Type of Series: Action-Adventure; Comedy-Drama; Espionage; Fantasy.

    Similar Shows: Mission: Impossible; Players.

    Typical Episode: A typical episode starts with us seeing some type of crime taking place. Sometimes what we see is baffling. Like a robbery committed by an apparently bullet-proof culprit, or an innocent man admitting to a crime he clearly did not commit, or a nondescript school principal suddenly turning deadly assassin and then forgetting the incident. Next, we see our heroes being summoned (in a variety of ingenious - and humourous - ways) to a briefing with The Man. Their mission is stated (usually a seek-and-retrieve operation) and the team retires to their jet plane to figure out a way to accomplish the task within the necessary time (there's always a deadline of some kind). The episode will involved under-cover work of some kind, some cool gadgetry and a healthy dose of banter amid the action sequences. Jonathan (the thief) functions as team leader, Amanda (weapons) functions as the brawn, with Marcus (computers) being the brain. And, since these are the post-X-Files 1990's all of this takes place to a back-drop of cynicism and suspicion. Cool!

    The Inner Light:

    Strengths: Casting.

    Three had a wonderful cast. Edward Atterton, Julie Bowen and Bumper Robinson had a tremendous chemistry, which was really cool to see and well worth tuning in for.

    Behind them were a succession of smart scripts.

    Weaknesses: None really. Three was a perfectly realised show. Light and fun. But not stupid or childish.

    Impressive Characters:

    Impressive Actors: All three leads deserve equal praise.

    Impressive Episodes: I'd have to say the episode with the Invisible assassin was the highlight for me. Not only because the scenes where the trio were trying to protect their charge were tense and thrilling, but because the writers gave the target a backstory that managed to make us care about him, before he met his demise.

    Impressive Writers: Evan Katz the creator and Co-Executive Producer of Three, has also written for The Commish, JAG and (the superb) Tour Of Duty. While Writer and Executive Story Editor Javier Grillo-Marxuach is also credited as executive story editor on (the dire) Charmed. Clifton Campbell (Wiseguy and SeaQuest) is listed as Creative Consultant; Other notables include- Tracey Stern: Co-Producer/Writer; Charles S. Carroll: Producer; Brooke Kennedy: Co-Executive Producer; Scott Smith: Executive Story Editor / Writer; Thom Polizzi: Co-Producer; Tom Ropelewski: Writer/Creative Consultant; and Wendy West: Writer.

    Less-Than-Impressive Characters:

    Less-Than-Impressive Actors: Justin Louis (Public Morals, Trinity) appeared three times as another agent, in the team's side. The usually reliable Louis was over-acting dreadfully, and was excruciating to watch.

    Less-Than-Impressive Episodes: None. All were slick, clever and funny.

    Less-Than-Impressive Writers:

    Continuity: Zilch. Except for the pilot and the introduction of the Justin Louis character, the episodes could be seen in any order. In an interview with TV Zone Bumper Robinson expressed disappointment that subtle character points were lost because the episodes were shown out of sequence. But I don't think that would greatly mar enjoyment.

    Rewatchability: So-so. I didn't keep the series on tape, myself. But, if it airs anywhere else I know I'll watch some of them again. Even now, as I prepare to tape over the few episodes I still have on tape, I'm tempted to go back and re-watch the ones I haven't seen for a while. A good sign.

    Episode Guide: The Episode Guide Pages is a great place to go for Episode Guides. But I'm not sure they have a listing for all produced episodes.

    Reviews:

    Other Info: In Ireland, Three aired in the Spring of '99 on Network Two - Monday nights at 12:30, just after Kojak.

    Miscellaneous Comments:    6 October, 1999

    I don't think light fun shows can make it in the late 90's. Players (probably the best of the bunch) bit the dusk. So did Spy Games.

    And so did Three.

    It was scheduled on Monday's at nine, taking over from mega-hit Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, which was moving to Tuesdays.

    But it didn't make it.

    In fact, all the episodes weren't even shown.

    Probably because the competition included a show called Ally McBeal.

    Which is a shame for fans of Three.

    I made a point of watching all the episodes shown over here, and well worth it they were. More than just a rip-off or copy of older series, it quickly established it's own quirky style. If it had lasted longer, I know I would have been along for the ride.

GRADE: B+

Review by Michael Leddy

Comments are welcome: rikerdonegal@hotmail.com

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