User reviews

I'm an older guy who's into sci-fi stuff like this. Oddly enough, I had never heard of this one before this week. It's a good watch. And, it would be a good series to reboot. It obviously never got much publicity the first time around. Anyways, Highly Recommended! Give it a watch if you can find it online or in the DVD section.

Everyone was up in arms when the show started about what a rip-off it was of The Time Traveler's Wife (and yes, I read it, and yes, I loved it)--but the fact is, the only thing it has in common with the book is that it's about a dude who travels, and, oh, his wife happens to know about it. The similarities pretty much end there, and as the show continues, it has taken on a fabulous life of its own.

(Honestly, will every time travel tale hereafter be compared to TTW, if it happens to include a traveler who can actually make other people believe that's what's happening? It's like comparing Moonlight to Buffy just because they both had a scene where the woman allowed the vampire to drink from them. There are so many sci-fi tales that can be interpreted in so many different ways; there's no need to compare everything.)

AND YES, it is fabulous. The characters are well-drawn and interesting and complex; the writers are doing a wonderful job with continuity (hello, $20 bill!); and there's a new mystery introduced with each episode. But, as happens with most of the better shows that are undiscovered gems, word on the street is that an axing is in the near future. But of course. Why waste time nurturing it when there's a plethora of reality TV to be scheduled?

I agree that it's a good show. Kind of a Quantum Leap for the Naughties. I find Livia's character intriguing. How long as she been travelling through time, has she ever used her 'gift' for personal gains? How is Dan and Livia aging differently to the rest of mankind? Will His wife grow old whilst he is still in his 40's etc? Is Elliot Langley a proper good guy? Why do they have this gift? Is the commet thing a red herring? etc, etc...

This show needs at least another series to see how it does. I'm sure with the right marketing it would get more viewers.

All in all, a quality show, that although not the best on TV, certainly very good.

It's 2021 and I'm still bitter that this show was cancelled.

'Journeyman' is one of those shows which was slow to start but did eventually find its feet and deliver an interesting idea that posed many possible stories to explore. As it was, morons at NBC (the American television company which produced it) decided to cut short the endless possibilities that the show never had the chance to portrayed by cancelling it after the first season. Yet another potentially good show cancelled to, no doubt, make way for more rubbish reality shows which seem to be endlessly churned out these days.

The show revolved around Dan Vasser, a journalist who lives with his loving wife Katie and their young son Zack. He lives a busy but normal life until the day when he steps into a taxi and ends up suddenly finding himself back in time, circa the 1960s. As the show progresses we learn that Dan has the ability to jump back and forward in time, with the goal of altering events for the better. He is guided slightly by Livia, his thought-to-be dead former girlfriend who he finds out faked her death because she too has time travelling abilities.

Initially, it was hard to like anyone but Dan and Livia. While these two came across as fairly likable characters who carry the show well, Katie Vasser came across as a nagging irritation who seemed to think preserving her precious normality was more important than saving people's lives while Dan's cop brother Jack was depicted to be bitter and childish to allow his jealousies to cloud his realisation that there was something else going on with Dan rather than believing him to be unhinged. However, towards the end of the season, Katie and Jack were fleshed out and became easier to relate to as they accepted Dan's abilities.

'Journeyman' walked a fine line between being a time travelling sci-fi show, the 2007 version of 'Quantum Leap', and being a drama that portrayed the difficulties in maintaining a normal family life in the face of a troublesome, hectic 'job'. It would have been interesting to see how Dan and Katie preserved their life as the years passed or even how their son coped if he found out the full truth when he was older. The show also dealt with interesting story lines such as Dan accidentally changing his own future so that he had a daughter instead of a son, leaving him with painful dilemma of having to erase her to get his son back.

As I said, this show had much potential and could have explored many issues if it had the chance. It certainly deserved more than one season to prove itself and to build a fanbase. Here's hoping someone with sense at NBC will reconsider and give 'Journeyman' that chance.

Thank goodness for my DVR. After having recorded the first 10 episodes of Journeyman, I thought I better take the time to check this series out. I loved the series Quantum Leap and was eagerly anticipating Journeyman. I was not disappointed. I watched the first five episodes back to back. I couldn't turn the television off. I took a few days off and then watched the remaining episodes. Again, I'm really enjoying this series and can't wait to see the episode on December 13th. The story lines are wonderfully thought out and the acting is superb. If you've read any other comments that speak unfavorably about the comparisons between Journeyman and Quantum Leap (two totally different plots), Kevin McKidd's accent (I detected none...but I am not a linguist by profession!), or a perceived notion the successive episodes do not relate to each other (they absolutely do tie in together), please take them with a grain of salt. Each episode keeps me at the edge of my with the anticipation of what's going to happen next. I urge everybody to give Journeyman a chance.

This show was so well-written. Great characters; great casting; great point of view set up for the viewer. The watcher has the experience of knowing with the main character what's really going on, yet no one believing him. Plus, it's just simply exciting. I found myself (my wife and I watched this live, from episode one to the end) tense (in a good way) and sometimes literally on the edge of my couch seat during and often at the end of each show. The story arc is fantastic. So, so tragic this show was canceled during its first season, going till only February or early March. However, the writers were told ahead of time the show was being canceled, so they adjusted to bring the season/series to a fantastic conclusion--one of the best finales of TV shows I've seen (which usually do terrible finales). I often had chills watching this (not from things being scary; just from the excitement of what was happening in the episode). It seemed like in the five years during which this show aired, there were 3-5 brilliant shows we watched that got the hatchet. I think execs are less hyperactively canceling good shows now. If you can get a hold of this, watch it. It's so fantastic. And it's only, what, 9-12 episodes? Not a big commitment. Oh, lastly, it takes place in San Francisco, which is a beautiful and different backdrop for a show. Even the opening of this show is great--on the level of "Vikings," if you know that opening.

Much of my review is coloured by me watching it thirteen years after it originally aired. I watched it in its entirety over a course of a week. Chasing the lockdown blues away..

The series is short and sweet which is part of its charm and possible frustration for many. The essential theme, of a person going back in time to fix someone's life in the past has been captured well with the dilemmas of such meddling is shoved to the background. The story did not have enough time to take off because of the truncated time-line but what is shown is done well. There are hints that the writers were taking this show in interesting directions. The creators have captured the differences in time periods well enough while focusing on little things, like problems a time travel might face. Some of the problems are solved imaginatively (the mobile phone) while others can be termed as cheating (Cash. There is often a ready source).

The actors are competent and convincing in a mid-2000's TV show way. The lead can get a bit staid and boring but the other actors take up the slack. I was pleasantly surprised to see Jessica Chastain in one of the episodes as the person the lead is supposed to help.

The show is a pleasant distraction and fun little throwback to simpler pre-OTT times.

I do not enjoy shows about time travel, as it seems to be an overworked plot device. But the show has skillfully done away with any preconceptions that may exist about time travel and is exploring new dynamics that I have not seen before. All the acting is superb. This show is better than Heroes this season, and those who say differently have not been watching Journeyman. If there was ever a reason to give a show another chance, this would be it. After a few episodes of watching it because it happened to follow Heroes, I suddenly realized that this was my favorite show on TV. This is definitely "appointment TV" for me. People really need to give this one a chance.

The title of this show reminded me of an excellent (trilogy) game series called Journeyman Project. While these two are different they do have the same theme which is time travel. The main difference is the fact that the main character hasn't got any control about his time travel. But he does get signals when he will jump in time. Kevin Mckidd does a good job in portraying the man who got rolled into this involuntary. It is fun to see how he adapts concerning his time travel adventures and at the same time does have slight problems keeping his family together. And this is exactly why this show differs from other time travel drama's. The focus is more on the impact such an life has on the main character and his family. This show had a lot of potential and certainly deserves a continuance. But as I have learned it is almost sure that this show will be canceled. The 13 episodes that are made provide a decent conclusion should it be definite that the show won't return.

Without a doubt, the best show on on the big 3. Hopefully NBC can overcome it's recent history of myopic behavior and give this show a chance to catch, something they didn't do for Studio 60.

I recently was telling a friend that I've never seen a show that was cast so perfectly. I had to check on IMDb just to see if the actors that play the characters Dan and Jack Vassar were brothers in real life. The cast is outstanding, the writing is intelligent and compelling. Very rarely do I get excited about watching a show, but I truly look forward to every episode, and the show keeps getting better and better!

I just read on a forum that NBC has yet to resign the series... I hope they get their act together as I am quite honestly disheartened right now :( If you haven't seen the show you're missing out on something great!

I loved Mc Kidd in Rome and this is a good fit for him. The first episode, though it didn't blow you away, was good. Time travel is often difficult to sustain but Early Edition and Quantum Leap did it with likable characters and touching situations. All of the actors do a great job and I liked the twist. I think the biggest problem that this type of thing faces is the possibility of bad, pointless writing. Writers trying to be too clever. I hope it doesn't deteriorate too soon and I hope the audience has a chance to grow. Maybe it will since there's not a lot on this season to watch. Mc Kidd could carry this one for a few seasons.

I saw the pilot for the show on a free Blockbuster DVD. I was hoping to like it more, especially since I like the main actors. But 10 minutes into this one, and I knew I was just watching another formulaic network show.

There are definitely some interesting twists in the pilot; however, the writers insist on establishing atmosphere and introducing characters in such a heavy-handed/seen-it-a-million-times kind of way.

Some comments have been made about make McKidd's accent -- believe me, if you saw him in a British film like the very fine, very intense "Dog Soldiers," you'd be reaching for the subtitles button in a hurry. As for Moon Bloodgood, who always lights up the screen, it's been noted that she was in the short-lived "Daybreak," which also had a time shifting premise. That was a far superior show, which was not afraid to keep us off balance (and that might have spelled its demise), but it was an engaging, challenging and enjoyable viewing experience. Even when I really didn't know exactly what was going on, I was hooked strongly enough to endure the discomfort of watching six unaired episodes online.

I can't predict if this show is going to make it because I'm not a good judge of mass-market appeal. It's obvious from the pilot that nothing in "Journeyman" will get you too excited or unsettled. It's a by-the-numbers network narcotic that will wash over you, without disturbing your TV expectations. So sad to say, but my first trip with the "Journeyman" will be my last one.

Watching this series from a European point of view probably doesn't differ much from an American one, but, even though I've been a series buff for quite some time now, I've seen the 13 episodes in a row and have NEVER been that excited for a very long time. The potential of "Journeyman" is so rich and dense that the first season only explores an infinitesimal proportion of it. That's what differs from many shows, which stand out on their first episodes, but then keep on somewhat repeat themselves. Here, the multiple layers (Livia's point of view, scientific point of view, time travel paradoxes) add up to a totally unpredictable show, at the same time totally down-to-earth and philosophically challenged. And I love the fact that it never relies on the Sci-Fi usual excuses to make the audience believe in what's going on.

Sure there are some minor flaws, like the fact that no one (except Zack) ever sees Dan ACTUALLY disappear or appear (not very believable IMHO), but otherwise the whole show is fantastic, and this is going to be HUGE when it comes to Europe.

I can't believe it probably won't be renewed for a 2nd season & more. The ratings are important, sure, but the blooming cult following this first season would increase with a further development of the show. Characters and cast are just totally great So, people at NBC, give yourselves a little more time before definitely calling it quits. PLEASE DON'T CANCEL JOURNEYMAN ! This was my plea to the NBC execs from Paris France, on a nice Saturday afternoon. (and please forgive my English mistakes, don't worry I understood the show perfectly well :)

Why was this canceled ?? Great series , hope they do a good remake one day , have watched it 3 times over the years , gets better with every watch .

I don't understand why the ratings were so low , and there are some series out there that are terrible but go on for years , what is wrong with the public are they just dumb !!? There not enough time travel series or movies out there!! , I mean how come CSI is still going on? Same old boring police stufff!!

Journeyman is a prime example of a creative show that builds upon ideas and concepts that were established by shows before it. It is a show that feels polished, and holds a unique style to it. The concept of time travel is realistically portrayed, while the the periods in time are very accurately depicted (including many subtleties which add to the nostalgia). Everything just fits; the acting is superb, and the music is spot on. Every week this show manages to captivate me, and I really hope it sticks around. Overall, Journeyman is a fresh, modern take on the time travel genre as a whole. Anyone who is still reading this review should really go watch this show instead.

Let me start with this statement: I LOVE THE SHOW!! It is one of the best of this year, and this year featured quite excellent shows, Pushing Daisies, Aliens in America, Chuck, Reaper, and Gossip Girl, to name a few. Alas the rating system failed the show and the plug is almost pulled off that show. However the show is amazing and it can be considered as a mini series, an excellent one.

I want to mention the acting, it was good across the board even though the stars of the show aren't exactly household names. Kevin Mckidd as Dan did an excellent job, it seems that American networks can always rely on Brits to deliver. As for the two leading females Gretchen Egolf who plays the wife Katie, and the extremely beautiful Moon Bloodgood who plays Livia the past lover and fellow time travelers, they both fit right in. The other supporting characters and guest stars did a fairly good job. The show started formulaic, not that there is anything wrong with that, but as the episodes progressed, the show evolved and became much more interesting as the stakes became bigger, that started with episode 5 "The Legend of Dylan McCleen". The consequences and the fall out from that episode effected the outcome of the following episodes. Finally someone wrote that this is show is "Truly a Gem" and I can't agree more, it is a gem that will be missed come 2008.

What sets this series apart from other time travel shows like Quantum Leap, is that it actually takes a serious look at how being tossed around in time would effect a person's life and relationships. This show also takes a more realistic view of marriage than most. You have two people totally devoted to one another, but it's still hard, especially when the totally unexpected enters into the mix. The real center of this show isn't time travel, but relationships. Each one of Dan's assignments has dealt with the central theme of broken relationships and how they affect the bigger picture; which is exactly the situation that Dan is dealing with in his own life. This show truly stands out from just about anything I've seen before. I hope that NBC knows what it has and decides to invest in it. I think it's a classic already.

The show has good potential.This should have been however a two hour Premier. The produces/writers tried cram everything into the first episode.My main comment here is that it was a somewhat confusing story line and dry. At least with Quantum Leap(two hour),you knew the what, where, and why. Did this show really bring that to light,maybe it did in small bits and pieces. The first hour should have been with him jumping back & forth in time,meeting the target and getting to know him more and doing more research on the targets background. And then some how bringing to light the reason for him going back in time, mixed in with his marital problems if that is really necessary to be part of the show. But as I said it has a good potential, and I'll tune in next week. Good luck "Break a Leg"

This is a great show. I am glad that all the episodes are now running in entirety on the Hulu site. I got to watch the series all over again. I hate that it was canceled. I guess the show wasn't stupid enough or it didn't have a bachelor banging a group of gold diggers, strangers living in a reality house or old comedian helping people pick numbered cases.

I really looked forward to this show coming on every week. But you never know, Family Guy came back, Firefly returned as a movie, so anything can happen I suppose if the fans are noisy enough. I would rather see it on a different network though, USA if you wanna keep it in the NBC family. It seems like this show is a better fit for USA anyway.

Until then, go watch the show online, the whole series is available. I hope to see you again Journeyman.

So Dan is risking his life saving people, and he constantly gets grief from his wife and brother. This is repetitive and makes the characters unlikeable. It's like someone told the writers that they have to inject lots of conflict.

But conflict that doesn't go anywhere doesn't work. And we like conflict to come from bad guys with an agenda, making smart decisions. We don't need soap opera style conflict from supposed loved ones. We love to hate a malicious bad guy. A protagonist's loved one just can't be malicious or hated. Complaining isn't an agenda and it really isn't a plot point either. It's filler. It also weighs down the joy that should be felt at the end of each episode's successful mission.

The plots with the newspaper editor and the ex lover work for me, because they are allies. The plots with the family home life go nowhere and have nothing to do with the main mission of each episode. It undercut this series for me, taking it from 9 stars to 7, even 6.

I think this is a great show. And it comes into this without T&A, guns, or over-hyped out-of-place excitement. Journeyman is a prime example of a creative show that builds upon ideas and concepts that were established by shows before it. Tho similar to other time travel shows like Quantum Leap, what sets this series apart is that it actually takes a serious look at how being tossed around in time would effect a person's life and relationships. It is a show that feels polished, and holds a unique style to it. The concept of time travel is realistically portrayed, while the periods in time are very accurately depicted (including many nostalgic details). Everything just fits and the acting is superb. Every week this show manages to captivate me, and I really want it to stick around. Marriage is hard, especially when the totally unexpected enters into the mix. The real center of this show isn't time travel, but relationships. Each one of Dan's assignments has dealt with the central theme of broken relationships and how they affect the bigger picture; which is exactly the situation that Dan is dealing with in his own life. This show truly stands out. I can only hope that NBC knows what it has and decides to invest in it for several more seasons. As someone else here in the comments said, I think it's a classic already. But, then, what would I know-- I'm just a viewer who likes intelligent shows featuring intelligent characters trying to make do in unexpected situations.