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The Age Green
Guide Jarod, the
chameleon-like genius pursued by forces good, evil and indifferent,
is detained in Dry River, Arizona, without an explanation. After getting
him there, the towns female deputy recieves word that her son has collapsed.
Jarod saves the boy's life with a lozenge of Pez, an unusual feat that,
understandably, earns him her loyalty and respect, something he needs
in abundance as one of the evil forces, believed dead, resurfaces. The
drama plods along to a fatal finale, which Jarod's Pez is unable to
prevent. *** The
Border Mail TV Guide While waiting
to board a plane Jarod befriends Daniel Falk, 18, an All-American about
to begin his first year at university. When Falk laments that he has
been dropped from the flight and will miss registration, Jarod offers
him his seat. Falk's plane crashes and Jarod assumes the identity of
an investigator. Meanwhile at the centre, Miss Parker, Broots and Sydney
puzzle over a new delivery from Jarod. The package contains high school
lockers and tickets for a school reunion. The three conclude that Jarod
wants them to attend and that he thinks their lives are in imminent
danger. *** The
Age Green Guide Cartoonish characters
deal with deception and intrigue in this cardboard world of good versus
evil, Jarod, the sinister Centre's lethal weapon -- a Pretender who
can adopt any guise and profession in a crash course -- becomes a member
of the T-14 SWAT team this week to solve the suspicious death of one
of it's members. Fans will be more than gratified by the second story
line. Miss Parker, the Centre's Modesty Blaise, follows Sydney as he
tracks down a former collegue and lover to confront a devastating personal
revelation. *** The
Age Green Guide The Centre continues
it's ham-fisted chase of Jarod (Michael T. Weiss), the chamelon-like
genius on the run from his creators. Something called "the Triumvirate"
is conducting a sort of internal inquiry in tonight's episode. Led by
a blonde interrogator, likened to a female dog and a persistant cough
by one of the agents, it can't work out why Jarod is still free. Neither
can we. *** Sunday
Age TV Guide With a decent
script and developed characters, The Pretender could be quite involving
in a Kafka-esque sort of way. After all, The Centre is as maddenly enigmatic
as The Castle and although the leading character, a centre escapee called
Jarod (Michael T. Weiss), had not yet awoken to discover metamorphosis
is turning him into a cockroach, he does have this natty little trick
of transforming himself into any person he wants to be. Tonight, Miss
Parker continues her search for Jarod. While he goes undercover with
the mob to help a cop clear his name and a good-hearted barmaid make
a fresh start, she becomes embroiled in a plot to assassinate the mysterious
Mr Lyle, who has stolen computer equipment vital to The Centre's work
-- whatever that is. American drama is usually burdened with exposition.
Not so The Pretender. The only non-mystery in this show is the way it
always ends -- with Jarod standing off in the middle distance, twinkling
smugly at the wrongs he's righted. Next week, let's tell Miss Parker
where he is. *** TV
ZONE Issue 84 Status:
New from 21/9/96 Network: NBC - Saturdays 9pm Duration:
45 minutes Cast: Michael T. Weiss, Andrea Parker and Patrick
Bachau. Scenario: Former child prodigy Jarod Russell (Weiss)
goes on the run from the mysterious Centre having discovered he has
been exploited. His empathic abilities allow him to assume various identities
and professions as he seeks to keep one step ahead of his pursuers.
In the interim he also finds time to right wrongs. Comments:
Despite sounding like The Fugitive, indications are that
this tries very hard to be original despite a high corn factor (e.g.
the pilot has Russell perform a tracheotomy, cure constipation and eat
ice-cream for the very first time). Could do well. *** The
Age Green Guide Parental guidance
is recommended for the first five minutes of this episode. There's no
violence or sex or course language. But Jarod (Michael T. Weiss) does
put a disturbingly credible case for eating icecream for breakfast and,
if the little blighters are watching, it may come back to haunt you.
But, after the first five minutes, you only have to worry about their
minds. The Pretender is like The Equaliser, Vengeance Unlimited or any
of those vigilante, eye-for-an-eye shows, but with childhood baggage.
Taken from his family, enslaved by The Centre and force to put his genius
to malevolent use, Jarod escaped and now wanders the streets of America,
eating icecream, speaking like a man who learnt everything about life
from books, and using his gifts to set wrongs to rights. Tonight, Jarod
goes Gothic in his search for a teenager who disappeared after the death
of her mother. Succeeding where the entire San Francisco Police Department
has failed, he follows the trail to the Gates of Hell. It is a nightclub
but, given the noise level, is also a place of eternal punishment. Jarod
meets a charismatic young magician, Hawk, who exorcises the hidden demons
among his following of abused and disenfranchised young street people.
But is he a demon in disguise himself? Back at The Centre, Miss Parker
looks as she always does, like she's had a humanity bypass. Her sole
mission in life is to bring Jarod back. Pretty boring mission, but she
eats, sleeps and breathes it. Personally, I'd rather a double-dip vanilla
cone with granola sprinkles -- anytime |