The Fugitive was a television show and then a movie, led by Harrison Ford. Now, it’s a TV show again thanks to the short-form streaming app Quibi. Starring Kiefer Sutherland and Boyd Holbrook, it’s a modern-day telling of a man on the run after being falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit. It’s full of action, greedy journalists, and a determined cop who needs to prevent a terrorist attack from happening in Los Angeles. Again. Before I go any further in this review, note that I was given access to the first four episodes of the show. My opinion on The Fugitive come from episodes one through four and I’ll come out with another review once the entire season has been released.
The Plot of The Fugitive
Holbrook plays the aforementioned man on the run, Mike Ferro. Now, Ferro’s already got a bit of a rep, since he had been involved in a major crime three years prior. But, he’s got a wife, a kid, and a parole officer who he is friends with. He’s trying to piece his life together. It’s not so easy, though; for those who have been to prison to do so. Mike finds this out quickly within the first episode. It’s this event that puts him in the LA subway. Which, is where a bomb goes off. And thus, he’s unfortunately at the wrong place at the wrong time because a story-chasing journalist puts together, without any evidence; a story that it must have been Ferro who is responsible. His spotty past and reputation within law enforcement make him a prime target. From there, the chase is on.
Ferro’s crime was bad, but a bit run of the mill. It’s who the victim was that law enforcement and the public know him. So, it takes no convincing at all for Sutherland’s Detective Clay Bryce to also jump to the conclusion that Ferro is the bomber. Now, I know that the movie Richard Jewell received negative feedback from the public eye because it portrayed journalists as irresponsible story-chasers. And the feds for simply wanting to throw a dart at the board and accuse whoever.
It would be easy to brush this show off for perhaps perpetuating that narrative. But, it does happen. We see it happen and it would be irresponsible in a way to not show it – hold those who do not care to get the proper evidence before accusing someone accountable. And, in modern-day; it’s incredibly easy to spread lies and false information like wildfire. Quibi’s The Fugitive definitely uses social media as the catalyst for developing hysteria. Which, is exactly how information and panic would spread in 2020. We’ve seen it before.
What It Could Improve On
There are some unrealistic aspects to a few scenes in the four episodes I’ve watched. A few ‘suspended belief’ parts. But, I think that a lot needs to happen within the first episode or two before the story truly gets up and running. The Fugitive comes from Nick Santora, who among all his other great pieces of work; created Quibi’s Most Dangerous Game. Like this series, The Fugitive has some parts in the beginning that come off somewhat unbelievable, even though it’s being presented in a completely serious manner. Once you get past this, the show really picks up and I’m a tad bummed that my viewing privileges were cut off right after episode four. I’m looking forward to the rest of the episodes because it seems that this show really has a lot to unravel. And I’m looking forward to the technological spin given in this iteration.
Rating: 3.7/5
Lastly, Holbrook plays the part of Mike Ferro well. He’s believable as just a regular guy who had a series of bad luck. But, he is trying to make up for the past. Only, the past doesn’t let him forget – something I’m sure anyone who is trying to better themselves can relate to. As a fan of his, it just makes me happy to see Holbrook leading a show again. Also, Sutherland is a great character as well. There’s definitely a lot of layers to him that the actor knows how to play flawlessly. It’s going to be a race between these two. I look forward to seeing who comes out as the victor.
The Fugitive premieres on August 3rd and releases new episodes daily.
For an exclusive interview with Boyd Holbrook, check it out here:
Make sure to check out our podcasts each week including Geek Vibes Live, Top 10 with Tia, Wrestling Geeks Alliance and more!
A girl with too many fandoms to count.
