A Product of the late 1990's, I never got to see the Pretender until years later when it was on late night TV in Australia.A Drama concerning Jarod, a 'natural' Pretender who week to week would solve problems for others and in doing so pretend/masquerade his way into their lives by becoming a doctor, pilot.. whatever he wanted to be.Jarod had escaped from the Centre after about 25 years of captivity at the Center, a international corporation which was involved in many different facets of life. The fact that one didn't exactly know what the Center did, spoke wonders of where they could take it plot wise within the show.Jarod was being pursued of a team lead by Miss Parker, a somewhat cold and calculating member of the Center who had lost her mother to the center. Sydney had been Jarod's surrogate family after he had been stolen from his original family. Broots was a computer specialist who was always just one step behind Jarod.Later years saw more screen time dedicated to the Center activities introducing characters like Mr Lyle, Brigitte the Center Assassin, Mr Raines, Mr Parker and Mr Cox.All of these characters added to the menace of the Center which was purposely depicted as a somewhat sterile environment, with lots of dark spaces, hidden levels and bleak coloring. The building fitted the viewers view of the Center and what it now stood for.

This show started out as a mid-season replacement in '96 on NBC. However, The "Pretender" went on to prove its worth in the prime-time ratings-game, season after season.The "Pretender" could best be summed-up as part of a sub-genre of the Action-adventure category; the Chase-show. The Chase-show always revolves around one basic plot-line; the main character(s) are running from, and/or to someone, or something. These Chase-shows can be some of the worst on TV, or some of the best. The "Pretender" falls into the latter category, in my humble opinion.The main character in the series, Jared, was kidnapped as a child, and whisked away to a heinous organization called the "Centre". Jared happens to be a genius, and he's used by those at the "Centre", to create ingenious methods to destroy their enemies. As an innocent child, who'd been swiped from his family, Jared has no choice but to go along with those at the "Centre", who exploit his genius IQ.As an adult, and by then fully aware of the exploitation he'd been forced to endure by the "Centre" during his childhood, Jared escapes. He's pursued by his former mentor (and former father-figure) Sydney. Joining in the quest to capture Jared, are the rabidly-determined femme-fatale, Miss Parker, and her computer-whiz henchman, Broots. Jared manages to elude his would-be captors, by impersonating a different member of a profession in each episode. Throughout the series, Jared had posed as a doctor, lawyer, policeman, airline pilot, etc., etc., etc. One of the main reasons the show held my interest, was to see who Jared would impersonate in the next episode. Whenever Jared morphed into one professional or another, he got to help out others in trouble, while keeping one-step-ahead of his pursuers from the "Centre". Jared also kept trying to find out about, and get in contact with, his real family, during the course of the series. As someone who had been cruelly wrenched away from his family in childhood, he was a man determined to solve the puzzle of his past.Then, there was also the sub-plot running through this series. This involved how Sydney, Miss Parker, and Broots, were all just pawns of the "Centre" themselves. The real evil character in the show, and the one who had orchestrated Jared's childhood kidnapping, was Mr. Raines.As the series progressed, Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots, together tried to figure out just what the sinister "Centre" was up to, and how to stop it. This all made for an Adventure-show with much more depth, and character-development, than most of its ilk.Overall, I'd say the that, "Pretender" was the best of all the Adventure-series, which were on TV during the 90s.

Listen, I don't take much of my time to write about shows on T.v. because I have always been into just movies. However, I have been proved wrong on how I feel about T.v. shows. I have to admit that I got caught (in 2002), with this show since it was shown twice daily back then on TNT. I quickly became a loyal fan to what the creators were trying to convey... because this production is so much different than any other production I can relate to. I've got season four, and I can say that the creators have outdone themselves allowing the Center to twist all reality to a max.Can fully relate to how the Center perverts all aspects to suit it's own evil ends.Definitely, a must - watch . . . for the person who always thought they were different! People in bondage to the mundane. . .probably will not understand or be able to appreciate being brought to the reality that this production reveals.C'mon, good people, it's time for justice and innocence to redeem this world. . . let's see how it's done. . .

By far The Pretender is my favorite television show. Others have come close to it but not quite. One thing I love about this series is its originality. I have never seen a show quite like this one. Jarred is the focus on the show. He is a Pretender " A genius who can become anyone he wants to be" One day he might be a doctor, the next a lawyer. While he was a boy he was raised by a place called the Center and helped projects and went through simulations where he could feel exactly what the person felt and why they would do what they are doing. When he learned that his simulations were given to evil hands-as long as they payed the price-he escaped and began a journey of finding out who he really his and where his family is. While he searches for the truth he helps other people by becoming a doctor or a lawyer. People who were as defenseless as he once was. And while he is helping and searching he is being chased by the center which focuses around three people mainly-Miss. Parker who while searching for Jarred she keeps on digging up her own skeletons as well as the centers skeletons and finding out that she is more connected to Jarred then she realizes. Even though she plays ice queen so well you see different sides to her and realize that she is also human with a harsh path. A human people might even be able to relate to. Then there's Sydney who is Jarreds mentor/teacher. The one who raises Jarred. He cares for Jarred and is protective of him but at the same time he wants him back at the center so he is torn sometimes between his moral feelings and what is the center wants. Then last but not least there's Broots, the ordinary average Joe who gets sucked into the crazy plot after he helps not only track Jarred but dig up dirt from that center that helps Miss. Parker as well as Jarred and Sydney. Through these series there are heartbreaking stories and lines that you just burst out laughing. Each character gets a chance to grow and develop as you learn more about who they are. There are not only those three thats in the show but very important characters like Angelo the impath and Centers "gerbel" who has more depth and more of a story then one might think when first seeing him. Then there's Mr. Parker the weasel that can lie very convincingly, Mr. Raines-my favorite bad guy for both TV and movie. I love his voice and his oxygen tank just adds to the charm. Last but not least there's Mr. Lyles who is also a perfect bad guy- a person you love to hate, and then there is Bridget who sucks one to many lollypops :) overall I love the plot line and the characters development is awesome. I'm only sorry it had to leave so early. There hasn't been another show quite like that one and I don't think there ever well be.