Jarod (Michael T.
Weiss) is a Pretender - a genius whose exceptional intelligence
allows him to assume various identities at will, be it doctor,
test pilot or lawyer. Taken from his parents at an early age,
Jarod was brought up in the Centre, a think-tank facility where he
believed his computer-like mind was being used to benefit mankind.
But when he learned the simulations he solved were being sold
to the
highest bidder no matter what their intent, Jarod escaped. Now on
the run, Jarod embarks on a search
for his true
identity while also attempting to balance out any wrong his
simulations have caused by
helping people who
are as powerless as he once was.
CRITIQUE
I used to watch
The Pretender on TV very early in its first season, but then
lost track of it when I moved to another city with my family. Nine
years later, I picked it up again and watched the complete first
season in just one week. The show's premise lends itself to
telling good stories each week despite their predictability; the
viewer knows Jarod will pay it back to the bad guy(s), but before
that each story unfolds in a way that grabs the viewer's attention
trying to figure out what Jarod is up to.
One of the aspects
vital to the show and Jarod as a character is the recorded footage
of his simulations stored on mini discs that he stole from the
Centre when he escaped. When helping those who have been wronged
by others, Jarod always seeks inspiration from his simulations to
help him figure out things. This plot device is a good one, but it
also raises the question of logic somewhat; how does Jarod find
the particular simulations on the discs that pertain to his
current investigations, and how convenient is it the recordings
are photographed in long shots and close ups and edited together
seamlessly. True, this is done for the sake of storytelling, and
I'm just nitpicking here; this doesn't reflect negatively on the
show as a whole at all.
In the larger scope,
Jarod desperately wants to find out who he is, and also searches
for his parents. More often that not he compromises his location
to the Centre's Miss Parker (Andrea Parker) and Sydney (Patrick
Bauchau), who are tracking Jarod to bring him back, while
investigating his past. Michael T. Weiss plays Jarod with a
subtlety and innocence that makes him a likeable character even
though he has some dark qualities as well. Parker and Bauchau play
well off each other, with Miss Parker's reputation as a bitch
growing with each episode, while Sydney is a compassionate and
caring man, though never loosing sight of the fact that he is
ordered to bring in Jarod.
The season starts
off well with the pilot episode in which Jarod assumes the
identity of a doctor to expose another doctor who may or may not
be intoxicated while performing surgery on his patients. A few
episodes bring on the cheese factor a little, but there is
something in each story that reveals something about Jarod or the
Centre. The early part of the season and some of the middle move
along a tiny bit slower than I would have liked (not every story
is equally compelling), but as the season draws to a close with
the last six or seven episodes the suspense and intrigue of
subplots and story arcs set up throughout the season begin to
unfold. My biggest enjoyment of the show came towards the last
third of the season, when things started to click and certain
secrets got figured out.
THE VIDEO
Fox presents
The Pretender in 1.33:1 fullscreen format. The video looks
in terms of picture quality, devoid of any major flaws. Sharpness
and detail are fine, and I didn't notice much grain or specks.
However, edge enhancement is present. Overall, this is a decent to
good presentation with one flaw that I don't feel will distract
too much (unless you own a large TV and know what to look for in
the image).
THE AUDIO
Fox presents
The Pretender in 2.0 Dolby Surround. Dialogue, music, and
sound effects are presented with general clarity, making them easy
to understand. This front-loaded presentation gets the job done,
no complaints. Spanish and French Dolby dub tracks are also
available.
THE EXTRAS
There is audio
commentary on two episodes by series creators Steven Long Mitchell
and Craig W. Van Sickle, specifically on the pilot episode and
the season finale (where they are joined by director Fred K.
Keller and actor Jon Gries). Both tracks are informative and
provide some good discussions but silence creeps in as well.
Spread across three
discs is a three-part making-of documentary that clocks in at
an aggregate of 30 minutes looking at topics such as how the show
began, discussions on the major characters, and the Centre. The
creators and main writers are interviewed for this piece, as are
actors Michael T. Weiss, Patrick Bauchau (Sydney), Jon Gries (Broots),
and Richard Marcus (Raines), director Fred Keller, and director of
photography Rodney Charters (he's now working on "24").
Also available are
five TV spots for the show.
FINAL THOUGHT
The Pretender
offers genuine entertainment. The show is well written and
contains interesting subplots, with the first season concluding in
an exciting fashion, which leaves me highly anticipating the
second season.
