Great Expectations
TNT network, which has produced
some really well made programs, might have another intriguing series. The new show is titled Legends, which is the name given to
cover stories for undercover law enforcement officials. Part of my interest is due to
Sean Bean playing the main character, an FBI agent, Martin Odum, who goes
undercover. Bean has played heroes
and villains. His characters have
died in a variety of spectacular if gruesome ways.
In this series it appears that he
is an experienced undercover operative with a reputation for being difficult to
work with in the office and unusually effective in the field. After the first episode, it seems to me
that the underlying issue is that agent Martin Odum may be living in a legend
as an FBI agent. What he believes
to be his ordinary life could be an identity forced upon him by unknown people
who have strong reasons for covering up his actual identity and who worry Odum
may recover memories of who he actually is.
It was a treat to see Odum talk
about a legend and immediately take on characteristics of the false
identity. I also liked that when
Odum got into a scuffle with a mysterious stranger, the stranger showed better
martial arts skills than the FBI agent.
It suggests that the hero may not be able to fight his way out of every
situation.
Odum is divorced. His son loves
him, but Odum’s job keeps him away from his son for long periods of time. His
life is less interesting than the lives of people he claims to be when
undercover. Three people who try to
help Odum are killed in the first episode. It may be that asking for help puts others at risk, leaving
him ever more isolated. I would
speculate that his investigations into who he really is might also put his
ex-wife and son into danger. How
his family members fit into his “legend” will be an interesting factor on the
show.
Legends sounds very interesting, Warren. I'm enjoy watching shows from TNT and other cable networks. I think some are more interesting and better made than movies. I will give this a try.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like an interesting show. I really don't watch much TV, but every once in a while a show does appeal to me, and if it doesn't conflict with my husbands' myriad sports programs, we watch it.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting, Warren. I don't watch much TV, but some of the series seem more inventive than they used to be. Was this series based on any book?
ReplyDeleteI've watched a few episodes of Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, and Breaking Bad. All of them are too violent for me to enjoy. I can understand why audiences love these shows though--they are dramatic and shocking.