# "The Line Of Fire." I Need Spoilers. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 23, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-line-of-fire-i-need-spoilers/225764 "2004-01-23T14:26:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-line-of-fire-i-need-spoilers/225764/1 "2004-01-23T14:26:33Z")
After my disappointment of The Sopranos (save it for another thread) I was thrilled to see a similar type of show to appear on a prime time network. I loved all of the hype and commercials. But I have trouble actually finding the show. I just happened to stumble across last week’s episode, and I was completely lost, although intrigued. So, I need spoilers. Specifically: I know that they have bumped NYPD Blue to show “Fire,” but is there a concrete time slot that is reserved for this show? What are the odds that it will stick around for more than a season? The main male lead character is a glorified pimp. What is this actor, and the character’s, name? I’ve seen this guy everywhere. The other half of the show consists of FBI agents? What is the connection between the pimp and the FBI agents? Is there any family relations between the two sides? Was there anything of ground breaking proportions in the first two episodes that one will have to know to follow the plot line? ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-line-of-fire-i-need-spoilers/225764/2 "2004-01-23T15:02:38Z")
The mafia boss, Jonah, is played by David Paymer. Usually he plays weenie bad guys, he’s sort of cast against type here. One of the FBI agents is working undercover in his syndicate. Also, his syndicate killed an FBI agent, I think in the first episode. The replacement for the dead agent is the whiny, idealistic “Why me?” 9/11 widow. ---
**Author:** ![HumanStromboli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@HumanStromboli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumanStromboli)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-line-of-fire-i-need-spoilers/225764/3 "2004-01-23T15:32:34Z")
Here’s all you need to know: He wants them to know _he owns this town_. Or so ABC football viewers were told for about two months. Actually, I was looking forward to this show, seeing as it’s set in Richmond, where I live. I saw the pilot and my react was “Meh.” ABC’s been promoting the hell out of it but the last I heard it was getting blasted in the ratings, so I wouldn’t expect a Season Two. ---
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-line-of-fire-i-need-spoilers/225764/4 "2004-01-28T14:29:18Z")
So I caught last night’s episode, which is the second episode that I ever saw. A couple comments. 1. The FBI agent who lost her husband in 9/11, and the other FBI agent whose daughter was held hostage last night, are terrible actresses. Actually, all of the FBI agents are horrible actors, especially the short red haired woman. Yuck. Definitely a weak point of the show. 2. It’s a well made and edgy show. I like the split screens that they sometimes do. The only problem is that the melodrama sometimes goes over the top. I hate melodrama. And now the questions. I’m giving this show the benefit of the doubt. Tuesday nights are not particularly good for me to sit down and watch a show, so I had to schedule time last night just to watch “Line of Fire.” But to keep the benefit of the doubt in place, I need answers. I understand that the shows features different groups of people who are connected in some way. I cannot see some of these connections. The middle aged burly guy who is married to the black woman. What is their connection to anyone else on the show? I noticed that the single guy who always wears a leather jacket, the current roommate of the middle aged burly guy, is Jonah’s Strong Arm Guy. But is that the only connection? I have a hard time keeping the FBI agents straight. What are the connections, if any, between them? Which FBI agent is undercover in Jonah’s whorehouse? ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-line-of-fire-i-need-spoilers/225764/5 "2004-01-28T19:26:37Z")
IIRC, The middle aged burly guy is in Jonah’s crime Syndicate. The guy living with him is the FBI guy. As for last nights show, Whiny Mom should have shot the guy when she had the chance. If you keep saying “drop the gun” and they don’t drop it, you double tap the mofo. “Oh but what if she missed him?” FBI agents aren’t supposed to miss. I think once NYPD Blue comes back this show is going to drop off my TV radar. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_Schmeese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Marconi\_Schmeese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_Schmeese)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-line-of-fire-i-need-spoilers/225764/6 "2004-01-29T16:47:02Z")
> [@Chicago Faucet](#): > > I know that they have bumped NYPD Blue to show “Fire,” but is there a concrete time slot that is reserved for this show? I guess it may depend on where you are, but it’s been in the Tuesday 10:00 slot ever since it came on. > [@Chicago Faucet](#): > > What are the odds that it will stick around for more than a season? I don’t know - I haven’t heard reviews. I will be very sad if it goes away. > [@Chicago Faucet](#): > > The main male lead character is a glorified pimp. What is this actor, and the character’s, name? I’ve seen this guy everywhere. I don’t know his IRL name, but his show name is Jonah. > [@Chicago Faucet](#): > > The other half of the show consists of FBI agents? Yes. > [@Chicago Faucet](#): > > What is the connection between the pimp and the FBI agents? Is there any family relations between the two sides? This hasn’t been developed completely yet. The FBI agent that was killed in the first episode was an informant to Jonah - he told him the addresses and names of the people relocated in the witness protection program. Now, Roy (the dead FBI agent’s old partner) is an undercover FBI agent in the mob. There are no family ties that have been revealed yet. > [@Chicago Faucet](#): > > Was there anything of ground breaking proportions in the first two episodes that one will have to know to follow the plot line? See above. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-line-of-fire-i-need-spoilers/225764/7 "2004-01-29T20:07:13Z")
Names to faces here: [http://abc.go.com/primetime/lineoffire/bios/cast.html](http://abc.go.com/primetime/lineoffire/bios/cast.html) > [@Chicago Faucet](#): > > The middle aged burly guy who is married to the black woman. What is their connection to anyone else on the show? Burly Guy is Donovan Stubbin, played by Brian Goodman. He’s a “lieutenant” for the bad guys, and the right-arm of Jonah Malloy. He brought in and vouched for the undercover agent, Roy Ravelle. His wife is in charge of Jonah’s prostitution operation. > [@Chicago Faucet](#): > > I noticed that the single guy who always wears a leather jacket, the current roommate of the middle aged burly guy, is Jonah’s Strong Arm Guy. But is that the only connection? > > I have a hard time keeping the FBI agents straight. What are the connections, if any, between them? > > Which FBI agent is undercover in Jonah’s whorehouse? Single Guy with Leather Jacket is Roy Ravelle, an undercover FBI agent who spent three years in jail and joined Jonah’s syndicate as an “enforcer” upon release. Roy apparently cares about one of the prostitutes, but this hasn’t been fully explained. Roy was an old ex-partner of the FBI agent that was killed in the series debut. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-line-of-fire-i-need-spoilers/225764/8 "2004-01-29T20:11:18Z")
[QUOTE=ElwoodCuse] As for last nights show, Whiny Mom should have shot the guy when she had the chance. If you keep saying “drop the gun” and they don’t drop it, you double tap the mofo. “Oh but what if she missed him?” FBI agents aren’t supposed to miss. [QUOTE] Actually, she should’ve shot him when he leaned against the opaque glass in the door. From the shadow, it was clear his head was right up against the glass. I like the FBI mother character… she’s one hot mommy. 😃