It's Been a Minute McCarthyism and queerness in 'Fellow Travelers'; plus, IBAM unplugged with Olivia Dean
Dec 1, 2023
New Yorker television critic Inkoo Kang joins the podcast to discuss Showtime's historical romance 'Fellow Travelers' set during McCarthyism and the Lavender Scare. They explore how the politics of the time shape the characters and how survival isn't always pretty. Singer-songwriter Olivia Dean also joins the show to talk about her debut album, Messy, and gives an unforgettable live performance.
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Power Used To Mask Queerness
- Closeted powerful men weaponize anti-gay campaigns to deflect suspicion.
- The show links historical figures like Roy Cohn to that survival-through-persecution pattern.
Sex Scenes As Character Work
- Sex scenes reveal character dynamics by combining action with dialogue.
- Inkoo Kang notes the scenes teach us about dominance, desire, and roles in Hawk and Tim's relationship.
Support Mature Mini-Series
- Preserve space for adult, medium-budget dramas—audiences still want them.
- Support diverse mini-series rather than assuming they're a bygone format.