Fellow Travelers Episode 7 Recap: Tim And Hawk's Emotional Confrontation

In May 1979, Tim and Frankie work as social workers at the Castro Mission Health Center in San Francisco. Tim gets postcards and calls from a troubled Hawk, dealing with a family tragedy. Tim calls Lucy to offer condolences and asks if he can visit Hawk at his vacation house in Fire Island Pines, New York. Lucy mentions she kicked Hawk out due to his alcohol problems and isn't sure where he is in New York.

After several invitations, Tim finally visits Hawk's beautiful vacation home on Fire Island. Hawk, surrounded by various forms of indulgence, enjoys a carefree lifestyle. Tim, marked by the challenges of his job and past prison time, awkwardly meets a lively group of gay men. Hawk and Tim reunite after eleven years, having not connected since Tim's release from prison until now.

Tim shares with Craig, Hawk's new partner, the painful truth that Hawk is deeply affected by the loss of his son, Jackson, due to a heroin overdose. Craig, who seems to have a hold on Hawk and is managing his drug use to maintain a constant party atmosphere, acts as if he's familiar with Jackson despite earlier claiming Hawk never discusses his family. Tim understands that Hawk, despite seeming to enjoy Craig's company, is using him as a distraction from his home responsibilities and the overwhelming guilt of losing Jackson. Craig is aware that once Hawk faces reality, the joyous times will come to an end.

Marcus, now a professor at San Francisco State University, maintains the appearance of a heterosexual male to "keep his job," as he puts it. Similar to Hawk's approach to life, Marcus is leading a double life. However, one of Marcus's students, Jerome, sees through his act. In a class incident where Jerome is bullied for supporting Harvey Milk and Marcus doesn't come to his defense, Jerome is disappointed. Marcus is still fearful of revealing his true identity, a concern that Frankie confronts later in the episode.

Hawk prepares a nice dinner for him and Tim to catch up, asking his party friends to leave for the evening. Tim shares that he spent only a year and a half in prison for the events in Fellow Travelers episode 6. Afterward, he moved to San Francisco, became a social worker, and came out as gay to his family. Hawk surprises Tim by expressing the desire to give him the deed to his Fire Island house, raising concerns about Hawk's well-being. Tim urges Hawk to confront the truth about Jackson's death and be with his family, leading to a heated disagreement with Hawk, who is in denial.

During their argument, Hawk calls Tim a self-righteous bore, leading Tim to pack up his bags. The next morning, another party kicks off, and Tim, wanting to connect with Hawk emotionally, joins in the festivities. He indulges in drugs, shots, and dancing, longing for the old fun times with Hawk. Tim also subtly displays signs of jealousy towards Craig and is determined to show how much Hawk still cares for him.

Kimberly starts questioning Lucy about the truth regarding her father. Lucy, avoiding the topic, suggests asking Hawk directly, admitting she's chosen to ignore certain things for years. While exploring Hawk's desk, Kimberly finds Tim's business card and contacts his workplace, the Castro Mission Health Center in San Francisco. Learning Tim works with the LGBTQ+ community, Kimberly assumes he's gay, leading her to believe her father's old "friend" might be a secret lover.

Frankie and Marcus share a home in San Francisco, but Marcus hasn't publicly come out as gay. Tensions rise when Marcus attempts to stop Frankie from joining the White Night riots, a protest against light charges for Harvey Milk's killer. Marcus tries to dissuade Frankie, standing in his way, but Frankie pushes past him, heading to the protest. Jerome observes the situation, expressing disappointment in Marcus's reluctance to be open about his identity.

After a night of dancing, Tim comes back to Hawk's house to find Craig and Hawk alone. Hawk falsely claims Tim left with someone else, manipulating the situation. Angry, Tim tries to confront Craig, but Hawk intervenes, attempting to turn it into a threesome. However, seeing a photo of his late son Jackson derails the situation, plunging Hawk into a dark emotional state he has been avoiding.

With Tim's presence, Hawk finally faces the profound grief of losing his son, Jackson. In a heart-wrenching moment, Hawk breaks down, and Tim consoles him. Despite Hawk's layers and defense mechanisms, the phone calls and postcards were all leading to this vulnerable moment, and Tim understands that comforting Hawk is the primary reason for his presence.

Marcus and Jerome head to the Elephant Walk bar, a famous gay bar in San Francisco amidst the protests. Marcus shares his history with Frankie and asks Jerome about his family situation that left him homeless. As Marcus talks about courage, the police suddenly break the bar windows, attacking patrons with batons. Cops target Jerome, and Marcus intervenes, pulling them away and using his body to shield Jerome from police brutality.

Tim and Hawk have a sincere talk where Hawk opens up about Jackson. Hawk shares that Jackson struggled with serious drug issues, especially heroin, and he and Lucy tried to support him. Hawk admits knowing about Jackson's resentment towards him, leading Jackson to avoid alcohol, Hawk's vice. Jackson disliked Hawk's life of deception. Tim encourages Hawk to stop harming himself with drugs and return to his loving family at home.

Kimberly and Lucy share a poignant moment watching videos of Jackson and Hawk, recalling a time when everything felt perfect. Lucy expresses her deep longing for Jackson, acknowledging the heavy burden of guilt she and Hawk bear for his death. Kimberly, expecting a child, discloses she'll name the baby Jack if it's a boy, bringing significant meaning to both Lucy and, undoubtedly, Hawk.

After their heart-to-heart, Tim expects Hawk to return home, but Hawk is drawn into another cycle of escapism. Tim confronts him about his selfishness, delivering a powerful message before leaving. Hawk, shaken by Tim's words, kicks out his party friends and decides to confront reality. The final scene in Fellow Travelers episode 7 shifts to 1986, with Hawk back in the hospital with Tim in San Francisco. Tim's visit to Fire Island seems to have saved Hawk, redirecting him toward a supportive family life. However, Tim's health takes a toll, experiencing another seizure, hinting at a potentially heartbreaking Fellow Travelers finale.