The Beast (2009 TV series)

Did You Know?

• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the series on DVD on August 18, 2009; this release is out of print.
• Mill Creek Entertainment re-released The Beast – The Complete Series on DVD on February 16, 2016.

Plot

Set in Chicago, veteran FBI agent Charles Barker uses controversial, often illegal techniques to catch criminals, unsettling his rookie partner Ellis Dove. Over the season, Barker is investigated for misconduct, and internal affairs agent Ray Beaumont tries to recruit Dove to spy on Barker. Dove later uncovers darker secrets in Barker's past.

Characters

Charles Barker (Patrick Swayze) is a veteran FBI agent skilled in undercover work who mentors rookie Ellis Dove. He appears patriotic but is under investigation for possible criminal activity. Ellis Dove (Travis Fimmel) is Barker's trainee, pressured to become a chameleon and tested with dangerous improv exercises. Internal Affairs tries to recruit him to spy on Barker. Harry Conrad (Kevin J O'Connor) is an FBI agent who acts as Barker's handler and supervises Ellis, speaking to Barker in terse personal code. Rose Lawrence (Lindsay Pulsipher) is Ellis's neighbor and romantic interest, a law student who notices something odd about him. Ray Beaumont (Larry Gilliard) is an FBI Internal Affairs agent investigating Barker, using sly methods to get information from Ellis.

Reception

Alan Sepinwall wrote that Swayze's performance was the best of his career and that the cancer may have fueled it. The New York Times called his performance impressive for resisting cliché. Suzan Young of RealNetworks stated Swayze gave the performance of a lifetime. Ray Richmond of The Hollywood Reporter noted the show's gritty feel and Swayze's killer work, but found Fimmel's performance uneven. Kelly West of Cinema Blend described the series as a drama with an edge showing the darker side of FBI undercover work. Ken Tucker criticized the antihero's lines as old and Fimmel's line readings as inexpressive, grading the program a C.