The Pretender

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.

Directed by Craig W. Van Sickle, Steven Long Mitchell, The Pretender leans on a strong ensemble — Michael T. Weiss, Andrea Parker, Patrick Bauchau — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1996.