Quantico Review

I discovered Quantico on Netflix and watched the entire first season in a week. The second season came out on Netflix recently and I did the same thing. This show has all the action, conspiracies, and sass that I could ask for.

Alex Parrish is an FBI agent with a chip on her shoulder and a stubborn streak that gets her caught in the middle of multiple terrorist schemes. She is unflinching in the face of conflict, in fact she seems to thrive on it. She holds everyone to a high standard and herself to an even higher standard. She’s tough and challenges everyone around her. Alex may not always be the most relaxing character to watch, but she’s perfect for leading the show. She’s constantly pushing, which drives the story forward.

The first season shows Alex and her fellow FBI hopefuls working their way through training at Quantico. It simultaneously shows them several months later, dealing with the aftermath of a terrorist attack. We watch them meet and forge friendships at Quantico, then fight each other after Alex is framed as a terrorist. As the season progresses, the reasons for their fights become clear as relationships become complicated.

The relationships are wonderfully complex. Miranda is an amazing mentor and leader. Alex and Shelby are great friends. Reyna and Nimah switching places is so funny, especially when Simon gets caught in the crossfire. I loved Shelby and Caleb together and was mad when they completely ruined that connection. I can see why they would blow up rather than work longterm, but their breakup was a bit extreme. And I might be alone in this, but I don’t really like Ryan. He constantly lies to and about Alex, treats her like she can’t handle the truth even though she can pretty much handle anything, and he just isn’t a very interesting person.

The ending to the first season is perfect. Alex fights back, despite being called a terroris t by the world. She is determined to uncover the truth and after a lot of running, shooting, and threatening, she convinces her fellow FBI agents to help her.

Much like the first season, the second season starts off with two different timelines. But the second season’s two timelines meet up halfway through the season and the plot takes a different focus. While I like the second season, I definitely enjoyed the first one better. Season one is very focused. It’s interesting because it’s different. Season two doesn’t have that edge, and it seems like they tried too hard to make it the same formula without supporting it with great ideas.

But the second season is more relaxed. The characters are already fleshed out and they can develop and grow a little. Alex and Shelby reach a nice point in their friendship, and Nimah adds herself to their duo at some points with ease. I also liked the new characters, especially Owen. And of course it’s still really cool to see Alex working with the CIA and fighting against political conspiracies. She helps stop a hostage situation and uncover a secret group of radicals.

The show has been renewed for a third season. It should be a bit different since it has a new show runner and only four returning characters: Alex, Shelby, Ryan, and Owen. But we do know something crazy and intense will happen and Alex will take care of it, in her usual determined butt kicking style.