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6.9/10
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A former intelligence and FBI officer, who now works as a security expert in Las Vegas, is recruited by mysterious pit boss Mr. Johnson to, based on his tips, try to prevent crimes, while th... Read allA former intelligence and FBI officer, who now works as a security expert in Las Vegas, is recruited by mysterious pit boss Mr. Johnson to, based on his tips, try to prevent crimes, while the rich place bets on his chances of success.A former intelligence and FBI officer, who now works as a security expert in Las Vegas, is recruited by mysterious pit boss Mr. Johnson to, based on his tips, try to prevent crimes, while the rich place bets on his chances of success.
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In reading other reviews, I find it laughable that someone would assert that the theme of the show is confusing. It is not confusing -- Wesley Snipes portrays a very powerful and rich bookie for the wealthiest gamblers throughout the world who enjoy outside-the-box and extremely challenging life-and-death betting. Snipes sets up and manages the bets. He and his female colleague also have the high-tech world plugged into their system, including surveillance cameras and hacked computer systems world-wide. But Wesley and his assistant need a player to insert into the high-risk gambling scenarios that they set up, so that the bettors can bet against the house, meaning against the player being successful in the waging scenario, or they can bet on the player being successful. The scenarios involve pitting the Player against criminals, and sophisticated criminals at that. Back-storied into this not-too-confusing premise for the series is the manipulation, to what extent we do not yet know, of the person set up to be The Player, which included what appeared to involve the murder of his wife, but then doubts arise about that, and precisely what the Manager (Snipes) may or may not have had to do with it, not to mention some as-yet-unknown prior association between Snipe's assistant and a woman who looks like the wife of the man who does in fact becomes Snipe's Player. All of this is centered in Las Vegas, gambling capital of the western world, so it is perfect. The imagination behind the concept, together with terrific actors, and Wesley Snipes here is superbly and impeccably ward robed as straight out of Esquire magazine, added to the large-scale stunts that you usually only see in theatrical movies, makes this a very interesting and enjoyable worth-watching television program.
It's a fun show to watch, like someone said, it doesn't require much concentration. It's glossy, action-packed and entertaining, what I like, an hour of escapism. Of course, some of it is over the top, but that goes for most of the Broadcast network shows because they have ad revenues to build shows around. It's not House of Cards, Orphan Black, or Ray Donovan, but it is a fun show with a different plot twist that I find refreshing! I hope it's not canceled, but I no longer invest in shows lasting after Boss and Magic City were canceled. I will enjoy one season if that's it (really don't watch too much broadcast network programming). The networks should allow a show time to find it's pace, ideal time-slot and reworks, but that's not happening in our microwavable world. This is another reason writers create such awful plots or go over-the-top (i.e., Oil and Blood), they're working against time constraints, the first three episodes better seal the deal! Fingers crossed for a season 2 of The Player!
Where I was glad to see Phillip Winchester from Strike Back in a new role, I did not want it to be the same role. Philip Winchester as Alex Kane is very plausible, after all the military's of the world are adopting a Special Operations model. Why him, why doing what he does. In the last few minutes you get a quick wrapper of why he left his old life, and what made him "a better man". Hopefully we will get to see more of his old life surface as the season progresses.
The concept of using big data to predict or identify future crimes has been used in many shows. I did like that they did not make it see the future, only predict the potential outcome. We do that now with Predictive Analytic's and Algorithms, so not to far from truth on this...just they have better data.
The setting in Vegas has a lot of combinations of locations, and can mix and match for a few seasons....example Las Vegas the TV show. So this could stay interesting for a while.
So the potential is there, but the key will be keeping the story line fresh, introducing some actual bad guys that are real, and not having the same outcome every time. What could kill this show is the drama about Jenny, if they spend all the time focusing on vengeance, this this will be a short lived program. We need a hero that we can believe in, one that bleeds, one that can fall down and get up, one that can smile and tell a joke.
Take a play book from Strike Back, mix it up. I look forward to seeing how this show evolves and if the writers can keep us engaged.
The concept of using big data to predict or identify future crimes has been used in many shows. I did like that they did not make it see the future, only predict the potential outcome. We do that now with Predictive Analytic's and Algorithms, so not to far from truth on this...just they have better data.
The setting in Vegas has a lot of combinations of locations, and can mix and match for a few seasons....example Las Vegas the TV show. So this could stay interesting for a while.
So the potential is there, but the key will be keeping the story line fresh, introducing some actual bad guys that are real, and not having the same outcome every time. What could kill this show is the drama about Jenny, if they spend all the time focusing on vengeance, this this will be a short lived program. We need a hero that we can believe in, one that bleeds, one that can fall down and get up, one that can smile and tell a joke.
Take a play book from Strike Back, mix it up. I look forward to seeing how this show evolves and if the writers can keep us engaged.
I watched this last night with the Mrs, she really isn't into hi-tech x-cop tries putting world to right TV shows but this she even said was good, that is a big plus. Let's face it, if you love geeky and plenty of car action then this has it all, plus the graphics are really good, the blond is also worth watching! Reading the reviews as I do, I think you are over watching looking for perfection, the fact the critics gave this a bench mark of 7 is quite high for this type of TV shows. As I say, I'd give this a chance, but then I liked the new Knight Rider and that was axed after first series, yet, series like Law & Order go on for decades. Lets just say, The Player was to me, amusing with a twist.
After watching the first three episodes of "The Player", I have mixed feelings about this action show that feels like "Person of Interest" meets "Minority Report".
The premise of the show feels a little contrived. The protagonist, Alex Kane (Philip Winchester), is a security expert whose ex-wife, Ginny, is murdered under suspicious circumstances. When offered a job by a shady character named Mr. Johnson (Wesley Snipes) that requires him to illegally take out people who will theoretically commit crimes, he accepts, mostly because he thinks Johnson might lead him to the truth about his ex-wife's demise. Johnson explains that a club of ultra-rich gamblers will bet on the competition between Alex and the bad guys. And they will provide support in the form of a super computer and the resources of Cassandra King (Charity Wakefield).
The show's story lines feel sloppy, with the viewer required to accept a plethora of convenient occurrences. Also, the computer has abilities that can only be described as supernatural.
On the other hand, the action sequences are good, mostly due to great stunt work. I consider this show a guilty pleasure, but it would be better to say that there is room for improvement. Also, Cassandra is an interesting character with much potential. Hopefully, Ms. Wakefield can find a way to make her even more compelling.
The premise of the show feels a little contrived. The protagonist, Alex Kane (Philip Winchester), is a security expert whose ex-wife, Ginny, is murdered under suspicious circumstances. When offered a job by a shady character named Mr. Johnson (Wesley Snipes) that requires him to illegally take out people who will theoretically commit crimes, he accepts, mostly because he thinks Johnson might lead him to the truth about his ex-wife's demise. Johnson explains that a club of ultra-rich gamblers will bet on the competition between Alex and the bad guys. And they will provide support in the form of a super computer and the resources of Cassandra King (Charity Wakefield).
The show's story lines feel sloppy, with the viewer required to accept a plethora of convenient occurrences. Also, the computer has abilities that can only be described as supernatural.
On the other hand, the action sequences are good, mostly due to great stunt work. I consider this show a guilty pleasure, but it would be better to say that there is room for improvement. Also, Cassandra is an interesting character with much potential. Hopefully, Ms. Wakefield can find a way to make her even more compelling.
Did you know
- TriviaWhile introducing Alex Kane's character, references are made to his past work, including comments about a few years of fighting terrorists around the globe for an elite military unit. This is a direct reference to one of the actor's (Phillip Winchester) previous roles in the Strike Back television series.
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