Review -- Threat Matrix

Threat Matrix airs on Channel 5, 5 PM on Saturday. Terrible time, but a pretty good show. Notably stars the very charming Jamie "James" Denton, more popularly known as Mike Delfino.

It's like a more testosterone-centred Alias, about government agents and terrorism, but with less sophisticated, and more believable technology (which, by the way, is the one thing that C.S.I. sorely lacks). John Kilmer (Denton) heads the team, and an interesting dynamic is set up five minutes into the show, with his ex-wife Frankie (Kelly Rutherford) as his team-mate.

It's a riveting first episode, and character development looks in order; Frankie gets held captive by terrorists while on a task, and John is visibly shaken -- clearly these two have unresolved issues, and it's plain as day that they deeply care for each other still. (Sexual tension, check.) Eventually, a release is negotiated. John turns to Colonel Roger Atkins (Will Lyman) as the plane carrying Frankie is landing, and eyeing him with suspicion, says: "I thought we didn't negotiate with terrorists."

Atkins replies matter-of-factly: "We don't. This didn't happen." So we have a good dose of political incorrectness. Game on.

Another interesting member is Holly Brodeen (Shoshannah Stern), who is (presumably) deaf-mute, and communicates with the rest of the team in sign language. If, however, she is really playing a deaf role in the show, as I am led to believe, then I can only assume that she reads lips. In which case, the team should really make more of an effort to look at her when they are talking, or at least, make their lip movements visible to her. That is the one thing, for me, that they failed to accomplish -- but few people are going to even notice that. Well. Sometimes reel life does reflect real life.

Apart from that, you have your usual suicide bombers, investigative work, rush against time, witness protection, all that stuff. It's one of the best shows on TV at present, if I do say so. Then again, that was just the first episode. Unfortunately, we won't get to see much of it even if we want to; ABC pulled it after 14 episodes, so that's all we're going to get. Catch it if while you can. :)