Taken

Before he was the weathered protector from the movies, Bryan Mills is shown as a younger, driven former Green Beret whose life is upended by a personal loss. The series follows how that event sharpens his instincts and channels him toward ruthless problem solving, while he balances the need for revenge with a new professional role. As he takes on missions that demand secrecy and violence, Mills learns the tradecraft that will define him, and the moral compromises that come with it. The show focuses on his training, relationships, and the practical costs of becoming the kind of operative who can never fully switch off.

The series premiered on NBC in 2017, created by Alexander Cary and inspired by the Taken film franchise. Clive Standen leads as Bryan Mills, joined by Jennifer Beals, Adam Goldberg, and Jessica Camacho. It was conceived as an origin story to expand familiar franchise characters for television audiences.

Taken expanded the franchise by tracing Bryan's transition from soldier to covert agent, giving fans a fuller timeline and more context for the films. While it didn't produce an instantly iconic moment that eclipsed the movies, the show prompted discussions among genre viewers about prequels, serialized action, and how much backstory a well known character needs.

Critics and viewers gave mixed to positive responses, reflected in an average vote of 6.5 out of 10 from 261 votes. Reviewers often praised Standen's physicality and the show's procedural beats, while some noted uneven pacing and tonal shifts between action, drama, and occasional humor. Recurring themes include trauma, loyalty, the ethics of intelligence work, and how violence reshapes identity.

The series did not earn major awards or high profile nominations during its run. It found a modest audience and is mainly recognized for extending the Taken universe rather than for trophy room achievements.