Line of Fire Season 1 Episode 1 “Pilot” is exactly the kind of procedural TV that I have been waiting for. And it’s not just because I’m finally seeing the return of Peter Krause, whom I have desperately missed since his departure from 9-1-1. Line of Fire works because it’s grounded in family, all of its characters are distinct yet not stereotypical, and the mystery isn’t force-fed to us. Instead, Line of Fire trusts its audience to piece everything together.
On the family aspect of it all, Krause’s new character Mike Hollingsworth is unlike his previous role as Bobby Nash. And that’s a good thing. Mike is discerning, methodical, and seems to be entirely hungry for his job, even if he has to push the buttons of his family to get what he needs. Admittedly, it might take me a little time not to see Bobby Nash when I look at Krause. But this is the nature of the game when it comes to TV. And Krause is obviously invested in this new journey. So I’m going to invest too, because I see the potential. And per usual, his acting has instantly locked me in place.
When it comes to the matriarch of the family, Hope Davis’ Jane is Mike’s perfect match. Sure, they’re not together, and maybe it’s messy that they’re sleeping together. But they share the same view of this world, leading to the kids having an insurmountable amount of pressure put on their shoulders. Yet, she isn’t a stereotype. She isn’t the rude mom, the shrewd boss, or the bitter ex-wife. She’s a woman with layers who wants the best for her children, can work with her children even if she’s hard on them, and is kind of moving on even though she’s still sleeping with her ex-husband.
Then there’s the Hollingsworth children. You have Tommy O’Brien’s Micah. He’s the one that I’m most concerned with because love will make you do stupid things. And there’s nothing more dangerous than the relationship he’s having with the president’s daughter. But the show needs a ship. Then there’s Russ, the youngest Hollingsworth, played by Taylor Bloom. He’s got the most to prove, and I feel like the most potential to grow. But within that space, he’s not a stereotype of the youngest sibling and is just as discerning and methodical as the rest of these family members.
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After that comes my favorite Hollingsworth. Because I might love Krause, but there’s something about Kat Cunning’s Clare that has me locked in. Clare is walking a delicate line between the life that she grew up with and the life that she wants, especially with her boyfriend. And because of that, I think she’s the easiest one for civilian viewers like myself to connect with. Also, I think I fell in love with her when she walked into her mother’s fancy gig looking a mess, covered in mud, and with all her equipment because there was a development in the case. That’s a woman with conviction, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
What makes the Hollingsworth family in Line of Fire even better is that they feel like family. There’s a natural ease to the way that they talk to each other, argue with each other, or even comfort each other. And it’s rare to get that with a cast, this feeling that they have been on screen together for years. But you see it with the cast of Line of Fire. If you need proof, go back to that scene with the Hollingsworth children talking on the phone while Micah checks the apartment for cameras, or when they were drinking on the swings. There’s an ease there that feels like family.
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This ease between the cast of Line of Fire makes it so other scenes within the pilot feel like a dance. When all of them come together to have dinner, they all have their own purpose and goal to reach by the end of the night. And it’s wondrous directing and timing that it felt like all of these characters were delicately woven together, a push and pull in every scene that left me feeling like I was watching a stage production. And if this is what I’m getting from the pilot, I can’t even imagine how much better it’s going to get down the line.
Now I know some people might not like the plot twist with Jack being the other son that they thought was dead, but also the parents kind of knew he wasn’t. But I loved it. I felt like Joaquin Phoenix from Signs when he’s watching TV and the alien appears, him reeling back in shock. I was shocked that the boyfriend was in the house, that he was an agent, and that Jack was in that photo of the Hollingsworths. And I was further shocked when Jack killed said boyfriend. Or we assume he killed him.
Altogether, Line of Fire established in one episode a whole cast of characters that I want to watch and get to know better, alongside a mystery that feels intriguing yet not too complicated that I have to read an ending explained after. A lot of shows can’t achieve this baseline for a show in a full season. And Line of Fire did that in the pilot. That’s a success worth celebrating and watching more of.
Line of Fire airs new episodes on Mondays at 10/9c on NBC, with episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.
