Patriot (TV series)
Patriot is an American comedy-drama web television series created by Steven Conrad which premiered on November 5, 2015, on Prime Video, with the remaining episodes of the first season being released on February 23, 2017. The series stars Michael Dorman, Kurtwood Smith, Michael Chernus, Kathleen Munroe, Aliette Opheim, Chris Conrad, Terry O'Quinn, and Debra Winger. In April 2017, it was announced that Amazon had renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on November 9, 2018. In July 2019, Amazon canceled the series, saying they have no plans for a third season.[1]
| Patriot | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Steven Conrad |
| Starring | |
| Opening theme |
|
| Composer(s) | Alex Wurman |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 18 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | Marc David Alpert |
| Running time | 37–57 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
|
| Release | |
| Original network | Prime Video |
| Original release | November 5, 2015 – November 9, 2018 |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
Premise
To prevent Iran from going nuclear, intelligence officer John Tavner must forgo all safety nets and assume a perilous non-official cover ("NOC")—that of a mid-level employee at a Milwaukee industrial piping firm.
Cast and characters
Main
- Michael Dorman as John Tavner / John Lakeman, an intelligence officer posing as an industrial engineer
- Kurtwood Smith as Leslie Claret
- Michael Chernus as Edward Tavner, John's brother and a Texas congressman
- Kathleen Munroe as Alice Tavner
- Aliette Opheim as Detective Agathe Albans
- Chris Conrad as Dennis McClaren
- Terry O'Quinn as Tom Tavner, John and Edward's father and a Director of Intelligence
- Debra Winger as Bernice Tavner (season 2), John's mother and the United States Secretary of Transportation.
Recurring
- Julian Richings as Peter Icabod
- Gil Bellows as Lawrence Lacroix
- Marcus Toji as Stephen Tchoo
- Tony Fitzpatrick as Jack Birdbath
- Sylvie Sadarnac as Detective Lucie Prum-Waltzing
- Charlotte Arnold as Ally O'Dhonaill
- Sadieh Rifai as Mahtma El-Mashad
- Hana Mae Lee as Numi
- Zoe Schwartz as Sophie
- Kane Mahon as Mikham Candahar
- Antoine McKay as Gregory Gordon
- Azhar Usman as Kkyman Candahar
- Sabina Zeynalova as Sandrine Gernsback
- Matthew Lunt as Detective Emile Mills
- Norm Sousa as Edgar Barros
- Jaclyn Hennell as Lori
- Mark Boone Junior as Rob Saperstein
- Jay Abdo as Cantar
- Eye Haïdara as Detective Nan Ntep (season 2)
- Jolie Olympia Choko as Myna Albans
- Cindy Bossan as Detective Sandrine Gernsback (season 2)
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | ||||
| 1 | 10 | November 3, 2015 | February 23, 2017 | ||
| 2 | 8 | November 9, 2018 | |||
Season 1 (2015–17)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Milwaukee, America" | Steven Conrad | Story by : Steven Conrad and Gil Bellows Teleplay by : Steven Conrad | November 3, 2015 | |
| In 2012, after the president of Iran dies in a helicopter crash, CIA operative Tom Tavner orders his skilled but disturbed agent son, John Tavner, to get a job at the Milwaukee based McMillan engineering firm as a non-official cover agent. There, John is to make it onto the travel team and go with them to Luxembourg, where he will give money to the Iranian presidential candidate the CIA wants in power. John is stationed in Amsterdam, writing and recording folk music detailing his personal life under the name "John Tyhmens" when his brother Edward is sent to fetch him. John is resistant, so Edward stakes a bet with him: if John loses the mechanical bull riding competition he enters that night, he comes home. John loses and comes with Edward, applying for a job at McMillan. John does decently at his interview, but ensures he gets the spot by pushing competitor Stephen Tchoo in front of a van, leaving him brain damaged. Knowing he will fail the company drug test due to his recreational marijuana use, John convinces employee Dennis McClaren to give him a urine sample in the restroom. Tom uses his political power to get Edward a job as an attaché, ordering Edward to stay close to John. Arriving in Luxembourg, John has his bag of money stolen by airport employee Edgar Barros, but tracks him down using his license plate. Needing to deter a curious Dennis, John stabs him in the leg and tells him not to go to a hospital. At Barros' apartment, John is attacked by his brothers and escapes with the bag by slashing one's throat. Edward distracts the police by claiming he has been mugged, while John turns up late to a company meeting to the ire of his boss, Leslie Claret. The next morning, John receives a threatening note right before he has to hand over the bag. A man approaches him and John gives him the money, as he knows John’s name, indicating he is involved with the note. Back in Milwaukee, Dennis confesses to John that he went to the hospital for his leg, alerting homicide detective Agatha Albans, who is coming to America to get his statement. Leslie informs John he will likely not be invited to stay on the travel team, while Tom calls John and tells him a dangerous Iranian physicist is coming to Luxembourg to pick up the money. John promises to stay on the team and go with them to Luxembourg for their trip the following week. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "C-19" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad | February 23, 2017 | |
| In a flashback taking place earlier that year in Amsterdam, unsuccessful kayak salesman and John’s friend/musical collaborator Rob Saperstien is preparing to hang himself until John’s music comes on the radio, and decides to use his kayak to go to Luxembourg. In the present, Tom informs John the physicist is sending his wife to collect the money, instructing John to get there before her and intercept the transfer. Leslie, infuriated that John repeatedly parks in his company spot, threatens to fire him if he does it again. Disgraced ex-cop security guard Jack Birdbath reveals he overheard John’s taking of Dennis’ urine sample, and tells him to meet him later. Stephen has been brought back in to work alongside John, socially and logically stunted, but still equipped with a good understanding of his job. If Stephen outperforms John, John will be fired. John counteracts this by simply closing his laptop, with Stephen unable to open it. Tom uses his friends in DC to halt Agatha’s coming to the United States. Agatha has the trash from the hotel room delivered to the homicide office, instructing her coworkers to find anything connecting the Barroses and Dennis. A McMillan HR worker, Gregory Gordon, informs John that there is a discrepancy in his social security number and that he’ll have to get it addressed. John's wife Alice is upset with John having to leave again and tries to get Edward to tell her about John's work, but he sidesteps the question. Birdbath has John go to a YMCA swim class for disabled Vietnam veterans and steal all the prosthetic legs there for an unknown reason. In a flash forward, Tom is being interrogated in 2017 about the events of 2012, for which he takes full responsibility. Birdbath has John steal a PTSD-stricken police officer's therapy dog, then reveals why he wanted John to get the legs: he wants John to break into a police evidence locker guarded by three cops, one of which is the man he stole the dog from and the other, he stole a leg from, rendering the building easy to break into. He gives John a small box holding unknown contents and tells him to put it in his file in the evidence locker, as he is going to trial for shooting a child in two weeks. John successfully completes his task and goes on a bike ride, riding around recklessly in traffic as he sings to himself, expressing remorse over handicapping Stephen. Tom sees on the news, to his horror, that Iranian terrorist Cantar Walley is the current front runner for the presidency. Leslie and McMillan employee Peter Icabod wait to see if John parks in Leslie's spot, but John is cut off by Agatha before he can pull into the lot. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "McMillan Man" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad | February 23, 2017 | |
| In 2002, Leslie is the head of his own company, but his cocaine addiction is causing his family to cut off contact with him, along with allegations of sexual harassment surfacing. By 2004, he has cleaned up and moved to Milwaukee, sleeping in his car. His reputation gets him a job at McMillan. McMillan informs him that he will never be able to be head of the company due to his conviction, which he accepts. Back in the present, John at first parks in Leslie's spot, but seems to come to himself and moves. John continues to interfere with Stephen's recovery, writing the wrong name on his introduction pad to confuse him and annoy his therapist. Testing his comprehension, Leslie and Stephen’s therapist try to recreate the piano scene from Big, Stephen’s favorite movie, but Stephen fails to keep up with Leslie. Agatha's team finds a hotel piece of paper with Barros' address written on it, and given that Barros' and Dennis' knife wounds match, is able to go to America. John has been studiously memorizing scenarios involving “patch handlers” (which, like the rest of the engineering lingo used in the show, is not a real engineering term) for a meeting with the Denon corporation, only to find their company does not use handlers. An angry Leslie tells him he will not be on the travel team and leaves him in the conference room. Edward tells Tom about his interaction with Alice and asks Tom the same question: What does John do? Tom ignores him. To prep for his interview, Dennis has John over for dinner. John instructs Dennis on how to act in the interview, while Dennis encourages John to go on the company duck hunt the next day to try and get back on the team. Division leader Lawrence La Croix takes John out on a lake to fire him at the request of Leslie, who does not fire people himself. He drunkenly vents his frustrations about how he has never shot a duck and cannot impress a company worker he's interested in. John shoots down a couple of ducks and offscreen, makes a deal with Lawrence to keep his job and remain on the travel team if Lawrence can have the ducks. Dennis confidently tells John that his interview went well, and John tells him he needs Dennis to smuggle money through the airport when they go to Luxembourg. A waitress at the bar near the McMillan offices that John and Dennis meet at notices the therapy dog he stole, which he now takes with him wherever he goes. She informs him how important the dog is to the owner. John considers keeping him, but ultimately decides to let him go home. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "John's To-Do List 5/18/12" | Steven Conrad | Bruce Terris | February 23, 2017 | |
| In Luxembourg, Leslie attempts to set John up for failure by increasing his workload just as John's real job requires immediate and critical action. An old friend arrives and further complicates John's life. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Un Monsieur Triste En Costume" | Ted Griffin | Steven Conrad | February 23, 2017 | |
| John's effort to retrieve evidence brings him dangerously close to Agathe. Tom arrives in Luxembourg to help John catch his breath only to ask more of him. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Structural Dynamics of Flow" | Tucker Gates | Jill E. Blotevogel | February 23, 2017 | |
| Agathe's case against John begins to mount while John undertakes a desperate attempt to get his father's plan back on track. Meanwhile, Leslie's hostility toward John reaches new heights. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Hello, is Charlie There?" | Michael Trim | Darby Kealey | February 23, 2017 | |
| John returns to Milwaukee a person of interest in Agathe's investigation, while his already fragile mental state worsens. At McMillan, Stephen's recovery and a sudden promotion further jeopardize the mission. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "L'Affaire Contre John Lakeman" | Jim Whitaker | Zak Schwartz | February 23, 2017 | |
| Agathe, headed back to Milwaukee to investigate John, crosses paths with Alice. Tom receives critical new intelligence that may give him the upper hand in his plan to influence the Iranian election. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Dick Cheney" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad & Bruce Terris | February 23, 2017 | |
| Agathe interrogates John just as Edward struggles to establish his brother's alibi. A surprise visitor joins the McMillan duck hunt in a last minute appeal to Leslie to allow John back on the travel team. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Dead Serious Rick" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad & Bruce Terris | February 23, 2017 | |
| John returns to Luxembourg where his dedication to his father is put to the test, just as Agathe gathers final evidence that may allow her to learn the truth about John. | ||||||
Season 2 (2018)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "American Dimes" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad | November 9, 2018 | |
| John must make a choice at the train platform — be free from his obligations and adversaries by letting Agathe take the money or pursue her in an effort to protect his brother, father, and country. | ||||||
| 12 | 2 | "The Vantasner Danger Meridian" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad | November 9, 2018 | |
| Edward’s captor is revealed. John prepares for a dangerous act in his first step toward the assassination of Cantar Walley, just as Walley's elite security team arrives in Paris. | ||||||
| 13 | 3 | "The Guns of Paris" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad | November 9, 2018 | |
| John gets closer to completing his perilous assignment, only to have matters jeopardized by a childhood mistake. Friends get involved in an unprecedented and gravely consequential way. | ||||||
| 14 | 4 | "The Sword and the Hand" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad | November 9, 2018 | |
| Recent events tell a story that could reveal John’s plan to assassinate Cantar Walley, so John takes preemptive and desperate measures, risking himself to divert attention and create the illusion that the story is over. | ||||||
| 15 | 5 | "Army of Strangers" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad | November 9, 2018 | |
| John acts against standard protocol, which alerts adversaries of his whereabouts and necessitates the abandonment of the John Lakeman cover identity, jeopardizing all. | ||||||
| 16 | 6 | "Fuck John Wayne" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad | November 9, 2018 | |
| An unexpected day off provides the opportunity for a last-minute bachelor party. Collective inebriation follows. John fully embraces the celebration with his wife and friends until the timeline for his mission abruptly moves up. | ||||||
| 17 | 7 | "Loaded" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad | November 9, 2018 | |
| Drunk and stoned, John breaks into Cantar Walley’s compound. Alice considers the cost of betraying her father-in-law in order to protect her husband. In the meantime, Agathe finds a powerful new ally. | ||||||
| 18 | 8 | "Escape From Paris" | Steven Conrad | Steven Conrad | November 9, 2018 | |
| All hell breaks loose. | ||||||
Production
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Actors Terry O'Quinn and Michael Dorman and screenwriter Steve Conrad discuss Patriot for New America in 2017.
Development
On May 14, 2015, it was reported that Amazon had given the production, written by Steven Conrad and then titled The Patriot, a pilot order.[2] On September 23, 2015, the series' pilot order was confirmed and further information regarding the series was released. It was announced that the series had been retitled Patriot and that Conrad was confirmed to direct the pilot episode and executive produce alongside Gil Bellows, Glenn Ficarra, Charlie Gogolak, and John Requa.[3][4]
On December 18, 2015, it was announced that the production had been given a series order.[5] On January 27, 2017, it was reported that the rest of season one would premiere in its entirety on February 24, 2017.[6]
On April 18, 2017, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season.[7] On October 10, 2018, it was announced that the second season would premiere on November 9, 2018.[8]
Casting
In August 2015, it was announced that Kurtwood Smith, Michael Dorman, Kathleen Munroe, and Terry O'Quinn had been cast in the pilot's lead roles.[9][10][11] On March 22, 2016, it was reported that Chris Conrad, previously cast in a guest appearance in the pilot episode, had been upped to a series regular capacity for the remainder of season one.[12]
On January 4, 2018, it was announced that Debra Winger had been cast in a series regular role for season two.[13]
Reception
Critical response
The first season of Patriot has been met with a positive response from critics. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an 82% approval rating with an average rating of 6.54 out of 10 based on 28 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Patriot is dark, quirky, and often funny -- and although its risks don't always pay off, the series is still savvy and inspired enough to watch."[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the season a score of 68 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16]
Many of the first season's Luxembourg based exterior scenes were filmed in Prague.[17] The Luxemburger Wort's culture correspondent noted the apparent lack of effort and accuracy in portraying the landmarks and geography that characterize Luxembourg City, with Prague being a poor substitute for their depiction.[17] He recorded that the frequent onscreen appearance of unmistakable famous Prague landmarks, such as the Charles Bridge, throughout Luxembourg shots hinder the suspension of disbelief for viewers familiar with either location.[17] Additionally, he identified certain factual inaccuracies about Luxembourg in the script, including a claim that Brazilian nationals make up a substantial minority of Luxembourg residents, when in actual fact it is Portuguese nationals.[17] Despite what he labeled as these "absurd inaccuracies" he recommended the series for fans of dark comedy.[17]
The second season also received positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 6.69 out of 10 based on 11 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Patriot's second season is dark as pitch and ticks along to a slow-burning surreality, but viewers who are willing to invest in the series' moody pleasures will find themselves infiltrated by its scabrous humor and crackerjack dialogue."[18] On Metacritic, it has a score of 80 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[19]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8th Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Comedy Series | Patriot | Nominated[20] |
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References
- Andreeva, Nellie (July 27, 2019). "'Patriot': No Plans For Season 3 Of Amazon Series - TCA". Deadline. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
- Andreeva, Nellie (May 14, 2015). "David E. Kelley Legal Drama, Shane Black Western Among Amazon Pilot Orders". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- Andreeva, Nellie (September 23, 2015). "Amazon Confirms 6 Pilots From Shane Black, Sacha Baron Cohen, Tig Notaro & Louis CK, Others". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- Spangler, Todd (September 23, 2015). "Amazon Sets 6 Fall Pilots, Including Comedies from Louis C.K., Sacha Baron Cohen". Variety. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- Andreeva, Nellie (December 18, 2015). "Amazon Picks Up 5 New Primetime Series & 3 Kids Series, Renews 'Red Oaks' & 'Hand Of God'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- Petski, Denise (January 27, 2017). "'Patriot' Gets February Premiere Date On Amazon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- Hipes, Patrick (April 18, 2017). "'Patriot' Renewed For Season 2 At Amazon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- Petski, Denise (October 10, 2018). "'Patriot' Season 2 Gets November Premiere Date & First-Look Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- Jarvey, Natalie (August 6, 2018). "Kurtwood Smith Joins Amazon Pilot 'The Patriot' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- Petski, Denise (August 6, 2015). "Michael Dorman & Kathleen Munroe Land Leads In Amazon Pilot 'The Patriot'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- Jarvey, Natalie (August 7, 2015). "Terry O'Quinn Boards Amazon Pilot 'The Patriot' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- Petski, Denise (March 22, 2016). "'The Royals' Ups Genevieve Gaunt; 'The Patriot' Promotes Chris Conrad". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- Pedersen, Erik (January 4, 2018). "'Patriot': Debra Winger Joins Amazon Series As Season 2 Regular". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- Swartz, Tracy (May 24, 2016). "Extras needed for Amazon series 'Patriot' filming in Chicago". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- "Patriot: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- "Patriot: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- Adam, Andreas (March 1, 2017). "Neue Amazon-Serie: Luxemburg sehen und sterben" [New Amazon series: Seeing Luxembourg and dying]. Luxemburger Wort (in German). Retrieved October 13, 2019.
- "Patriot: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
- "Patriot: Season 2". Metacritic. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
- Tapley, Kristopher (December 6, 2017). "Netflix, FX's 'Feud' Lead Critics' Choice TV Nominations". Variety. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
External links
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