Where to stream it? Paramount+ beginning March 26th
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Charles Dance, Meta Golding, Enid Graham, Rob Yang, Walt Klink, Jason Butler Warner
Created by: John Requa and Glenn Ficarra
Intro: Rabbit Hole Review
Rabbit Hole debuted at this year's SXSW. The first four episodes were screened in advance for this review.
Some of the best TV shows are the ones with plots that leave you guessing, and Rabbit Hole is filled with plenty of twisty surprises.
The new spy thriller hails from Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, the same duo behind Apple TV+’s limited series WeCrashed. Once again they dive into the subject of corporate wrongdoings, this time focusing on how companies can misuse our personal data for their financial gain.
Featuring storylines that have political relevance without getting preachy, the show follows an expert in corporate manipulation, John Weir (Kiefer Sutherland), who must escape some dark forces after he is framed for murder. As you descend further down the Rabbit Hole, you’ll find an intriguing story that hooks you in with its edge-of-your-seat action.
How Deep Does the Rabbit Hole Go?
When the first episode begins, we find John Weir going about his normal operations with his business that he describes as “consulting.” The FBI agent on his case (Enid Graham), however, sees it for what it is: corporate espionage.
Weir and his team help their clients take down their rivals through elaborate scenarios that influence markets and dig up dirt, or at least give the appearance of it. He sees himself as something of a modern-day Robin Hood who takes on the wealthy. Of course the FBI agent sees otherwise.
When John crosses paths with a former business associate who works in Big Data, he then finds himself on a collision course with some powerful entities who try and take him down.
Each episode is interwoven with flashbacks from Weir’s traumatic childhood, where we learn of his father’s research into the “algorithms of control.” His past comes to haunt him as he attempts to evade a global conspiracy alongside an unlikely team that includes a casual hookup-turned-sidekick (Meta Golding) and a mysterious figure known as Dr. Ben Wilson (Charles Dance).
Kiefer Returns
Fans of Kiefer Sutherland’s past work such as 24 and Designated Survivor should find plenty to enjoy in Rabbit Hole. While the scope of the action sequences feels much more like network TV than a Mission Impossible film, the show manages to keep you engaged with a clever plot line and an excellent score from Siddhartha Khosla.
Sutherland gives a befitting performance as John Weir, delivering his lines with the sort of bravado you’d expect from an action hero. As for the supporting cast, Meta Golding and Charles Dance shine in their supporting roles with Golding’s quips providing some moments of humorous levity. Likewise Enid Graham’s FBI agent Jo Madi stands out as a New Yorker who’s not afraid to tell someone off.
There are certain moments in the show that feel a bit contrived. I suspect some of these scenarios might shake out in a slightly different way in real life. As long as you’re willing to suspend disbelief and fall into the universe Rabbit Hole has created, though, you’re in for a thrill ride.
Final Thoughts: Rabbit Hole Review
Rabbit Hole is a nice addition to the growing library of Paramount+ originals. Each episode I screened kept me interested and made me want to binge more.
With ripped-from-the-headlines political intrigue, a suspenseful story, and an impressive cast, Rabbit Hole is a thriller you need to watch.
