TVSquad

(S01E03) I don't know that any of us can ever really understand the machinations that go into making the network schedule. After watching the first three episodes of Traveler though, I'm left scratching my head wondering just what it was that kept this one tucked away for so long. I'll give in where The Nine is concerned, because the pilot was very good. But how this one got passed over for Six Degrees, Men In Trees, and the collection of little sit-coms that couldn't is beyond me.

With what is really such a simple premise, "Who is Will Traveler?", they have managed to hook me. And the more light that shines on the mystery, the better it gets. Part of that could just be that I'm a sucker for a good conspiracy theory. From the first time we saw Neal McDonough as the kind of creepy Homeland Security agent, I was sold on that part of the story. They do need to give up a name though, so I can quit referring to him as McNorris in my head.

I'm still at a loss as to just how he figures in to the whole conspiracy, but we did get a taste of just how deep into it he is tonight. Not only did his men kill Ellington, with a slow bleeding gunshot wound no less, but they were also watching Kim close enough to be there to swipe the picture of Will as soon as it was developed. The relationship between Kim and Agent Chambers is interesting. When he told her that they were going to be working on the same side, I had to wonder if that was a hint that Chambers is going to come around and take up the fight for Jay and Tyler at some point.

I am assuming that notMcNorris' henchmen were also behind the document shenanigans at Nell's place. Floor plan of the Drexler, printouts on explosives, casualty estimates, blast patterns, and 100 page anti-government diatribes. Given everything else we've seen that they put in place to sell this conspiracy, that didn't come as any great surprise. The more interesting part of that is Nell. Is she really innocent and looking to help them? Or was her stall on the FBI not about giving Jay and Tyler time to get away, but instead about keeping the FBI from catching them so the other guys can? The fact that someone clearly had access to her place, and her reaction to Will in the library make me question her honesty.

Speaking of the library, how about those steam tunnels? The Scooby Doo secret bookcase passage did give me pause. Come on now, this is Yale. That's kind of a stretch. But then I remembered that we are watching a show where it sure looks like Homeland Security just blew up a museum as part of some evil plot. So it's best to go with an all things are possible theory and see where it takes you. The giant footprint on the desk in an otherwise cleaned out office was along the same lines. Again, ok with it, because it moved the boys along the path. Next stop, Deer Harbor.

The big showdown between Carlton Fog and Agent Chambers was also very good. I've always really liked William Sadler, and he's very good as Carlton. It was great how the two of them were both trying to assert their dominance. The veiled threat against Chambers' daughter was a little creepy. Carlton has been set up very well. There has been just enough hinting both ways that it's still unclear whether he has anything to do with the bombing plan. I'm very curious about his other son as well.

And finally, Will is alive! Well, of course he was. They did call the show Traveler, so I didn't have much faith that they would kill the title character off in the first episode. Not only did he make it out of the museum, he also got some souvenirs. The fact that he is asking questions about them makes you wonder just what his part of the plan was. Was he never supposed to get out? Coerced into doing it? I suspect that we will get a reunion of the three amigos at some point, and I am very curious to see how that plays out.

All things considered, it was another nice chapter to what is quickly becoming a very fun summer story. There are still far more questions than answers, but it's early. They've earned a little time.