Prime Target is a conspiracy thriller that delves into a world where math is considered one of the most dangerous concepts known to man. In this reality, prime numbers have become weapons of mass destruction, and the series follows the journey of Ed Brooks, a math genius, and NSA agent Taylah Sanders as they navigate a globe-trotting adventure filled with danger, espionage, and mathematical puzzles.
Over eight episodes, the series takes viewers on a thrilling ride, dodging armed goons, engaging in hacking, and solving a prime number-centric theorem that could destroy cybersecurity entirely. However, Ed's motivation for solving the theorem is different from others, who would use it to unlock every password-protected page on the internet.
The season 1 finale, titled "The Key," left many questions unanswered, leaving the reviewer feeling unsatisfied with the outcome. In a shocking twist, the main villain was revealed not to be Jane Torres or the NSA but a mysterious firm known as Axiorn. It was discovered that Kaplar and the NSA were colluding, while Axiorn was the true mastermind behind the sinister plot.
Axiorn was responsible for the murder of Safiya and Professor Mallinder, as well as the bomb that destroyed the long-buried Bayt al-Hikmah, killing many bystanders. They had also planted Adam to seduce and observe Ed, along with Professor James Alderman, who appeared to be a mastermind in Axiorn's plans.
Taylah uses the prime finder tool to take down both Kaplar and Axiorn, which prompts Jane and James into action. However, it's too late for Jane, as Taylah sends all evidence of the conspiracy to NSA headquarters at Fort Meade. In a tense confrontation, Jane and Taylah have it out in a field, while Ed seeks the help of James, only to discover that he is working against him.
James reveals his grand plan: making the prime finder openly available to bring down every system worldwide, resulting in catastrophic consequences. Ed realizes that he has become a "destroyer of worlds" due to creating the prime finder and decides to stop James by shooting him dead. Taylah appears soon after and helps Ed escape with the prime finder, taking the fall for her actions.
The finale concludes with an NSA press conference announcing an internal corruption probe into the agency's involvement in the conspiracy. However, the reviewer felt that the finale did not live up to its potential, particularly James' plan being squished into the final episode.
Despite the lackluster conclusion, there is still hope for a second season, with Ed on the run and possessing the most powerful math weapon in existence. Creator Steve Thompson has stated that there are no assurances at this stage, but the show had some entertaining moments and great production design. Ultimately, Prime Target failed to leave a lasting impact, leaving viewers feeling unsatisfied.
As of now, the series has not been renewed for a second season, but the reviewer leaves room for a potential comeback with Ed on the run and the prime finder in his possession.