Every time my job required me to watch Grey's Anatomy last season, I was consoled by only one thing: the presence of Kevin McKidd, whom I loved so much on all 13 of episodes of Journeyman. The show was like Quantum Leap 2.0, with McKidd Desmond-ing around in time, righting wrongs and saving lives with Moon Bloodgood, who was fresh off of the also short-lived Daybreak (or "Groundhog Taye," as we call it in my house.) The show was engrossing and effective light sci fi, but I really loved it because it was just so exquisitely sappy in the most perfect way, just like Leap was.
Every time he saved someone and they were so grateful, or whenever it finally dawned on him what his mission was in each episode, there would be this great heartstrings moment. I re-watched the pilot for this post, and there's a part at the end where he proves to his wife that he's a time traveler by burying her wedding ring in the backyard years before they'd put a porch in and dramatically digs it up in the present to hand it to her and say, "I'll always come home," and she takes it and she cries! And they hug! And it's raining! That's just so wonderfully Hallmark I can't stand it. There were a lot of moments like that, and while that's not always my thing, it just always hit me the right way on this show.
Another little thing I loved was how the show used landmark songs of each year he went back to to help quickly establish where he was. Sometimes it was awesome music like Oasis or Depeche Mode, and sometimes it was Sarah McLachlan or "Livin' La Vida Loca" -- either way it made me happy.
But the saddest part about the show's swift cancellation for me was that an overarching mythology was just getting started, and it was a pretty good one. McKidd's character had learned that he and Bloodgood had been born during a rare celestial occurrence, which may have been what caused their affliction (kinda like Heroes, I know), and there was a mysterious professor wandering around who knew there were time travelers, and definitely had more answers than he gave in the show's final episode. There was plenty of meat for a second season, is what I'm saying, and, as usual, very disappointing that we didn't get to explore it.
Revisit or discover for the first time all 13 episodes on Hulu while you can, and leave your Journeyman love in the comments!
Another little thing I loved was how the show used landmark songs of each year he went back to to help quickly establish where he was. Sometimes it was awesome music like Oasis or Depeche Mode, and sometimes it was Sarah McLachlan or "Livin' La Vida Loca" -- either way it made me happy.
But the saddest part about the show's swift cancellation for me was that an overarching mythology was just getting started, and it was a pretty good one. McKidd's character had learned that he and Bloodgood had been born during a rare celestial occurrence, which may have been what caused their affliction (kinda like Heroes, I know), and there was a mysterious professor wandering around who knew there were time travelers, and definitely had more answers than he gave in the show's final episode. There was plenty of meat for a second season, is what I'm saying, and, as usual, very disappointing that we didn't get to explore it.
Revisit or discover for the first time all 13 episodes on Hulu while you can, and leave your Journeyman love in the comments!
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I loved this show. It was fresh, nice and entertaining.
In 2008, there were two (new) shows I really liked, Journeyman and Life... both are cancelled now. That's a shame.
I particularly loved the credit.
Oh man, way to make me sad allllll over again... I miss this damn show, and am still mad it never got the shot I feel like it deserved. Like oufti, I was a big ol' Journeyman and Life fan, and now they are both cruelly gone....
The finale, Perfidia, was just fabulous, what with the other guy trying to have a moment with his sometime wife, and Dan realizing he had a choice to make instead of just being jerked around (I don't want to give too much away). His wife and brother really added to the whole series, too. Props for how the show was wrapped up, answering some vital questions yet leaving others open, once they realized it was the end.
I adore Kevin since Rome and I liked this show a lot I didn't see the end but I will try to find the rest of the season now thanks for the heads up!
I too loved this show, and not just because I think Kevin McKidd is one of the hottest actors around (why they can never incorporate his Scottish accent is beyond me....rrrowrrr). I really liked his wife, I thought she was so much better developed and SMARTER than they usually make that sort of character. And it was fun too. Oh well...I guess I'll just watch the episodes occasionally to get my fix. Since Grey's got so stupid this season, I cannot even enjoy McKidd on that like I had hoped. Bummer.
I feel like the same thing is happening to Kings right now, which is/was also on NBC. It's cancelled and they are playing the rest of the season but it's getting better and better every episode, but I'm saddened to know that in three weeks it will be over for ever.
I think i may have to check out Journeyman now, since I've loved Kevin since Rome and Grey's doesn't do him justice.
I loved this show, and was very disappointed when they cancelled it. Kevin McKidd was great, and the entire supporting cast was spectacular. It was better than about 95% of what's on TV now...
Another Journeyman and Life fan here. I agree that Journeyman felt as if it was just getting good when it was cancelled. I loved the cast, and I especially liked that they got all of the "Oh, no, my loved one doesn't believe me" crap out of the way fairly early.
I miss Journeyman, too! (And New Amsterdam). I no longer watch network shows because the heads of programming rely on an outdated and no longer relevant Nielsen rating system. I've permanently moved to USA, TNT, and BravoTV for my shows because network TV keeps cancelling realy good shows.
I can't imagine who decides what gets cancelled. Journeyman was great.... almost as good as my all time fave show, Life, which got the axe as well. New Amsterdam was another really neat show... What were they thinking?
I hope Damian Lewis gets another series quickly, but I can't see him in anything other than the role of Charlie........
Yes, I agree with you all. A wonderful show and a wonderful Kevin. Not being possible the second season, I'd like a movie (as Heller has announced for Rome), in order to explain the relation between Dan's abilities and Zack.
I think a major factor that led to the demise of Journeyman was the lack of chemistry between Kevin McKidd and Gretchen Egolf. It simply was hard to root for them as husband and wife.
I wont even watch a new show until it's into its third season - I'm so tired of getting hooked on great shows like Journeyman, only to have the mental midgets that run the networks cancel them. It's pitiful. Hey, network execs - Get your heads out of your butts !!
Shows like this make me wonder why people bother with TV anymore. What was wrong with making this a direct-to-video series? Do four or five one-hour "episodes" every year.
When this show was cancelled, I too felt that it was best to watch shows after they got second season confirmations. I was a regular in the thread when it aired, and it was disappointing that NBC cancelled such a gem. I grew to really like the cast especially McKidd and Bloodgood. Writing was well done too.
If everybody decides not to watch a show until it gets a second season. . .it won't live to get a second season. I'm just saying. We get our hearts broken, but it's better to have loved and lost. . .
This show was all right, but I don't miss it, and it's not like that many people do either (a few dozen posters on TWOP does not a lost classic make). Kevin Mckidd is a great addition to Grey's, and the show improved a lot this season towards the end. If Shonda keeps away from Denny and annoying interns, it'll be in fine form. And I must say, Kevin does a very believable American accent, I didn't know he was Scottish till I read it here. As for Journeyman...eh, whatever.
The premise for Journeyman has been ripped off for the movie "The Time Traveler's Wife" and people are calling it "original"
I love Journeyman so much! I still think of it occasionally and the fact that it was cancelled just makes me so angry!! I would like to rewatch the series, but I think it'll just be too sad. and Brett-- "The Time Traveler's Wife" is actually based on a book, and even though Journeyman also has the time travel aspect, it is handled in different ways.
I watched this show and got interested quick into it. I can't believe that the Execs at NBC can't keep a show one to give it a chance. Other than Hero's (which is getting weaker ever year), all the shows I'm taping are on ABC and Sci-Fi. NBC (Nothing But Crap)should just call it quits now. Anything worth watching, they cancel.
Life and Journeyman were so good, sad, sad lady here.