Before "Castle", "Chuck", and the movie "True Lies" there was this show, this wasn't overlooked as back in the 80's it was a hit, it was another one of those romance thrillers shows which were big in the 80's with shows like "Moonlighting", "Remington Steele", etc. Unfortunately, as time went on, this show has become forgotten, making it another in my series of under the radar gems.
The format of the show really isn't anything too special and new, though same came be said with a lot of other suspense and espionage thrillers, it's really in its execution that makes it stand out. The show in a way is sort of that wishful fulfillment fantasy or the common trope you'd always see in suspense thrillers, on the ordinary person thrust into extraordinary/dangerous circumstances and having no choice but to take action to survive. Though also just that common feeling with all of us just wanting to break away from the mundane and either can do something extraordinary with our lives or just simply going on a little adventure.
The theme song is good it's not on my favorites list but a good listen as it's sort of a fast upbeat tune which kind of fits this show. Action is good or decent, for any actioneers who seek wall to wall action you'll be disappointed as this show isn't one of them, but it makes sense as this show is more of a suspense thriller, so the action serves its purpose. However, were all in this show for the duo dynamic which is what makes these shows in the first place. Sure, the episodes have plotlines that do have a little intrigue and develop, but this show is one that isn't all concerned about it but really about what the duo do under pressure and the chemistry conducted.
Lee Scarecrow and Amanda King are an honorable mention if favorite fictional couples in my book, both solid really like their back and forth as there is a slight clash on perspectives and common sense. I really felt like both had a friendship that became more. I personally always like those kinds of romances because it's your build up to pay off, you already know both characters are right for one another it's a matter of when they'll come together, and when it does it feels right because both characters interacted with one another and built things up together which gives the payoff weight which makes it even more satisfying.
Kate Jackson whom I think is an underrated actress, yes, I've seen "Charlie's Angels" though I personally remember her more in "Dark Shadows". For "Charlie's Angels" fans if you want, you can always imagine this show being a spin off show from that universe, where Sabrina as she left the Angels, settled down at some point though that didn't work out and now she's back to work for another agency. But will all that aside we'll get back to the subject. The character Amanda King is kind of the housewife archetype where she's not the person that is really looking for trouble but of course trouble was looking for her.
It's true that maybe the only inconsistence and it was the same with the show "Chuck" is the fact that she has no training in the spy business which I'll admit is weird because in a dangerous profession wouldn't you want an untrained recruit to have the defensive skills to survive. But oh well it's a show you roll with it; probably wouldn't been as funny if she was as it would take away the fish out of water element but also the jeopardy element if she became too powerful.
Her character is one you can easily emphasize with as how she reacts to things feels like how any of us whom had no experience with the spy world would react. She's a person that is trying to simply make sense out of what is going on. But also, the fact that she is no action heroine as she's simply an ordinary woman with ordinary powers as she has no choice but to use what she must survive but also for the safety of her country. In a way this reflects what she must deal with as she's a divorcee who now has to readjust to being single again but most of all having a life of her own.
Bruce Boxleitner another underrated actor whom of course sci-fi fans best remember from the film "Tron" and TV show "Babylon 5". He's pretty much the spy archetype, the kind that would be derived from any pulp novel or movie. He's a guy that is deeply into the spy world and role that life outside of it is unthinkable. This also makes him somewhat of a fish out of water as he's a person that is so deep into his lifestyle that he literally has no life of his own, heck the guy doesn't even have an apartment to go home to or at least one I know of, sidenote I don't even know if James Bond has one either. It's funny how he reacts toward some of Amanda's normal suburban existence as it sort of alien to him, which makes sense to someone whom is a workaholic and that's traveled to another country probably each week on a mission.
I really like the parallel dynamic between the two you really feel both fill in that empty space that needs to be filled. Despite both being on different sides of the fence, both do have one thing in common as both have somewhat of an empty space in their lives. This empty space is mainly because both are so devoted to their roles, they never left room for anything else nor felt they needed it, to them their devotion to their roles was safe.
However, they weren't safe because both aren't really living their lives to the fullest. From Amanda who use to have love in her life and was married, but now doesn't have it anymore. Also, you have a feeling that Amanda deep down isn't content with her housewife role, in the past she was probably never that way and in a strange way what she was thrust into was exactly what she was looking for whether she knows it or not which is to be more than what she is. For Lee despite protecting the country he never had enough time to really smell the air in it. Also, yes, he's had romance in his life but much like James Bond each of them never stuck, yeah, it's non commitment relationships can be fun but get old after a while because they lead to the same destination nowhere. Whether he knows it or not Amanda is what he was looking for to, someone that he could have a relationship with and possibly a future with.
Sometimes extraordinary things can happen in the most ordinary places; and extraordinary people by their nature really are ordinary people.
Rating: 3 and a half stars.
The format of the show really isn't anything too special and new, though same came be said with a lot of other suspense and espionage thrillers, it's really in its execution that makes it stand out. The show in a way is sort of that wishful fulfillment fantasy or the common trope you'd always see in suspense thrillers, on the ordinary person thrust into extraordinary/dangerous circumstances and having no choice but to take action to survive. Though also just that common feeling with all of us just wanting to break away from the mundane and either can do something extraordinary with our lives or just simply going on a little adventure.
The theme song is good it's not on my favorites list but a good listen as it's sort of a fast upbeat tune which kind of fits this show. Action is good or decent, for any actioneers who seek wall to wall action you'll be disappointed as this show isn't one of them, but it makes sense as this show is more of a suspense thriller, so the action serves its purpose. However, were all in this show for the duo dynamic which is what makes these shows in the first place. Sure, the episodes have plotlines that do have a little intrigue and develop, but this show is one that isn't all concerned about it but really about what the duo do under pressure and the chemistry conducted.
Lee Scarecrow and Amanda King are an honorable mention if favorite fictional couples in my book, both solid really like their back and forth as there is a slight clash on perspectives and common sense. I really felt like both had a friendship that became more. I personally always like those kinds of romances because it's your build up to pay off, you already know both characters are right for one another it's a matter of when they'll come together, and when it does it feels right because both characters interacted with one another and built things up together which gives the payoff weight which makes it even more satisfying.
Kate Jackson whom I think is an underrated actress, yes, I've seen "Charlie's Angels" though I personally remember her more in "Dark Shadows". For "Charlie's Angels" fans if you want, you can always imagine this show being a spin off show from that universe, where Sabrina as she left the Angels, settled down at some point though that didn't work out and now she's back to work for another agency. But will all that aside we'll get back to the subject. The character Amanda King is kind of the housewife archetype where she's not the person that is really looking for trouble but of course trouble was looking for her.
It's true that maybe the only inconsistence and it was the same with the show "Chuck" is the fact that she has no training in the spy business which I'll admit is weird because in a dangerous profession wouldn't you want an untrained recruit to have the defensive skills to survive. But oh well it's a show you roll with it; probably wouldn't been as funny if she was as it would take away the fish out of water element but also the jeopardy element if she became too powerful.
Her character is one you can easily emphasize with as how she reacts to things feels like how any of us whom had no experience with the spy world would react. She's a person that is trying to simply make sense out of what is going on. But also, the fact that she is no action heroine as she's simply an ordinary woman with ordinary powers as she has no choice but to use what she must survive but also for the safety of her country. In a way this reflects what she must deal with as she's a divorcee who now has to readjust to being single again but most of all having a life of her own.
Bruce Boxleitner another underrated actor whom of course sci-fi fans best remember from the film "Tron" and TV show "Babylon 5". He's pretty much the spy archetype, the kind that would be derived from any pulp novel or movie. He's a guy that is deeply into the spy world and role that life outside of it is unthinkable. This also makes him somewhat of a fish out of water as he's a person that is so deep into his lifestyle that he literally has no life of his own, heck the guy doesn't even have an apartment to go home to or at least one I know of, sidenote I don't even know if James Bond has one either. It's funny how he reacts toward some of Amanda's normal suburban existence as it sort of alien to him, which makes sense to someone whom is a workaholic and that's traveled to another country probably each week on a mission.
I really like the parallel dynamic between the two you really feel both fill in that empty space that needs to be filled. Despite both being on different sides of the fence, both do have one thing in common as both have somewhat of an empty space in their lives. This empty space is mainly because both are so devoted to their roles, they never left room for anything else nor felt they needed it, to them their devotion to their roles was safe.
However, they weren't safe because both aren't really living their lives to the fullest. From Amanda who use to have love in her life and was married, but now doesn't have it anymore. Also, you have a feeling that Amanda deep down isn't content with her housewife role, in the past she was probably never that way and in a strange way what she was thrust into was exactly what she was looking for whether she knows it or not which is to be more than what she is. For Lee despite protecting the country he never had enough time to really smell the air in it. Also, yes, he's had romance in his life but much like James Bond each of them never stuck, yeah, it's non commitment relationships can be fun but get old after a while because they lead to the same destination nowhere. Whether he knows it or not Amanda is what he was looking for to, someone that he could have a relationship with and possibly a future with.
Sometimes extraordinary things can happen in the most ordinary places; and extraordinary people by their nature really are ordinary people.
Rating: 3 and a half stars.