First, we are introduced to Virgil (Mykelti Williamson, Lucky Number Slevin), who is the bodyguard of Leopold Cain (Will Denton), 15 year old son of Conrad "Connie" Cain (Timothy Hutton), revoltingly wealthy New York businessman, and Ellie Cain (Dana Delaney), socialite heiress and backbone of the Cain family.
On the way to school, a group of men stage an abduction attempt - Virgil kills several of the men, gets shot himself and Leo is taken. Thus begins the saga of his kidnapping. Lucien Knapp (Jeremy Sisto) is soon brought in with his assistant, Turner (Carmen Ejogo) because they are experts in finding people, albeit through very unorthodox means. We soon learn that Knapp is a former FBI agent who was plagued by that one case he couldn't solve, that one child he couldn't save. This is a recurring plot point throughout the series as he spars verbally with Larry Kellogg (Anthony Rapp, Adventures in Babysitting), the man imprisoned for the kidnapping of the child Knapp couldn't rescue.
Soon, retiring Special Agent Latimer King (Delroy Lindo) comes in to the picture. He puts off retirement when the Cain kidnapping pops up, not only because its so high profile, but because Virgil is his brother-in-law. Eventually, we learn that Connie Cain is not the genteel businessman people think he is. He's actually a bruiser from Sunnyside who married up and he's not afraid to knock a few heads to find out what has happened to his son. Of course, Ellie Cain is not all that blameless herself. But nor is anyone you will meet in this riveting series.
Let me just say this - I don't want to reveal anything more because the plot twists in this show are akin to a roller-coaster. There was at least one moment where my mouth was literally hanging open at the close of an episode. The acting is fantastic - Delroy Lindo is the consummate cop and plays his role like it was written for him. I have also gained a new appreciation for both Timothy Hutton and Dana Delaney. In the past, Hutton always just seemed like a softy to me. Well, he is one bad-assed mofo in this show. He just loves to punch people and he is great to watch. Delaney is also superb as she perfectly plays both the grieving mother and the matriarch holding her family and sanity together by a string. Jeremy Sisto? Well, man I love to watch him. He is so unassuming, yet powerful, and we just don't see enough of him in Hollywood for my liking. Check him out in Population 436 if you get the chance. Knapp is just amazing and makes watching the entire series worthwhile, as if you needed another reason. His aggressive means of obtaining information from people never cease to amuse. Blowtorch, anyone?
While it's lean on the special features, this series is perfect if you enjoy a good suspense and crime drama with endless twists and turns. Let me forewarn you, however: the featurette with cast and crew called Ransom Notes, while excellent and insightful, is stupidly located on Disc 2 after Episode 9. So I assumed there would be more special features on Disc 3 and I watched it - only to have the damn final plot twist revealed to me!!! Needless to say, this took much away from the ending for me and I really wish that it had been placed on the last disc rather than smack in the middle of the series.
Despite that, I highly recommend picking up this series. It is engaging, smart, witty and relentless in its pursuit to keep you guessing. Good stuff indeed.
