All NCIS Fans Need to Watch This 22-Year-Old CBS Crime Show That Was Canceled Way Too Soon

Over two decades ago, in 2003, CBS debuted a modest spin-off of its JAG series. Unbeknownst to them, the new show, dubbed NCIS, would become a media superpower. Now, with over 480 episodes of content, fans of the show have plenty to enjoy. To be more precise, with each episode clocking in at about 45 minutes, NCIS followers have over 360 hours — or 15 solid days — of content. But should they ever run out of new episodes, The Handler is a perfect complement to CBS’s iconic series.

The Handler Follows a Familiar Formula

via CBS

• Originally, CBS intended for The Handler to receive a full 22-episode debut. However, low ratings doomed the burgeoning show after just 16 episodes. Its cancellation ultimately left two of these episodes unaired.

Like any good procedural, The Handler begins with and revolves around a central premise. Where NCIS follows members of the Naval Criminal Investigation Service, The Handler takes a more subversive approach. Its leading protagonist, FBI agent Joe Renato (Joe Pantoliano), is a seasoned veteran of undercover operations who uses his skills to train future law enforcement personnel.

In more precise terms, Renato is to train and “handle” — as the title suggests — his young charges. Once prepped for work, his trainees are unleashed into the wild world of Los Angeles’s seedy underbelly. Included among his charges are Darnell (Hill Harper), Lily (Anna Belknap), Heather (Lola Glaudini), and Marcy (Tanya Wright).

Though technically classified as a thriller, Chris Haddock’s The Handler is a through-and-through procedural. Its dingy setting and grizzled cast blend perfectly with the “tougher and edgier” vibe common throughout the early 2000s. What it lacks in effects, being a fledgling show with a meager budget, it has in heart. And as previously noted, that 14-episode length makes it perfect fodder for a quick binge session.

The Handler Thrives on Character-Driven Drama

Image via CBS

As the leading man, Joe Pantoliano, then known for his roles in The Matrix and Memento, is the heart and soul of The Handler. His ability to captivate the essence of an upright FBI veteran carries CBS’s short-lived procedural. He is the consummate professional with a keen sense of justice, much like NCIS’s Gibbs, but he always has time for his team.

That give-and-take relationship further boosts the series, giving viewers plenty to chew on as its characters tackle high-stakes criminal enterprises. The tight-knit team infiltrates everything from rough-and-tumble bank robbery rings to white-collar corporate criminals. They take down jewelry thieves and murderers, and they do it all with a unique sense of style.

In some ways, The Handler is more closely aligned with the then-thriving Law & Order series. Yes, there are flashy fight scenes. The protagonists engage in tense stand-offs and lead-lined shoot-outs. But the show’s heart and soul is its covert action. It’s more James Bond than Blue Bloods. Admittedly, that aspect of The Handler may turn some NCIS fans away. After all, the long-running CBS darling has established itself as a source of high-octane thrills and nail-biting battles.

However, it’s had over two decades of steady viewership and generous budgeting to build that hard-won reputation. The Handler, meanwhile, had its wings rudely clipped just 14 episodes into its planned 22-episode run. And that abrupt ending is another of the show’s few weaknesses. Yes, it’s just about a tenth of NCIS’s length. But by the same logic, it lacks its more successful relative’s depth. Its characters are not as well-rounded. Its plot is disjointed and unfinished. Thanks to its abrupt cancellation, fans will never get that much-needed closure The Handler desperately needs.

But the show should be forgiven for these faults. Its producers and stellar cast could not control CBS’s whims. Poor viewership doomed The Handler from the start, but that doesn’t make it a worthless endeavor. 20 years after its original debut, the short-lived procedural is still a delight to watch. It scratches that procedural crime-fighting itch with a refreshingly sophisticated edge, and it’s truly a shame that it will remain a footnote in the annals of television history.