*Caution: Spoilers ahead for Fellow Travelers Episode 3, “Hit Me.”*In its latest episode, Fellow Travelers packs its bags for a gay getaway to Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach—and a lesson on rough trade.
And it all leads to the series’ spiciest scene yet!Tim (Jonathan Bailey) is still upset with Hawk (Matt Bomer) after he was forced to write a letter throwing his friend Mary’s partner under the bus—which, in turn, saved Mary from being outed and got the heat off all of them.To make it up to him, Hawk tells Tim he’s taking him on a birthday trip to Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach, a longtime LGBTQ+ destination a la Fire Island, where “DC professionals who can afford a weekend away” feel safer being their authentic gay selves away from prying eyes.Of course, it’s Hawk we’re talking about here, so you know he’s got an ulterior motive.
He’s actually in town to meet up with a local hustler who claims to have some piping hot tea on Senator Joseph McCarthy (Chris Bauer) who maybe “doth protest too much” when it comes to his plans to rat our gays in the government.But first, Tim gets a crash course on rough trade, who Hawk shares “will offer to blow you for five bucks—but 50/50 they’ll just beat you up and take your wallet.”“Why would anybody take that risk?,” the sweet, innocent Tim asks incredulously.“It’s the risk that makes it exciting, Skippy,” Hawk responds.
You can practically see the gears turning in Tim’s head…After Hawk sneaks away to meet with his informant, Tim becomes antsy (not even a kiss from an older gentleman in the bathroom could distract him) and the two get in a fight once he realizes he’s been lied to.