DC Comics have been represented in live action form on television since Adventures of Superman aired in 1952. There are currently 9 shows airing that are based on DC Comics, while in the 90s there were 5. If you look at a timeline of DCTV shows, you'll notice a gap between 1997, when Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman ended, and 2012, when Arrow began. During that 15 year period, only 3 DCTV shows aired: Birds of Prey, Human Target, and Smallville. Smallville was an iconic show that kept audiences (mostly) entertained for 10 seasons. Because Smallville was such a success, people rarely remember Birds of Prey or Human Target. Human Target only lasted 2 seasons but I truly believe if it aired today, and not on FOX, it would be a hit.

Human Target is about ex-assassin now bodyguard and security expert, Christopher Chance and his quest to protect people. Chance used to work for the "Old Man," the leader of an organization of professional mercenaries and assassins. Chance is now working for the other side and he's looking to protect those who need it. Chance has the help of his team, former detective Laverne Winston and ex(sometimes current) assassin Guerrero. Every week follows a new target and a new challenge for Chance.

If you want to see what the show is about, look no further than the first episode. After the attempted murder of Stephanie Dobbs, the designer of a Californian bullet train, she hires Chance to protect her. He poses as her Japanese-English translator and accompanies her on the train's first voyage. When an attempted poisoning is spotted by Chance, the killer, dressed as a waiter, takes a more direct approach. Chance is able to fight him off and kill him. Meanwhile Guerrero and Winston discover that Stephanie used to have a relationship with reporter Mark Hoffer, to whom Stephanie anonymously leaked damaging information about the train manufacturer. Stephanie's husband knew about the affair, but waited to kill her until she finished designing the train so that he could receive the financial bonus for its completion. This episode is filled with all the twists and action in a typical episode of Human Target, and I encourage every-one to watch it.

Back to my main point, why I think Human Target would be successful if it aired today. Human Target has all the tools it needs to be successful in today's superhero television world. The first appeal of the show is Chance himself. When the show opens we know very little about Chance. He's a man with a dark past that is now trying to do good, sound familiar? As the series progresses we learn more about Chance, who he was before he became good, what made him change his mind, and why he chose the name Christopher Chance. A protagonist like Chance is exactly what viewers love, a complicated character who's an expert in almost everything, like Dr. House or Oliver Queen.

What really makes a show thrive are the supporting characters, and Human Target has some of the best. Winston is Chance's best friend and acts as the level headed one. Winston looks out for Chance and they have a relationship that is really fun to watch. Guerrero used to work for the Old Man and now works with Chance, although he's not entirely on the good side. He still has some...questionable, ways of getting what he wants.

Kind of like in this scene:

Some of the best dialogue is between Winston and Guerrero, they are both clever and funny. Quick witted supporting characters are always popular, these characters would flourish if they were to come back.

I also have to add how amazing the theme music is from season 1, just listen for yourself.

You're probably asking yourself, if this show is so great, why did it fail? The short answer, it aired on FOX. Season 1 was great, it was fun, it had great action and the underlying plot moved forward at a solid pace. Then FOX came and did FOX things. They wanted to make the show more appealing to women so they added two women to the cast, a thief named Ames and billionaire benefactor Ilsa Pucci. I actually think Ames added a great deal to the show and her back and forth with Guerrero made for some great moments. The problem lies with Ilsa Pucci. There are two sides to Ilsa's character, the widow to a billionaire who died under mysterious circumstances, and Chance's possible love interest. It's the latter I have a problem with. The love plot between Chance and Ilsa felt very forced. The show worked well when Chance and Ilsa were at odds. Ilsa's character worked when she acted as a conscience for the team. Once they introduced the love aspect into Chance and Ilsa's relationship many people lost interest, on top of that FOX changed around the time slot, and it's no mystery why this show didn't get a third season. While I don't think season 2 is as bad as some people make it out to be, it was a big decline from the first season.

Human Target isn't remembered by many, but those who do, remember it fondly. Human Target's first season was full of potential, and I have no doubt it would succeed if it were to ever be brought back.