FOOL’S GOLD, EDGE, P. 23
‘Blood & Treasure’ locations shine but plot tarnished
The hunt for Cleopatra’s tomb is on, and you know what that means: Dumb summer TV has arrived early.
In CBS’ “Blood & Treasure,” a decidedly not-readyfor-fall drama, an ex-FBI agent teams with a notorious thief who just happens to be his ex-lover to hunt down stolen artifacts — including Cleo’s remains.
Danny McNamara (Matt Barr, “Valor”) is the agent turned antiquities expert who left the agency under a cloud. Lexi Vaziri (Sofia Pernas, “The Brave,” “Jane the Virgin”) is the art thief wanted by Interpol and probably every major European country. Together they face a secret society and a conspiracy that stretches back, at the very least, to World War II.
This is a show that so badly
wants to run on the fumes of your good memories of “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” it even makes a meta-joke about it in its two-hour premiere. (CBS did not make any additional episodes available for review. Thank you, CBS.)
Now I want to find something nice to say about “Blood & Treasure,” and it’s this: It up-ends the typical Hollywood formula for mismatched couples.
Typically it’s the guy who’s the rebel, the rogue, the bad boy, and the woman is tasked with being the emotional support, the voice of reason, the caretaker. Think David and Maddy in “Moonlighting,” Jess and Rory in “Gilmore Girls,” Damon and Elena in “The Vampire Diaries.”
“Blood & Treasure” spins that with a sober, somber guy with a woman who runs on instinct and kicks all kinds of butt. But something gets lost in the switcheroo. She’s Catwoman.
He might as well be Batman’s butler Alfred.
Despite what this show tries to tell you about their allegedly torrid history, these two go together as much as salt and ice cream. Pernas is captivating onscreen; Barr is a mystery — as in, how does he keep getting hired to star in TV series?
The best thing about watching him is you think about all the other unemployed actors who would be great in the role. Isn’t “Timeless’ ” Matt Lanter free now?
Back to the show we’re stuck with: After his mentor, Dr. Anna Castillo (Alicia Coppola, “Empire”), is kidnapped from an Egyptian pyramid while searching for Cleopatra’s tomb by our Big Bad (Oded Fehr, “The Blacklist,” “The Mummy Returns”), Danny decides the key to rescuing her is compelling Lexi to work with him. Luckily for him — and not for her — she’s being arrested by authorities just as he pops up.
“I need someone who thinks like a criminal,” he tells her.
Later, at a black market auction, Lexi proves her worth as they tangle with Aiden Shaw (Michael James Shaw, “Avengers: Endgame”), a middle man with dangerous connections. “Battlestar Galactica’s” James Callis pops up as Simon Hardwick, a mysterious man who expects a favor from Danny.
The pilot shot extensively in Italy and takes great advantage of the gorgeous, historic locations, including the Roman Forum and Appian Way. The dialogue, however, is often distracting and grating.
The show frequently jumps continents and decades to tell its story, revealing agendas late in the premiere. It’s not enough.
“Blood & Treasure” reminds you some things are better left buried.