Human Target - Pilot, S01E01

While there were quite a few impressive moments, and impressive guest stars (Danny Glover for one), in this new action show, Human Target did not deliver any reasons for viewers to come back except that the action was awesome.

The concept of the show is simple - Christopher Chance (Mark Valley, formerly of Fringe) is something like a bodyguard. He keeps you alive, while blending in to eliminate the threat. In the pilot, he blended in, kept Stephanie Dobbs (played by the incredible Tricia Helfer*) alive, and discovered who was trying to kill her with the help of his partner, Winston (Chi McBride), and computer-savvy wild card, Guerrero (Oscar-nominated Jackie Earle Haley).

Next week, with their help, he can do it all again, only this time (from what I got during the brief ad for it during the Globes) the girl is the chick who played Christine on Dexter this season.

And that's the problem. Not that there are no female leads, though that might help, but that there is no apparent continuing story arch. And maybe that's a good thing - so many shows that are on now require week to week viewing, or you have to wait for the DVD release - but it's no longer what is expected. I want a show that promises me something on a week to week basis, even if it is something so small as "What will happen when the girl and guy talk this week? Will it make my heart soar just a little, even if they aren't going to get together for 5 more years?" Maybe something will happen in the second episode (which aired on Monday at 8pm), but the point of a pilot is to get us hooked, with no wriggle room.

Despite the lack of grabbing plot, the action was excellent, and I don't just mean the explosions. Chance had to fight off the assassin, and the battle, which was mostly hand-to-hand combat was shot so that we could actually watch the fight. And it was a long fight too! The directing not only made Chance look tough, but clever and dedicated. He got hit, and he went down, taking proper time to recover. It wasn't an easy win, and it was beautifully choreographed. If fight scenes like that are the norm on this show, than I will wave any need for love stories or plot lines all together.

So the jury remains undecided about whether this show is going anywhere, but I will take another look. And watch that fight sequence again.