Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Disappointing action spin-off is violent, has cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Where to Watch
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Treadstone
What's the Story?
TREADSTONE is a action thriller based on the Jason Bourne film series. When John Randolph Bentley (Jeremy Irvine) is programmed by KGB agents like Petra (Emilia Schüle) to assassinate on command in the 1970s, he embodies a covert operation known as "Operation Treadstone." Now, five decades later, dormant operatives (or "cicadas") are being woken up around the world and being called upon to do their jobs. From an oil rig worker in Alaska (Brian J. Smith) to a North Korean piano teacher (Hyo-Joo Han), the cicadas find themselves having skills they didn't know they had, speaking languages they had no idea they knew, and strangely committed to eliminating their targets. Meanwhile, the CIA gets wind of the program, and folks like journalist Tara Coleman (Tracy Ifeachor) are inevitably thrust into a lair of spies.
Is It Any Good?
This overly-packed spin-off, based on Robert Ludlum's popular spy novels, offers viewers a chance to explore the beginnings (and current operations) of Jason Bourne's fictional world. The characters, especially CIA deputy director Ellen Becker (Michelle Forbes) have great potential, but the bad writing keeps any of them from having any substance in predictable, orchestrated scenes. This, combined with flashbacks, creates a story so confusing that even the most die-hard Bourne fans will find it difficult to follow. Some folks may find it entertaining, but Treadstone lacks the depth and suspense that the franchise is known for, which is pretty disappointing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it takes to adapt a story from an established movie series for television. How do they change stories in order to make it work?
What kind of questions is Treadstone meant to answer about Jason Bourne? Does it successfully do this?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 15, 2019
- Cast : Hyo-joo Han , Jeremy Irvine , Tracy Ifeachor
- Network : USA
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Adventures , History ( War: Other ) , Sports ( Martial arts ) , Travel
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 5, 2025
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