‘The Hunting Party’ Recap: ‘Richard Harris’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THE HUNTING PARTY -- "Richard Harris" Episode 101 -- Pictured: Melissa Roxburgh as Rebecca Henderson -- (Photo by: David Astorga/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘The Hunting Party’.
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If there is one particular question, we have all collectively asked ourselves and one another… is what would we do if we had the power to prevent evil in this world? And we ask that question for several reasons. In part because it is a litmus test for our own moral core and the core of our friends. But also, because… it’s a legitimate question with a complex answer. For there would be no easy road to stopping evil in the world and we wonder if the world would be prepared to handle the moral nightmare that would likely accompany having the power to put an end to evil. 

Well, this is such a fascinating and unique question that NBC has deemed it worthy of a creative exploration. For a brand-new series entitled, The Hunting Party, will explore such matters and so much more and it sets up such the journey, by way of a unique plot in ‘Richard Harris’. For in this particular tale… we learn of The Pit. A decommissioned nuclear silo that has been recommissioned as the ultimate Supermax style prison. One that harbors the worst of the worst and has remained hidden for ages, until a surprise explosion creates quite the quandary. In that, said explosion unleashes a great many inmates from the Pit. Which prompts the top brass in law enforcement to call in Rebecca ‘Bex’ Henderson, a disgraced yet brilliant FBI agent to find the man whose name is in the title.

Which at first glance… doesn’t seem to be all that revolutionary of a plot. It just sounds like The Fugitive and U.S. Marshals got together and had a baby. But the devil is in the details in this particular story and soon we learn that Richard Harris should be dead. But he is alive and well, and is eager to resume his serial killer ways because of what the Pit stands for. In that, it is the cure to all evil in the world. For it is designed to study behavioral patterns of monsters in an up-close and personal way, free from the trappings of the law and of ethics to topple evil in this world and well, as pointed out by Ryan Hassini, a man close to the project, it’s worked. For the world has seen fewer serial killers and bloodthirsty monsters over the past few decades, courtesy of the Pit’s research.

But of course, some of the experiments appear to have enhanced Richard and what follows in this story is an intense cat and mouse game where Bex faces her past in so many ways, since Richard was one of her first cases, along with some real surprises to bring him down once and for all. But of course, Bex is so good at what she does, she stays on to bring in more of these monsters, a move that will force her to continue to look backward since the man that put her career on strange terms will be one of her bosses and because… she is a reflective individual that finds meaning in every moment and memory. But what matters more, is that we are treated to a refreshing answer to that question. In that, if we had the power, it would require a lot of trickery and moral grey areas to put an end to it, and the ends might not justify the means. Especially since it could uncover other dark clouds as was the case here since we learned that Richard had an accomplice, and because… it forces evil to beget evil.

But what matters more, is that answering this question will allow for this show to explore so much regarding the criminal justice system, in a refreshing and honest manner, no less. Plus, it will feature some amazing writing and some intense moments that will never allow for the moral questions to overwhelm. All of which informs us, that we are in for an exhausting, exhilarating and outright incredible ride. One that will be intelligent, moving and supremely original. For this writer is hard pressed to think of any other procedural that offers up this kind of compelling plot and moral core, and truly, it will be quite interesting to see where this refreshing series is going to take us in the weeks to come. Until next time.

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