Based on this season finale, the future of this series seems good. Since I am in the double-edged situation of not living in North America (nor using illegal channels to get episodes) I do not know how good a start season 2 got. However, due to just plain coincidence in broadcasting scheduling here, I am in the subjective place in time where I can, by briefly digressing from reviewing this episode, put the first seasons of all my favorite action/espionage shows in a Triple Threat Free-for-All and declare one of them a winner.
Burn Notice (2007 - ): closer to Human Target than the third competitor, and also, based on season 1 ending cliffhanger, a show the runners of which have a bigger picture in mind, possibly thought all the way to the very end. Burn Notice excels in where most other shows, or even movies falter: the use of a narrative inner voice by the main character. Whereas Human Target season 1 beats Burn Notice season 1 in the action intensity stakes, Burn Notice crafts more inventive sequences and its up to the viewer's preferences which kind they prefer. Also, Gabrielle Anwar reveals herself to be one of the most unlikely actresses to do action. On the humor front the two shows are more evenly matched.
Chuck (*also* 2007 - ): hands down the winner on the humor front, but then again, Chuck (the show, not the character) has its tongue firmly in its cheek, gleefully making fun of the Cold War era - and even newer - spy series and movies. The action sequences are usually pretty cool, and let's face it - since the target group of all three shows is mostly (but not wholly) male viewers, who would they like to see kick ass: Jeffrey Donovan, Mark Valley or Yvonne Strahovski? Thought so. Chuck may not have a Big Plan, but unless the viewer is totally without a sense of humor, it emerges as the most entertaining show of the three.
But entertainment is only part of the whole package. If one wants to be *just* entertained, one can watch a whole bunch of shows which will entertain at the time, but they will not become parts of TV history. Human Target already has one TV incarnation for which I have no experience, so I can only judge this new version on it's own merits. And they are plenty. This underrated (8.2 at the time of writing) season ender not only delivers but also lays great groundwork for season 2. The pre-credits sequence is fantastic, and when the guest star credits appear on screen, one has to raise the hat for the showrunners: *three* Names, one of whom is an Icon, one a true Professional and one among the top graduates from The School of Whedon. And the return of the intimidating Lennie James.
What makes this episode so great is that I was betting on the roles played by the two male guests the opposite that they turned out, based on the other character having been called "The Old Man" throughout season 1. Also, the casting of the third Name could not be more perfect - a couple of actresses could possibly be equally qualified for the role, but not better. The triumph here is that we already know the character's fate (Frak if they Retcon it later!) and the flashbacks put us in the emotionally heart-rending situation where we can only watch the inevitable happen. Mark Valley seizes the opportunity to deepen his character in this semi-origin story, but - and this is a good "but" - in the end we are left with so many unanswered burning questions that this show comes second only to Lost on that front. So, despite an embarrassingly cheap CGI explosion (how I yearn for the days when explosions where done with practical effects), this episode delivers enough action, mystery, humor and most importantly heart to earn it a 9/10. Embrace the Other Way, Christopher Chance! Oh, and the winner of Season 1 vs. Season 1 vs. Season 1 is Human Target.
