“Every morning, the President of the United States is given a report that outlines the most active international and domestic threats ... this document is called the ‘Threat Matrix’”. So begins each episode of this ABC TV series, which dramatizes the behind-the-scenes action at the security institutions in the world’s most powerful state. The show is reasonably well written, at least when compared with other such couch-potato fare; though it does, at times, verge on the cheesy, and occasionally suffers from an overdose of gung-ho patriotism, and predictability. The drama unequivocally plays off 9/11, portraying homeland security agents as heroes in their defense of the Stars and Stripes. There are striking similarities with Jack Bauer in FOX’s 24 (see Movie Reviews, P25), but Threat Matrix is less dynamic, suspenseful, and successful. A point underlined by the fact that the series only lasted two seasons (16 episodes). Yet the real menace, for viewers, comes from the TV industry’s endeavor to exploit terrorist attacks for entertainment purposes, trivializing extreme situations, and playing up xenophobic fears. No-brainer TV it may be, but a balanced view would be of greater public benefit.
ABC

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
July 2006 issue