Product Description

Jarod is a Pretender—a genius whose exceptionally high I.Q. allows him to master virtually any profession. Since escaping from the Centre, the secret research facility where he was brought up after being taken from his parents, Jarod has managed to stay one step ahead of his ex-captors, Miss Parker and Sydney. Although still reeling from the death of his brother, Jarod also continues to make sure that justice is done by helping innocent victims wronged by society. In the second season we are also introduced to the mysterious Mr. Lyle, played by James Denton of Desperate Housewives fame.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5223 in DVD
• Brand: WEISS,MICHAEL
• Released on: 2005-09-20
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Dubbed in: English, French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 4
• Dimensions: .55 pounds
• Running time: 1071 minutes

Amazon.com
According to his sleek nemesis Miss Parker (Andrea Parker), Jarod (Michael T. Weiss) is "a genius who can become anyone that he wants to be." As the second season begins, he's still on the run and her father, Mr. Parker (Harve Presnell, Fargo), is still missing. In his place, the Centre has installed the smooth Mr. Lyle (Jamie Denton, Desperate Housewives) and his associate Brigitte (Pamela Gidley, whose British accent will soon disappear). In the premiere episode ("Back From the Dead Again"), it will also be revealed that Mr. Raines (Richard Marcus, 24) survived last season's assassination attempt. A few episodes later ("Exposed"), Mr. Parker will return, but by then Miss Parker won't be so sure he's really her father. Then again, nothing on The Pretender is ever what it seems...

Throughout the 22-episode season, Jarod’s "pretends" will range from firefighter ("Over the Edge") to FBI Agent ("A Stand Up Guy")--even male escort ("Gigolo Jarod"). Along the way, he'll catch up on some of the childhood staples he missed, like Jell-O and Twinkies (both of which he'll use against the bad guys). Meanwhile, Sydney (Patrick Bauchau) will reunite with his twin brother, only to lose him again ("Indy Show," featuring a cameo from Mario Andretti). Other pivotal episodes include "Bulletproof," in which Sydney meets up with another figure from his past, "Crash," in which Mr. Lyle's true identity is revealed, and double-length season finale "Bloodlines" (featuring Haley Joel Osment as a potential pretender), in which Miss Parker finds out she has a brother. Alas, it's either the psychotic Mr. Lyle or Angelo (Paul Dillon), the Centre's idiot savant or, as she calls him, "Cousin It." The second season ends with a cliffhanger as a bomb goes off in the Centre--just as Jarod is trying to make his escape. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Excellent show... excellent season.
As Jarod started to feel more at ease in the world, "The Pretender" started to take more chances with the formula. Enter new baddies... primary among them Jamie Denton (Desperate Housewives) as Mr. Lyle. What he lacked in opposing thumbs, he made up for with sheer determination and deception. The enigmatic Mr. Raines had a greater presence here as well. They were soon followed by Harve Presnell as Mr. Parker, and Pamela Gidley as Brigitte.

As the second season went on, The Centre lost faith in Miss Parker's ability to bring Jarod back. She was hounded by Lyle and Brigitte. And was never really sure where her beloved Daddy stood. To make matters worse, she began running into her own health issues. And what did happen in that Centre elevator all those years ago?

The tapestry that was the central storyline for this great show, got woven a bit further. Though for every question that was answered (and there were very few), another series of questions would manifest themselves.

While Fox is still being stingy with the extras on the sets. It is nice to see that they are following up with the second season release. Season three is on the books for late February, hold your breath for season four.

Episode list
1. Back from the Dead Again
Jarod impersonates a college professor to investigate the disappearance of a medical student's brother.

2. Scott Free
Jarod impersonates a safe cracker to help an ex-con being blackmailed by a thief.

3. Over the Edge
Jarod impersonates a rescue worker in hopes of uncovering the truth behind the apparent attempted suicide of another team member.

4. Exposed
Jarod poses as a fashion photographer to track down the stalker of a model.

5. Nip & Tuck
Jarod impersonates a plastic surgeon so he can probe the tragic disfigurement of a teenage girl.

6. Past Sim
Lyle utilizes one of Jarod's simulations to help a Japanese mobster kidnap a murder witness.

7. Collateral Damage
Jarod helps a soldier who has been falsely assused of treason.

8. Hazards
Jarod helps a suicidal engineer who has been made the scapegoat for a hazardous chemical spill that killed three people.

9. FX
A stunt man is seriously injured during the filming of a television commercial.

10. Indy Show
Jarod impersonates a race car driver to solve a mystery.

11. Gigolo Jarod
While impersonating a gigolo, Jarod discovers a plot concocted by a real estate developer to drive residents of a poor urban area from their neighborhood.

12. Toy Surprise
Jarod attempts to help a teenage boy whose best friend was killed in an automobile accident.

13. A Stand Up Guy
Jarod infiltrates the mob to flush out a cop killer.

14. Unforgotten
Jarod develops amnesia after he is struck on the head.

15. Bulletproof
Jarod impersonates a SWAT team member to find the killer of a father.

16. Silence
Jarod assists a mute boy who witnessed a murder.

17. Crash
Jarod investigates an airliner crash.

18. Red Rock Jarod
Jarod is lured to Arizona by a mysterious message that turns out to be from Mr. Lyle.

19. Stolen
While solving a kidnapping, Jarod recalls his own memories of being abducted by the Centre.

20. Bank
Jarod and Miss Parker are held hostage in a bank robbery.

21. Bloodlines - Part 1
Jarod realizes the Centre intends to create another Pretender.

22. Bloodlines - Part 2
Jarod attempts to prevent the Centre from turning a young boy into a new Pretender.

Finally!
This was an incredible season of The Pretender. It was, in fact, the one that made me fall in love with the show. It has, in my opinion, the most consistantly good episodes in the series. Season Two also had a good balance between the Centre and Jarod's pretends, which is always a plus. The last few episode of the season are some of the best Pretender ever had.

Two seasons down, two seasons and two movies to go.