WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Fellow Travelers episode 5.
Summary
- Hawk and his associates continue to challenge Senator McCarthy, even at the risk of their own reputations and personal relationships.
- Tim's loyalty is tested as he quits his job working for McCarthy and provides evidence of fraudulence during the Army-McCarthy hearings.
- Tragedy strikes as Senator Smith is blackmailed and forced to make a devastating decision, leading to his death by suicide.
Fellow Travelers episode 5 sets a new trajectory for the course of the historical fiction Showtime series, featuring an inventive retelling of the 1954 Army–McCarthy hearings. Through five episodes of the eight-part miniseries based on Thomas Mallon's 2007 novel of the same name, Fellow Travelers has quickly emerged as one of the most rich and complex series on television with a sharp and considerate eye for the historical accuracy regarding the Lavender Scare of the 1950s.
After narrowly escaping detection from the harrowing M-Unit in Fellow Travelers episode 4, Hawk (Matt Bomer) continues to quietly chip away at Senator McCarthy's seemingly monumental status with the help of his associate Marcus Gaines (Jelani Alladin) and secret lover Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey). An unexpected circumstance, however, places his mentor and father figure Senator Smith (Linus Roache) in the line of fire, forcing Hawk to swiftly cover up the collateral damage before Smith's reputation is entirely destroyed.
12 Hawk Rushes To See Tim After Seizure At San Francisco Hospital
The reality of Tim's condition leaves Hawk frozen in fear
In 1986, Hawk rushes to San Franciso General Hospital to witness Tim having a violent seizure. Hawk watches helplessly as a nurse closes a curtain on him, telling him he shouldn't be there. Tim had fallen and brutally injured his arm in Fellow Travelers episode 3 and had a seizure in his apartment at the end of episode 4, indicating to Hawk that Tim likely does not have much time left. Hawk is stunned with fear as the reality sinks in when Marcus arrives on the scene to help.
11 The Cozy Corner Is Raided By Police & Marcus Abandons Frankie
Marcus escapes the scene without getting arrested
The Cozy Corner receives an unfriendly visit from several police officers with batons looking to arrest and assault patrons. Marcus is able to escape along with Frankie and Stormé DeLarverie but does not wait for them to retreat to safety. As their relationship started to form, Marcus had previously demonstrated to Frankie that he would not risk his career and reputation for their romance, a sentiment that was clearly felt as he fled the scene with no regard for Frankie's status.
10 Hawk Discovers Leonard Smith Is Gay After He Gets Arrested
Leonard Smith was caught with a man during a police raid
Leonard Smith (Mike Taylor), the son of Senator Smith, is arrested for being caught performing homosexual activities in a public restroom. Using his political connections, Hawk successfully bribes a D.C. police officer to avoid detection by the press. To Leonard, Hawk is the heterosexual man who is courting his sister Lucy (Allison Williams) and is, in a way, the brother he never wanted. Hawk is secretly much like Leonard but cannot afford to reveal the truth to the Smith family for the sake of his professional career. Hawk tries his best to keep Leonard's arrest under wraps so that information won't be used against Senator Smith.
9 Roy Cohn Intimidates & Interrogates Tim In The Bathroom At Work
Cohn suspects that Tim knows much more than he appears to
During the Army-McCarthy hearings, Tim is still working for Senator McCarthy and Roy Cohn. Tim usually skates by at work by seeming quiet and innocent but has gotten the attention of Cohn, who perceives that Tim is not playing for his and McCarthy's team. Cohn accuses Tim of maintaining loyalty to Senator Smith, since Hawk, who has a close relationship with Smith, got Tim the job working for McCarthy. Cohn also raises suspicion about the envelope that Tim gave Schine. Fortunately for Tim, he is able to wait out Cohn's burst of intimidation, although Cohn starts to distrust him.
8 Hawk Tells Tim What Was In The Envelope He Had Him Give To Schine
Hawk took advantage of Tim professionally by keeping him in the dark
Tim makes a characteristically risky and ion-fueled move by walking into Hawk's office during a workday. Hawk is able to make it seem casual to his new secretary, who has evidently replaced Miss Addison who had reported Hawk to the M Unit in Fellow Travelers episode 4. Hawk confesses to Tim that the envelope he handed to Schine contained hard evidence in the form of written testimony that McCarthy had courted and sodomized a Lieutenant in the Army as his superior. Tim suddenly realizes why McCarthy has held onto Cohn and protected Schine for so long.
7 Leonard Smith Is Sent To A Rehabilitation Center As Rumors Spread In D.C.
Leonard recalls an interesting memory of him & Hawk as boys
Hawk brings Leonard Smith out to a remote rehabilitation center where he confirms with a doctor that Leonard won't be having much access to the outside world. This is one of the darkest things the audience sees Hawk do in Fellow Travelers, knowing the truth about Hawk's real sexual identity and the hypocrisy of his criticism of Leonard. Before Leonard is taken away, he mentions a story of him and Hawk masturbating next to each other as boys. Hawk brushes the comment off and demoralizes Leonard, reminding him that his father wouldn't believe a word he had to say.
6 Roy Cohn Uses A Doctored Photograph To Protect Schine During Army-McCarthy Hearing
Tim realizes that Cohn changed the photograph that was hanging in Schine's office
During the Army-McCarthy hearings, Roy Cohn presents a cropped photograph as evidence that David Schine was close with Army Secretary Robert T. Stevens. Based on a real-life occurrence, Cohn had the photograph altered to make it appear that Schine was more significant than he actually was. This would justify the excessive privileges that Schine received in the form of custom boots and access to a penthouse in Manhattan. Tim is depicted as the only person outside of Cohn, Schine, and McCarthy who knows that the photograph is doctored in Fellow Travelers.
5 Tim Quits His Job Working For McCarthy & Provides Evidence To Army’s Lawyer
Tim is threatened by Senator McCarthy after bringing up the photograph
Tim earnestly believes that Senator McCarthy would like to know about the doctored photograph, considering that he doesn't already know as Marcus had suggested. Tim's innocent approach is met with a frightening response from McCarthy, who aggressively sticks his thumb into Tim's throat. Tim quietly decides to resign and hand over the knowledge to the Army's lawyer, who then reveals the fraudulence to Cohn and McCarthy during the Army-McCarthy hearings.
4 Hawk Tells Tim That He Is Planning To Propose To Lucy Smith
Tim is devastated by Hawk's inability to embrace their love
Feeling a sudden sense of liberation, Tim rushes over to Hawk's apartment to tell him he has quit working for McCarthy. Hawk understands Tim's excitement but still stands on the other side of his ideals as he always does, revealing to Tim that he plans to propose to Lucy Smith. Tim is deeply hurt by the news despite knowing all along that it was only a matter of time before Hawk's wrecking ball would tear him down.
3 Marcus Quits His Job At The Washington Post & Reunites With Frankie
Unlike Hawk, Marcus understands what's most important in his life
After receiving continued racist treatment while working for The Washington Post, Marcus decides to quit his job altogether. He meets up with Frankie and tells him that he has decided what's most important in his life, and Frankie is at the top of it. Marcus explains that he can continue writing for another publication where he hopes to not be similarly discriminated against. Frankie and Marcus plan to move in together once Frankie returns from her tour as part of the Jewel Box Revue with Stormé.
