Ever wonder what would happen if Shonda Rhimes set a show in the FBI training academy? Well you don’t need to wonder any more. ABC has given us Quantico. While the mistress of twists and turns is not behind this show, that honor goes to Gossip Girls’ Joshua Safran, the hallmarks of her “TGIT” shows are all over this new drama on ABC.
The show begins with the largest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. Our star, Priyanka Chopra, is discovered at the scene. Through flashback, which is another device used commonly these days, we go back to the agent’s first day of training at the FBI Academy in Quantico. We rapidly meet other cadets proving that the FBI only seeks out attractive people.
Here is where it gets a little unbelievable… Everyone has a major secret. Instead of a slow-burn or introducing each surprise over a littany of episodes, we are dumped with a whole bunch of “Shonda-eque” bombshells over the course of 43 minutes. I don’t know if the FBI is just crummy at their background checks or if they are seeking out those harboring secrets. This rapid-fire character introduction and secret reveal requires the viewer to pay attention, as keeping track of everyone and what they are hiding is quite the task.
Over the years, I have been burned by shows that introduce a mystery in the pilot and we never get a satisfying conclusion. Let’s face it, most new shows get cancelled. Perhaps the producers of Quantico realize this and are trying to get all of their planned mysteries out of the way before the cancellation axe swings.
All of that being said, I will tune in again next week. I want to know who destoryed Grand Central Station, I want to know the details about all these bizarre secrets, and I want to know what the heck is going on with the FBI. They can’t find this many damaged people by accident, right?