In This Section
|
« Traveler
Episode 8: "The Exchange"
This may have been the worst breakup I’ve ever had. I began this blog with the hopes that Traveler would survive the bad decisions of network executives and continue to have a great story line. And although its great story line continued, it did not survive the network ax....
I hate ending relationships with no closure. I was left hoping that ABC had extended the episode to 75 minutes, and then the 11 o'clock news came on. What happened?
The episode seemed rushed and unfulfilled. We were shown so much in one hour, but the content wasn't nearly as entertaining as the other seven episodes. There were also more commercials tonight than any other Wednesday before. Usually we get two to three bathroom/snack breaks, but tonight we could have finished laundry and taken out the dog.
First, the Trio known as Jay, Tyler and Will, escape the FBI. Will (Aaron Stanford) was shot, Marlow (Viola Davis) was pulled off the case and Kim (Pascale Hutton)was arrested. Then, we get to carpool with the Trio. Will's bullet wound isn’t life threatening, so the boys chat for a little. Ultimately, they decide they need to find the painting. I know Jay (Matthew Bomer) and Tyler (Logan Marshall-Green) have mixed feelings towards Will. And Will is still heartbroken over Maya, but I couldn’t feel the tension in the car. It seemed too rushed. Jay got a nice punch in before they got away, but I just couldn’t sense the feelings of betrayal that had been so strong throughout the series.
I admit that I was a little off last week. I went as far as to say that Marlow could be the FBI rat. Of course, we were all correct from the beginning — it was Chambers (Steven Culp). He gave the order for Joseph to kill Marlow (next time I am in a gunfight, I will make sure I am surrounded by thin walls) and he murdered Borjes. It looked like Carlton Fog (William Sadler) survived. I guess we’ll never know. I was sad to see Agent Borjes (Anthony Ruivivar) die, especially since I know that Marlow also didn’t have closure. I hate this feeling.
Will made it clear that the only way they could get to Jack Freed (Neal McDonough) was to promise him the painting. I doubt the painting would have still been in the SUV even if it was well hidden. Those boys were thought to have been terrorists. The SUV would have been in FBI/government possession for months, if not years. But on TV, it was searched and sent to the FBI impound. I wonder how much it will go for in the public auction. Any bids?
When the Trio and Jack Freed met, the old “hide a recorder in the pipes overhead” trick was pulled. Again, it all seemed rushed. I doubt that scene was the original plan for the show, but the writers had to make it work somehow. There was also a lot of talk about the 4th Branch. Apparently, Jay’s dad's service for the country and the sacrifice of Tyler was a part of it. I don’t know if the fathers knew about the 4th Branch or if Freed was using them as patriotic symbols or if he was lying. I guess we’ll never know. Was Jack Freed in the limo? If so, he worked for a person far more powerful than himself. Who would that person be? All this is happening while Marlow realizes Chambers tried to have her killed and Kim is being taken to... be killed? Kim was arrested, but instead of going to jail, she was taken to an undisclosed area. Did she survive?
I commend David DiGilio and his amazing cast and crew for creating a great summer-entertainment show. It isn’t easy to start a show once school’s out. Especially, when it airs after reality shows about impersonators and inventors. I personally thought the show did fairly well for its first run. And if you read David’s Q&A blog, you’ll find that he makes some very important points about giving TV shows time to “grow an audience." Traveler was originally supposed to be 13 episodes but was shortened to eight. In the end the show’s fans suffered. We still have questions and we still want to see more. We're not ready for the show to end.
Hopefully David will be able to give us some closure in his next blog. Perhaps ABC will have a change of heart and pull a Jericho (doubtful). But until then, thanks for reading and have a great summer with those reality shows!
Oh, wait! Closure: What the hell happened to the Porter (Billy Mayo)?!?!
For more clips of Traveler, visit the Online Video Guide!
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 1:00 AM
|
LOL, Casey, wouldn't it had made more sense if they were saying "4th BRANCH" like in the 4th (shadowy) branch of government?
That said, I cannot believe it ended right there! Argh! Did Freed blow up? Where was Kim being taken to? What would happen to Marlowe now that she knows Chanbers is trying to kill her? And most importantly, what will become of poor Jay and Tyler???
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 1:07 AM
|
|
Nooooooooo! I hate endings! Especially when they don't end! I saw the final scene coming but up until that point I was hooked - didn't see Chambers killing Borjes (if he was gonna do it I expected it sooner so they threw me off there) and I really thought Will had turned on Jay and Tyler when he forced them to hand the painting over to Freed. Still don't understand the 4th Branch of Gov't - maybe it's the one that kills great TV shows and allows two karaoke reality shows to thrive instead. SIGH. Best moment of an awesome finale: Marlow making the call and having Chambers answer. That was the best "oh crap" moment yet. Best moment in the series: the finale to last week's episode, with everyone in the alley, guns drawn. I love TV shows that have me out of my seat, screaming at the TV. Well done, everyone - thanks for 8 awesome weeks!!!
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 2:07 AM
|
|
This is the only TV show worth watching this summer. Too bad ABC can't see what the viewers want. Maybe another network will pick it up, any chance of that? Great show!!
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 2:21 AM
|
People who post in this blog know that I love this show. However, for me, the finale was probably one of the worst so far this year!
The finale was nearly an exact copy of Prison Break's plot near the end of the second season (government is bad, have recording to blackmail government, government official whom would be blackmailed is...unavailable, no option but to run away). And when you start comparing shows to Prison Break, you know something's wrong (I'm not saying the second season of Prison Break was bad; I loved it, but the similarities are eerie...)
However, Wentworth Miller is obviously a better actor than all three of the boys combined, so I'll let it slide.
Yes, the lack of the Porter is what sealed it for me. Daybreak was canceled and its finale closed up all the loose ends, why can't Traveler do the same?
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 2:26 AM
|
The finale felt rushed because it was! They went from 13 episodes down to 8. And had to do what they could with it. I thought it was really good considering every thing. The ending made me want more. Which is what's most important right now for the show. That people want to see more of it. And if it does continue, All three guys will be together again. Which means more time to deal with their relationship's and what else that needs to be resolved. I thought that was handled very well tonight. You could tell from the very beginning that Will did care about them.
I was really uspet to see Borjes's go. I really liked the guy. Very sad. Love the reveal at the end with Marlow calling the cell phone to see who it was from before. Nicely done.
The Porter was saved for next season. If we get another. At least they went out with a bang I guess. Literally!
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 3:16 AM
|
Well, we got answers, but we got even more questions! I was expecting a little closure, but we didn't get it. Instead, it was an awesome finale that made me eager for it to be September to see the 2nd season premiere!
Then I remembered, ABC dumped the show and I went to my crying.
I still have to digest everything though. As a season finale, it was awesome, especially as David said, they had to cram everything into it.
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 3:28 AM
|
I knew it, I knew it, I knew it, that my girl Marlowe wasn't the rat, and that it was Chambers. Man I love it when I'm right. I had a feeling that Chambers would kill one of his men, I was thinking along the lines of Marlowe, not Borjes.
I really really hate it that they just left us hanging like that. Why do they have to cancel shows, that leaves us with a cliffhanger? I hate cliffhangers like this. I don't think Reed was in the limo when it got blown up, he weasled his way out or one of his cronnies got to him before the limo blew up. I agree that Kim was being taken to get killed. And yeah what did happen to the Porter? I was hoping he would of at least shown up, escpially in the right after the limo blew up, to wisk the trio away.
Yeah Bailey545 that is exactly what the "4th Branch" is...to cancel good shows espcially in the summer and replace them with bad reality shows or network news programs. lol
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 3:29 AM
|
I knew it, I knew it, I knew it, that my girl Marlowe wasn't the rat, and that it was Chambers. Man I love it when I'm right. I had a feeling that Chambers would kill one of his men, I was thinking along the lines of Marlowe, not Borjes.
I really really hate it that they just left us hanging like that. Why do they have to cancel shows, that leaves us with a cliffhanger? I hate cliffhangers like this. I don't think Reed was in the limo when it got blown up, he weaseled his way out or one of his cronies got to him before the limo blew up. I agree that Kim was being taken to get killed. And yeah what did happen to the Porter? I was hoping he would of at least shown up, especially in the right after the limo blew up, to whisk the trio away.
Yeah Bailey545 that is exactly what the "4th Branch" is...to cancel good shows especially in the summer and replace them with bad reality shows or network news programs. lol
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 3:32 AM
|
Daybreak was canceled and its finale closed up all the loose ends, why can't Traveler do the same?
Daybreak always intended to end the loop during its season finale. They were going to start a new day during season 2.
The episode seemed rushed and unfulfilled.
I thought so too. But given the circumstances (they were told of the cutback during episode 7), I suppose it's understandable. I also agree that the tension between the reunited Trio seemed a little flat. Again, I'm sure the reunion would have been better laid out had the cutback not occurred.
Unlike The Nine or Daybreak, Traveler was able to maintain the quality of the pilot throughout the season. Another enjoyable aspect were the many "shades of gray" throughout every episode. Too many shows either beat you over the head with the obvious or they're too ambiguous. Traveler always found the right balance.
I'm always willing to forgive plot holes as long as the show entertains. It's one of the reasons I enjoy 24, Lost, and Prison Break. And much like those shows, Traveler always found the right mix of suspense, action, and drama. I'm hoping for a season 2, but I'm happy we at least got to see the completed episodes. How many fans of prematurely canceled shows can say that?
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 3:54 AM
|
|
opps sorry for the double post.
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 6:07 AM
|
I hated the ending because there were way too many unanswered questions. That's just not fair to the viewers. What is ABC going to show next week that justifies truncating Traveler this way? I'm furious.
I think the 4th Branch is the military, which does make a certain amount of sense. I do know that every member of the military has to take an oath (as Reed reminded Will that he had taken one), and I know the military mind, as my husband had been in the Air Force. I can understand that they might believe that civilians had really messed up & that we can be saved only by a takeover.
Anyway, good show, horrible ending!
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 8:18 AM
|
I am with you on this one Casey; one word ...rushed. Everyone knows that they had to cut the season from 13 to 8 episodes. However, they claim they re-shot several of them. I think the writing is pretty much on the wall when a studio cuts your already short season order and buries it in the summer, so I would have expected quite a bit more closure.
Zinger314 - I have likened this show to the second season of Prison Break from the first episode. For me, that is not a flattering comment, but I will say Traveler did have its own unique style and a few characters that, again for me, were far more compelling (ie. Traveler, Marlow, Kim.)
I also believe Aaron Stanford's acting ability is right up there with the Prison Break boys. He has a new fan in me.
As for Chambers being the baddie, no surprise there. Actually, there were quite a few very obvious reveals, but I do believe that was more a function of the shortened season.
I know I sound a bit negative towards the show. I really am not and was die hard about not missing it this summer. Last week's show and ending was amazing and I think given a full season, things would have been very different in the way the three roommates started trusting one another again. It would have been a very gradual thing, which I would have liked to have seen.
Either way, it was a decent show and I think David DiGilio is a class act for his continued online presence both here and on IMdB (maybe other sites as well, these are just the only two I know of.) I will look forward to watching the next show he is a part of.
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 9:07 AM
|
|
I think the writers did a phenomenal job of wrapping up what was originally to be a 13 episode series into 8. If any of us felt it was 'rushed' you can just imagine what the writers felt. I loved the show and wish Dave and everyone else involved the very best - it was a fun ride!!
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 9:07 AM
|
|
I thought it was the 4th "Branch", as in a secret 4th branch of the government. Seems to make sense to me anyway. Of course, I don't guess it matter now.
|
|
Jul 19, 2007 9:36 AM
|
|
|
