Rabbit Hole

John Weir makes a living manipulating what other people believe. Rabbit Hole gives the corporate espionage specialist a problem he cannot resolve simply by arranging a convincing appearance: somebody may be doing the same thing to him.

Kiefer Sutherland suits a lead whose suspicion is both a professional skill and a personal liability. Charles Dance adds a different kind of authority, while the supporting relationships keep the series from becoming only a sequence of concealed explanations.

The plot enjoys withholding information and then changing the meaning of an earlier scene. That can be entertaining, although the repeated reversals sometimes make it difficult to invest in the situation currently being presented. The performances are the more dependable attraction.

Expect a compact, twist-heavy conspiracy thriller rather than the sustained real-time pressure of 24. For a more measured exploration of identity and intelligence work, Counterpart is the stronger recommendation. Rabbit Hole is best when Sutherland has enough uncertainty to play, rather than another explanation to deliver.