Customer Reviews

The Pretender - The Complete Second Season

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As Jarod started to feel more at ease in the world, "The Pretender" started to take more chances with the formula. Enter new baddies... primary among them Jamie Denton (Desperate Housewives) as Mr. Lyle. What he lacked in opposing thumbs, he made up for with sheer determination and deception. The enigmatic Mr. Raines had a greater presence here as well. They were soon followed by Harve Presnell as Mr. Parker, and Pamela Gidley as Brigitte.

As the second season went on, The Centre lost faith in Miss Parker's ability to bring Jarod back. She was hounded by Lyle and Brigitte. And was never really sure where her beloved Daddy stood. To make matters worse, she began running into her own health issues. And what did happen in that Centre elevator all those years ago?

The tapestry that was the central storyline for this great show, got woven a bit further. Though for every question that was answered (and there were very few), another series of questions would manifest themselves.

While Fox is still being stingy with the extras on the sets. It is nice to see that they are following up with the second season release. Season three is on the books for late February, hold your breath for season four.

1. Back from the Dead Again
Jarod impersonates a college professor to investigate the disappearance of a medical student's brother.

2. Scott Free
Jarod impersonates a safe cracker to help an ex-con being blackmailed by a thief.

3. Over the Edge
Jarod impersonates a rescue worker in hopes of uncovering the truth behind the apparent attempted suicide of another team member.

4. Exposed
Jarod poses as a fashion photographer to track down the stalker of a model.

5. Nip & Tuck
Jarod impersonates a plastic surgeon so he can probe the tragic disfigurement of a teenage girl.

6. Past Sim
Lyle utilizes one of Jarod's simulations to help a Japanese mobster kidnap a murder witness.

7. Collateral Damage
Jarod helps a soldier who has been falsely assused of treason.

8. Hazards
Jarod helps a suicidal engineer who has been made the scapegoat for a hazardous chemical spill that killed three people.

9. FX
A stunt man is seriously injured during the filming of a television commercial.

10. Indy Show
Jarod impersonates a race car driver to solve a mystery.

11. Gigolo Jarod
While impersonating a gigolo, Jarod discovers a plot concocted by a real estate developer to drive residents of a poor urban area from their neighborhood.

12. Toy Surprise
Jarod attempts to help a teenage boy whose best friend was killed in an automobile accident.

13. A Stand Up Guy
Jarod infiltrates the mob to flush out a cop killer.

14. Unforgotten
Jarod develops amnesia after he is struck on the head.

15. Bulletproof
Jarod impersonates a SWAT team member to find the killer of a father.

16. Silence
Jarod assists a mute boy who witnessed a murder.

17. Crash
Jarod investigates an airliner crash.

18. Red Rock Jarod
Jarod is lured to Arizona by a mysterious message that turns out to be from Mr. Lyle.

19. Stolen
While solving a kidnapping, Jarod recalls his own memories of being abducted by the Centre.

20. Bank
Jarod and Miss Parker are held hostage in a bank robbery.

21. Bloodlines - Part 1
Jarod realizes the Centre intends to create another Pretender.

22. Bloodlines - Part 2
Jarod attempts to prevent the Centre from turning a young boy into a new Pretender.

This was an incredible season of The Pretender. It was, in fact, the one that made me fall in love with the show. It has, in my opinion, the most consistantly good episodes in the series. Season Two also had a good balance between the Centre and Jarod's pretends, which is always a plus. The last few episode of the season are some of the best Pretender ever had.

Two seasons down, two seasons and two movies to go.

Season 2 of "The Pretender" holds onto the momentum established with Season 1 and builds on it. All of the drama continues. The tale of the Pretender, 'Jarod' who is a genius who could become anyone he wanted to be but didn't know who he was, still refreshingly original. Jarod's experiences are skillfully portrayed with sensitivity by the lead actor, Michael T. Weiss. Season 2 introduces the character, 'Mr. Lyle,' played with finesse by James Denton, of current Desperate Housewives fame. Jamie Denton, as he was called then, is so convincing as the nefarious 'Mr. Lyle' that he has been avoided by people in real life because of the role! The same actually goes for Andrea Parker who plays the very complicated character 'Miss Parker,' and has had similar reactions from people in real life. (What a tribute to these performers. How can you not watch?) But unlike 'Mr. Lyle,' 'Miss Parker' is not just a one-sided person. She isn't just pure evil. 'Jarod' is very good at showing us the other facets of her character as he challenges her in ways she would never expect from anyone. Andrea Parker owns the role of 'Miss Parker' and I hope she will get to play it again at least one more time in a final "Pretender" movie. Meanwhile, I will enjoy these DVDs, which by the way, also contain one of Andrea's favorite episodes, "Toy Surprise." No spoilers here, you'll have to watch to see why! This DVD set is very definitive Pretender, perfectly crafted drama, mystery and comedy, pure and clean, classic entertainment your whole family can enjoy. A+++++++++++++

This is hands down the best season of The Pretender. The mysteries keep coming, revelations are brought to light, and it ends with a hell of a cliffhanger.

Highly recommended.

This show kept a perfect balance of suspense and "feel good" feelings. Without a doubt, worth picking up. The per episode price is cheap and the show has tons rewatching value. A must buy.

Though the show takes a bit of a darker tone this season with the addition of Mr. Lyle (played by James Denton of "Desperate Housewives"), the mystery of Jared's and Miss Parker's pasts will keep you interested. The season finale "Bloodlines" is one of the best season finales I've ever seen and features an appearance by Hayley Joel Osment.
If all you've seen is the newer made-for-cable movies (the second of which was not very well done), you need to check out this season.

ONe of the best storyline tv shows ever made I beleive. Michale T. Weiss is a very talented actor. All of the actors are. It's a show about a boy named Jarod, they call him a Pretender because he can be whatever he wants to be. They saw this quality in him and took him from his parents as a child. It follows through Jarod's life as he escapes from the centre and tries to live a life pretending to be people in order to help those less fortunate, to try and give back what he helped destroy. He learned his 'simulations' were really sold to higher authorities and used to commit various crimes and injustices. So he goes around the world running from the Centre to help others leaving clues behind alos, while trying to find his real family and his mother. He keeps in touch with Sydney at the centre whom he looks to as a father figure, and they help each other in Jarod's search. Then comes Ms. Parker, whom Jarod actually grew up with, she's on the hunt to apease 'daddy' but in the midst of it all finds more lies than truths to throw her off Jarod's trail and onto the trail of her father and her mother's mysterious death Then you have Broots, the jelly-spined assistant that quivers under Parker's gaze and has a daughter of his own. Then you have Angelo, another pretender of the cemtre's an experiment that went wrong but he also grew up with Jarod and Ms. Parker, his love for cracker jacks and extremem knowledge of the centre's true bieng make him a very valuable character, there is one episode that involves Angelo that makes you want to cry...I did. No he doesn't die. And then there's Raines, the head cheeses of the whole puzzle. Each character is it's own piece in this puzzle that makes the Pretender and you follow each story each path and root for Jarod to finally find his mother. You meet other character's along the way, like Mr. Lyle, Bridgette, and Kyle, Jarod's real Brother. At times he gets so close to finding what he really seeks, but the closer he gets the more dangerous it becomes for all the character's involved as the dark secrets, and skeletons that make up the Centre start to truly reveal themselves. A truly remarkable show that never should have ended, and should have continued so the viewers could be put at ease. The show was cancelled after the premiere movie and never picked up...The movie ended like most the other shows and there was no clsure whateoever.

Definate MUST SEE! If you buy one, you'll soon find out you have to buy them all!!

This is a really great show. Even my children (6 & 2) like it. They like to see what Jared will do next.

EXCELLENT PRODUCT, GREAT USED.

It has been great watching the old TV series.