Without Matt Bomer’s natural charm and charisma, Mid-Century Modern would be a loud, tired stereotype. There are some moments where the show makes some natural attempt at humour, but it fails to land especially when delivered and helmed by Nathan Lane. There’s no variety to the performance, if you’ve seen Lane in one thing then the same character will be in every scene with little to no difference. Linda Lavin is a great addition that lifts the show up with her quick wit and delivery and is a joy to watch with Nathan Lee Graham but the series feels like it drags on too long even with the short run of 10 episodes

Fellow Travelers is an aesthetically pleasing period piece that captures the anxiety and anguish of being a gay person in the 1950s. The show could have easily been a cliched love triangle between Hawk, Lucy Smith, and Tim, but it successfully veered away from that overused plot without taking the emotional hurt that Lucy and Tim endure by loving Hawk. The new additions bring a new layer to the story, but it is the exceptional performances from Bailey and Bomer that drive the story forward in such a way that you will root for the two men to be together while hoping they stay apart, if only for Tim’s happiness.