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"You wore a vest?!
Where's my vest?!"
"I'm your vest."
At this point there's a good
chance that reviewing "Human Target: Season One" may
soon turn in to "Human Target: Season one and a half,"
since FOX television is not sure what they want to do
with this series just yet, especially with a forthcoming
season two premiere that hasn't been promoted at all.
And that's a shame considering this is one of the few
series I've enjoyed greatly from FOX in ages. While some
have explained that "Human Target" will fill the gap
left by "24," there's a good chance this will be one of
the many cancelled series from Mark Valley's resume that
went way too soon. It's a shame since "Human Target" is
a comic book adaptation that's loosely based on some
killer material capable of being a long running series.
It's not too intelligent for action fans, but clever
enough for audiences seeking more than explosions and
shooting. "Human Target" is an excellent action series,
one that kept me glued to the screen from the very first
episode and puts on display the full talents of three
very great actors who have yet to find the proper
spotlight in the television world. Pretty much
forecasting the inevitable cancellation, season one
plays out very much like a mini-series, and one that
ends on a "The End...?" that closes up storylines in
case the series never returns but leaves it open in case
Fox should renew it. Even at this date when the series
coming back, the fate of the series is completely up in
the air and not looking good at all. |
Again it is a shame
because as someone who appreciates a good action
adventure series, I found "Human Target" to be a
truly entertaining series that brings action,
adventure, surprises, and laughs all to the tune of
three fine actors who work brilliantly off of one
another. Mark Valley is a supreme action hero, one
with a square jaw and grizzled features and enough
sincerity to warrant a title role in a great series
while Chi McBride and Jackie Earl Haley are
infinitely likable and funny as Valley's supporting
team who aid him in his missions and display sharp
abilities to bounce snappy banter off of one
another. Valley is great as enigmatic anti-hero
Christopher Chance, a hero for hire who is
approached every episode by a new client who is
being threatened with murder. Chance works with his
boss Winston, an easily angered but tough superior,
and the shady Guerrero a master hacker whose
intentions are always made ambiguous throughout the
series. Haley has enough edge to his role where we
can never be sure if he's working for his team, or
will eventually turn tail and give them up.
Throughout the season, every episode is like a small
action film, one where Christopher Chance is put in
to danger and relies on his wits, powers of
perception, and martial arts abilities to get his
clients out of jams and uncover some massive
conspiracy. Episode one finds him helping an
engineer for a revolutionary new bullet train who is
being threatened with murder which she suspects is
due to her torrid affair. Another episode finds
Chance posing as a mixed martial arts fighter, and
another he infiltrates a mission sent to protect an
ex-thief who is being hunted by his former partners.
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the way we're introduced to assorted supporting
players and recurring individuals including a secret
agent who is constantly in battle with him and
Chance's ex-partner Baptiste threatening to bring
his new life down around him and bring him to his
former boss, a man Chance is horrified to confront.
The series is very sharply directed and always fun
while Valley gives a strong performance as this cool
but vulnerable hero who uses his life as a tool to
help the innocent and still grieving with a tragic
loss. All the while, the series is peppered with
great guest spots by Danny Glover, Sean Maher (of
"Firefly"), Lee Majors, Armand Assante, and Amy
Acker to name a few, all of whom are excellent and
crucial to the development of the series. Alas this
is another of the under-appreciated FOX properties
under immediate threat of cancellation, but that
doesn't mean you can't appreciate season one on DVD. |
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The 3 Disc Season One
DVD features 1:33.1 aspect ratio and a load of bells
and whistles including enhanced audio in the pilot,
and a commentary from the show's creators and star
Mark Valley. "Human Target: Confidential Informant"
is a fifteen minute special about the complexities
of the character Christopher Chance and his
enigmatic personality as well as his ability to
change personalities at the behest of his clients.
There are interviews with the creators of the
original comic book as well as creators of the show
including Mark Valley and Simon West, the director
of the fantastic pilot episode. "Human Target: Full
Contact Television" is another fifteen minute
special that explores the stunts and ace
choreography of the series that will be entertaining
for anyone interested in this element of the show
that has Valley engaging in wicked one on one combat
and jumping out of bullet trains and off jets.
Finally there's "Deleted Scene: Christopher Chance"
a small scene chopped out of the season finale that
involves Christopher Chance trying to get in to
Katharine Walters safe house that goes absolutely
disastrous, and Winston trying to figure out who
Christopher Chance is and why he's escaped with
Katherine as well it also offers explanation toward
why Winston left law enforcement in the first
place. |
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