New Fall TV - Journeyman

The Time Traveller's Wife meets Quantum Leap is the most efficient way of describing this one. A man inexplicably and uncontrollably, travels back in time and discovers that his actions can make for a better future. The common bond with his multiple displacements is that he reconnects with a former girlfriend who was killed in an accident. He may or may not be supposed to save her and/or re-enact their passionate relationship. The rub is that the guy is happily married in the future. Can you be unfaithful if you are not yet with your wife? Time travelling shows are always great for mind fucks like that, which is why this was top of my list when it came to screening the new shows.

I was disappointed in it for two reasons. The first being lead actor, Kevin McKidd's performance. McKidd enjoyed success in the HBO show Rome, but here he puts in an unsatisfying performance of a man who, although experiencing the most bizarre of circumstances, fails to convey with conviction the disbelief or awe that the situation deserves. I also think there is a little room for humour here. Fantasy shows require a suspension of disbelief, and humour can be used very effectively, to lighten the mood and make the audience feel comfortable about what they are supposed to embrace. If any of us were lucky enough to penetrate the space time continuum, would we not spend the post-realisation moments going "Holy crap! I did it" much like Hiro's reaction to his teleporting in Heroes? McKidd's performance is so earnest and humourless it takes all the fun out of time travel. And while I would imagine it's a lot to take in, I can't help thinking, this could be a blast. Especially once you've explained it to your wife!

My other issue is that the plot played one of its hands too quickly. The connection between time travel and his girlfriend's death, although not explained, is revealed in the pilot and the suspense is therefore deflated. I would have been happy to indulge this mystery a bit longer.

There is a lovely scene where he proves his travel quirk to his wife. I was grateful that the series won't be following the path of the baffled spouse and disintegrating marriage . The scene was perfectly placed and actually quite romantic.

I'd like to see where Journeyman's journey leads. I do think it could lead to interesting TV, but I don't believe that it has the strength of its convictions to properly engage a fantasy audience, nor is it dramatic enough for the mainstream. Shame though, it could have been fun.


http://www.nbc.com/Journeyman/