Peter Krause fans, rejoice: the actor is back on network TV, and he's trading his firefighter gear for a Secret Service suit. After his character Bobby Nash met a tragic end on 9-1-1, Krause leads NBC's Line of Fire, a new drama that mixes high-stakes government conspiracy with the kind of messy family dynamics that keep viewers hooked.
Line of Fire centers on the Hollingsworths, a family of law enforcement agents whose lives are upended when a shocking murder rocks their inner circle. Krause plays Mike Hollingsworth, a Secret Service agent on the verge of retirement. His wife, Jane (Hope Davis), is a Deputy U.S. Marshal, and their daughter Clare (Kat Cunning) is an FBI Special Agent. The youngest son, Russ (Taylor Bloom), works at the Department of Justice, while older son Micah (Tommy O'Brien) is also a Secret Service agent—and he's sleeping with the president's daughter, Sydney (Savannah Lee Smith). If that sounds like a lot, it is, but the show leans into its soapy excess with gusto.
A family of agents, a web of secrets
Unlike typical cop procedurals that stick to street-level crimes, Line of Fire operates in the upper echelons of federal law enforcement. The Hollingsworths have access to cases that go far beyond your average homicide, which gives the series a broader canvas. But the show wisely uses those jobs as a backdrop for the real drama: the tangled relationships within the family. Mike and Jane are separated but clearly not over each other. Clare is terrified to introduce her boyfriend Logan (Pico Alexander) to her judgmental parents. Micah resents his father's constant oversight. And Russ is desperate to prove he's not a leak because of his last name.
It's a classic recipe for juicy television, and the pilot delivers plenty of push-and-pull. The family dynamic feels authentic even when the situations are heightened, thanks to sharp performances from Krause and Davis. Their scenes together crackle with unresolved tension, making it easy to root for them even when they're at odds.
The twist that changes everything
Just when you think you have Line of Fire figured out, the pilot drops a bombshell. The family has long believed that Mike's son from his first marriage, Jack (Charlie Barnett), died by suicide after returning from Afghanistan. Photos of him have been removed from the house, and his name is barely spoken. But in the final moments, we learn Jack is alive—and he's been living next door under the alias Joel. When Logan discovers the truth, Jack kills him, leaving Logan dead on the living room floor.
It's a twist worthy of The Blacklist, and it instantly raises the stakes. Clare is devastated, and Mike's retirement is put on hold as Homeland Security Detective Nia Wallace (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) investigates. The reveal also suggests that Mike and Jane may have known Jack was alive and working undercover, adding another layer of deception to the family's already complicated web.
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Procedural bones, soapy heart
While Line of Fire has the trappings of a high-concept spy drama, it never forgets its procedural roots. Each episode promises a case-of-the-week element, balanced against the larger conspiracy arc. That's a tricky balance to maintain, but the pilot suggests the show has the chops to pull it off. The action sequences are tense, the dialogue is snappy, and the cliffhangers are effective.
Of course, the soapier elements—like Micah's forbidden romance with the president's daughter—might feel out of place to some viewers. But they also add a layer of escapist fun that keeps the show from taking itself too seriously. It's a blend that worked for shows like Scandal and Homeland, and it works here too.
Ultimately, Line of Fire is a promising start for Krause's post-9-1-1 career. It's twisty, addictive, and just soapy enough to keep you coming back. If you're looking for a new thriller to sink your teeth into, this one should be on your radar. And if you need more action in your life, check out the best action movie of every year for some streaming inspiration.
