
The Pretender
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Jarod is a Pretender - a genius whose exceptional intelligence allows him to assume various identities at will, be it doctor, test pilot or lawyer. Taken from his parents at an early age, Jarod was brought up in the Centre, a think-tank facility where he believed his computer-like mind was being used to benefit mankind. But when he learned the simulations he solved were being sold to the highest-bidder no matter what their intent, Jarod escaped. Now on the run, Jarod embarks on a search for his true identity while also attempting to balance out any wrong his simulations have caused by helping people who are as powerless as he once was.
Highest-rated episodes all ranked
- 01
LifelineJarod becomes a bodyguard for a gunworks owner and his fiancée, who's hiding a couple of secrets. - 02
PilotJarod poses as a doctor to help a boy whose spinal cord was severed. - 03
School DazeJarod poses as a sixth-grade teacher to help a young murder witness; in another plotline, Miss Parker is reunited with a woman from her past.
Cast
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01
PilotSeptember 19, 1996Jarod poses as a doctor to help a boy whose spinal cord was severed. - S01E02
Every Picture Tells a StorySeptember 28, 1996To help the widow and daughter of a drowned fisherman, Jarod joins the Coast Guard. - S01E03
FlyerOctober 19, 1996—While posing as a test pilot, Jarod tries to find out the circumstances surrounding the death of an Air Force lieutenant killed in a crash. - S01E04
Curious JarodOctober 26, 1996—In Las Vegas, Jarod uncovers a casino's cash leak, becomes security chief and tries to learn the facts behind a showgirl's assault. - S01E05
The Paper ClockNovember 2, 1996—Jarod poses as a lawyer in order to help a wrongly convicted, mentally challenged janitor who's serving time. - S01E06
To Serve and ProtectNovember 9, 1996—To solve the killing of a security guard in a robbery, Jarod poses as a policeman. - S01E07
A Virus Among UsNovember 16, 1996—In the guise of a virologist, Jarod tries to find a missing scientist. - S01E08
Not Even a MouseDecember 14, 1996—Posing as a medical examiner, Jarod tries to solve the murder of a homeless person. - S01E09
MirageJanuary 4, 1997—While posing as a sky-diving instructor, Jarod investigates the death of the company's co-owner. - S01E10
The Better Part of ValorJanuary 11, 1997—Jarod poses as a fireman to uncover an arson plot and the true circumstances surrounding a firefighter's death. - S01E11
Bomb SquadJanuary 18, 1997—As a member of a bomb squad, Jarod attempts to piece together clues to identify the "fax bomber." - S01E12
Prison StoryFebruary 1, 1997—Jarod poses as a penitentiary guard in order to try to prove the innocence of a prisoner scheduled to be executed for killing another inmate - S01E13
Bazooka JarodFebruary 8, 1997—Lt. Cdr. Jarod goes to Long Beach, where he investigates a petty officer's death aboard a destroyer. - S01E14
Ranger JarodFebruary 15, 1997—Posing as a forest ranger, Jarod joins the search for a missing ornithology student and also finds himself falling in love for the first tim - S01E15
Jaroldo!March 8, 1997—While posing as a TV-news cameraman, Jarod discovers the true details of a shooting that left his predecessor incapacitated. - S01E16
Under the RedsMarch 22, 1997—In Atlanta, Jarod is an ambulance attendant who uncovers an insurance scam between a driver and a doctor. - S01E17
KeysApril 5, 1997—Miss Parker catches up to Jarod in Florida---during a hurricane---and winds up involved in his efforts to thwart a corrupt marine-patrol off - S01E18
Unhappy LandingsApril 26, 1997—Jarod is a U.S. Marshal trying to ensure the safety of a witness in a drug case. - S01E19
Jarod's HonorMay 3, 1997—Posing as a hit man, Jarod is hired to kill a jazz-club owner and his wife. Meanwhile, Sydney and Miss Parker attend a twins convention. - S01E20
Baby LoveMay 10, 1997—After finding a baby in a dumpster, Jarod cares for the child while trying to determine why he was left there. - S01E21
The Dragon House (1)May 17, 1997—Jarod poses as a Federal agent to help his childhood friend, Kyle, who's now a fugitive. - S01E22
The Dragon House (2)May 17, 1997—While helping an old friend, Jarod finds a link to his mother and discovers that he's not an only child.
Season02
- S02E01
Back From the Dead AgainNovember 1, 1997Jarod poses as a professor to solve a murder. - S02E02
Scott FreeNovember 8, 1997—In order to help a parolee who wants to go straight, Jarod takes the place of a safecracker. - S02E03
Over the EdgeNovember 15, 1997—Jarod investigates an apparent suicide attempt by a member of a search-and-rescue team. - S02E04
ExposedNovember 22, 1997—Posing as a photographer, Jarod tries to track down a stalker who harasses models. And Miss Parker discovers more about her parents. - S02E05
Nip and TuckDecember 6, 1997—Working as a plastic surgeon, Jarod discovers the truth about a singer's botched operation. - S02E06
Past SimDecember 13, 1997—After Jarod realizes that one of his simulations has been used to kidnap the only witness in a trial against a crime lord, he tries to recti - S02E07
Collateral DamageJanuary 3, 1998—Jarod poses as an Army Ranger to investigate the 25-year-old death of a Vietnam vet whose daughter wants his name cleared. - S02E08
HazardsJanuary 10, 1998—Following a deadly chemical accident, Jarod saves the life of a suicidal engineer who blames himself for three co-workers' deaths. - S02E09
F/XJanuary 17, 1998—Jarod poses as a special-effects coordinator to try and learn the truth about an explosion that injured a stunt driver. - S02E10
Indy ShowJanuary 31, 1998—Jarod poses as a race-car driver to learn about a crash that injured a racer. Meanwhile, Sydney brings his brother home from the hospital. - S02E11
Gigolo JarodFebruary 7, 1998—While working as an escort, Jarod uncovers a wealthy woman's past, learns the truth about an 8-year-old's death, and plays Cupid for an estr - S02E12
Toy SurpriseMarch 7, 1998—Jarod warns Miss Parker that someone is going to kill her father. He also tries to help a teen who blames himself for a friend's death. - S02E13
A Stand Up GuyMarch 14, 1998—Jarod poses as a counterfeiter working with mobsters in order to learn the facts about an FBI agent's murder. Meanwhile, Miss Parker goes af - S02E14
UnforgottenMarch 21, 1998—While an eccentric holds Jarod captive, the Centre interrogates Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots. - S02E15
BulletproofMarch 28, 1998—SWAT officer Jarod tries to find a lieutenant's killer; Sydney searches for someone close to him. - S02E16
SilenceApril 4, 1998—As a DEA psychiatrist, Jarod tries to get a traumatized 5-year-old murder witness to speak. - S02E17
CrashApril 11, 1998—Jarod investigates the crash of an airplane on which he'd given his seat to a student. - S02E18
StolenMay 2, 1998—Jarod takes the place of a millionaire whose son has been kidnapped, in order to negotiate with the kidnapper. - S02E19
Red Rock JarodMay 2, 1998—A message supposedly from Jarod begins an adventure that sees him taken prisoner and soon reveals that two people who were believed killed a - S02E20
BankMay 9, 1998—Jarod and Miss Parker become hostages in a bank robbery, and among the other customers is a stranger who holds a key to their pasts. - S02E21
Bloodlines (1)May 16, 1998—Jarod tries to prevent the Centre from taking a boy to be trained to be another pretender. - S02E22
Bloodlines (2)May 16, 1998—As Jarod tries to protect a boy, Miss Parker discovers that she has a twin brother.
Season03
- S03E01
CrazyOctober 17, 1998—Jarod is confined to an asylum and Miss Parker learns the identity of her brother. - S03E02
Hope and PreyOctober 24, 1998—Jarod gets closer to learning his father's identity after he meets a man whose life Jarod's father once saved. - S03E03
Once in a Blue MoonOctober 31, 1998—In order to try to find a kidnapped girl before she's killed, Jarod launches into a battle of wills with a kidnapper whose capture he caused - S03E04
Someone to TrustNovember 7, 1998—Jarod poses as a professional arsonist to expose a corrupt lawyer, only to find himself falling for the lawyer's wife. - S03E05
BetrayalNovember 14, 1998—Jarod and Broots team up to try to prevent an act of terrorism that's being planned by an old enemy of Jarod's. - S03E06
ParoleNovember 21, 1998—Jarod poses as an ex-con in order to find a parolee's killer. Meanwhile, Sydney is reunited with some people from his past. - S03E07
HomefrontDecember 12, 1998—Jarod poses as an arms dealer, in order to try to reunite two children with their mother. - S03E08
Flesh and BloodJanuary 2, 1999—Jarod tries to rescue Sydney's son and three others who are taken hostage by a militia group. - S03E09
Murder 101January 9, 1999—Jarod poses as a psychology professor in order to learn what happened to his predecessor. - S03E10
Mr. LeeFebruary 6, 1999—A visually impaired man insists that he will find Jarod if he's able to speak to seven people who have crossed paths with the elusive quarry - S03E11
The AssassinFebruary 6, 1999—Jarod helps a woman whose children have been abducted. Meanwhile, Miss Parker is attracted to a stranger. - S03E12
UnsinkableFebruary 13, 1999—Bound in chains and thrown off a pier, Jarod recalls the Atlantic City events that led to his current predicament. - S03E13
PoolFebruary 20, 1999—Jarod becomes a pool player in order to help a young singer and to settle a score with a wealthy bigot. - S03E14
At the Hour of Our DeathFebruary 27, 1999—Jarod and Miss Parker each face life-threatening experiences after his plane crashes and she's rushed to an ER. - S03E15
CountdownMarch 20, 1999—Jarod goes to a Mexican prison, in order to arrange for an inmate to donate a kidney to a son he didn't know existed. - S03E16
P.T.B.April 3, 1999—Jarod tries to help a radio talk-show host, who's on the run from a mysterious stalker. Meanwhile, Miss Parker must decide whether to leave - S03E17
Ties That BindApril 10, 1999—Jarod befriends a runaway youth. Meanwhile, Miss Parker announces her intentions concerning the Centre. - S03E18
Wake UpMay 1, 1999—Jarod and Miss Parker meet---more than once---in order to try to find the "missing pieces" involved with a murder. - S03E19
End GameMay 8, 1999While posing as a police detective, Jarod investigates the abduction of a teenage chess expert, and Sam of "Profiler" is called in to assist - S03E20
QallupilluitMay 22, 1999—In an attempt to find his father, Jarod poses as a climatologist and journeys to an arctic research station, unaware that it's operated by t - S03E21
DoNotErase (1)May 22, 1999—Jarod and his father are finally reunited. However, assassins from the Centre are hot on their trail. - S03E22
DoNotErase (2)May 22, 1999—Jarod and his father team up to rescue the clone created by the Centre's project. Meanwhile, Miss Parker learns more about her mother's murd
Season04
- S04E01
The World's ChangingSeptember 25, 1999—Jarod is a prisoner of the Centre, but he escapes to try to save the lives of two researchers. Meanwhile, Miss Parker is recovering from bei - S04E02
SurvivalOctober 2, 1999—As Miss Parker and Mr. Lyle struggle to survive in a trap that he set for them, Jarod investigates a soldier's supposed suicide during isola - S04E03
Angel's FlightOctober 30, 1999—Jarod poses as a San Francisco police detective, in order to try to find a teen who has disappeared; meanwhile, Miss Parker wonders about a - S04E04
Risque BusinessNovember 6, 1999—Jarod poses as a sex therapist, in order to try to find out the circumstances surrounding an attack on a female therapist. - S04E05
Road TripNovember 13, 1999—While Jarod befriends a woman on the run, Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots embark on a movie-inspired expedition. - S04E06
ExtremeDecember 4, 1999—Jarod investigates the events that left a bungee jumper in a coma; meanwhile, Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots follow a "Let's Make a Deal" se - S04E07
Wild ChildDecember 11, 1999—Jarod poses as a psychiatrist, in order to try to learn the identity of a "wild child" found in the forest and the circumstances surrounding - S04E08
Rules of EngagementJanuary 8, 2000—While FBI hostage negotiator Jarod deals with two brothers who have taken over a hospital, Miss Parker tries to help her father, who's in hi - S04E09
'Til Death Do Us PartJanuary 15, 2000—Jarod gives Miss Parker information that may help her solve Thomas's murder; meanwhile, a killing at the Centre casts suspicion on Mr. Parke - S04E10
Spin DoctorFebruary 5, 2000—A crossover episode with "The Profiler" finds Rachel and Bailey working with Secret Service agent Jarod to solve the murder of the man who h - S04E11
Cold DickFebruary 12, 2000—In the style of old detective movies, Jarod poses as a Las Vegas PI searching for a missing showgirl. - S04E12
Season's bestLifelineFebruary 19, 2000Jarod becomes a bodyguard for a gunworks owner and his fiancée, who's hiding a couple of secrets. - S04E13
Ghosts From the PastFebruary 26, 2000—While Jarod poses as a member of a racist group, Angelo is convinced that someone from Jarod's past is out to kill him. - S04E14
The Agent of Year ZeroMarch 11, 2000—Jarod poses as a Government agent in order to help a visually impaired Cambodian woman who accidentally encounters the colonel responsible f - S04E15
JunkMarch 25, 2000—Jarod poses as a drug addict to help a mother who was once addicted and is now in rehab, but doesn't understand how she got there. - S04E16
School DazeApril 22, 2000Jarod poses as a sixth-grade teacher to help a young murder witness; in another plotline, Miss Parker is reunited with a woman from her past - S04E17
MeltdownApril 29, 2000—While Jarod plays gang member, attempting to find a little girl's killer, Miss Parker tries to learn about a project concerning her late mot - S04E18
Corn Man A CominMay 6, 2000—After buying a camcorder at a pawn shop, Jarod tries to find the mother and daughter on the tape, which ends with them in peril. - S04E19
The Inner Sense (1)May 13, 2000The fourth-season finale has Jarod being contacted by his father, who tells him where to locate his sister. - S04E20
The Inner Sense (2)May 13, 2000—Facts become clearer concerning Ethan and Mr. Raines; Zoe is kidnapped.
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