Not Just Another Sci-Fi show

Starring: Eric McCormack, MacKenzie Porter, Nesta Cooper

With strong outings, such as Stranger Things and The OA, seasoned Netflix viewers may feel like they’ve seen It all when it comes imaginative storytelling in the genre of science fiction. Then along comes Travelers. The plot is simple; hundreds of years in the future, surviving humans discover how to send consciousness back through time, into people of the 21st century (you have to watch the show to learn how…I’m not gonna tell you), while attempting to save humanity from a terrible future.

I have always enjoyed the idea of time travel, but it can be a confusing premise if not done properly. Travelers is unique in that it’s time voyagers are firmly rooted in the present. Along with their mission to alter the past and save the future, we see how these travelers are adjusting to life in our present time. This often creates emotional and intense situations. We witness each individual as they struggle to fix the future while trying to adjust to their new lives.Another aspect of Travelers that makes it so appealing is that it’s a science fiction show that does not get bogged down in science terms or flashy special effects. There is an authenticity and realism to the dialogue and characters that manages to transcend the lack of scientific explanations or high tech computer effects. The story unfolds stylishly with each episode and while is solidly grounded in the present, the future and past are gracefully folded together with logical storylines and smooth and engaging character development.

The pacing is flawless and there is little to no idle dialogue. The writers focused on what was necessary to move the story along and never resorted to scene filling material. We only receive hints of what is wrong in the future, but these characters firmly believe some tinkering is required. I appreciated the lighter tone presented here, Travelers focuses on the hope. The hope that no matter how flawed mankind is, we can fix what is wrong.

Travelers is just the type of escapist fare we need right now; the genre has often played with the fantasy of changing the past, but it’s a nice change to see it used to appreciate what we have now