Pilot: Pretender Episode Review

In which Jarod has Family Issues and Miss Parker glowers.

What Happened

A super-genius escapes the agency who kidnapped him as a child, determined to use his gifts to do good in the world while searching for the family he lost.

The Good

  • Dr. Trador: "Why Queen of Angels?"
    Jarod: "You were the only hospital offering stock options." He's got their rich white guy snicker down.
  • Miss Parker: "It's wings are bent. It's Onisias, the Greek god of retribution."
    Sydney: "I'm impressed. How do you know so much about Greek mythology?"
    Miss Parker: "I did a lot of frat boys in college." No shame. Love it.
  • Jarod confronting Sydney face to face: the parents in Cincinnati aren't Jarod's real parents. Tight scene.
  • Nurse Gwen's confession. Nice performance from her.
  • Sydney did give Jarod the access code. Too bad Miss Parker was a step ahead.
  • Miss Parker can hustle. Too bad Jarod tricked her again.

The Bad

  • The Centre has a lot less steel and modern art that it did in later seasons.

The Cliche

  • Jarod with his orphan du jour.
  • The lab report on Jarod's blood work-up is that single sheet of paper?

Best Lines

Man, spotting her lighting a cigarette: "Ma'am, the materials onboard are highly explosive."
Miss Parker: "So am I." Nice intro.

What Did I Think?

Beautiful balance between the case of the week, exposition introduction to Jarod and the Centre and the development of his search for his parents.