Whiskey Cavalier, ABC’s new high gloss action series, is easily one of the most predictable shows I’ve ever seen.
The story follows FBI agent Will “Whiskey” Chase (Scott Foley) — an overly emotional and romantic top agent who is riddled with depression after famously being stood up by his fiancee. His boss (Dylan Walsh) sends him to Russia to bring a rogue government employee (Tyler James Williams of The Walking Dead and Everybody Hates Chris fame), who hacked secret files, in for trial. What Whiskey doesn’t realize is that the CIA, in particular cold-as-ice, doesn’t trust a damn soul top agent Francesca “Frankie” Trowbridge (Lauren Cohan) is also after this rogue employee.
The pilot episode, which premieres tonight after The Oscars, has all the hallmarks of a spy game thriller, and a will they/won’t they rom com. The double and triple crosses coming a mile away. You can tell the jokes and punchlines before the characters do. It’s all very safe, and extremely predictable.
There are some truly bad moments in the premiere, however. When not in action sequences, Foley and Cohan have to work with some pretty terrible dialogue, and eye-rolling situations. The will they/won’t they scenarios, and Whiskey’s hyper romantic tendencies are unbearably cringe-worthy.
The strong suit of the episode is the action. The execution of the action sequences are Bourne-level good. The cinematography and editing heighten every punch, kick, and shoot out. Cohan and Foley really own their roles as extremely physical, and intelligent action stars. It’s not just punch-kick, shoot-a-gun action — there’s a thought process, an actual game plan in every actions sequence. The show’s ability to execute this game plan at a high level really elevates the series from just another action series — to probably one of the better ones on television right now.
And while there was a lot of cringy moments, Cohan and Foley have a nice chemistry — one the series can definitely build on. These two really muscle their way through some truly cringeworthy moments, and you have to commend them for not being hamstrung by the script. The supporting cast, who we get brief moments with is solid, but it’s Cohan’s Walking Dead co-star Tyler James Williams who provides well-needed, and well-placed comic relief.
Whiskey Cavalier, based on the premiere, has the potential to be a decent series filled with strong action, and solid performances, but right now it’s hamstrung by cliches, predictability, and bad writing.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Whiskey Cavalier premieres on Sunday night post-Oscars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhYQU5eWdCo
