Treadstone

Treadstone expands the covert training programme from the Bourne films into an ensemble thriller. People in different places find that their lives are connected to capabilities and instructions they cannot simply set aside.

The international movement and physical action are the immediate attractions. Instead of following Jason Bourne, the series uses several characters to explore the reach of the programme and the difficulty of establishing who is directing events. That gives it variety, though it also means attention is divided between strands.

It is most suitable for viewers who want more of that espionage-action premise rather than another performance by Matt Damon. The unfinished nature of its television run is worth knowing before committing. There is energetic material here, but anyone who needs every major thread neatly resolved should take that limitation seriously.