User reviews

Well, I've seen a fair bit of Sci-Fi, and to me this one weighed in at above average. I'd never say fantastic, but certainly above average.

The story was a twist on the Alien Invasion theme that has been done with other series such as "First Wave"... Anybody remember that? A probe from another planet comes to earth and "infects" a small group of people on a ship with an alien signal that over time re-writes their DNA code transforming them into Aliens with super human abilities (ala 4400). These "aliens" in human form have an overriding genetic urge to propagate this signal by whatever means necessary to endure the rest of the human race join them.

A top strategist and a select team of experts are employed by the government, under a plan called "Threshold" to counter this would be invasion.

So, why above average....

Well, first off, it does manage to give genuine creep effect in places. Some of the these moments are actually pretty effective in a way that is often so lacking in TV series. The show doesn't (didn't) shy away from a little graphic horror, which big TV networks often bawk at, especially if the show is designed to fit earlier timeslots. It was actually refreshing to see, but occasionally, admittedly, overdone as to be gratuitous.

The characters can come across as a little two dimensional, but to be fair to the series, perhaps it was never given time to expand and develop them. They did try later on in the series but earlier on it was difficult to empathise with a lot of characters due to this. Having said this, no one can disagree that the characters that were supposed to come across as dislikable, really did so. None of them would have won awards for individuality, but I feel that the could have been developed in time, with the possible exception of Brian Van Holdt's character, that I found annoying at times and a little stereotypical.

For me, it did seem to have a little "Cheese" factor in places. The Lettuce growing teeth springs immediately to mind. Which as mild comic relief in a well established series can work well (ala X-Files), but in a series that is attempting to get off the ground, such things can be dangerous as more serious and perhaps less forgiving Sci-Fi fans will be turned off by it. On one level the series came across as quite intelligent, but punctuating it with story's such as this spoiled the atmosphere in my opinion (And no, I wouldn't count myself as a hard-line Sci-FI fan).

On the story level, it did take the alien invasion theme and try to do something a little different and interesting with it, although every now and again, especially half way through the series, I got that distinct feeling of "The Invaders" at times, though it's difficult to say where, and not give story away to those that have not seen it.

The last aired episode added several new dynamics to the show, and could have taken it on to better things, giving it a more individual and unusual story thread, however, sadly, it was already too late for the show, the decisions had been made.

I had been silly enough not to check to see the status of the series before I embarked upon watching it, and to say I was disappointed when I found after watching the 13th episode that there we in fact no more, would be an understatement. Not necessarily because I thought that the series was exceptional and deserved to run forever, but because I had invested many good hours getting into the story and trying to understand the characters.

Networks are there to make money and we can't forget that but they seem so happy and willing to drop a show in it's first or second series if it's not spinning bucks from near inception. They know there will always be another 100 hopeful would-be shows in the wings, and one of those may make more cash.

However that having been said, it's *grossly* unfair and unethical towards the audience that "support" these networks by watching, to drop a series half way through a story, and not even allow it to come to any sort of conclusion.

If this trend continues I, and I suspect many others like me, will become too nervous to start watching a series in case it too doesn't spin enough cash, and gets dropped before it has really begun.

I get into the mood where I want to wait until I know it's got ratings, a second series, some backing, and a future before I invest time in watching. However, over time this is surely going to end up being self defeating both for the networks and the fans that never were, as series after series will suffer in its first season with people afraid to buy into it, for fear of an unfinished story. From there ratings in first series will go down while people wait to see if it's a success or not, and so many future series that could go on to great things, and incidentally, make good money, will get canned before they have had a proper chance to flourish and fulfil their potential. There are many successful series of past years that would never have succeeded had the Network execs of today been making the calls.

In short, it *is* worth a watch as long as you don't get disappointed when you only see the first half of a film...

K.

Did not get a fair shake. The plot to this was great and it's a shame we never got to see it come to fruition. It is worth watching even though it didn't finish properly.

Think the current IMDb rating is pretty much on the money. The (no longer in production) show is better than some, worse than others. The most common problem with these "high concept" shows that come (and go, like the wind) is that the first episode -- usually the one that sold the pilot to the network -- is good, often great, but the followup, the notion of running the same extended story week to week is, well, not so much...

Another issue (aside from carrying the story) is the cast. On paper they look like an interesting fit. In real life ... not so much. In fact, it is hard to imagine a cast with less internal chemistry. The irony of course is that the story REQUIRES them to be uncomfortable with being "drafted" (press-ganged) into this shoebox of a storyline so you could argue that the acting matches the story...? Uncomfortable on paper. Uncomfortable on camera. But the bottom line is that they all look like they would rather be somewhere else. Spiner especially.

Gugino is a breath of fresh air. Highly charismatic with a face that seems to change from frame to frame depending on the camera angle. Liked her work in Watchmen. She tries hard, often carries the entire production, but it is just not enough.

CBS has canceled Threshold, the best new show of the 2005 fall season. Surface, and Invasion totally sucked compared to Threshold, yet Viacom/CBS decided to can it, just like they did with Star Trek: Enterprise, and Joan of Arcadia. So lame. There's a built-in audience with a well-written sci-fi show. There must be something wrong with their rating system. Whoever they rely on to collect data about how many viewers they have must not be sampling from the right demographic. But of course Ghost Whisperer is an awesome show, right? Cause Jennifer Love Hewitt's last show worked so well... remember Matchmaker? No, of course not, who does?

I decided to watch this series mostly because of the involvement of Brannon Braga and David S.Goyer, whose later "Flashforward" I liked a lot. Compared to that one, this one is disappointing. Don't get me wrong, it's watchable, but "X-Files" would have done this kind of story in a two-parter and then moved on to other things. "Threshold" too often lacks a sense of wonder (and we never do learn the significance of those dream glass trees), substituting cheap action instead. The aliens are too easily fooled and too easily subdued. The series largely follows a case-of-the-week format, and because of its cancellation, actually has no ending. The actors form a reasonably engaging bunch, with the exception of the wooden Brian Van Holt. Not a bad choice for genre fans, but there are better alternatives out there. **1/2 out of 4.

Who ever decided to cancel one of the best shows I have ever seen in over 45 years should be fired, tared and feathered, shot, then throwed in a creek and spitted on. This show was so realistic, especially in the ways is depicted how our government might try to cover up such an event. The actors portrayed their characters so that I really thought I was there. The sets were fantastic. The special effects were really believable. The idea of a new DNA was also intriguing. No other Sci-Fi show even touched this one for being "real". I just want to know. Why I must have 10 "lines"? This is very stupid. It seems that you want. To write the review yourself. If this don't suit you then I give up.

Ahh, Threshold, how I miss you. You were one of the best scifi/alien shows out there. Not too dramatic, like Roswell could be, or too complicated, like Invasion (I thought it was complicated and confusing. Bite me.), or too silly, like Surface. You were, in all sense of the word(s), near-perfect. There were some things you needed to work on, such as lines for the actors, but other than that, and never showing the alien in the Dreams, I loved you. *sigh* *gets serious* This show was, and still is IMO, one of the best scifi shows out there; It had a great plot, premise, action, and there was some actual decent drama stuck in there with the scifi seriousness. They had cool actors, like Brent Spiner and Carla Guigino. They had a good plot. They had an awesome premise. And the action sequences...Well, they could of been a little bloodier, but I digress. This show rocked, and I'm still mad at CBS for taking it off the air.

A ship encounters a mysterious UFO leaving the crew dead. The US government calls in a team of experts based on the Threshold Protocol. Scientists Dr. Molly Anne Caffrey (Carla Gugino), Dr. Nigel Fenway (Brent Spiner), Lucas Pegg (Rob Benedict), and Arthur Ramsey (Peter Dinklage) are pull together with J.T. Baylock (Charles S. Dutton) from the NSA and military muscle Sean Cavennaugh (Brian Van Holt).

The show starts with a lot of promise. The premise was very compelling. It has a lot of mystery and even some action. The group of actors are compelling but the potential is never truly fulfilled. I wish they at least finish a season but only 13 episodes were made.

22 August 2008. A tension-packed, emotionally intense sci-fi thriller that was canceled after one season involving an alien invasion that threatens to transform all human life. Lead by a contingency planner, Dr. Molly Anne Caffrey played by Carla Gugino, a federal think tank team attempts to stop the invasion. There is a continual feeling of dread and off-balanced, intelligent human-alien attack and counter-attack. While the characters are overly-dramatized for this series retains a character-driven and issues-oriented commentary all the supplying plenty of suspense and fear with glimpses of humanity and humor. Richly stimulating, this series last only 13 episodes. Perhaps, the series was too intensely scary and realistic in the aftermath 9/11. Eight out of Ten Stars.

I go for the look and the feel in a show. Of course the story and writing are as important as well. Threshold had a lot of that.An exciting new sci-fi show was what Threshold could have been. But ratings decided otherwise. I hate ratings I really do. I liked Threshold still do. It had an X-Files feel to it story-wise a Star Trek glow and a touch of.. Perhaps the pacing of the show should have been somewhat faster.

They tend to stretch story lines in shows like these. Probably to get there 22-24 episodes out. I would rather have 12 really good, story, layered episodes (60.min) than 24 not so good forgettable television.

Damn you Cbs for closing down threshold!!.

That was a good show, at least allow them to finish the plot. Its bad for shows to be cut off by you (CBS) without it finishing off properly. And if you can't put it back on the TV, then at least make the episodes on DVD. It was also getting very interesting and i would like to see the end of it. If they already have a plot line for Threshold episode 14 at least allow them to finish it off. And also continue to season 2 because i think it is a very good show and also i want to see what happens to the Planet and all the people. At the least, make a movie length episode of 14 that finishes off treshold and put it on DVD.

I hate Brannon Braga as a Star Trek writer. His post Enterprise work along with Star Trek alum Brett Spiner however does not suck. Carla Gugino is a good actress and very beautiful unlike Jolene Blalock who was just pretty. Peter Dinklidge, the only reason Game of Thrones is good (yes I said that) shows he was cool before GoT had him on. Brett Spiner is well, not Data but still good. Nobody seems to be a bad actor, The premise is cliché but in a good way, despite the usual Brannon Braga idiocy at times. Good actors can win over a bad script and Threshold proves this. It getting prematurely canceled is sadly typical for science fiction in this era, especially good series. I wish they had a second season as I am partial to Catherine Bell, an actress who like Carla Gugino is gorgeous as well as decent when it comes to acting joining the cast like what was planned.

Overall Threshold is a clichéd sci fi drama that is saved by great acting and worth at least looking into.

You've seen this before (Invasion, 4400). Bunch of people gets infected by extra terrestrial "stuff" starts acting strangely and another bunch of people investigate.

Unlike "Invasion" (which was also dropped) this gets nowhere. Threshold (the other bunch of people) turns into some kind of government agency tracking the affected first bunch of people with a ridiculously small crew, with a sometimes stupid strategy (when suspecting widespread sabotage/contamination of food supplies, water supplies should be of vital importance to protect, no?; when putting together a thinktank - why have only 1 of each specialist on the job?).

Also each episode is pretty repetitive. Infected person gets detected, Threshold catches him/her/it. And the characters are very two dimensional, but perhaps they would've developed given more time - although 13 episodes should have been time enough to get *somewhere* with these guys. The only one I actually liked was the Dr Ramsey character.

Worth a look, don't expect too much though.

I am NOT a sci-fi nut and only watched because a friend recommended it, but the two hour opener was simply MESMERIZING. The show has flavors of several hits of the past and present, including "X-Files" and "The 4400", but has a style all its own. It was well-written, brilliantly directed, and managed to blend suspense, drama, and humor extremely well. I was very pleased with the casting. Peter Dinklage steals the show as he did in "The Station Agent", you just can't take your eyes off of him. Brent Spiner (Star Trek Next Generation's "Data") and Charles S. Dutton ("Roc", "Rudy") are the big names in the fine supporting cast. Rob Benedict is wonderful as computer geek Lucas and Brian Van Holt has the SWAT/military hero role nailed.

Was not a fan of Carla Gugino before, but she plays the lead role Dr. Molly Caffrey to perfection. She somehow manages to pull off intelligent, self-assured, and vulnerable all at the same time. She is a striking woman but manages to be believable in this role. You don't feel as if they inserted the requisite starlet in the lead, she's THAT good.

This show works on so many levels that I would be shocked if CBS didn't have another hit on its hands. The music was effective without being intrusive. Even the digital imagery was interesting and I generally HATE computer generated stuff..it only added to the overall texture. This show is similar to "24" in one way; you don't waste time questioning every single plot twist, (like the previous IMDb reviewer did) you just sit back and enjoy the ride.

I'm a fan of Star Trek: TNG so it's great to see Brent Spiner on television again. I am also a fan of Charles S. Dutton, but beyond that I wasn't expecting much from the first episode when it re-aired a few weeks back on Sci-Fi. I was surprised to be looking forward to the next episode the following week but was disappointed when it wasn't aired. Thankfully I have just read that Sci-Fi will be re-airing the entire first season. This show is authentically creepy and I enjoyed the various attempts by the characters at understanding what they were dealing with. Threshold may be no The X-Files or Battlestar Galactica but I am looking forward to the rest of the season.

CBS demonstrates over and over why it has no evening viewers after the 6 o'clock news. Get viewers interested in a new series (i.e. "Threshold")and just leave them hanging. What a bunch of stuff. The program managers of this network should forget competing with cable networks and just go to all news if they are going to keep doing this kind of stuff.

"Threshold" is a cheap production but has an excellent story line so I do not see why the "Sci Fi Net" wouldn't pick them up. They are notorious for cheap (Like killing FarScape because it cost too much and keeping StarGate SG1 because it is cheap).

I just don't know why the three big networks keep doing this to viewers. Look at "Space above and Beyond" and "Surface". Get the viewers interested and kill it. Mash was really bad but look how long it ran. Why can't good Sci Fi series on the big networks have and good run or at least give closure? Do they just not have any Sci Fi writers?

An excellently intelligent science fiction program that featured some brilliant writing, imaginative direction, high production values, and superb performances by an outstanding cast. Brent Spiner and Peter Dinklage do some wonderful characterizations and steal every scene in which they appear. Without them, Threshold wouldn't be nearly as interesting as it is. Charles Dutton is adequate but unfortunately overused, ubiquitous in series television and therefore rendered ineffective by repetition. The first two dozen similar characters he has played have sometimes worked but he doesn't fit into this particular ensemble. His presence is simply jarring and often downright irritating. However, it is Carla Gugino who anchors the drama and proves again what a gifted actor she is. Her interpretation of the character of Molly is nothing short of magnificent, dynamic, and fascinating. It doesn't hurt that every frame with her image is mesmerizing and she lights up the screen as few actresses can. The camera simply loves her and the directors are wise enough to let their lenses linger on her and allow her just a few seconds more than the usual time in every close-up, leaving the audience satisfied yet still craving more. There is no doubt that when she appears, the viewer can't take their eyes off her. She is intelligence, beauty, and strength personified. The charisma and magnetism of Gugino is magnified by her natural beauty and stunning eyes. She is no Emily Watson but she is still quite good. The cast has strong chemistry and their interactions, with the exception of Dutton intrusion, are the best part of the program. Overall, this is a very satisfying science fiction series that deserved to remain on the air because it had so much potential and so much more to offer viewers.

if you ask me this is one of the best science fiction series ever. too bad that TV channel didn't agree. well life isn't fair. this series has interesting plot good actors working special effects and yet some reason they canceled this :( (those bastards). i cant say anything bad about his series, its just so good . i would like to see more episodes for this. i hope they start this again some day. by the way does anyone know why they canceled this series i would like to know it and what kind of crap replaced this. series suffered same fate as Babylon 5 crusade and some other good series. too bad . i cant tell anything similar series that i would recall but that Babylon 5 crusade isn't bad just not good as this. Bend Hurd votes ten

This was a great series, that, like so many others, got cancelled before it found its audience. Only 13 episodes were made, sadly. It has a very interesting story line.

You'll sees Peter Dinklage in his early years, and Brent Spiner before he was Data. Episodes are available in HD on youTube.

Sadly, the series never had a conclusion, so the mysteries presented were never explained, which was a very unsatisfactory ending to a very promising sci-fi series.

The poor cast was stranded with a bad script that barely made them human and always treated them as caricatures. The science in the fiction was stupid and unrealistic. Maybe hiring writers that know some science would have helped. The show bumbled along from one simplistic plot that showed the best talents the world has to offer as idiots barely coping with the situations the writers put them in. No wonder it didn't last a full season. Now, because there is a requirement that I write enough about this to fill ten lines I will go on the way the shows writers did writing about nothing to fill in the space. Maybe this is enough?

I couldn't disagree more with the previous poster. I thought this show was fantastic. It held my attention for the entire two hour premiere, and I felt there was film-quality direction and editing. I like the premise, and I enjoyed the (pseudo?)science. There were a couple of times it scared the heck out of me. I enjoyed most of the cast, and it's nice to see Brent Spiner back in the public eye. However, if they're not careful, on a weekly basis at least a couple of the characters - Spiner's and Peter Dinklage's character - could become annoying and one-note. The writers need to work on keeping those characters surprising and fresh. I will definitely continue to watch this show.

I just finished watching the last episode of this remarkable TV show on the Sci-Fi channel, which was canceled previously by CBS. It is one of the few shows this year of which I have endeavored to see every episode, and I did not know it had been previously canceled until tonight. I'm terribly sad and disappointed, but at least it ended on a hopeful note.

It must be incredibly difficult to gather such a load of talent in one place to produce something as tremendous as this was. If it were BBC, the show would still be on-air and just getting started, like Dr. Who at one time. It is just one of the minor tragedies of our capitalist system that some of the very best talent is wasted because it does not make the ratings to justify itself in a given period of time and through a given venue. The loss of this show is a golden example.

The entire cast was excellent and I wish them all well in having found new and rewarding work since. I just cannot get over what must have been an incredibly fun and creative collaboration having been shutdown for lack of market share. Surely an arrangement could have been made to pass it lock stock and barrel to another network that wanted to do something with it? But I probably could expect no more from the imaginations of the money men in corporate entertainment.

Anyway, I am too upset to say much more about the show itself, except that you should take every opportunity to see every episode from the beginning to its fateful end. By design or coincidence the final episode does hint at a positive outcome to the struggle with a huge challenge to human survival that the show conveys. An alien invasion through super-fast and mass genetic mutation from another dimension is one tricky challenge, indeed, In that regard, they probably could not have picked a better episode to close it down, at least of all the episodes that aired. Still, so much more remained to be explored to answer all of the questions raised by the show's unfolding.

Read other reviews for more details on the show's content. I can only reflect on my current sense of loss at what might have been. May it somehow come to be yet again.

I am a science fiction fan, I watched all X-Files, Star Treek, V, Galactica,etc.In my opinion it is one of more original series of 2005. It is a shame that it was canceled. CBS does it usually and it in annoying.Why the producers and the writer cannot find another channel interested in continuing the series? They must defend their idea against the economical interest.If it is a matter of few audience, I think they must wait a longer time more at least one more year: 13 episodes are few to impulse a new interesting idea. The actors are excellent.Specially Jeffrey Donovan in Vigilante, Brian van Holt as Cavennaugh, Charles S. Dutton as J.T. and Brent Spiner as Dr. Nigel Fenway.

For what I intend to do, this series merits a complete and total ten. I watched this series one hundred percent because Brent Spiner (Dr. Nigel Fenway) is in it. That's all. From a member of his faithful little army, IT'S WORTH IT. Good god, is that man stunning. You have to wonder what CBS was thinking when they decided to can this series without even bothering to tell us. When is Hollywood going to learn that thirtysomething women are really, really, really into older men? How many Lara Flynn Boyles and Callista Flockharts have to date how many Jack Nicholsons and Harrison Fords before these morons figure out that what younger women want is that touch of gray with gorgeous eyes and a perfect backside? I could seriously go on forever about it, and I might.

It doesn't hurt that the series is important and engaging. If you're in a mind to question recent "national security" efforts, the story here will definitely give you pause. Everything about the story will have you asking "What if that's really why they're doing this?" You'll spend a few days in a dream seeing aliens everywhere. It's really a great ride, and if you're into scifi at all, you'll love it.

But if you're one of my grrlz (and if you are, you know who you are) you owe it to yourself to catch the series. Spiner's absolutely mindblowing. Buy wine and chocolates first.