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Human Target

Human Target

He's a guardian. Not an angel

2010–2011Ended2 seasons25 episodes~60 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

It takes a brave, selfless man to make himself a "human target" in order to save the lives of those in danger. Based on the popular DC Comics comic book and graphic novel, Human Target is a full-throttle action drama centered on Christopher Chance, a unique private contractor/security expert/bodyguard hired to protect.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Human Target?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Human Target streaming on Howdy via Prime Video and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Human Target?

Human Target earns 3 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Fun.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Human Target worth watching?

Human Target's Midcredits score is the 79th percentile of all shows, from 20K ratings across 2 sources. 84% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

79th percentile

Better received than 79% of shows

75th percentile among Action77th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)73rd
Approval (how many liked it)81st

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

76 /100

73rd percentile of all shows

71st percentile among Action71st percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

84% liked it

81st percentile of all shows

75th percentile among Action79th percentile among 2010s
84% rated it 7–1016% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

92nd percentile

20K ratings across platforms

72nd percentile among Action92nd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 16% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

It's a throwback male-centric action show that wears its formula proudly, for better or worse.

Fans praised

  • Mini action-movie energy with sharp choreography
  • Charismatic chemistry among the core trio (Chance, Winston, Guerrero)
  • Witty, self-aware humor that doesn't take itself too seriously

Detractors panned

  • Season 2 female additions felt shoehorned and diluted the male dynamic
  • Shallow plotting and predictability undercut any dramatic stakes
  • Shaky-cam editing and frantic cinematography ruined immersion

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

Mark Valley's charismatic lead; Haley and McBride praised as strong supporting cast; some fault second-season additions

HumorDivisive70

Lighthearted self-awareness and character banter land well

PacingDivisive70

Brisk episode runtime keeps energy high; season 2 drags for some

CharactersDivisive68

Archetypal yet engaging trio; Guerrero's mysterious menace stands out; Ilsa Pucci widely disliked

Dialogue65

Quick banter and one-liners add charm; sometimes feels hollow

Effects and spectacle62

Stylized fight sequences and set pieces; occasional weak CGI noted

Plot and storyDivisive50

Predictable but coherent episode structures; season 2 arcs criticized as forced

Originality40

Derivative of Bond/Bourne/MacGyver formulas; fans accept as homage

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 15 points higher than women.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Critics vs users 8 points apart
  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2010 · 13 episodes

  • S2E1

    Ilsa Pucci

    Nov 17, 201041 min
  • S2E2

    The Wife's Tale

    Nov 24, 201040 min
  • S2E3

    Taking Ames

    Dec 1, 201040 min
  • S2E4

    The Return of Baptiste

    Dec 8, 201042 min
  • S2E5

    Dead Head

    Dec 15, 201042 min
  • S2E6

    The Other Side of the Mall

    Dec 22, 201040 min

Watch experience

What is Human Target like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseThrillingBittersweet
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 15% of showsPlayfulWry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show plays its action heroics straight but with a light, wry sense of fun.
The rideConsistently tense action sequences punctuated by quieter, character-driven moments; the emotional weight is sustained across the run.
StructureEach episode follows a conventional three-act structure with setup, infiltration/action, and resolution.
Episode formatEach episode presents a new client and threat, while a season-long arc about Chance's past and nemesis Baptiste develops.
Season formatSeason 1 focuses on Ilsa Pucci and Baptiste; Season 2 introduces a new team member and a different overarching threat.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
FunFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayThe show provides light, enjoyable entertainment that leaves you feeling good rather than pondering.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeEach episode sees Chance adopt a false identity to infiltrate a client's world and eliminate a human threat.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% (this title) · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

IdentityRedemption · 3% of shows: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores Chance's mysterious past and his search for who he really is, while his dangerous work offers a path to redemption.
StanceThe series questions whether Chance can ever truly know himself given his hidden past, treating identity as a mystery to be unraveled.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score
Settingvarious North American cities, high-stakes corporate and criminal environments

Content guide

Is Human Target okay for kids?

TV-14

Human Target is rated TV-14.

Ratings in 4 other countries
  • Germany16
  • Brazil14
  • Russia16+
  • SpainNR

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Human Target have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Human Target?

Cast

Mark Valley
as Christopher Chance
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Chi McBride
as Winston
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jackie Earle Haley
as Guerrero
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Indira Varma
as Ilsa Pucci
Janet Montgomery
as Ames
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Lennie James
as Baptiste
Aaron Atkins
as Bomb Squad
Emmanuelle Vaugier
as Emma Barnes
Leonor Varela
as Maria Gallego
Autumn Reeser
as Layla

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