Movie review: Travelers

Centuries in the future, the human survivors of a global apocalypse have found a way to send consciousness back in time, placing it into people of the 21st century. When FBI agent MacLaren realizes random citizens are being possessed, he is advised of their mission in a most disturbing manner.

Eric McCormack (MacLaren), MacKenzie Porter (Marcy), Nesta Cooper (Carly), Jared Abrahamson (Trevor), Reilly Dolman (Philip), Patrick Gilmore (David), Leah Cairns (Kathryn), Arnold Pinnock (Agent Forbes).

Travelers begins wonderfully with episode 1 of the first season introducing us to the main cast and explaining the rather complicated manner by which Travelers arrive in the 21st century. The story is fairly simple; human consciousness from the future is sent back into terminal 21st century humans with the purpose of changing the future and saving humanity. From this point the series becomes exponentially more complicated with each episode which is more challenging than you might expect. Because there is no physical change, the audience must remember each character's past life, current status, and function as a team member. The result is a series that demands your attention.

Acting was pretty good with McCormack, who also produces the series, turning a solid performance. Porter does well with one of the least understood roles, while Cooper is a nice surprise at every turn. Abrahamson is a joy and seems to have good potential, as does Dolman and Gilmore. The remainder of the supporting cast was solid and did very well.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are good despite an apparent small budget. CGI and effects are minimal but fitting. Dialogue has nice depth and details the storyline nicely. Sound and soundtrack are both solid.

Overall Travelers is an interesting new sci-fi series with a lot of potential. Technical work is good, acting is enjoyable, and the storyline is solid and well detailed. We will keep our fingers crossed this Nflix original series continues.

With some violence, mild drug use, and an attempted assault, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 2.3.17
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Sci-Fi, TV Sci-Fi series, Crime TV series, TV drama series, Sci-Fi Drama

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel