For those of us on this side of the world, any reference of Quantico will be followed by an obvious question… How’s Priyanka? So I shall proceed to answer this and much more (sans spoilers) about the new espionage thriller that premiered on ABC on Sunday.
Our beloved PC finally makes her American Television Debut as an FBI Agent, Alex Parrish. The show traces the journey of FBI recruits undergoing training at Quantico, Virginia. The episode opens with a terrible 9/11 like terrorist attack with Alex lying unconscious somewhere in the middle of all the rubble with a hard to miss OM bracelet on her wrist. We soon realise that she, along with her other batch mates, are all possible suspects. The intrigue is built up with one flashback after another piling up.
How’s PC?
Exactly how we last saw her – sultry, svelte and mouthing dialogues in her husky tone. “I’m Alex Parrish,” she purrs and we squirm. Well her annoying American accent will definitely take some getting used to. She waves goodbye to her mom and says hello to the handsome hunk Ryan Booth (Jake McLaughlin) whom she befriends with an almost identical ‘seductress – like’ expression and this is just the beginning! Phew!
How’s the Show?
As far as the good-looking cast goes (Johanna Braddy, Tate Ellington, Graham Rogers, Josh Hopkins), it definitely reminds us of Grey’s Anatomy. The intrigue shares its soul with Homeland and the multiple flashbacks bring Lost to mind. The unique way it reveals the back stories of the various characters keeps the pace going and our interest alive.
Each one seems to be hiding a secret and there is more than what meets the eye. Shelby Wyatt (Brady) carries a metal scrap with her wherever she goes and Simon Asher (Ellington) wants us to believe that he is gay or so it seems. While Eric Packer (Brian J Smith) manages to shock everyone with his revelations, it’s Nimah Anwar (Yasmine Al Masri ) whose antics seem the most implausible especially since it’s the FBI we are talking about. There is also a ludicrous escape scene woven in but to its credit we remain hooked till the very end.
Verdict?
It’s clear that there are lots of secrets waiting to be unravelled and therefore a second date with Quantico seems a pretty good idea. Here’s hoping that Ms Chopra will keep her American accent in check (she must!) and the plotline would shed some of its superficiality and silliness.
I suggest we cut Quantico some slack and be patient with it. It seems to be headed in the right direction! For a first episode there are way too many twists and turns thrown in. So while our curiosity has been sufficiently piqued it’s up to Joshua Safran and his Shonda Rhimes inspired arsenal of ideas to keep the tempo going!
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