Quantico - Run (Pilot) - Advance Preview: "One of the best new fall shows"

Premiering Sunday September 27 is one of the fall's most anticipated new series, Quantico. The series, created by Joshua Safran, follows a diverse group of FBI recruits who start training at the FBI Base in Quantico. In flashforwards, it is revealed that one of the trainees is responsible for the biggest terrorist attack in the U.S. since 9/11. I was fortunate enough to watch the pilot and I can definitely recommend this show! I'll explain why in this preview.

The show flashes back and forth between the recruits training at Quantico and the aftermath of the terrorist attack, with a nine-month gap between the two timelines. The flashbacks begin with the arrival of the recruits at the training base. One of them is Alex Parrish (Priyanka Chopra), who on the plane meets fellow recruit Ryan Booth (Jake McLaughlin). The two later have sex in Ryan's car and part ways before surprisingly meeting one another again at the training base. At Quantico, Alex, Ryan and the other trainees are welcomed by FBI Special Agent Liam O'Connor (Josh Hopkins) and Assistant Director of the Training Division Miranda Shaw (Aunjanue Ellis). Miranda and Liam used to be partners, but Miranda is now his subordinate and the highest-ranking woman in the FBI in general. There is clearly a lot of history between the two and both of them hide secrets regarding the trainees.

About these trainees, there is a bunch of them that we meet in the pilot. There is Shelby Wyatt (Johanna Braddy), who is described as a southern belle and knows how to shoot well. You also have Nimah Anwar (Yasmine Al Massri), the only recruit to wear a hijab who later proves to be quite a tough girl. Another trainee is gay hipster Simon Asher (Tate Ellington), who is also a conservative Jew. The final recruits the pilot focuses on are Eric Packer (Brian J. Smith), a Mormon who has been an LDS missionary, and golden boy Caleb Haas (Graham Rogers). There is one last character who is part of the regular cast: Nathalie Vazquez (Anabelle Acosta). Acosta, who was initially cast in a recurring role but was recently promoted to series regular, is not part of the pilot and we will meet her and her character in episode 2.

Upon arrival at Quantico, the trainees are given temporary credentials and gender-neutral uniforms. They also receive their first task: they need to choose a file from one of their fellow recruits and find out which piece of information has been redacted from that file. Not finding the missing information in the next 24 hours will lead to the recruit being kicked out of the academy. This assignment unravels quite a few secrets about every character. These will not just be minor details about their lives, but they are secrets that will have a big impact on the show going forward. It will actually change the way you look at certain characters and it will make you question who they really are and why they're at Quantico.

The pilot is an excellent start to the series and if the cast and crew can keep up with the quality of the first episode, Quantico should become a thrilling new series. This episode has various twists you won't see coming, which make for a few shocking moments. The use of flashforwards adds an extra level of intrigue to the story. You know from these flashforwards that some things are going to happen at the academy, but you don't know what they are and when they take place. In fact, there are a lot of questions I have after watching the pilot, one of them being: who is responsible for the terrorist attack in the flashforwards? The pilot left me guessing as to who it could possibly be. The episode did a great job of developing its characters and I am looking forward to learning more about each of them. Another compliment goes to the cast. Priyanka Chopra is terrific in the lead role of Alex Parrish. We see different sides of Alex throughout the hour and Chopra nails all of them. Also of note is Aunjanue Ellis' performance, whose character Miranda is a tough woman who has clearly fought hard to get at her high position. The role of Liam O'Connor was initially played by Dougray Scott, but he was later replaced by Josh Hopkins. Having seen both versions of the character, I believe that Hopkins is better suited for the role.

Conclusion: Quantico is a gripping and intriguing thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The pilot features shocking twists, intriguing mysteries, complex characters and suspenseful events. It is well-written and well-acted. The show is off to a brilliant start and it has every potential to become a hit. This will be one of the best new fall shows (and I have seen other pilots as well),
Grade: 9/10

Watch a promo for the show below, and tell me in the comments if you'll be watching. You can find all promos for the show here. Quantico premieres Sunday September 27 at 10/9c on ABC.

About the Author - Daniel van der Veer

Daniel van der Veer is a Dutch university student studying Psychology. On SpoilerTV he is a reviewer of NCIS, The 100, Madam Secretary and Quantico. He also enjoys LOST, Arrow, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, Nikita, The Blacklist, Scorpion and How To Get Away With Murder.

Recent Reviews by Daniel van der Veer (All Reviews)