The Grid (TV serial)
A 2004 serial about a team fighting economic terrorism.
The Grid is a 2004 television drama serial co-produced by the BBC, Fox TV Studios and Carnival Films. It starred Dylan McDermott and Julianna Margulies. In the US, it aired on TNT over three consecutive nights, and on BBC Two in the UK. It is available on DVD in the UK, the US, and Australia. It also aired on Seven HD in Australia in 2007.
The story follows an international counter-terrorism team formed after a failed Sarin attack in London kills both terrorists and civilians. The team’s goal is to disrupt a terrorist cell aiming to destroy the world’s economic foundations. The team includes Maren Jackson, an NSA administrator; Max Canary, an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force SAC; and Raza Michaels, a CIA expert on Middle Eastern culture. They work with two British intelligence officers: MI5 senior field agent Derek Jennings and MI6 mid-level administrator Emily Tuthill. Maren created the team to cut through red tape and encourage cooperation, but is blocked by CIA Assistant Director Acton Sandman, who wants to lead. Sandman pressures Raza politically and eventually fires him for remaining loyal to Maren. After the team is misled into evacuating Manhattan’s subways under a false alarm, Maren and Sandman set aside their differences to stop the cell. During the operation, Emily and Raza become a couple. Raza is killed in Syria while trying to talk down children coerced by the cell leader to martyr themselves. After the successful operation, Maren becomes National Security Advisor. Emily resigns from MI6 after nearly killing cell leader Yussef Nasseriah. Max, Acton, and Derek return to their agencies.
The cast includes Dylan McDermott as Max Canary, Julianna Margulies as Maren Jackson, Tom Skerritt as Acton Sandman, Piter Marek as Raza Michaels, Bernard Hill as Derek Jennings, Jemma Redgrave as Emily Tuthill, James Remar as Hudson Benoit, Alki David as Yussef Nasseriah, Barna Moricz as Kaz Moore, Silas Carson as Dr. Raghib Mutar, and Andy Velasquez as Foud al Bansour.
The show had six episodes. When originally aired on TNT, episodes 1 and 2 aired as one, and episodes 5 and 6 aired as one.
- type
- Television drama serial
- year
- 2004
- network
- TNT (US), BBC Two (UK), Seven HD (Australia)
- episodes
- 6 (aired as 4 on TNT)
- cast
- Dylan McDermott, Julianna Margulies, Tom Skerritt, Piter Marek, Bernard Hill, Jemma Redgrave
- premise
- International counter-terrorism team formed after a failed Sarin attack in London
Lore & Background
The Grid centers on Maren Jackson, an NSA operative who creates a multinational counter-terrorism team to bypass bureaucratic red tape. The team includes FBI Special Agent Max Canary, CIA analyst Raza Michaels, MI5 agent Derek Jennings, and MI6 agent Emily Tuthill. They face opposition from CIA Assistant Director Acton Sandman, who wants control of the operation. The terrorists, led by Yussef Nasseriah, manipulate the team into evacuating Manhattan's subways under a false alarm. Sandman pressures Raza Michaels, eventually firing him for loyalty to Maren. When an imminent threat emerges, Maren and Sandman set aside their differences to work together. During the mission, Emily Tuthill and Raza Michaels become a couple, but Raza is killed in Syria while trying to prevent children from being coerced into martyrdom. After the operation, Maren Jackson becomes National Security Advisor, Emily Tuthill resigns from MI6 after nearly killing Nasseriah, and the other agents return to their agencies.
Reader's Guide
The Grid is significant as a post-9/11 television drama that explores the complexities of international counter-terrorism cooperation. It aired on TNT in the US and BBC Two in the UK over three consecutive nights, and later on Seven HD in Australia in 2007. The serial highlights tensions between US and British intelligence agencies, as well as internal rivalries within the CIA and FBI. Its portrayal of a terrorist cell targeting economic foundations reflects contemporary fears. The show is available on DVD in the UK, United States, and Australia. While not widely remembered, it features a notable cast including Dylan McDermott and Julianna Margulies, and addresses themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the personal costs of counter-terrorism work.
Did You Know?
- The Grid is a 2004 television drama serial co-produced by the BBC, Fox TV Studios and Carnival Films.
- It aired on TNT in the US and on BBC Two in the UK over three consecutive nights.
- When originally aired on TNT, episodes 1 & 2 aired as one episode, as did episodes 5 & 6.
- The series follows a team assembled after a failed Sarin attack in London.
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