T.V. doesn't get any better. This is not an overstatement nor is it false praise. This show had everything and dealt with it in a manner that was not handled with the normal pseudo intellectual writing other television shows made their mainstay. Understated and played with a gritty realism that would make any noir film envious. The greatest part about this show is the one that never gets mentioned by critics, or is missed by them is that the complete series is based on a chess game, the writers give a nod to the game of chess inadvertently and with subtle cues. Even in the last episode, there are 3 players left on the board. The performances by the supporting actors and the lead, Jansen are impeccable. If you need to get a feel for the show and aren't sure about whether or not this show is for you, watch episode 30,,"End Game". It is a good metric for the series. The nice points to this show are the camera work and the music, along with writing that is smart and honest, you won't find feel good clichés or wacky characters for comic relief, just high wire suspense. I could binge watch this series from beginning to end, if there was a way to do it. You can find episodes on VHS, or on Youtube, but there is no DVD collection. I have looked everywhere and I am just amazed that the greatest show that ever aired was never preserved or capitalized for a new audience. The movie with Harrison Ford was a weak sister and a pale imitation to this cinematic art. The show dealt with issues of race, class disparity, homelessness, the media, poor parenting, and yes, even a subtle nod to the LGBT issues. The main lesson that the viewer walks away from after viewing this show is the illusion of projecting ones own view of reality and the misconceptions that arise from that. This show is so layered that its a chess game 14 moves out. Made in 1964 this program was years ahead of the television programming that airs today.
Review of The Fugitive
