About
‘Human Target’ is an action drama television series, produced by Jonathan E. Steinberg
and broadcast on Fox, United States and CTV, Canada since January 2010. There are
about 12 episodes. It is more or less based on the comic character created by Len Wein
and Carmine Infantino. An earlier version of it was telecast by ABC in 1992 starring
Rick Springfield, but was a failure.
It is about the life of one Christopher Chance, a security expert, engaged to protect the
lives of his clients, when regular protective machinery fails to do so. Instead of taking on
the target’s identity himself, he integrates himself into their lives to become human
target. Chance has Winston and Guerrero, an ex-assassin for company. But even
Winston, who is his business partner and a former police officer, is unaware why Chance
made such an attempt. It is not easy for anyone to accept to become a human target. It
requires courage, unselfishness and dedication to duty. Chance has enough of all these
qualities.
Normally, high speed car chase and sensible dialogues do not go together in any action-
based series, but it is not so in Human Target. The main character is charming and funny.
In the pilot episode, the duty of Chance is to take care of the life of an engineer travelling
from Los angels to San Francisco.
Chance can be anywhere in the world. Wherever he may be, his aim is to protect his
client from danger. He does not mind risking his life for that. There is also a story
behind why he has become a human target.
Chance was partly a bodyguard and partly a private investigator. He changes his role
as per the requirements of his clients. Human target combines daredevil actions with deep
sense of humor. There are no huge mysteries in it. Chance proves himself to be the best
body guard, with watchful eyes, skilled in physical actions (it is not a task for him, being
an ex-army person) and at the same time a joker.
It is a common belief that only the complex dramas can catch the heart of the viewers.
Human Target has refuted it.
Mark Valley who portrayed as Chance is not without faults in the role. Recklessness and
overconfidence are just two of them. But his entertaining performance supersedes them.
The viewers will be tempted to switch on television set every time. The pilot episode is action packed with splendid performances. Human target can easily be termed a cartoonish exaggeration.
Normally Fox is not in favor of exhibiting comic adventures. Human target is an
exception. It remains to be seen how people react to it.
The main cast includes Chi McBride as Winston, Jackie Earle Haley as Guerrero,
Emmanuelle Vaugier as FBI agent and Autumn Reeser as computer technician.
The show is filmed in Vancouver, BC. The series premier was well received. The unique thing about the series is that the main character is in a different environment in each episode. And he handles the situation remarkably well.
