
(S01E05) "Time travel is impossible?" - Dan
"No. Just not proven." - Doctor Langley
Again this week, I find myself not caring much about the case of the week but highly interested in the main characters' doings. "The Legend of Dylan McLean" was of great importance for the Vassers as it cemented Zack and Dan's relationship and offered a glimpse of Dan's father.
When I saw the previews for this week's episode, I was eager to see how Zack would react to finding himself suddenly alone, if Dan would tell his son about his curse gift, and how the Vassers would cope with the fact Dan cannot be left alone with Zack anymore.
Since Dan has been traveling for a while now, shouldn't he and Katie have talked about what could happen if he was alone with Zack and vanished? They saw what happened when he leaves while fixing the pipes! A child's life is more important than pipes... no? Then again, if they had thought and talked about it before, we wouldn't have had tonight's episode.
When Dan was about to travel back in time while alone with Zack, you saw he knew this can only go wrong. Jack, Katie, and Theresa were no where near. He tried to reach them but vanished before he could get his son to safety. This event left both son and father scared. They must have felt exactly like when a mother loses her child in a mall. Did Dan have his son in his arms when he vanished? I'm not sure he had time to put him back down before traveling. But I guess he did since Zack wasn't injured. Imagine if he had vanished while Zack was sitting on his shoulders! Dan will definitely need to change his interactions with his son until he finds a way to control the travels (if that is possible).
Zack reacted to finding himself alone like any kid would have: abandoned and scared. Katie and Dan finally had the Zack talk when he came back. I'm not sure what I would have done in their place. It is not an easy situation to explain to a kid, but since it is affecting family life and may put him in danger, I think I would have told Zack. Of course, the end of the episode proved us that Zack understood, in a child's way that is, what Dan is going through. Zack, who is at an age at which most kids still believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, saw his father's disappearance as Dan using magic. It turned out to be a great way to have Zack understand what Dan is going through. Zack knowing of his father's magical travels opens new paths for the show. I wonder if Zack will lie in order to explain his father's disappearances.
One scene I liked this week was the one where Dan meets his father (played by The 4400's Joel Gretsch). When Livia told Dan that he should talk to a journalist she knows and that we discovered it was Dan's father, I wondered how well she knows Dan's father. Did she chat with him to get information while on her own cases? I am sure I'm not the only one who thought for a split second that Dan's father may have been a traveler too, especially when Dan couldn't see him in the newsroom. I'll push this theory a bit further theory-wise: If Dan's father was a traveler, could he have left his family because he knew he couldn't make it work? Let's hope we see more of Dan and his father interacting because the characters' interactions and their stories are what makes Journeyman entertaining. Dan's father can definitely help bring a new dimension to Dan's life. Anyway, who wouldn't want more Joel Gertsh on screen (even with a not so flattering mustache), especially if it's to add to Journeyman's mythology?
I do not like the fact that Jack gives his brother the third degree all the time. I guess he still doesn't believe that his brother is time traveling? (If you recall, Katie told Jack about it and Dan told his brother about seeing Livia.) I like Jack as much as I liked Will in the first two seasons of Alias: not much. Will was not a liked character because the viewers know more about Sydney Bristow than he did and he kept putting her in danger because of his reckless investigating. Of course, he didn't know better since Sydney told him the truth only when it was too late. Journeyman needs to check out what Alias did to have fans go from hating Will to loving him. If the show doesn't tweak Jack a bit (or make him believe in his brother's travels), it shouldn't expect us to like Jack.
The series sure didn't make us wait to long to see that doctor who called Dan in the past in last week's episode. Doctor Langley has the look and feel of someone who could be part of a conspiracy or, at least, some sort of secret organization. I didn't understand half of what he told Dan (and I'm sure Dan didn't either) but, for sure, the man knows more than he leads on. To add to my "Dan's father may have been a time traveler too" theory, Doctor Langley knew Dan's father. Maybe I'm reading too much into this! I enjoy shows that have layers, mysterious organizations, etc. and sometimes I get too eager and try to link things that shouldn't be. Then again, maybe I'm right! The future, or the past, will let us know.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-23-2007 @ 1:12AM
Paul said...
"I guess he still doesn't believe that his brother is time traveling?"
He definitely doesn't. He's certain it's drugs, and thinks Katie is just enabling Dan.
"If the show doesn't tweak Jack a bit (or make him believe in his brother's travels), it shouldn't expect us to like Jack."
I'm not so sure we're SUPPOSED to like Jack. Some characters are meant to be bad guys. Though, if you think about it, everything Jack is doing is for positive reasons. Obviously he still cares about Katie, and doesn't want her to be hurt and let down. He cares about his nephew's well-being. And he knows Dan's past and doesn't like that he's apparently going down that road again.
I mean, I wouldn't believe Dan's story in a million years if I was in Jack's place.
Anyway, this episode was AMAZING. I was really entertained by the story overall, and love how Dan's son now "knows". I'm curious (but not really in a good way) where they're going with the robbery thing, especially now that Dan has both the gun AND all that cash. But I do know I can't wait to tune in next week.
I'm liking a lot of new shows this fall, but "Journeyman" has surprised me a lot in becoming the show I'm most looking forward to each week.
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10-23-2007 @ 1:20AM
shawn said...
good episode.
it reminded me of the great film The Killing Fields. :)
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10-23-2007 @ 1:40AM
bsgfan2003 said...
If I was the wife, I would so kick his time traveling rear to the curb if he disappeared while taking care of our child. Why would anyone stick around for that, even if you have an uncommon love?
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10-23-2007 @ 2:35AM
Walt said...
This episode was good. Definitely enjoyed some parts more than others, but spouse and I agreed that the show is a think piece, trying its best to show the conflict of the Time Traveler's Wife here.
On the ongoing robbery investigation: Here's where I'd love to see a "history changing" event do a little dance on the current timeline.
On the time professor: Loved it, Loved it, Loved it.
Answers that weren't answers. Oh, we'll see this guy again, but... when?
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10-23-2007 @ 2:36AM
Will said...
I thought for sure Dan was going to travel while holding onto Zach. That would have been much worse than just leaving him alone, I think. That was bad enough, but I think Katie would have been furious with him if Zach had gone too.
This episode confused me a little. I'm going to have to rewatch it with the close captioning on. I was a little lost on the whole money aspect. But otherwise, I really enjoy this show a lot. I really like Chuck, too,(also a Monday night must-see) but that's mostly because I have a huge crush on the girl playing Sarah.
Well, Dan now had some period appropriate money to take with him on his trips. I wonder how long the Feds keep track of serial numbers on money like that? We don't want Dan to end up in jail.
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10-23-2007 @ 8:26AM
Georgia said...
I've been tivo'ing this series and have not watched yet. I've been burned by watching new shows, loving them, and then they're off the air. How is this show looking as far as being a keeper for the network? Does anyone know a site where you can see ratings for the new shows?
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10-23-2007 @ 8:58AM
DebR said...
"Since Dan has been traveling for a while now, shouldn't he and Katie have talked about what could happen if he was alone with Zack and vanished?"
For what it's worth, I got the impression that they did talk about it, but that Katie wandered off from Dan and Zack in a moment that felt so normal that both Dan and Katie forgot the possible consequences of Dan being left alone to watch Zack. After all, Katie's comment when Dan returned home wasn't "why didn't we think of this," it was "we got careless." I think the analogy of a mother losing track of her child in the mall is very apt. It only takes a moment.
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10-23-2007 @ 11:19AM
Juanita said...
I guess I'm alone here, but I actually like Jack. One of the most appealing things about this show for me is the complexity of all of the characters. I don't think that anyone is one note. There are no bad guys here, these are people placed in difficult circumstances. While Jack isn't blameless in the rift that developed between he and Dan after Dan married Katie, it appears that he tried to step away from the situation. Katie contacted him when Dan disappeared, which makes since under the circumstances, he's a cop and his brother. I also think that on some level she feels responsible for coming between them. She called him again while in custody after Dan disappeared from the plane, again understandable. Dan himself has turned to Jack several times, including asking him to take care of Zack so that he and Katie could go away. Jack has never refused to help; he's showed up each time. From last week's conversation in the men's room, I saw sadness between both brothers for the loss of closeness that once existed. No Jack doesn't believe the time travel stuff, who would? He'll probably have to experience the same thing that Zach has before it sinks in. In the mean time he thinks he's dealing with a sibling with reoccurrence of an addiction and a spouse who is enabling him, and allowing him to put their child in danger, yet he still hasn't walked away from the situation, like many of us would be tempted to do. Jack is by no means perfect, but he is trying.
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10-23-2007 @ 11:20AM
Ian said...
I am surprised that Dan didn't to to McLaean and return the money. Also why can't he write the story as thje cops apparentlt caugfht up with McLaean years ago and for some reason let him go even though he still had $15K of the stolen money with him.
Jack seems EVIL! mHe's destructive in all his newer GF relationships. Still pines for Dan's wife and sent the detectives round to Dan's house. That's NOT brotherly lover where I come from.....
Why doesn't Dan as his ex GF where she goes when not meeting up with Dan in the past? This tears me up... This woman "died" and he seems content to not pursue the matter or the fact that she appears to be Dan's "controller" on his "trips".
Dan's sons aceptance and "understanding" of his father's gift/curse was an emotional scene. I suspect that Dan's father was a traveller wose family relationship died. He brushed away talkinmg to his wife as if he were frightened to go there.
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10-23-2007 @ 11:24AM
Marianne said...
I too enjoyed the entire show. I love that Zach was the first person to see Dan's magic. I was also pleasantly surprise with Katie's reaction to Dan leaving Zach alone in the crowed - she blamed herself too for not thinking ahead. During the commerical break, I said to my husband that I thought leaving Zach would be the straw that breaks the camels back. I'm glad it wasn't.
BTW, I don't think Dan has the gun anymore - didn't he leave it with the dead husband last week to prove self defense?
Does anyone think Dan's father and Livia had an affair? Wouldn't that be a strange love pentagon!
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10-23-2007 @ 2:04PM
BC said...
"BTW, I don't think Dan has the gun anymore - didn't he leave it with the dead husband last week to prove self defense?"
To answer the question YES. He stuck the gun in the dead husbands hand to make it look like self-defense.
As for the show I thought it would end with Dan returning the money to McClean/Capt Richie and seeing how he was doing "years later" (instead I was surprised he kept the money even buying football tickets). It does solve his need for old money as he travels back in time but still shocked he kept it.
I agree with another poster in asking why did he not still write the story (if he had visted him I could see it, but just saying that story was dead was weird especially when there could be some cutbacks at the newspaper). He could have wrote it as a what if / hypothetical story that maybe McClean did it for this reason like a human interest story.
I have no problem with the brother. There is a sort of rivalry there and as pointed out, its obvious that he thinks Dan is into something and the wife is covering for him. On this issue, let me be the first to say I totally understand why Jack don't believe him --- but come on sit down with him and Katie to air it all out in a serious conversation. Get it all out there and say this is the truth and be the end of it, either believe me or not but stop creating us more problems!
Personally I am tired of the '"ex" popping up! What does she do? She nevers really answers any questions and Dan seems content to not ask. She doesn't really help (told him to talk to a newspaper man and ran interference in another episode -- but he didn't really need her). I liked the 1 time interaction and I could see a sometimes but EVERYTIME? What is she doing there in his "help travels"? Anyways, my point is I could use less of her if they are not going to offer you any real tips to why Dan or how?
I agree that the Porfessor seems to be involved, as discussed some last week on here, or knows more than he is letting on. Besides he is the one that came to visit Dan unexpectantly!
I really like the show, but I would like for more answers/clues sooner rather than later. If they don't then I feel like the show will lose more interest each week as viewers grow tired of not getting anything new.
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10-23-2007 @ 4:55PM
Isabelle Carreau said...
I think Dan didn't return the money because of what the Doctor asked him about if the character in his novel was taking advantage of traveling. Dan had never taken advantage of it before, so he tried it. It'll be interesting to see if it comes to bite him in the future.
As for why he didn't write the story, my guess is that after learning Richie had a family, Dan decided to give the guy a break. This is, of course, in light of everything that happened between Dan and Zack and Dan and his own father.
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10-24-2007 @ 1:56AM
aly said...
When I saw the previews for this week's episode my first thought (after "uh oh") was that Dan would somehow try to learn how to control his travels -- if at all possible -- and that, perhaps, that is what the Professor's presence is all about.
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10-24-2007 @ 1:04PM
chadwick said...
Journeyman is a good show for the most part. Needs more drama more characters maybe. Perhaps a show where he goes back to ancient times would be cool. Maybe. Rome?
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10-24-2007 @ 6:40PM
MUGger said...
Did anyone notice the set-up for future problems for Dan? Earlier in the episode, he asked Captain Richie why he hadn't spent the money, and the response was "traceable serial numbers on the bills". At the end, Dan had a load of the bills and was spending them. Plus, with the threatened cutbacks at the newspaper, and the investigation into the armed robbery, I think Dan's present is about to become more troubled (looking forward to him disappearing from a jail cell).
Also, it seems to me that, while Dan's mission is to help various people in the past, Livia's mission seems to be to help Dan. Thoughts?
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10-28-2007 @ 1:28AM
DarrkeThoughts said...
Katie can't be too mad at Dan... she ran off after the cheese guy and left Zach with him.
As for the money... he needs "old" money for his trips back in time, and he wouldn't have to worry about the serial numbers there. In the present it could be worse than the robbery...
I'm definately hooked.
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