'Treadstone' will see Korean actor Han Hyo-joo transform from a mother into a menacing assassin as part of CIA's covert operation
'Treadstone', one of the most anticipated action-thriller series coming to USA Network in October, is set in the same world as the Jason Bourne series. The show, created by Tim Kring, has cast a wide variety of talents including Korean actor Han Hyo-joo, well known for her role in the K-drama 'W', which also stars Lee Jon Suk.
Hyo-joo plays the role of So-yun, a mother to a young boy, and who seems to be leading a quiet life. From the stills that have been released, it looks like she is a piano teacher, whose life changes one fine day when she receives a remote.
According to a video dossier released by USA Network of So-yun, it is clear she is one of the recruits under the CIA's covert 'Operation Treadstone'. The operation uses behavior-modification protocol to turn its recruits into nearly superhuman assassins who would aid them in covert missions across the world.
Since the show uses the world as its stage and transitions through different global locations like Paris, Budapest, Berlin and beyond, the cast also reflects the countries where the show takes its audiences.
One day, when So-yun and her son return home, he hands her a remote of sorts which when she snatches away and later inspects, awakens in her the capability to serve as an assassin. The dossier video portrays her transition from a mother to a menacing assassin - not in-depth - but we get a clear idea of what this operation does to CIA recruits. What would be interesting to find out when the show airs is if these recruits gave their consent to be used as assassins or if they are being used by the government agency.
One of the show's trailers reveals that these recruits are really sleeper agents with apparent normal lives and no memory of their training, and who are "awakened" only when required by the agency. The same trailer also shows that the recruits who are currently being awakened are being used by someone with access to the technology and not the agency itself.
The recruit-sleeper agents are confused by the lives they are currently leading, but slowly learn what kept their memories locked. So-yun is one of them. So when she approaches Tzi Ma's character General Kwon in the trailer, he is surprised and questions her if she was awake. She doesn't respond and instead ends up attacking and even trying to kill him. This hints at So-yun not being herself, but being used by whoever has gained control to awaken each sleeper agent. Could the KGB really be behind this? We definitely see one of the agents begging a KGB operative, "Please don't make me do this." Makes us wonder if So-yun will fall prey and be controlled or if she will join other agents to fight for control.
'Treadstone' will premiere on USA Network on October 15 at 10 pm.