Hollywood has always had an affinity for “high-concept” ideas – the art of pitching a television series or movie in one succinct, snappy and easily communicated idea.
For new TV thriller The Catch, which begins tonight on OSN First HD, it would go like this: LA's top private investigator is in hot pursuit of a world-class con man who stole all her money – and who is also the love of her life.
The Catch is the latest dramatic confection served up by "Shondaland" – the collective term for the raft of series from acclaimed creator, writer, showrunner and executive producer Shonda Rhimes. The 46-year-old's winning track record also includes medical drama Grey's Anatomy, its spin-off Private Practice and the political thriller Scandal.
Named in 2007 as one of Time magazine's 100 People Who Help Shape the World, Rhimes is also executive producer of the legal series How to Get Away With Murder.
The Catch has been pulling a very respectable seven million viewers since it debuted in the United States in March, and already has been renewed for a second season. Its popularity is no surprise – the show is pure frothy fun, packed with rich powerful women, amusing investigations and plenty of plot twists to keep viewers guessing.
Highly regarded actress Mireille Enos (Big Love, The Killing) stars as Alice Vaughan, a confident and successful private investigator. As brilliant and capable as she is, her life is turned upside down when she is expertly swept off her feet and conned by her charismatic fiancé, Christopher Hall, played by Peter Krause (Six Feet Under, Dirty Sexy Money, Sports Night).
It turns out that he is a wealthy, high-flying international super-criminal – a sort of James Bond gone bad – and a man of a thousand faces, voices and identities. He vanishes with all her money, as well as millions from her clients – but not before falling in love with her.
"I think the most exciting thing about The Catch is that it is capitalising on this genre of the caper, which has never been done on television before," says Enos. "Peter Krause is totally dreamy. He's charming to the nth degree. He puts everyone at ease. He knows how to make people laugh – and that's one of the best qualities you could have."
Alice isn’t the sort to feel foolish or embarrassed about the fact that despite being an investigator, she was tricked. For her, the game is afoot.
While juggling her other day-to-day cases, Alice plays a dangerous game of cat and mouse, determined to find her elusive fiancé before he destroys everything she has worked for.
Enos admits she loves her character’s posh penthouse, with its panoramic views of Los Angeles, and her chic, stylish wardrobe.
“I love filming in Alice’s house,” she says. “It’s so stylish and cosy. In between scenes we just go and hang out there on her couches.”
In addition to leading roles in recent movies including Gangster Squad and World War Z, Enos is also a respected stage actress. She was nominated in 2005 for a Tony Award for best featured actress on Broadway for her star turn in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
She has been married since 2008 to Alan Ruck – who played Cameron Frye, Ferris Bueller's best friend in John Hughes's Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) – and has two children with him.
Enos also confesses she loves her job on The Catch and especially shooting the tender scenes that give her goose bumps – along with her millions of viewers, no doubt.
“There’s a scene in the pilot where Christopher and Alice wake up and he’s asking her to run away with him,” she says. “And he’s so open … and vulnerable … and beautiful … and it was an incredible pleasure to shoot that scene with Peter.”
• The Catch begins at 10pm on Tuesday, July 19on OSN First HD
artslife@thenational.ae
