Audience Member
Based on the terrific novel by Robert Littell, and brought to television by the same team that gave us 24 and Homeland, two summers ago, TNT treated us to the show, Legends. The show featured spectacular action, edge of your seat drama, and some of the best writing on television, but it was gone after just twenty episodes. Some viewers had a problem with the casting of Sean Bean, as the lead character, but the real issue was with a network that just couldn't leave well enough alone.
Martin Odum (Sean Bean) is a man who is told that he doesn't exist. Odum the best CIA undercover agent in the game is approached on the street one day, told that there has been an accident, and ever since that day, he has bought his own cover or legend and now believes he is this man Martin Odum, but who is he really? It's a slippery slope for Odum, as he tries to continue doing his job, while at the same time trying to figure out who he is and why he's posing as a CIA agent.
With this series, TNT wasn't only getting a show that was created by arguably one of America's best espionage writers, but they also got the team that single-handedly changed the face of television drama, with nine seasons of the innovative show, 24, and the continuing drama of Homeland. These people know what they're doing, but even after a successful first season, the network wanted more, and decided to drop the current storyline and replace almost the entire cast for season two. Fans were expecting to continue where they left off and instead, were trust into the middle of what amounted to a brand new show. A brand new show that was hardly advertised and was cancelled immediately after the end of season 2.
Sean Bean stars and while he fits the character of Odum, as a forty-something British guy, fans of Bean know that he always plays the bad guy, most notable in the film, National Treasure. Seeing Bean as one of the good guys does take an adjustment, but a lot of time he's undercover as one of the bad guys, so it's really not as strange as his fans make it out to be.
...and what was the purpose for replacing the original cast? It's not as if they were all inexperienced newcomers. Ali Larter is beautiful and a network veteran of shows like Heroes, Steve Harris has seemingly been in everything, and Morris Chesnutt was a revelation on the re-launch of the show V a few years back.
Legends had all the makings of a terrific show, with outstanding writers, directors, producers, and an experienced cast, but the network it was on wanted huge ratings from the show and when they didn't happen immediately, TNT threw in the towel. I enjoyed the undercover angles, the humor, the action, and of course the drama, of Legends, and Sean Bean in particular gives some of the best performances of his career, but it was all for not as the plug was pulled before things even got started. If you want to know the real truth behind Martin Odum, you're just going to have to suck it up and read the book.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/09/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Very entertaining, excellent cast. Looking forward to season 2
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/09/23
Full Review
Audience Member
I can't believe all the 'professional' criticism about this show. It wasn't perfect by any means but it is sure better than most of the nonsensical fluff on TV these days. Plus the cast was stellar. And so what if there was profuse use of flashbacks. If it serves to propel the story forward, then I'm all for it. S1 was a diamond in the rough. I am glad they stayed on to do a second season because now the diamond is quite shining and polished.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/09/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Sean Bean makes this show! He's stellar! Good acting... writing is sub-par... but the acting makes the show worth watching!
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/09/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Great series but such a trashy season 1 finale
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/09/23
Full Review
Audience Member
I love the show and the new season is quite different from the first in a great and new way. Sean Bean is amazing and I have few complaints with the show.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/09/23
Full Review
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Episode 1
Aired Aug 13, 2014
Pilot
Agent Martin Odum returns to the FBI after an assignment infiltrating a domestic terrorist organization; Martin tries to connect with his estranged wife and son; a mysterious stranger confronts Martin with information.
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Episode 2
Aired Aug 20, 2014
Chemistry
A high school chemistry teacher and his family are kidnapped; Martin, Crystal and Troy Buchannan go under cover to infiltrate the Chechen mob.
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Episode 3
Aired Aug 27, 2014
Lords of War
Martin assumes the legend of an international arms dealer; Martin makes contact with a beautiful arms dealer who is the right hand of a Chechen mobster.
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Episode 4
Aired Sep 3, 2014
Betrayal
The Colonel and Ana Paulanos are captured by DCO; the Colonel's followers release VX on a crowded bus; Martin stages a prison break, forcing the Colonel to lead him to the VX.
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Episode 5
Aired Sep 10, 2014
Rogue
Martin is put on leave; Martin begins looking into his own past; Martin assumes the legend of a Southern outlaw in order to infiltrate a smuggling operation.
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Episode 6
Aired Sep 17, 2014
Gauntlet
Martin takes Kyle Dobson into custody in the aftermath of a shootout; Martin must take his prisoner on the run when Dobson's employers send a team of professional hitmen.
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Episode 7
Aired Sep 24, 2014
Quicksand
Martin returns to DCO and is presented with a new case; Martin investigates when someone threatens to assassinate a Saudi prince during a visit to Los Angeles.
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Episode 8
Aired Oct 1, 2014
Iconoclast
Martin stays in legend as a journalist to exonerate Hani Jabril and find the real assassins of Prince Abdullah; Martin ends up in a dangerous stand off.
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Episode 9
Aired Oct 8, 2014
Wilderness of Mirrors
Martin escapes from the Saudi's interrogation and learns that Sonya and Aiden have been kidnapped; Martin learns more about the connection between Verax, Arcadia and his past.
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Episode 10
Aired Oct 8, 2014
Identity
Martin finds out that Verax may be plotting an assassination; Martin makes a shocking discovery about his own identity.
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