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Human Target is a new show on Fox based off of the DC comic of the same name.  In the comic version Christopher Chance is a private detective that impersonates his clients to protect them.  In the TV version he merely poses as someone close to them (like an interpreter for example).  He does this to draw threats to the client out in the open where he can more effectively deal with them.

 

The first episode introduces us to our 3 main characters, Christopher Chance (Mark Valley) is the titular target, Winston (Chi McBride) is the owner of the agency Chance works for, and Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley) is a former hitman type who is Chance’s man in the field, basically doing the investigating while Chance protects.

 

Buy the original comic at TFAW

 

I found that this first episode did not bode well for the series.  It was predictable, formulaic, unoriginal, and plain not entertaining.  Also it reeked of low budget.  The production values were terrible.  There were also some logic things that bothered me about the episode.  Starting in the very first scene, how did he get in the chair with the hood on?  That could be explained away I’m sure but the other logic problem bothers me much more, and is a constant throughout the episode.  I’m sure every single person watching this episode will think the same thing.  Why does he not have his own cell phone?  He never says he has a problem with them, never says he lost his, never any explanation.  The guy just doesn’t have a cell phone.  And it’s annoying because they keep needing a cell phone.  If it’s going to be a thing they should have had one of his guys throw out a line like “damn that guy needs to get his own phone” or something.  It was incredibly annoying.

 

As per usual I will give the show its 2 other chances to win me over but I doubt this show is going to improve much.

 

It premieres tonight at 8pm Eastern on Fox in the US.  It premiered earlier this week in Canada.