Article first published as THE CATCH Review on Seat42F.
THE CATCH airs Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC.
SPOILER WARNING: It is impossible to
talk about this program without revealing a “big twist” that occurs
about a third of the way through the pilot (which is also on the show’s
‘about’ page at abc.com; I don’t watch commercials, so can’t speak to if
it’s spoiled in the promos or not). I get to it about halfway down the
page, so if you don’t know and don’t want to be spoiled, come back after
watching the episode.
This week, ABC
presents THE CATCH, which is sort of a Thomas Crown Affair-like series.
A private investigator tangles with the con man that conned her, and
because this is a weekly television show, lots of others in both of
their orbits get drawn into the game. Who will come out on top, and
could they ever be a real couple?
Produced
under the Shondaland banner, THE CATCH feels like a good fit for ABC’s
Thursday night lineup. It features a strong female protagonist, is fully
of soapy drama and romance, and while it is hyper-realistic and not
quite logical, it’s compelling when performed with a great cast.
Mireille
Enos (The Killing) leads THE CATCH as Alice Vaughan, the P.I. She and
her partner, Valerie Anderson (Rose Rollins, The L Word), run a very
successful firm, which employs, among others, hacker Sophie (Elvy Yost,
Bandslam) and the intelligent Danny Yoon (Jay Hayden, Battleground).
Together, they accomplish great things professionally, building up an
impressive client roster that they offer security to, but also are very
close personally, and will support one another over doing their jobs.
Think of them as sort of Olivia and her team from Scandal, but with the
close bond of the docs in Grey’s Anatomy, hence why the show fits so
well on this night and network.
Enter
Christopher Hall (not his real name) played by Parenthood and Six Feet
Under’s Peter Krause. Christopher is Alice’s fiancĂ©, the perfect man,
rich and loving. He’d do anything for her, and also to her as it turns
out, considering he steals from Alice’s company and disappears from her
life. Working with his lover, Margot Bishop (Sonya Walger, Lost,
FlashForward), and friend, Reginald Lennox III (Alimi Ballard, Numb3rs),
the trio prove a match for Alice’s group. Unless one of them defects.
Oh,
and there’s also an F.B.I. agent (Jacky Ido, Taxi Brooklyn), whom I am
highly suspicious of, given the twisty, turn-y nature of THE CATCH.
The
reason I am OK with revealing Christopher’s true nature in this review
is threefold. One, it’s on the show’s official website. Two, it’s
obvious that he’s the villain right from the start to anyone who has
watched at least a few examples of modern television, even if the show
waits nearly twenty minutes to confirm it. Three, his betrayal is
central to what THE CATCH is, at least for now.
The
driving reason to watch THE CATCH is the relationship between Alice and
“Christopher.” I think it’s clear there is real love there. Christopher
has fallen for Alice authentically, and Alice’s passionate rage comes
because she cares so deeply for him. I have to think the show is going
to spend at least the first season keeping them apart, but they’ll have
to be together again before we get too far in.
Now,
I’m not saying there aren’t obstacles. But tell the truth: wouldn’t you
watch any cat-and-mouse game starring the fantastic duo of Enos and
Krause? THE CATCH may not be the best show on television, but it
embraces what it is, and with those two leads doing what they do, I will
gladly add it to my small list of guilty pleasure shows worth watching.
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