Review: Traveler

[from the ABC site] “How well do you know your friends? Would you bet your life on it? It's not what we share with our friends, but what we keep hidden that defines what kind of people we are.

After spending every minute of the last two years living, working, and partying together, Jay, Taylor and Will are departing on a summer journey. But being together ends today…simple prank to rollerblade through one of New York City's most famous museums has made Jay and Taylor prime suspects in the terrorist bombing that destroyed it seconds later. The guys hope Will can help clear up this misunderstanding, but he's been missing since the explosion and they think he might be dead. Jay wants to talk to the police about finding Will, but quickly realizes they can't even prove Will exists – in every photo for the last two years, Will managed to block his face. He was their only alibi.

The F.B.I. confirms a man matching Will's description died in the explosion, but also learns the explosion was triggered by a call from Jay's cell phone. It's a highly suspicious coincidence that may prove Will, the glue in their friendship, may have meticulously planned this betrayal for over two years. Perfectly framed and on the run, the friends must rely on each other to get away from the F.B.I., and try to get to the bottom of a conspiracy that has destroyed their future. But what can they do when they're merely pawns in a game of global intrigue?”

So here’s the thing about TRAVELER, it’s completely lacking in anything that is worthy of logical belief. However, that’s what makes it kind of nice. You no longer spend time wondering if the technology portrayed exists, or whether it’s really all that wise for an FBI agent to chase a perp while wearing heals, you just watch and enjoy the fact that no one has time to sit down on this show. Well, some people sit down but not for long. This isn’t a groundbreaking genre cracking show, there’s nothing really new here, ABC even describes it as a combination of “The Fugitive with Enemy of the State in a taut, tense thriller of innocents on the run.”

What I do really like about this Uber Conspiracy filled “Flight Show” is that it moves so quickly that you don’t have time to question whether or not it works properly, nor do you care really. It also uses the old LOST paradigm of obfuscation, which makes sure that what ever you think is going to happen is not what is going to happen. I also like that in this world of sleeper cells and constant betrayals, that this show looks at how a friendship dynamic can be completely destroyed and questioned after a betrayal of one of its members. All in all, in this world it's probably better you don't let anyone get too close. Don’t get me wrong; this is a show in the vein of ALIAS. This isn’t THE WIRE, but is a distant cousin to 24, this is blockbuster entertainment done with at least an interesting set-up. I still think the lead FBI agent should wear more comfortable shoes, and the main leads were less obvious as a Law graduate and Venture Capitalist, see they'll always have money, which makes running a bit easier in the end.

Whether or not the viewing public is ready for yet another show that you have to see from the beginning to understand what’s going on or not is yet to be seen. If I can get a hold of them I’ll watch a few more episodes to see how it’s going, but this isn’t something I just have to see, but it is by no means un-watchable like the pilot to VANISHED was, because this series knows it isn’t a procedural with bad procedure. This show is a “Flight Show” and all you have to do is sit back and watch the poor bastards run. This alone makes it perfectly enjoyable on those nights where you don't want to think too much, but do want to be entertained.