Human Target

Season One Aired: 2010

Watched via Netflix DVD: Fall 2016

Synopsis (from Wikipedia): The series follows the life of San Francisco-based Christopher Chance (Mark Valley), a unique private contractor, bodyguard and security expert hired to protect his clients. Rather than taking on the target’s identity himself (as in the comic book version), he protects his clients by completely integrating himself into their lives, to become a “human target”. Chance is accompanied by his business partner, Winston (Chi McBride), and hired gun, Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley). Former client, Ilsa Pucci (Indira Varma), becomes Chance’s benefactor, while experienced thief, Ames (Janet Montgomery), joins the team to seek redemption. Chance puts himself on the line to find the truth behind the mission^. Even his own business partner Winston does not know what drove him towards this life, although it is explained in the first season finale episode (which also explains about the name Christopher Chance itself).

My Thoughts

This was a blast to watch.  Every episode is like a mini-action movie.  Very well done, so much so that I’ve requested the Human Target graphic novel collections created by Peter Milligan from my local library so I can read and compare to the adaptation created by Fox, Warner Brothers and DC Comics.  And, I was hooked during the first episode with the recurring character of Carmine the Rottweiler.  Any television show and movie that features a Rottweiler gets high marks in my book.  And after watching the finale episode from the first season last night, I adore Carmine and Chance even more.

Conclusion

Thinking back on 2010, I’m trying to dredge up an excuse why I didn’t watch this while it was being broadcast by Fox.  The only thing I can come up with is it was my first full year as an empty-nester.  Terry and I also traveled to Texas twice that fall, once for Thanksgiving and once for my son’s graduation from SMU.  At least Human Target survived for a second season but not a third.  I’ll be queuing up Season Two as soon as I switch browser tabs to my Netflix DVD queue.

If you like action, a bit of humor, Rottweilers and a reformed assassin with a heart, I highly recommend you watch (or rewatch) Human Target.  Enjoy the ride!

Update (same day later that afternoon)

I will be unable to watch season two of Human Target … ever.  Warner Brothers never released the second season to BluRay nor to DVD.  And it’s no longer available via iTunes (if it ever was) nor available through Amazon Video or Google Play.

That means I’ll never know what happened to Winston or the rest of the back story for Chance.  At least until I read the graphic novels, which will be different, but most likely better.

Not cool Warner Brothers.  Very not cool