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Kiefer Sutherland has been on a multitude of shows since saying goodbye to Jack Bauer (twice). He had a couple seasons on Touch on FOX, a few on Designated Survivor on ABC and Netflix, and a stint on the third Fugitive remake on Quibi. It feels like the Emmy winner just can’t find a steady job. Rabbit Hole, currently slated for eight episodes, may or may not be the answer. Either way, the show allows Sutherland to slip back into the thriller genre while displaying his range.
Sutherland’s onscreen persona has evolved over the years. He’s played bad boys, a counterterrorism agent, and the everyman. John Weir is something different. He’s a slimy Wall Street insider with a penchant for social engineering. He finds his own justifications for pulling the market’s strings. A large part appears to be his personal satisfaction. Putting a character like this in a conspiracy is interesting. He’s not an Average Joe or a government spy. He’s an opportunist. This makes the morality of his actions in these situations dubious.
The writers clearly love throwing the audience for a loop. In addition to framing Weir for murder, they give out little hints about his past. Two episodes in, and they don’t make much sense. The writers disagree that the best plot twists surprise both the viewer and the character(s) they’re following. But there was one twist at the end of the second episode that caught me completely off guard, where a certain actor appears.
If Rabbit Hole’s strength is its twisty plot, its weakness is its dialogue. Besides the writers’ inability to craft the show’s ample profanity in any clever way, their references to pop culture and Internet slang are embarrassing. Many of these exchanges are between Weir and Hailey Winton (Meta Golding, Empire), a one-night stand seemingly involved in the conspiracy. One of 24’s strengths was it took itself seriously; aside from brief moments of levity, it was an unrelenting rollercoaster ride. Rabbit Hole fairs better poking fun at situations’ absurdity.
Rabbit Hole’s desire to be cinematic is obvious, from the show’s dark lighting and cold color grade to its wider framing. Sutherland says the series takes inspiration from classic films like The Manchurian Candidate and Three Days of the Condor. If thrillers were as popular at the box office as they used to be, Rabbit Hole might have been a movie. It’s too early to tell if the story would have been better that way.
Paramount+ is still looking for that must-watch show that makes its streaming service indispensable. Having Top Gun: Maverick only gets them so far. While Rabbit Hole is not that show, I do recommend checking it out if you have Paramount+.
