“Yeah, I got a name that sounds like a girl’s name. I also carry a 45, I got a history of disciplinary problems and this ain’t my first drink today. You got another comment?” – Laverne Winston, meeting Chance for the first time
“You can call me Connie.” – Chance, as Conrad Hall
I’m feeling sadder than Aiden Turner, knowing that this might be the last episode of Human Target that I’ll ever see. No, I haven’t canceled my cable and I’m not moving to a commune sans electricity, but TV by the Numbers is reporting that it’s not looking good. USA Today quotes Chance’s chances as being favorable, though, so I’m holding out hope and anxiously awaiting FOX’s upfronts on May 17.
Because they really pulled out all the stops for this episode. Not only do we get Chance’s back story, the one where he changes his whole life for the love of a girl, but we also get Amy Acker, Timothy Omundson, Armand Assante and Lee Majors, and the cutest friggin’ puppy you’ve ever seen. And a cliffhanger ending … save Winston!
That Amy Acker … she just gets prettier and prettier. The role of Katherine Walters is an unfortunate one, however, since we already knew her fate. You don’t think they’ll pull some weird thing on us and have her alive, surviving the blast? Hmmm…. If I were her, I’d totally want my dog back.
I liked the way present day Chance took over for Old Guy Chance … took the name, the place, the whole invitation.It was cathartic, the way Chance transformed himself after Katherine’s murder and went all A-Team … went from being offense to the ultimate defense man. Step aside, Junior — Christopher Chance is in the house. With Winston.
It’s become an obsession of mine to see what new surprises about Guerrero we can learn in each episode, and tonight we found out that the dude can fight. He’s evolved from a tech geek to a tough-talking manipulator to a guy who can kick some ass.
Which brings me to Winston, who is definitely more than meets the eye as well. Didn’t you think he was in complete control of every situation? When we met him at the bar, we saw that wasn’t the case at all. I like that we’re getting the three dimensions of all of the characters, yet I still get the feeling we’ve got so much more to find out.
I do have a couple of complaints, though. If we really look at some of the things we love about Human Target, this was a relatively weak episode. Not much of the cleverly choreographed fight scenes (although when Chance escapes at the end it was pretty cool) and the bad guys weren’t all that badass, considering. I felt that some of the mystique was taken out of Baptiste, who seemed so badass in the first episode he appeared in, but became a simple yes-man in this episode. I’m hoping we get some more about this tale too, as it felt a bit rushed to me.
I’ve now said “ass” three times in my post … must be bedtime. How did you all feel about Human Target‘s finale?
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Apr 14, 2010 @ 22:30 EST5EDT
My one comment on your review is this, you said “we already know her fate.” Do we now? After seeing this episode, I’m not so sure. My rule of thumb when it comes to tv, no body, don’t count on the death being final (minus 24, that show just wants to screw with people). Especially with Christopher Chance (senior) showing up, it really makes me think that a bait and switch was done.
I really hope this show comes back. I am really digging it. I love the characters, and right now is one of my favorite shows on.
Long range shot of the boat bomb, she is alive. Decent finale, hopefully this gets renewed as there really isn’t any decent action TV shows left with The Unit and 24 gone.
If I hear “dude” from this show one more time I’m going to sop watching. It’s ridiculous.
I’m actually often a fan of the “dude”, which I find endearing, but I think that in the last few episodes they’ve been overdoing it. I’m hoping that they’ll keep it but cut the number of uses per episode.
I really enjoyed the episode as a whole, especially the Guerrero vs. Junior fight scene and Amy Acker is always a treat. This is the only bubble show I’m invested in and I really hope that Fox gives it a chance. There’s a lot more to explore and the relationship between the three guys is always fantastic. I’d love to see flashbacks of Guerrero and Winston’s first meeting, and Chance and Guerrero’s if the show gets renewed.
I love Human Target. I hope it is renewed and we get all the questions answered from the finale. I love Guerrero and his laid-back “Dude” all the time. When he and Baptiste spoke to one another Baptiste used “Dude” while Guerrero used “Mate”, I thought that was a great way of showing their history in just a couple words. The friendship between the 3 major characters is inspiring (you can tell that Guerrero is growing on even Winston!). Bring it back, PLEASE!!
Super show and superb ep! Fingers crossed for renewal, it really deserves it.
Quoting…
“I felt that some of the mystique was taken out of Baptiste, who seemed so badass in the first episode he appeared in, but became a simple yes-man in this episode.”
Keep in mind that 6 years passed between this episode and the first time we saw Baptiste. People change, and I suspect Baptiste became much more hard-core in that span of time.
Ditto that my gut tells me that Katherine Walters is alive. Does Chance know that? Hope we get to find out.
In the last shot, as the black helicopter is flying out across the harbor, did anyone else expect it to blow up?
*POST AUTHOR*
Very good point about Baptiste. My only question now is can Amy Acker do Human Target and Happy Town? ;-)
If I’ve got a vote, she’d be doing Human Target :)
Am I the only one who thinks Katherine is alive and the book is buried in her grave?
Laverne – why do parents do that to their kids? Every parent should have to spend a week in each level of school wearing the names they plan to give their kids.
FOX–do the right thing and renew this show. It is one of the few scripted shows on FOX worth watching.
Human Target has been stellar this year. Between the solid acting, writing, plotlines, and orchestrations, this really in my book should be up for the Emmy for best drama. Problem is, Fox put it in a crappy timeslot. 8pm on Wednesday is awful for a show of this caliber.
If it were my call, I’d keep Human Target around and use that to fill the void of 24. 24 is gone, and with it goes Fox’s flagship action/drama. Give Human Target the primetime slot on Sunday primetime which 24 has enjoyed. Market it to the point that 24 was marketed, and watch the show and the fanbase flourish. This show has no ceiling as far as its potential.
Favorite show, guys. What can I say. I think Katherine survived as there seemed to be no on in the boat when it blew. Also, as mentioned earlier, Chance, Sr, showed up and he had said to keep her close. Want to see more on Guerrero and Baptista (One cool bad-guy). So what was with the watches and Baptista. So much more to learn and see. Hey, Gotta Save Winston!!
Great episode, hope it gets another season!!!
PS: Katherine is soooooo alive!!!
This program is so much fun, and it’s just so well made – it’s everything a show should be. If this doesn’t get renewed, what should?!
I love the show very much, but thought the finale was the weakest episode. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but the review I think did so here.
When I 1st heard about The Human Target and that it was from a Superhero comic back ground I was excited. But when I learned about the character, I had serious doubts. I didn’t wanna watch a “Punisher” type character show. And so I became very sceptical. But I loved the premier and the series became one of my favorite shows.
If the premier would have been as bad as the finale I probably would have given up on it.
I thought the time frame Chance had with the girl was not sufficient enough for him to have the feelings he had. Or that the did a poor job enacting it in the episode. The episode just didn’t have the “meat” to it behind the story and plot.
I also believe the girl is still alive. That seemed fairly obvious, or was not given the proper time and enactment to make certain her death. And if that the case, they shouldn’t have teased us by putting another female interest in the show as an interest for Chance. That girl was in 2 episodes! She had more of an effect and air time than the girl who changed his life!
I love the show. Enough of that “reality” tv that’s clogging the channels. This show is great because it doesn’t take itself too seriously, but you still get lots of action. One of the few shows that I bother tuning in to other than House and Fringe. Love Guerrero.