Prime Target
Despite being someone who far prefers writing over math (maths for you nasty bois and grrls across the pond), even this reviewer has to admit that film and television have made the act of working equations far more visually compelling than crafting a killer persuasive essay. Something about those big whiteboards, furious scribbling, and the arcane look of empty set calculations sells drama far better. CBS’s show Numb3rs was a hit in the naughty aughties for a reason. So, despite an aversion to calculus, the Steve Thompson-created Prime Target seemed promising. Edward Brooks (Leo Woodall) is a math post-grad certain that prime numbers are the secret key to, well, everything. Maybe? His advisor, Professor Mallinder (David Morrissey), seemed to have similar thoughts once but refuses to engage. Instead, he urges Brooks to abandon that academic pursuit for something, anything, else. Others seem far more enthusiastic about Brooks’ pursuit. They include wealthy think tank entrepreneur (Jason Flemyng) and Professor James Alderman (Stephen Rea). Meanwhile, a tragic accident in Iraq reveals preserved ruins. They reignite the intellectual pursuits of Mallinder’s wife, Professor Andrea Lavin (Sidse Babett Knudsen). As it becomes clear Brooks’ and Lavin’s interests intersect, bodies start dropping, pulling the CIA into the situation, including surveillance agent Taylah Sanders (Quintessa Swindell) and her mentor/boss (Martha Plimpton). It’s all pretty standard conspiracy thriller fare, complete with a sympathetic love interest who is still a stranger, bartender Adam (Fra Fee), and a shadowy Bogdan (Sergej Onopko) who could be friend or foe. There’s globetrotting, double-crosses, paranoia—justified and otherwise—and lots and lots of running. Sadly, not much of it gets the heart racing. Continue Reading →