Human Target (Fox 2010-2011, Mark Valley, Chi McBride)

Action adventure series Human Target follows bodyguard for hire Christopher Chance who assimilates himself completely into his clients lives whenever he is hired to protect them. Chance works with Ops manager Winston and computer expert Guerrero and tackles all manner of high octane and downright dangerous jobs. In the pilot he is hired to protect the female head of a new high speed train consortium (and before you can say boo we have a runaway train on our hands) and the action doesn’t let up from there.

Full of tough fight sequences, often in confined spaces and top notch special effects, Human Target is a real treat of a series that wears its origins as a DC Comics book like a badge of honour. Mark Valley is terrific as Chase but the playing between all three leads lifts the series up a notch or two. Special mention must be made of Jackie Earl Haley as boffin Guerrero who makes this seedy, shady, greasy character likable. He’s a former villain who has come over to work with Chance and is happy to blur the lines of legality every chance he gets. The trio all used to work for “The Old Man” a major league recruiter of assassins and hit men but all went solo after disagreeing with his working methods.

English actress Indira Varma joined the cast for season two as a wealthy widow who helps out the group.

production details
USA / Fox – Warner / 25×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 17 January 2010 – 9 February 2011

Creator: Jonathan E. Steinberg / Music: Bear McCreary (season 1), Tim Jones (season 2) / Executive Producers: Jonathan E. Steinberg, Brad Kern, Kevin Hooks, McG, Peter Johnson

cast
MARK VALLEY as Christopher Chance
CHI McBRIDE as Laverne Winston
JACKIE EARL HALEY as Guerrero
INDIRA VARMA as Ilsa Pucci
EMMANUELLE VAUGIER as FBI Special Agent Emma Barnes
AUTUMN REESER as Layla
LENNIE JAMES as Baptiste

THE EPISODES
SEASON ONE 15 January – 14 April 2010
1. PILOT (15 Jan 2010)
2. REWIND (18 Jan 2010)
3. EMBASSY ROW (25 Jan 2010)
4. SANCTUARY (1 Feb 2010)
5. RUN (8 Feb 2010)
6. LOCKDOWN (17 Feb 2010)
7. SALVAGE AND RECLAMATION (10 March 2010)
8. BAPTISTE (17 March 2010)
9. CORNER MAN (24 March 2010)
10. TANARAK (31 March 2010)
11. VICTORIA (7 April 2010)
12. CHRISTOPHER CHANCE (14 April 2010)

SEASON TWO  17 November 2010 – 9 Feb 2011
1. ILSA PUCCI (17 Nov 2010)
2. THE WIFE’S TALE (24 Nov 2010)
3. TAKING AMES (1 Dec 2010)
4. THE RETURN OF BAPTISTE (8 Dec 2010)
5. DEAD HEAD (15 Dec 2010)
6. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MALL (22 Dec 2010)
7. A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA (5 Jan 2011)
8. COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN (5 Jan 2011)
9. IMBROGLIO (14 Jan 2011)
10. COOL HAND GUERRERO (14 Jan 2011)
11. KILL BOB (31 Jan 2011)
12. THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY (2 Feb 2011)
13. MARSHALL PUCCI (9 Feb 2011)