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The Pretender

1996 – 2000Show4 seasons86 episodesTV-14

DramaMystery
83
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Metacritic–8.9Rotten Tomatoes–95%

A gripping, nostalgic drama series about everyday modern life and mystery.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

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Not for laughs.

Shows with

Episodes

4 seasons · 86 episodes · best: S3E22 "Donoterase: Part 2" 8.9

Episodes

7.6
8.0
8.2
8.1

Story

Hero of a thousand faces. Man of a thousand lives.

Raised in a secret facility built for experimenting on children, Jarod is a genius who can master any profession and become anyone he has to be. When he realizes as an adult that he's actually a prisoner and his captors are not as benevolent as he's been told, he breaks out. While trying to find his real identity, Jarod helps those he encounters and tries to avoid the woman sent to retrieve him.

Feels like

  • Conspiracy Thriller
  • Road Show Mystery
  • Psychological Drama
  • 90s Nostalgia
  • Found Family
  • Intellectual Protagonist
  • Episodic Arc Structure
  • Cold War Paranoia
  • Emotional Resonance
  • Cult Classic Status

Cast

24 of 349 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Steven Long Mitchell, James Whitmore Jr., Terrence O'Hara
Written by
Craig W. Van Sickle, Juan Carlos Coto, Tommy Thompson
Produced by
Steven Long Mitchell, Juan Carlos Coto, Craig W. Van Sickle

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 19, 1996 · May 13, 2000 · Ended

First aired
September 19, 1996
Last aired
May 13, 2000
Status
Ended
Length
4 seasons · 86 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Original language
English
Available in
7 countries

Tropes

Mysterious Past, Revealing Cover-Up, Would Hurt a Child +9

  • Mysterious Past
  • Revealing Cover-Up
  • Would Hurt a Child
  • Very Punchable Man
  • Stereotypical Nerd
  • Missing Mom
  • New Powers as the Plot Demands
  • Mundane Object Amazement
  • Mooks
  • Enigmatic Institute
  • Uncanny Family Resemblance
  • My Card

12 of 139 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Pretender?"

Questions about The Pretender

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Pretender?

In the United States, you can rent or buy The Pretender from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It streams in 1 other country, but not in the United States.

Is The Pretender worth watching?

83
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 83 (IMDb 7.5).

Does The Pretender get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 7.6, and season 3 peaks at 8.2. The highest-rated episode is Donoterase: Part 2 (season 3, episode 22) at 8.9, and the lowest is Jaroldo! (season 1, episode 15) at 7.2.

Is The Pretender okay for kids?

TV-14ViolenceStrong language

Yes: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for violence and strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

How long does it take to watch The Pretender?

62 h

About 62 hours: 86 episodes in 4 seasons of about 43 minutes each, aired from 1996 to 2000.

What tropes does The Pretender use?

Mysterious PastRevealing Cover-UpWould Hurt a ChildVery Punchable ManStereotypical NerdMissing MomNew Powers as the Plot DemandsMundane Object AmazementMooksEnigmatic InstituteUncanny Family ResemblanceMy Cardand 127 more

TV Tropes lists 139 tropes for it, including Mysterious Past, Revealing Cover-Up, and Would Hurt a Child.