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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this satisfying crime drama has some pretty intense fight scenes. Chance, the main character, is an expert in martial arts and weapons who protects people whose lives are in danger. When the assailants finally reveal themselves, Chance is there to save the day -- which sometimes results in explosions, gunfights, and more. Much of the rest of the show's content (including language and sex) is on the milder side, but while there's little blood or gore, the combat sequences are a bit heavier-duty than the average TV brawl.
Community Reviews
OK for tweens
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Possibly o.k. for 8 and up depending on sensitivity.
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What's the Story?
Christopher Chance (Mark Valley) looks like any average guy, just another face in the crowd -- which is a key asset in his unusual profession. He calls himself a security expert, and he typically gets called in as a specialized bodyguard to protect people whose lives are in danger. Chance inserts himself into his clients' lives, blending into the background. But when the assailants reveal themselves, he emerges to shield the potential victims by making himself a HUMAN TARGET.
Is It Any Good?
Chance exudes calm -- he's always in control and always aware of his surroundings, which makes him seem both a consummate professional and a man of mystery. Who is he? Where did he become a martial arts expert and fluent in Japanese? Valley makes this enigmatic character appealing as he slowly reveals tiny crumbs about his background. He's matched by Chi McBride as Chance's business partner; Jackie Earle Haley as Guerrero, a freelance hacker with a dark side who revels in digging up secrets that can be used as currency in tense negotiations and Ames, a talented thief whose victims are often distracted by her looks.
While the show's acting and characters are good, the plots can be formulaic. Each episode finds Chance and the team in a new situation, matched against a new villain. The first half of the program shows the group tracking down the bad guys, while the second half is generally filled with a fight scene or three and maybe some explosions. The combat sequences can go quite long and are technically impressive, but they're also a shade more intense than the average TV brawl. While the main dilemmas are wrapped up every week, fans might be more intrigued by the small clues about Chance's origins that pepper each chapter.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the show's fight scenes compare to those on other series. What's the impact of seeing intense fights on TV?
Who is this Chance? Where did he pick up his impressive fighting skills, and why does he pursue this kind of work? The show reveals little about his background; how do you think viewers will respond to that?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 15, 2010
- Cast: Chi McBride, Mark Valley
- Network: Fox
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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White Collar
Fun odd-couple crime drama is tamer than you'd expect.
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The Mentalist
Mature crime drama with unique premise and lots of violence.
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Lie to Me
Crime drama focuses on the details of deception.
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