‘Fellow Travelers’ will bring Matt Bomer back to the Emmys

Jacob Sarkisian
·4 min read
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Showtime’s “Fellow Travelers” depicts a sweeping, complex romance across the ages in one of the most acclaimed pieces of television this year. Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey are the couple in question and both men are at the top of their game here.

Bomer  has always been a commanding performer, capturing viewers’ attention every moment he’s on-screen. As the closeted Hawk Fuller, he delivers a performance of vulnerability and restraint. Critics agree, it’s some of his best work.

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Ben Travers (Indie Wire) observed: “Bomer and Bailey deserve all the credit coming their way for building such palpable chemistry…. Bomer’s stoic restraint proves his strongest attribute. Hawk, quite literally, is cleaner cut than a Kennedy (Bobby makes a brief appearance), and Bomer wears his classic WASP exterior like a slightly too-snug Halloween costume. He can smile for the cameras, but there’s something tugging at the corners, making it clear to discerning eyes that he can’t wait to discard his mask. The only problem is the mold doesn’t come off so easily, leaving Hawk trapped by a hetero-normative character of his own creation.”

Kayleigh Donaldson (The Wrap) declared: “Matt Bomer, who also served as executive producer, seems tailor-made for the role of Hawk. Blessed with the Montgomery Clift-esque face of a ’50s matinee idol, Bomer has often been saddled with roles that gave him little to do beyond look pretty. But here, he’s so naturally charismatic that you barely notice the shift to sadness and paranoia that plagues Hawk later in life. He’s an opaque figure who keeps his cards close to his chest, a former soldier turned cog in the Washington machine struggling to show true vulnerability lest it be used against him.”

Kaiya Shunyata (Roger Ebert) exclaimed: “Matt Bomer does his best work in years as Hawk. From the first time we see his uncanny smile and threatening aura when people stand in his way, Bomer commands the screen. It’s impossible to look away from him or be unmoved by his prowess, glares so piercing it almost feels as if he’s gazing through the screen. Beyond his anger and his aptness for deceit, Hawk has a deep-rooted sadness that only comes out in later episodes and that Bomer conveys with staggering ease.”

As a result, Bomer is a serious contender for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actor at this year’s Emmys. This would be Bomer’s second nomination after one for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actor in 2014 for “The Normal Heart.” While Bomer was a supporting player there, he stars here and proves himself to be a true leading man.

This step up from supporting to lead can often lead to a nomination. Evan Peters was largely known for his featured work in “American Horror Story” and his Emmy-winning turn in “Mare of Easttown.” He then picked up a Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actor nomination for “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.”

Plus, a lot of actors in this category are nominated for the type of show that “Fellow Travelers” is — a romance with a twist. Michael Shannon was nominated for “George & Tammy,” Sebastian Stan picked up a bid for “Pam & Tommy,” Oscar Isaac secured a nomination for “Scenes From a Marriage,” and Paul Bettany was up for “WandaVision.” Bomer and Bailey play another couple whose lives are intertwined in a show that defies the limitations of the romance genre.

And his is the exact sort of profile of actor who typically gets nominated here: a handsome leading man who captivates audiences. Similar nominees include Steven Yeun (“Beef”), Taron Egerton (“Black Bird”), Stan (“Pam & Tommy”), Isaac (“Scenes From a Marriage”), and Andrew Garfield (“Under the Banner of Heaven”).

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