He was back at the office park where he interrupted the boy from earlier trying to make a deal to sell the camera. According to his research, this was the night the boy disappeared and later wound up dead. With no other clear option, Dan simply ripped the camera from his hands and made a run for the trash compactor. He and Livia were able to destroy the future technology with just enough time to disappear back to their own times without sustaining any injuries. Dan returns to the real 2007 where he and Katie get a visit from the fortune teller. The woman drew up a birth chart for Dan and discovered that he was born during a rare mystical occurrence that has only happened one other time in history; when Livia was born back in 1923. With this knowledge and the photo his brother discovered, Dan paid a visit to Dr. Langley who pretended not to know who Dan was but gave him a long intense stare signifying that he was probably doing it for Dan's own protection.
Overall, we got a nice set up for the finale. It was questionable whether or not the abrupt cancellation of the show would provide enough time for the writers to have an actual ending but it looks as though we can expect a little bit of closure. With this week's show, although I loved the whole butterfly effect theme (it reminded me of the show Sliders,) I didn't like the reveal that Dan's traveling is most likely due to some mystical force in the universe that had occurred both when he and Livia were born. It reminds me too much of something from a show like Charmed, not a time traveling show. The confrontation with Dr. Langley in the final minutes of the show leaves many questions for Wednesday's finale. Clearly the man knows who Dan is and was only trying to deny it in front of security. I'm thinking this has something to do with the FBI investigation. Despite this show hitting its stride only recently, I think a nice wrap-up on Wednesday night could leave me satisfied. There are so many questions left unanswered and yet a single meeting with Dr. Langley could provides answers to all of them. The write-up for the show states that Dan meets up with another traveler which also leaves room for many of our lingering questions to be addressed. What questions are you all hoping to get answered before the credits roll on Wednesday's episode?
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Dec 18, 2007 8:14 AM
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This penultimate episode was simply wonderful! Two things stuck in my mind: First, the theme of the importance of family (during this holiday season) was subtly reinforced without resorting to treacle. It was so wrenching to see Katie be as attached to Caroline in the alternate "present day" as she is to Zack ("Don't you change anything!") Second, the special effects showing the "nanotech" computers and 3-D wire copy was sooooo cool!
Although I was thrilled with the episode, it made me sad at the same time. I had managed to forget that the show wasn't coming back until I realized there were no "scenes from next week's episode" at the end. That realization only served to remind me what a boneheaded decision I think NBC has made in choosing not to renew this series. It's starting to get so good!!!!
I don't know how many loose ends will be resolved at the end of Wednesday's final episode, but I'd like to think that a potential future plot line would have been that Katie finds herself pregnant with a girl she and Dan will name Caroline . . .
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Dec 18, 2007 9:33 AM
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I really like this show and how it shows that time traveling does have an impact on the time traveler and his/her personal life especially in Dan's case when he has a wife and child unlike say quantum leap where we didnt' really see the effects of time traveling on Sam and on Early edition Gary was single so he didn't have a family to worry about when he had to "change the future" as in Dan's son Zack becoming his daughter Caroline. The scene with the pyschic was great when she told Dan he was looking for something, something small and naturally I assumed she meant the lost camera and when she said Zack wow!
Thinking about katie's reaction to the Zack/Caroline situation imagine your husband telling you that you are supposed to have a son not a daughter and if he changes the "past" the daughter she knows and loves will be no longer just as Dan had to deal with "losing" the son he knew and loved.
I was a little surprised jack confided in katie's sister about beigng an expectant father or that she admitted she might have wanted to date jack even though she thought he was bad for katie. Can't help but wonder if Zack might have been Jack's but katie knew jack didn't want kids and let dan believe it was his child yet jack is so good withh Zack he doesn't seem like the type that didn't want kids but some people make good aunts and uncles but not parents.
Adam , as far as the mystical phenomenon that occured when Livia and Dan were born it does not bother me I mean it's sci-fi/fantasy we don't really beleive people travel thru time do we? and IMO it kind of makes sense then that dan & Livia were drawn to each other and that both are time traveling together as opposed to them being randomly arbitrarily selected for time travel.
A least the writers are attempting to give us an explanation and maybe some sort of closure if this is the end of the "journey" for Journeyman.
so Adam have you heard anything as to whether NBC is Officially cancelling Journeyman? Not putting in a full season pickup order yet doesn't mean cancellation necessarily does it?
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Edited by Dee Bee at 12/18/2007 8:45 AM
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Dec 18, 2007 9:54 AM
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Great episode - we're getting some more answers to the backstory of Dan's time travel (and Livia's). I'd rather think the reasons for the time travel are cosmic than some 'grand government project'. But a government project to exploit the occurence... that sounds about right to me.
I hope we do get something useful from Langley in the next episode. I was surprised to see the writers introduce a Psychic to give some answers.
Very nice to see Dan's camera mistake had a BIG impact on changing the present. Nice f/x! The characters had plenty to do in the present too.
LOVED the scene where Katie's protecting their girl and telling Dan 'don't change anything'. And Kevin McKidd did a great job in his scenes trying not to completely reject his 'daughter' but at the same time so broken up that he lost Zack.
I am so that this show is ending. But at least it's going on with some wonderful episodes.
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Dec 18, 2007 10:04 AM
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I thought it was hysterical that Livia got zapped in her lingerie. She always looks together and with it when she comes into contact with Dan.
Also liked them zapping out together. I thought it was neat that Livia had a different "color" than Dan. When Dan travels it's blue, and Livia's was yellow I believe.
Loved that the psychic knew Zack's name.
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Dec 18, 2007 10:21 AM
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Adam, I thought the same thing! When Dan's digital camera changed the present, I thought "when a butterfly flaps its wings..."
I hadn't read that Journeyman was canceled, so now I'm bummed. We'll never get to know Dr. Langley's part in all of this. I agree he is playing dumb because he knows he's being watched.
I liked the psychic. In time, she could have learned Dan's secret and maybe even helped him somehow. Perhaps everyone born on the same days as Dan and Livia could potentially be a time traveler. In fact, I think Dan meets another one tomorrow.
I think Kevin McKidd really warmed to his role as Dan. I hope he finds another worthy role in American TV/movies. Is it just me, or did he and Reed Diamond start to look even more alike than usual? Cuties both!
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Dec 18, 2007 10:34 AM
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Hey, Adam, thanks for another terrific blog! Although Journeyman had a slow start, I think it's really starting to hit its stride. Are you sure the show has been canceled? I thought it was just on hiatus because of the writer's strike. Bummer!
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Dec 18, 2007 11:14 AM
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Aw, this is such a bummer. Last's night episode was great! Really good performances all around. Well at least we have one more.
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Dec 18, 2007 11:16 AM
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waaah! I can't believe NBC let the option to renew this show slip by. It must go on. It must be saved.
Everything is starting to slip into place and it's very worthy of keeping. There was nothing special about last nights story. As TV guide points out with it's "butterfly effect" comment, it's been done a million times, but the wonderful, emotive, intellegent Mr. McKidd and the supporting cast made it something special--something with heart. A story to make anyone able to step into Katie and Dan's life and feel their conflict connected through the realtionships of each individual character.
This show supplies some of what is missing on network television--a story that people can identify with--a story that makes one think--a story instead of just a dash with a broad brush to attract the poorest audience for a few flickering moments to sell a burger or mop.
Bring back Journeyman.
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Dec 18, 2007 11:17 AM
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"...the abrupt cancellation of the show..."
When was Journeyman cancelled? I know it's on the bubble but I hadn't heard anything definitive.
Can you share a link, Adam?
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Dec 18, 2007 11:20 AM
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I don't think its a hiatus. Official word from newsman Matt Mitovich is that after tomorrow night's ep. the show will go buh-bye. I could only get our own TV Guide story about it but after googling the show it seems everyone is running the story that Journeyman failed to get a full-season pickup.
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Dec 18, 2007 11:21 AM
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Entertainment Weekly did an interview with creator Kevin Falls and he said there's a small chance the show could return if the writer's strike goes into spring and there are no new pilots.
http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2007/12/journeyman-spoi.html
I'm hating the strike, but I'm also torn because I will really miss Journeyman when it's gone. My favorite new show this season, hands-down.
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Dec 18, 2007 12:04 PM
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Entertainment Weekly did an interview with creator Kevin Falls and he said there's a small chance the show could return if the writer's strike goes into spring and there are no new pilots.
http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2007/12/journeyman-spoi.html
I'd rather the writers weren't out of work until spring, but this is the best news I've heard about the show. I'd like to see it come back in a more realistic time slot. Let's face it, it would be nearly impossible for much of anything to compete against CSI Miami which is often in the top 5--
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Dec 18, 2007 12:09 PM
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Last nights episode was fantastic! I love this show and Kevin McKidd. He's a great actor that really makes this role believable. I care about these characters and what happens them. I'll be really sad to lose this show, I feel that it has hit it's stride and I get excited to watch it every Monday. It's for me, like Invasion last year, slow start but worth it in the end!
Did I hear it right that the next new episode is this Wednesday?
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Dec 18, 2007 12:34 PM
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