NBC’s Line of Fire follows a family spanning federal agencies
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NBC's new law enforcement drama *Line of Fire* distinguishes itself from the crowded procedural genre by following the Hollingsworth family, whose members work across multiple federal agencies rather than focusing on a single institution. Created by Joshua Safran, the show blends law enforcement drama with dysfunctional family dynamics, where professional disputes and personal conflicts become inseparable. The reviewer notes that whilst the premise is familiar and somewhat overstuffed, the execution proves surprisingly entertaining and avoids becoming obnoxious.
The series centres on parents Jane (Hope Davis), a high-ranking US Marshal, and Mike (Peter Krause), a Secret Service agent on the brink of retirement, alongside their four adult children working in the FBI, Secret Service, and Department of Justice. The cast's chemistry is praised throughout, with Davis and Krause sharing a particularly compelling wariness as a couple with shared secrets and deep history, whilst Kat Cunning stands out among the younger ensemble for her portrayal of Clare, the eldest daughter attempting to forge a life outside the family business. Early plot complications include Micah's ill-advised affair with the First Daughter and Clare's struggle to balance a new relationship with her demanding career.
- NBC's *Line of Fire* follows a federal agent family across multiple agencies, blending drama with dysfunction
- Hope Davis and Peter Krause anchor the cast with strong chemistry as estranged spouses
- The show entertains through overstuffed premise despite familiar law enforcement drama tropes
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NBC's new series Line of Fire follows a Washington, D.C. family where multiple members work in federal law enforcement across different agencies. Rather than focusing on a single police force or agency, the drama intertwines the professional and personal lives of the Hollingsworths, exploring how their work conflicts can strain their family relationships. This approach distinguishes the show from the many existing police and FBI procedurals on television.
Hope Davis and Peter Krause star in the show as Jane and Mike Hollingsworth, a married couple whose relationship has grown strained. Jane works as a US Marshal whilst Mike works for the Secret Service, and their adult children also hold positions across federal agencies including the FBI, Secret Service, and Department of Justice. The cast has been noted for its chemistry, particularly between Davis and Krause.
The show's strength lies in its attempt to blend family drama with crime-fighting narratives, though early episodes suggest it walks a fine line between entertaining and implausible. Reviewers have found the deliberately packed premise surprisingly watchable, though some flag that certain plot developments risk pushing the show towards the latter.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The show's deliberately overstuffed approach is actually its strength. Rather than another formulaic procedural about a single agency, it takes an interesting structural gamble by centring a family spread across multiple federal agencies, allowing professional and personal stakes to intertwine naturally. The reviewer notes it 'proves surprisingly entertaining' with strong cast chemistry, particularly between Davis and Krause, demonstrating that audiences are hungry for character-driven television that innovates on tired formats.
The case against
Television's strength lies in focus and coherence, and the show's attempt to juggle too many elements—multiple law enforcement agencies, marital dysfunction, implausible plot threads like affairs with the First Daughter—risks becoming a scattered melodrama rather than a compelling drama. The reviewer themselves acknowledges these plausibility issues, suggesting the kitchen-sink approach may soon tip from entertainment into farce. Procedurals with singular focus have proven more successful because they allow deep, satisfying storytelling in a coherent world rather than shallow treatment of competing elements.
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Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “‘Line of Fire’ Review: Peter Krause and Hope Davis Lead NBC’s Silly but Diverting Law Enforcement Family Drama”.