(S01E01) "I'll always come home." - DanAt first glance, NBC's Journeyman may sound like a few other shows you've watched in the past: a man travels back and forth between the past and present and, while at it, helps a few people along the way. The question is will Journeyman be able to stand out from shows with similar themes like Quantum Leap, Life on Mars, the short-lived Day Break, etc., in order to gather the needed ratings to survive?
What may give this new series a few more weeks to get its own following and find itself is the fact that it has a fantastic lead-in in this little show called Heroes.
The episode opens up with our lead character: Dan Vasser. We quickly discover that he is a flawed man with personal and professional problems. Right from the start, we can relate to the man; a very good thing considering new series don't have much time to grab our attention.
Out of the blue, things turn awry for Dan when he finds himself in the past. No reasons. No one to guide him through this journey. No manual to tell him how things work. I was quite confused at this point but I think that's how the show wanted me (us, the fans) to feel. How did Dan travel there? Does the cab have something to do with it? Why is he traveling back in time? Why that particular year? How will he return? So many questions, no answers right now. Dan pretty much wonders the same even if he doesn't ask those out loud.
To make reviewing easier, let's deal with the past first. Every time Dan travels through time, he is in the same city but a different day and year. Therefore, he is in known territory and crosses path with people he knows, including his past love, Livia. Since Livia was taken from him unexpectedly (she was in a plane crash), Dan ponders if he should stop her from getting on the plane. The repercussions of such a decision could be catastrophic especially since he doesn't know why he is there yet (and if it is a dream or not). He is brought back to reality when he has a really close encounter with Livia. He is a married man, and no matter if he cheats in the past, it's still cheating and he knows it. I get the feeling he'll be tempted to hook up with Livia in the past in upcoming episodes. A love triangle through time!
Dan changes his game plan after saving a man named Neal Gaines from suicide. As he travels back and forth through time, he discovers that these trips may be connected to Neal. Using his investigating skills (he is a reporter after all), he gathers as much information as he can on Neal and tries to locate him. Eventually, his actions lead to Neal's demise but save Jacob, Neal's son, who'll turn out to do a very good deed in the future.
It looks like each week, our journeyman will need to save someone in the past in order to make the future better. We got confirmation that there is a puppet master somewhere when Dan comes face to face with a very much alive Livia while in the past. The future Livia seems to know about time traveling and what she tells Dan seems to imply that there are people behind all this: "Do you know why you are here? Trust your instincts." She knows that he is there for a reason. But why is she traveling through time? I smell conspiracy. Or at least a secret organization set to sent people back in time in order to make the future a better place. Is she part of the reason why he is traveling through time? It sure looks like she is an important part to this, so is Café Luna. If the writers handle this properly, the unveiling of the why/how/what/who/when/etc. of time traveling could be quite interesting and entertaining. I hope that the future Livia and Dan cross paths again and that they have to work hand in hand. She holds answers and Dan (and us) wants them!
The present needs as much mending as the past. Dan's relationship with Katie is already strained and his sudden and unexplained disappearances are not helping. Good thing the man has good friends and that his wife is willing to help him and sets up an intervention. Thing is, Dan doesn't need that kind of help! He sure does sound like an addict in denial when talking to his friends and family.
I was surprised that Dan was so quick to open up to his wife and his brother. However, he seems to really care for Katie so him trying to tell the truth, even if it makes him sound crazy, may not be that surprising. The premiere did really well at making us feel how both Katie and Dan are struggling in the relationship while wanting to patch things up and make their couple work. I was really happy to see him use the past to his advantage and bury the ring with a newspaper in order to give it back to his wife in the present so she understands he is telling the truth. And yes, my feminine side went all "awwww" when Dan told his wife he would always come back home.
I wonder if Dan will be tempted to use his time traveling abilities to make money. Maybe he'll try to do what Marty McFly wanted to do in Back to the Future II and bet on sporting events (if you recall Biff ended up doing that when he got the almanac in BttF).
Overall, I found that the pilot was a bit confusing at first because we didn't know why he travels back, how he travels back (we see that sort of blur on the screen but what is creating that sort of passageway?), or how the "when and where" he travels are chosen. Of course, these answers will be revealed in due time. I just hope they don't make us wait too long for answers as it may cause a few viewers drop the show from their watch list. TV viewers may have allowed Lost to give little answers over a long period in the beginning but they are less patient nowadays (I'm including myself in the lot). We want mysteries but we also want answers... yesterday! (That's probably why Spoilers Anonymous is doing so well here at TV Squad.)
Based on the pilot, what the Journeyman writers may need to inject in the series (besides answers) is some humor. Not only does Dan need to deal with problems in the present but also in the past, therefore, the public will need a few lighter moments here and there to catch a breath.
The characters are well-rounded and we learned enough about each for us to start to have favorites and connect with all of them in one way or another. This will surely help Journeyman keep part of its audience. I'm the type of viewer who changes channel if characters are boring and if I don't know enough about them. Luckily, Journeyman gave us enough info about the main characters in the pilot.
What may also help the series is that fact that it's not too serialized. Since they'll have the "case of the week" mixed in with the mystery of the show, viewers may find it easier to watch (especially after trying to analyze Heroes and connect the dots).
But will good acting, well-defined characters, and a different case each week, mixed with mystery, conspiracy and lost love be enough to keep the fans watching? Let us know what you think by answering our poll and commenting below.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-25-2007 @ 1:16AM
~J~ said...
The "Life on Mars" comparisson I'll ignore, simply because as a UK Citizen (and northerner) I'm especially proud just how well that series turned out and don't think anything can touch it. (Don't forget the follow-up 'Ashes to Ashes' is out in January!)
But I watched Journeyman, there's a definate connection with Quantum Leap but also has a definate 21stC feel to it too.
The only problem I had was the story about saving the blokes son was a little weak. The 'back story' was fantastic, especially how is girlfriend (who is supposed to be dead) turns up and knows what is going on!
Definately one to keep a watch on.
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9-25-2007 @ 1:17AM
sean tubbs said...
I liked it, even though I was ready to tune out about halfway in. When the chick from Daybreak showed up, I was initially very skeptical. But when her double entered the show, yeah, that was pretty cool.
I'll watch, because of the lead-in. I'm glad NBC is putting all of these shows on Monday night, because I'll likely watch them all.
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9-25-2007 @ 1:45AM
radwimp said...
I enjoyed it as well. I was initially only watching it because of Kevin McKidd, but the show itself has me interested now. I'll stick around to see where it goes.
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9-25-2007 @ 2:01AM
Gary said...
It's like Quantum Leap meets Voyagers meets Life on Mars. I liked all these shows and hope this one stays on for a while.
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9-25-2007 @ 3:25AM
mrkorb said...
Why didn't he just submit to a drug test to prove he wasn't using? That just sounds like the most obvious way to put the whole intervention thing to rest. Sure, it won't explain why he goes missing for days at a time, but it would have at least helped his case at home.
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9-25-2007 @ 8:42AM
ctunightfall said...
I could see this series turning into the Timecop tv series. Don't know if that's a bad thing.
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9-25-2007 @ 8:58AM
Michael said...
James, that's the exact thing I first thought about this show. Even the premise of him leaving his wife and traveling randomly back and forth sounds familiar if one has read the book. I'm a big fan of time travel stories, especially if done well and I certainly hope this new show doesn't suffer the same fate as Daybreak. I love the cast and even if the show story line seems more familiar than new, it is still worth watching. Unfortunately, NBC put it up against CSI: Miami and who knows if they will give it enough time to build up a sufficient fan base.
For me, the decision is easy enough. NBC is the only local that I DON'T get in HD for some odd reason. Not only will they not allow me to receive the East Coast feed off of DTV, they don't allow a tight beam HD broadcast of their local channel from DTV either. That makes my decision easy, all NBC programming gets Tivo'd on my Series 2 in the bedroom and I watch it when I get to it. Too bad too, I'd love to see Jamie Sommers, Hiro Nakamura and this show on my 60" Pioneer Elite downstairs...
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9-25-2007 @ 9:16AM
christy said...
i will give the show a few episodes. but i definately wasn't pulled in and captivated until near the end. it will be interesting to see how they handle the butterfly effect and if his life changes.
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9-25-2007 @ 9:27AM
Manda said...
That was the girl from daybreak? I thought I recognized her. Ha. The only time traveling show I've watched before was that and seven days. I loved both.
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9-25-2007 @ 9:37AM
h8rain said...
I really liked the show. I thought it was genius that he buried the ring. My first thought was he was going to engrave something (ala Frequency). The ring in the box was great. The wife is thinking "He's gone completely mad!....Oh SNAP! How did my ring get there?"
Definitely going to watch, because I generally love shows dealing with time travel. And yes it is like a Quantum leap for this decade, but that is not a bad thing at all.
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9-25-2007 @ 10:53AM
MJBUtah said...
I loved this show. I am hoping it gets a good chance to find an audience, the Heroes lead in should definitely help.
Maybe he could travel back in time to Rome? *sigh* I miss Rome.
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9-25-2007 @ 11:24AM
James Arnold said...
Seemed more like the book The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger to me. Which is set to be made into a movie. I found it somewhat entertaining and will give it another chance, but its in tough against CSI Miami.
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9-25-2007 @ 12:34PM
Aberdeen said...
I like Journeyman (Kevin McKidd - mrroww) but boy, this was one slooooooooooooooooooooow pilot. If things don't pick up in the next couple of weeks I can easily see this being canceled by November.
Which would be a pity, because I'm very curious to see who's pulling the strings and what the overall plot is going to be.
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9-25-2007 @ 12:35PM
Aberdeen said...
Oo, totally missed the Life on Mars comparison - I have to say, no, it's really not that similar at all! There are a lot more in-jokes in LoM for one, and silly car chases...
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9-25-2007 @ 1:03PM
The Midnight Penguin said...
Ratings say this show isn't going to continue. While it looks good that it appears they tied for 7th overall and tied for 6th in the coveted 18-49 category, the numbers at the half-hour showed a drop-off of 12.50% and 17.65% respectively. Now take into account that it fared even worse than STUDIO 60 did last year....I don't see this staying...
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9-25-2007 @ 1:06PM
BC said...
The football game was boring so I checked out the show last night.
The show has the "time travel" premise like Quantum Leap except he leaps back as himself instead of another person, but it also has the premise of several pasts shows where he gets involved in a situation to help while trying to solve some type of "mystery" about himself along the way.
It was weird at first and like you said confusing in the beginning. There were alot of questions in the first few minutes like: why him; why on that particular day for the first time; how does he travel in time; why does he jump back and forth; why he is there a short time in the past yet its days in the real world, ect ?
I think it would be better if he just jumped back in the past to help solve a "situation" then return yet time was not changed in his real life because of all the drama this is causing (marriage problems, job problems, not seeing his kid, ect) or at least when returns time has not changed several days.
I was amazed that his friends/family had an "intervention" so fast making me think he has had drug or alcohol (or something) type problems in the past. Plus if this continues, surely he will be fired from his job. The only big issue is that he would tell anyone about the time travel -- obviously no one would believe that story! Surely he could have made up something like sleep walking or falling asleep in places having vivid dreams that he wakes up days later in strange places -- agree to take a drug test then get counciling to appease his friends/family -- to me that is werid but more believable than time travel.
I am sure we will get some answers in due time, but I agree with that it needs to come sooner rather than later.
I like the show and will watch it but unfortunately I think that like several other shows I started watching last year -- it will be cancelled soon and leave me hanging!
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9-25-2007 @ 1:07PM
Dan said...
I watched this on the NBC Fall Preview DVD (free rental at Blockbuster), and was captivated from the start. The "time travel" premise has been done so often on TV, and some have been awful, but as a fan of "Voyagers!" and "Frequency" I had to try this one out. The ring/newspaper buried in the backyard in the past, to be dug up in the future to prove his disappearances to his wife, a la the wallet with fingerprints in "Frequency", was well done. I'm curious to see where this one goes -- but if Meeno Peluce shows up, I'll start to question its legitimacy! :-)
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9-25-2007 @ 1:08PM
C C said...
As a die hard "Rome" fan, I tuned in to see Kevin McKidd. (CBS should have picked up "Babylon Fields" staring Ray Stevenson so we could have had both Pullo and Vorenus in new series. Shoot!)
He's excellent, and the rest of the cast is good as well.
The concept is interesting. It is kind of "Life is Mars" ish, like the posters above said.
However, I just felt like something was missing. I know pilots sometimes are a bit stilted, and it takes a few episodes to work out the kinks. But it seemed to lack what I would call color. And the going forwards and backwards in time was too abrupt, too jumpy, too weird.
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9-25-2007 @ 1:42PM
Dave said...
I thought the show was very slow and his jumping from present to past was getting confusing. Why did this just happen that no one knew about this before? It should have been that time stood still until he comes back into the present.
He was very good at losing his accent. I did like him in Rome and other things he has done and hope this show continues.
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9-26-2007 @ 1:22PM
clgbutterfly said...
This show has great potential. I like our commentators concept of a secret society, but it may just be this benevolent force. I think how they are using the time jumps is intelligent this way he continues to age relatively properly and also shows us that the time jumping isn't exactly precise (or perhaps it knows when he should return).
It is obvious that he actually needed this change in his life to actually help him strengthen his relationships and help him get through some things. I really like the subtly, but was impressed that enough was revealed about the characters to draw us in. I'm surprised no one mentioned his new wife staring at him longingly when he was with Livia or the fact that she was originally dating Dan's brother (talk about plot twist), but unlike the deluge of 90210 teen drama these are adult relationships and as long as they deal with them maturely I will continue to watch. It really turns my stomach when writers intentional make characters act stupid (i.e. current episdoes of Grey's) when they never would have in real situations. I hope they keep up the good work.
BTW next week looks like real fun episode!
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