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Things you should know about Quantico

The American TV show premiered on ABC this weekend and its USP – at least for the majority of us – is Priyanka Chopra’s casting as one of the new FBI recruits in the Homeland drama. And she does take to her role with ease, oozing her Miss World glamour as well as the acting accolades that she’s acquired for roles in Bollywood films over the years. The fact that Quantico begins and ends and more or less revolves around Priyanka Chopra shows how much the show

By Magazine Desk
|
September 30, 2015

Instep Desk

The American TV show premiered on ABC this weekend and its USP – at least for the majority of us – is Priyanka Chopra’s casting as one of the new FBI recruits in the Homeland drama. And she does take to her role with ease, oozing her Miss World glamour as well as the acting accolades that she’s acquired for roles in Bollywood films over the years. The fact that Quantico begins and ends and more or less revolves around Priyanka Chopra shows how much the show is invested in her popularity. However, good or bad, there is much more to it than her.

Here’s what you need to know…

Is Quantico a Shonda Rhimes serial?

It isn’t. Despite having a strong, central female character, Quantico isn’t Shonda Rhimes, rather the show has been created by Josh Safran, best known for Gossip Girl and the much-maligned, short-lived Smash. Likewise, it lacks the ‘fairy dust’ that make Shonda Rhimes’ productions a verified success.

Will Quantico remind you of a Shonda Rhimes serial?

It will. Quantico is a serial about unrealistically attractive government recruits (ala Grey’s doctors or How to Get Away With Murder’s law student) and the opening sequence is a double take of how Grey’s Anatomy began 11 years ago. Quantico’s first few scenes feature Alex, played by Priyanka Chopra, and Ryan, played by Jack McLaughlin, as they hook up in the front seat of a car, only to meet again on the first day of school. It’s a dead ringer for Meredith and McDreamy’s one-night stand from the first episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Quantico, with its freshman class of diverse newbs (here: gay, Mormon, Muslim, ditsy, drop-dead gorgeous), all with dark, depressing back-stories, is most like HTGAWM.

Is Alex, Priyanka Chopra’s character, as forceful as a Shonda Rhimes leading lady?

Absolutely not.Alex Parrish (Priyanka Chopra) may be “dark and messy” like Meredith or Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) but she is not half as intriguing. The serial is only one episode old so it’s unfair to pass judgement just as yet but so far Alex has none of the vulnerability or whimsy that make Meredith and Annalise so endearing. Her character is defined, so far, by her sexuality, which doesn’t say as much for her as it should.

Did Quantico Episode 1 manage the ratings?

It did. According to Variety, Quantico was the highest billed show Sunday night. The series premiere scored a 1.9/6 in rating and managed to get 7.1 million viewers overall. Quantico will air in India (and thus Pakistan) on Star World on October 3, a day before Episode 2 hits the airwaves in USA.

Can Priyanka Chopra anchor the show?

She absolutely can. Reviews of the Quantico pilot are pouring in and while critics are digging into resemblances to HTGAWM, Grey’s Anatomy and Homeland, they are unanimous in their praise for Priyanka Chopra’s abilities to anchor the show. She is beautiful, smart, possibly reckless and very, very confident. If anything, she comes across as too self-assured to be convincing as a young and shaky neophyte recruit.