Explosive!
Summary
Plot: The DC Comics series follows the life of San Francisco-based ex-assassin Christopher Chance (Mark Valley, The Siege), a unique private contractor, bodyguard and security expert hired to protect his clients. Rather than taking on the target’s identity himself, he protects his clients by completely integrating himself into their lives, to become a “human target”.
Season 1:
Former detective Winston (Chi McBride, House, M.D.) and Chance operate a private security service out of Chance’s apartment-turned-office in San Francisco. Chance will have to rely on ex-flames while Winston utilizes his lifetime’s worth of connections in various law enforcement, politics and a private sector to serve both their clients. Serving as their back-up is computer hacker and assassin, Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley, Nemesis).
In 2010, many similar spy shows were already ending including 24, Burn Notice and Chuck. Enter this show which had much of the same style, dry humor, geeky tech and film crew as all of those shows, making it an instant winner. In addition to having talented veteran character actors, the show has plenty of unforced running gags, well-inserted indie Rock music, consistent non-melodramatic development and various Die Hard scenarios that would make even John McClane jealous.
There is enough diversity to make every episode fresh and instantly rewatchable. There are plenty of guest stars and recurring faces as well which don’t distract from the main plot, nor feel like stunt casting. You just can’t go wrong with a show that features various prison break-ins, bodyguard posing, improvised escapes and insane copter crashes
Season 2:
The adventure series continues with the trio now piqued the interest of widowed billionaire, Ilsa Pucci (Indira Varma, Rome), who gives them financial support, access to her private planes and worldwide connections. Also joining the team is Ames (Janet Montgomery, The Hills Run Red), an attractive thief who easily adapts to her surroundings and who knew Winston when he was on the police force.
This show got prematurely cancelled shortly after, and it’s honestly not deserved as the show’s time slot had changed and the cast additions were easy to adjust to by the third episode, especially the Ilsa character who has her own quirks once you get past her spoiled self.Chance also evolves a bit and has to figure out far stickier situations while planning for his future and wrapping up loose ends for other characters from last season. This season showed no sign of slowing down due to its endless energy and is dearly missed still to this day. But oh well, at least there was no sudden cliffhanger.
