Blog #60 Threshold TV Series

Threshold

Genre Science fiction, Drama

Created by Bragi F. Schut

Starring:

Image 2 Carla Gugino in fun movie about alien children trying to find a way to help there planet, after they escape the GOVERNMENT!

Carla Gugino played Dr. Molly Ann Caffrey. Ms. Gugina aslo started in Watchmen 2009, Race to Witch Mountain 2009, Spy Kids I 2001, II 2002, and III 2003.

Brian Van Holt played Sean Cavennaugh.

Brent Spiner played Dr. Nigel Fenway. Mr. Spiner also played in Star Trek: The Next Generation 1987-1994 and many other Star Trek movies and series, and Independence Day 1996.

Image 3 Peter Dinklage in a Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Rob Benedict played Lucas Pegg.

Peter Dinklage played Arthur Ramsey. Mr. Dinklage also played in X-Men: Days of Future Past 2014, Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 2023, The Toxic Avenger 2023, Avengers: Infinity War 2018, X-Men: Days of Future Past 2014.

Charles S. Dutton played J.T. Baylock. Mr. Dutton also played in Android Cop 2014, Mimic 1997, and Night Visitors 1996.

Composer Pieter A. Shlosser

Country of origin United States, United Kingdom

Original language English

No. of seasons 1

No. of episodes 13 (4 unaired in the United States)

Executive producers:

Brannon Braga also known for Star Trek: The Next Generation 1993-1994, Star Trek Generations 1994, Star Trek First Contact 1996, Star Trek Enterprise 2001-2005, Star Trek Voyager 1995-2001, Orville 2017-1022, Terra Nova 2011,

David S. Goyer, also known for The Tomorrow War 2021, Apple TV+ Foundation 2021, The Puppet Masters 1994, A.X.L. 2018.

David Heyman also known for Gravity 2013

Producers:

Andre Bormanis also was science consultant for Star Trek: Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Star Trek Voyager, and Star Trek Enterprise. In addition the Oriville series.

Karen Moore

David Livingston

Running time 42 minutes

Production companies: Braga Productions, Heyday Films, Phantom Four Films, Paramount Network Television

Original release

Network: CBS (2005), Sky 1 (2006)

Release September 16-November 22, 2005

Where to Stream

Prime Video subscription

You Tube free

Plex free with sign up (I think, like Tubi)

Synopsis

A monologue introducing Season 1 Episodes 1-9

“My name is Molly Caffrey, and I work for the Federal Government. I deal in worst-case scenarios, the unthinkable. On September 16th, 2005, the unthinkable happened. An extraterrestrial object appeared off the bow of a naval freighter. The entire crew was exposed to a high frequency signal. Some died instantly. Others began to change. They are now stronger, more resilient. They dream of alien landscapes. And they are driven by the impulse to infect others. Several of the crewmen are now loose in the United States. They will strike anytime, anyplace, anyone. Their goal: to turn us into them. But I have a plan to stop them. That plan is called “Threshold”.”⁸

Image 5 Three of the team watch the video on board the naval freighter

The story starts when Dr. Caffrey meets on the lawn of her house after walking the dog. A helicopter lands on the grass, and a federal agent, Sean Cavennaugh, walks out of the unexpected arrival with a few other agents spread out behind him. Mr. Cavenaugh greets her with the news that she has to go with them ‘Right Now’; a plan of hers, called Threshold, has been activated. Dr. Caffrey is a high-level government crisis management consultant; an alien presence and first contact has been detected. Calm and collected, Dr. Caffrey boards the helicopter with the dog, named Monster. He’s a tiny, white French Bulldog, one of those breeds that are ugly enough to be adorable.

The next step is assembling all the experts Dr. Caffrey has assigned, whether they like it or not, and the adventure begins. The series takes us initially to the ship where the encounter occurred. All the crew are gone but one. The team finds a video of the encounter. With the help of their experts, it is definitely extraterrestrial, and the image could change the DNA of the watcher. Then the North Koreans are coming, and Cavennaugh orders evacuation over the objections of Dr. Caffrey. Everything is removed, and the team rushes out.

The team works long hours sifting evidence and trying to stave off the effects and how they play out on the team. There is much grumbling, in some funny ways, about their isolation as they try to catch up to the aliens.

Pieces of what happened are introduced, which the geniuses decipher and move the plot along. Alongside this, Caffrey, Cavennaugh, and Pegg have dreams after watching the video about the ship of first contact. Other members of the ship’s crew that are tracked down, and they, too, have the dreams- The Trees Made of Glass.

The series was cancelled after the first episode in Season 2. The original intent was- “Threshold” the contact, “Foothold” the aliens get some ground, and “Stranglehold” the aliens actually overthrow and become overlords.

Critique

Image 7 Ramsey visiting his team member in trouble, alien trouble

The pace is good. It can be somewhat creepy- the video, the affected crew of the ship as they try to attack Dr. Caffrey, but the overall story is fascinating. As they get closer, the sinister plan of the aliens becomes clear, and it is vital to contain them, but can they? I particularly liked Arthur Ramsey’s way of handling this imprisonment- he runs away and gets laid by an alien woman. The way Ramsey and his lab partner, Pegg, discuss the encounter after Ramsey is brought back is great. This part would make it inappropriate for young ones, but perhaps OK for teens. It is emphasized that Ramsey was lucky not to be killed; it was close.

Conclusion

The cancellation was sad to me. This was a quality show with great actors, a tight script, and good action. If you don’t like a series with no conclusion, this isn’t good for you. I do recommend it, though. It’s one of my family’s favorites.