History Series / FellowTravelers

* CanadaEh: The second time Mary and Tim meet for lunch in episode 8, her earrings are maple leaves (the national symbol of Canada), which is a subtle nod from the wardrobe department that the series was filmed in UsefulNotes/{{Canada}} (UsefulNotes/{{Toronto}}, more precisely).

* {{Foil}}: Hawk and Marcus are this for one another. They are both conventionally handsome and [[StraightGay normatively masculine]] [[ClosetGay closeted gay men]] in The50s; both are also UsefulNotes/WorldWarII combat veterans. They were also FriendsWithBenefits at some point in the past; it is confirmed that one of the reasons this arrangement didn't last is that they are too similar to be compatible in bed. There are, however, a few key differences between them as well. As a Black man in the mid-to-late twentieth century, Marcus experiences professional barriers and discrimination that Hawk, as a straight-passing white man, has never had to contend with. Additionally, Hawk chooses to marry a woman and stay in the closet, relegating his relationship with Tim to an extramarital affair. By contrast, Marcus eventually starts living his life as an openly gay man, and in 1986 is cohabitating with his gender-nonconforming lover Frankie and their surrogate son Jerome.

* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: For several decades, Hawk experiences no negative consequences for his mistreatment of Tim and Lucy (and Eddie, and Leonard, and Craig). In fact, he lives extremely comfortably for thirty years largely thanks to Lucy's inheritance and sleeps with men (including Tim) on the side while Lucy looks the other way. [[spoiler:But Hawk's actions finally catch up after three decades: in 1986 Lucy and Tim both end their relationships with Hawk for good. By 1987, Hawk is divorced, mourning Tim's death, and has also given up on his dream of moving to Italy. It is strongly implied that apart from his relationship with his daughter, Hawk is completely alone in the world.]]

* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: For several decades, Hawk experiences no negative consequences for his mistreatment of Tim and Lucy (and Eddie, and Leonard, and Craig). In fact, he lives extremely comfortably for decades largely thanks to Lucy's inheritance and continues sleeping with men (including Tim) on the side while Lucy looks the other way. [[spoiler:Hawks actions finally catch up after three decades: in 1986 Lucy and Tim both end their relationships with Hawk for good. By 1987, Hawk is divorced, mourning Tim's death, and has also given up on his dream of moving to Italy. It is strongly implied that apart from his relationship with his daughter, Hawk is completely alone in the world.]]

* TheFifties: The {{Flashback}}s in episodes 1-5 are set in 1952-1954, while episode 8's transpire in 1957. The past sequences in episode 6 that revolve around the early stage of Hawk and Lucy's marriage must have occurred in the mid-1950s, but the exact year isn't specified.
* TheSixties: 1968 is the setting of most of the past scenes in episode 6.

** Even Senator Smith, who was relatively progressive for a U.S. senator in TheFifties, is a homophobe and (strongly implied to be) a philanderer.

* ForbiddenLove: Homosexuality was a crime during TheFifties and TheSixties in America [[note]]the sole exception in this time period is the state of Illinois, which decriminalized same-sex sexual activity in 1961[[/note]], so all same-sex couples were breaking the law simply by being together. Because of this, [[OfficialCouple Hawk and Tim]], [[BetaCouple Marcus and Frankie]], and Mary and Caroline are [[ClosetGay closeted]] and must keep their [[SecretRelationship relationship a secret]].
* {{Foil}}: Hawk and Marcus are this for one another. They are both conventionally handsome and [[StraightGay normatively masculine]] [[ClosetGay closeted gay men]] in TheFifties; both are also UsefulNotes/WorldWarII combat veterans. They were also FriendsWithBenefits at some point in the past; it is confirmed that one of the reasons this arrangement didn't last is that they are too similar to be compatible in bed. There are, however, a few key differences between them as well. As a Black man in the mid-to-late twentieth century, Marcus experiences professional barriers and discrimination that Hawk, as a straight-passing white man, has never had to contend with. Additionally, Hawk chooses to marry a woman and stay in the closet, relegating his relationship with Tim to an extramarital affair. By contrast, Marcus eventually starts living his life as an openly gay man, and in 1986 is cohabitating with his gender-nonconforming lover Frankie and their surrogate son Jerome.

* PeriodPiece: The series spans TheFifties, TheSixties, The70s and The80s.

* SecretRelationship: Institutionalized homophobia in the USA during TheFifties and TheSixties forces same-sex couples to conceal their romance from the public, which includes [[OfficialCouple Hawk and Tim]], [[BetaCouple Marcus and Frankie]], and Mary and Caroline. The consequences are dire if they're outed; they could face a prison term, immediate termination of their employment, and social ruin.

* LingerieScene: After Frankie performs "Santa Baby" in drag at the Cozy Corner in episode 4, Marcus and Frankie are alone in the latter's apartment. Frankie strips down to his 1950s lingerie as they talk, leading to a tender and heated moment between them. Later, Frankie keeps the lingerie on as he and Marcus make love.

* ShootTheShaggyDog: [[spoiler: Episode 8 reveals that Hawk betrayed Tim to the M Unit in 1957, resulting in Tim being permanently banned from working for the federal government. Hawk believed that to honor the commitment he made to Lucy and his obligation to his newborn son Jackson, he needed to permanently sever ties with Tim. However, even without Tim in his life, Hawk utterly fails to be a good husband to Lucy or a good father to Jackson. Lucy's passion, ideals, and dignity are slowly crushed by Hawk's neglect and constant philandering; Hawk's relationship with Jackson is extremely strained and Jackson dies young of a drug overdose. It seems extremely unlikely that Hawk would have been any worse of a husband or father, or that Jackson would have died any younger if Hawk ''hadn't'' betrayed Tim to the M Unit. So ultimately, Hawk's betrayal negatively impacted the rest of Tim's life and failed to accomplish anything positive for Hawk or his family.]]

* ShootTheShaggyDog: [[spoiler: Episode 8 reveals that Hawk betrayed Tim to the M Unit in 1957, resulting in Tim being permanently banned from working for the federal government. Hawk believed that to honor the commitment he made to Lucy and his obligation to his newborn son Jackson, he needed to permanently sever ties with Tim. However, even without Tim in his life, Hawk utterly fails to be a good husband to Lucy or a good father to Jackson. Lucy's passion, ideals, and dignity are slowly crushed by Hawk's neglect and constant philandering; Hawk's relationship with Jackson is extremely strained and Jackson dies young of a drug overdose. It is hard to imagine that Hawk would have been any worse of a husband or father, or that Jackson would have died any younger if Hawk ''hadn't'' betrayed Tim to the M Unit. So ultimately, Hawk's betrayal negatively impacted the rest of Tim's life and failed to accomplish anything positive for Hawk or his family.]]

* ShootTheShaggyDog: [[spoiler: Episode 8 reveals that Hawk betrayed Tim to the M Unit in 1957, resulting in Tim being permanently banned from working for the federal government. Hawk believed that to honor the commitment he made to Lucy and his obligation to his newborn son Jackson, he needs to permanently sever ties with Tim. However, even without Tim in his life, Hawk utterly fails to be a good husband to Lucy or a good father to Jackson. Lucy's passion, ideals, and dignity are slowly crushed by Hawk's neglect and constant philandering; Hawk's relationship with Jackson is extremely strained and Jackson dies young of a drug overdose. It is hard to imagine that Hawk would have been any worse of a husband or father, or that Jackson would have died any younger if Hawk ''hadn't'' betrayed Tim to the M Unit. So ultimately, Hawk's betrayal negatively impacted the rest of Tim's life and failed to accomplish anything positive for Hawk or his family.]]

* FlirtatiousSmackOnTheAss: Tim playfully does this to Hawk as Hawk runs into the Atlantic carrying Tim over his shoulder.

* KarmaHoudini: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] with regards to Hawk. Throughout the series, many people, including Hawk himself, refer to Hawk as “bulletproof.” In the series finale, when he finds out that Hawk is HIV-negative, Marcus comments that Hawk is “still bulletproof” in a disbelieving tone. Marcus seems stunned by that fact that it still seems like only people ''besides'' Hawk ever experience the negative consequences of Hawk’s actions; Hawk does not appear to disagree with this assessment. [[KarmaHoudiniWarranty The trope is ultimately subverted, however]]. By the end of the series, [[spoiler:Hawk is divorced from Lucy, and never actually went to Italy for the foreign diplomatic posting he'd spent his entire career working toward. He has also outlived his FirstLove Kenny, [[OutlivingOnesOffspring his son Jackson]], and [[SecondLove Tim, who was the love of his life]]. He is clearly still heartbroken over all of these losses, and particularly over Tim, in 1987. It also seems like the one relationship he truly has left is with his daughter Kimberly, proving that Hawk was never as bulletproof as he believed himself to be.]]

* KarmaHoudini: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] with regards to Hawk. Throughout the series, many people, including Hawk himself, refer to Hawk as “bulletproof.” In the series finale, when he finds out that Hawk is HIV-negative, Marcus comments that Hawk is “still bulletproof” in a disbelieving tone. Marcus seems stunned by that fact that it still seems like only people ''besides'' Hawk ever experience the negative consequences of Hawk’s actions; Hawk does not appear to disagree with this assessment. [[KarmaHoudiniWarranty The trope is ultimately subverted, however]]. By the end of the series, [[spoiler:Hawk is divorced from Lucy, and never actually went to Italy for the foreign diplomatic posting he'd spent his entire career working toward. He has also outlived his FirstLove Kenny, [[OutlivingOnesOffspring his son Jackson]], and Tim, who was the love of his life. He is clearly still heartbroken over all of these losses, and particularly over Tim, in 1987. It also seems like the one relationship he truly has left is with his daughter Kimberly, proving that Hawk was never as bulletproof as he believed himself to be.]]

* KarmaHoudini: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] with regards to Hawk. Throughout the series, many people, including Hawk himself, refer to Hawk as “bulletproof.” In the series finale, when he finds out that Hawk is HIV-negative, Marcus comments that Hawk is “still bulletproof” in a disbelieving tone. Marcus seems stunned by that fact that it still seems like only people ''besides'' Hawk ever experience the negative consequences of Hawk’s actions; Hawk does not appear to disagree with this assessment. [[spoiler:[[KarmaHoudiniWarranty The trope is ultimately subverted, however]]. By the end of the series, Hawk is divorced from Lucy. He has also outlived his FirstLove Kenny, [[OutlivingOnesOffspring his son Jackson]], and Tim, who was the love of his life. He is clearly still heartbroken over all of these losses, and particularly over Tim, in 1987. It also seems like the one relationship he truly has left is with his daughter Kimberly, proving that Hawk was never as bulletproof as he believed himself to be.]]

** As a direct point of comparison, Tim actually seems very pleased when Hawk seethes with barely-contained jealousy when Tim discloses that he kissed another man during their trip to Rehoboth Beach in 1953; decades later on Fire Island, Tim is very '''dis'''pleased when Hawk seems unbothered by his (incorrect) belief that Tim went home with someone else.

* AchillesHeel: Tim is a very principled man who is committed to living his values. The one thing that repeatedly induces him compromise his values is his love for Hawk. At various points in the narrative he: spies on UsefulNotes/JosephMcCarthy, who he respects and admires, for Hawk; engages in an extramarital affair with Hawk during Hawk's marriage to Lucy; breaks his own self-imposed vow of celibacy with Hawk; and cheats on a man he is dating with Hawk after expressing his desire to be a faithful partner earlier in the episode.
-->'''Hawk''': I'll check with Osborne about your application.\\
'''Tim''': Is that a bribe? To get me to come back?\\
'''Hawk''': Do I have to bribe you to come back?\\
'''Tim''': ''(With feeling)'' No. I knew this was going to happen the minute I opened your letter.

A Creator/{{Showtime}} adaptation of the 2007 novel starring Creator/MattBomer and Creator/JonathanBailey. It premiered on Oct. 29, 2023 [[note]]although subscribers of Creator/ParamountPlus could watch the pilot two days early[[/note]].

* AchillesHeel: Tim is a very principled man who is committed to living his values. The one thing that repeatedly induces him compromise his values is his love for Hawk. At various points in the narrative he: spies on McCarthy, who he respects and admires, for Hawk; engages in an extramarital affair with Hawk during Hawk's marriage to Lucy; breaks his own self-imposed vow of celibacy with Hawk; and cheats on a man he is dating with Hawk after expressing his desire to be a faithful partner earlier in the episode.

'''Tim''': ''(With feeling)'' No. I knew this was going to happen the minute I opened your letter.\\

* PropertyOfLove: Tim spends much of his early relationship with Hawk as an eager supplicant to the latter. He willingly sucks Hawk's toes, requests that Hawk slap him as foreplay, and responds very enthusiastically to Hawk's desire to hurt and humiliate him in bed, declaring "I am [your boy]!" and "I belong to Hawkins Fuller!" Also, over a year into their relationship, Hawk performs oral sex on Tim for what is implied to be the first time, even though Tim has performed oral sex on Hawk many times by that point. Tim is also delighted by a gift of cufflinks with Hawk's initials on them, which are a symbolic "branding" of Tim as Hawk's property. More than once, Tim explicitly compares his feelings about Hawk to his feelings about God. In 1986, after a great deal of maturation and character development, Tim still makes this comparison.