
Watch The Player
- TV-14
- 2015
- 1 Season
-
6.9 (7,512)
The Player was a television series created by John Rogers that debuted on NBC in 2015. The show starredPhilip Winchester, Wesley Snipes, Charity Wakefield, and Jacquie Barnbrook, among others. The Player was described as an action thriller, set in Las Vegas. The main lead, Alex Kane (played by Winchester), is a former intelligence officer and security expert who gets caught in a high-stakes game of gambling and murder when his wife is killed by unknown assailants. Kane is approached by a mysterious woman named Cassandra King (played by Wakefield), who tells him he has been selected to participate in a secret organization's game of crime, where wealthy individuals bet on the outcome of real-life crimes. King works for this organization - referred to as 'The House' - which is a collection of the world's wealthiest people who secretly gamble on illegal crimes that occur around the world. In this game, Kane is the player, the individual recruited to prevent these crimes by decoding puzzles and challenges given to him by the House. Kane is partnered with Mr. Johnson (played by Snipes), a pit boss of sorts, who serves as his handler and provides gadgets, weapons and other tools he needs. Each episode of The Player begins with a crime being committed - ranging from assassinations to robberies to bombings - and the House, via King, assigns Kane the task of preventing or solving the crime. Kane must follow clues and tackle challenges to stop the criminal mastermind behind the crime. The House, in turn, put billions of dollars on the bet of the outcome of the crime. The plot of The Player was centered around Kane's struggle to cope with the loss of his wife and his work with the House. The show touches on themes of redemption and justice, as Kane uses the game as a means of avenging his wife's death while simultaneously working with the House to save innocent lives. Aside from the central plot, each episode of The Player also had standalone storylines, which kept the show engaging and maintained the viewer's interest. These storylines gave background to Kane's character, explored King's relationship with the House, and introduced various other antagonists and allies. The Player received a generally positive response from the audience and critics alike. The show was praised for its action sequences, which were described as being thrilling and well-choreographed. The actors' performances were also appreciated, with Winchester, Snipes, and Wakefield earning particular praise for their chemistry and acting prowess. However, The Player also received some criticism, with some viewers describing it as being too predictable and formulaic. The show was also criticized for its lack of character development outside of the three central characters, Kane, King, and Mr. Johnson. Unfortunately, despite the positive responses, The Player was canceled after just one season, with only nine episodes being filmed. The show's cancellation left several storylines unresolved and left viewers unsatisfied. In conclusion, The Player was an action-packed thriller that kept audiences on the edge of their seats with each episode. Its talented cast and well-choreographed action sequences made the series enjoyable to watch, even if its predictability and lack of character development were issues. While it was canceled after one season, The Player remains an entertaining show that is worth a watch for fans of the action genre.