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This unit is technology in the making.

CBS has come up with another winner.  Flashpoint is one of their newest entries in the prime time slot on Thursday nights 10 p.m. (ET).  It’s an hour-long program that follows the routines and adventures of the unit that’s out to save lives.

The first show starts with a man taking a gun with him on the subway and confronting his estranged wife.  In his language, he begs her to return to him and she refuses.  He shoots her in the back and then starts wandering through the lobby of the building.  A policeman find his actions to be suspicious and tries to stop him.  The man pulls his gun against the policemen—who has also pulled his gun—and the foreign man takes a woman hostage.

The show then shifts to two hours earlier in the day and lets us see how the team members prepare the day’s work schedule.  The cast is made up of Enrico Colantoni, Amy Jo Johnson, Hugh Dillon and David Paetkau along with a supporting cast.  We more closely follow the actions of Hugh Dillon as he prepares for the day.  He has a loving wife who wants him home after the shift but he must attend a retirement party.  The son plays the cello and looks up to his father.  We also see Amy Jo Johnson as she descends a building by rope and her interaction with another member of the team.

Once everyone is assembled at headquarters, they are briefed for the day and wait for any situation to arise.  It isn’t long before they get the call that there is a hostage situation outside a building in the downtown section of the city.  They arrive on the scene and try to talk down the man whom they learn is a Croatian.  Part of the team remains on the ground while Amy and Hugh take up positions on top of two buildings where they can shoot down the man if the need arises.

Hugh gets the approval to make the shoot and kills the hostage taker with one shot to the head.  He is then led through the investigative part of the follow-up to the shooting.  He surrenders his rifle, bullet proof jacket and his shirt and pants.  He answers all the interrogators questions and leaves headquarters to attend the retirement ceremony of a buddy.

CBS has now aired five episodes of the series and I must give them credit for coming up with something new and different.  A lot happens in the 42 minute show (that’s right, 18 minutes of commercials).  No back stories had come to the surface but I’m sure they will eventually once the show is more established.  This show needs to be renewed when the time comes for the final episode.  Plus, it’s nice to have a summer show to watch instead of re-runs.

If you like excitement along with a pittance of history on the characters, then you’ll enjoy this show.  It started airing on Friday nights, but recently switched to Thursday nights.  There is violence but I’d call it for the good of the series and not gratuitous.  Enjoy the show like I did!

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