Initiate

Initiate is a television series, starring singer-songwriter Regina Harper, that premiered on ABC in the United States on September 15th 2013. The series follows an assassin gone rogue called Titania (portrayed by Harper) who plans on executing her superiors Matt (Misha Collins) and Ruth (Charisma Carpenter).

Plot
The series revolves around an assassin called Titania (Harper), working for a secret organization run by Matt King (Misha Collins) and Ruth Benson (Charisma Carpenter), known as The Initiative, who send out assassins at the order of the US government. Titania has been working at the corporation for 2 years while disguising herself as a normal twenty-something year old, Ariel Fitzpatrick, when she's not at work. But when Titania is forced to kill a young girl after the girl discovers a dreaded secret the US government is holding, Titania makes it her mission to get revenge on everyone involved, while exposing those involved in this big "secret" not yet revealed.

In the season one finale, it is revealed (only to the audience) that Ruth Benson is rather low-ranking in the Initiative and works for a much higher power. In the same episode, Larissa is killed by an unknown gunman.

Main Cast

 * Titania/Ariel Fitzpatrick (Regina Harper) (Season 1 - present) has been working at The Initiative for 2 years, when one late night she is called to take out someone her boss Ruth deems to be a 'huge threat', capable of leaking something that someone higher up is demanding be kept quiet. When Titania arrives to the scene she is disgusted to find out she is being ordered to kill a five year old girl, as well as her mother. The series is set up from here as Titania plans on 'keeping her cool' at work, but is secretly planning on taking taking down the Initiative from the inside, while also planning on executing her superiors after she becomes consumed with guilt for that she was ordered to do. Kill a drug smuggler? Fine! Kill a murderer? Great! Kill an innocent child? Fuck no. Titania is bad-ass. A bit of a tomboy. Wild at times, too. She has a year-old child and she doesn't even know who the father is. But deep down she is an insecure twenty one year old who just wants the best for her daughter.
 * Larissa/Jennifer Montgomery (Christa B. Allen) (Season 1) was hired to work at the initiative when she was only 17 years old. Now 22 years old, she's considered one of their top assassins and has carried out tasks those working in the business for decades could only dream of. Personality wise though, Larissa is the total antithesis of Titania. She's sweet, humble, always smiling. And she has a bit of a thing for Romeo...
 * Romeo (Drew Van Acker) (Season 1 - present) is the new guy at The Initiatve. Tall, dark and handsome, he's straight away a hit with the ladies. Especially Larissa... She sets her eyes on the 21 year old newbie straight away and becomes a terrible flirt. And by terrible, we mean that she's awful at it! But Romeo is hiding something, something big. Titania becomes aware of this and makes it her mission to get to the bottom of it.
 * Matt King (Misha Collins) (Season 1 - present) is a big guy at The Initiative. Most people there call him 'Boss'. He makes decisions. He fires people. He kills people. He even swoons people... Matt is quiet and doesn't talk much. Most believe him to be a bit of a 'prick', but what if it was simply the fact he hates that he has to answer everything Ruth Benson says with: "Yes, boss"?
 * Ruth Benson (Charisma Carpenter) (Season 1 - present) is the big boss. She owns everything. She makes final decisions. She has the power, the control. You mess with Ruth, you lose an arm. Mess with her twice? Better hide your wife and kids. A cold, heartless bitch whose motto is "My way or the die way", she is greatly feared at The Initiative. She doesn't disguise the fact that she finds most of her assassins to be weak and utterly useless.
 * Triton/Blaine Patterson (Tad Hilgenbrink) (Recurring season 1, season 2 - present) is the Initiative's biggest jerk. You know that jock that always takes gym class too seriously? Yeah, that's his archetype. Triton thinks he's the best out of all the assassins and straight away begins picking on the newcomer, Romeo. He better watch out, because Romeo isn't as quiet as he's made out to be...
 * Cupid/Miranda Jean Osbourne (Vanessa Ray) (Season 2 - present) is new to the Initiative in season two as a replacement for Larissa. Initially she does not see eye to eye with Titania, but the pair quickly put their differences aside when Titania discovers in the Season 2 mid-season finale that Cupid is playing double-agent and is also planning on taking down the organisation, with a little help from someone on the inside. But who? She can't say... yet.

Recurring Cast

 * Nicola Parker (Shay Mitchell) (Season 1 - present) is Titania's best friend when she isn't working and goes by the name of Ariel Fitzpatrick. Nicola isn't aware of Ariel's job, thinking she works as a company manager for a firm located at the heart of Los Angeles. Nicola is also Emma's (Ariel's daughter) babysitter. The character of Nicola only appears in 3 episodes of season 2 and is thus Shay Mitchell is given the title of "Special Guest Star" in these episodes.
 * Dr. Declan White (Mark Harmon) (Season 1 - present) is a medical doctor working at the Initiative, who cares for the assassins when they return from an engagement and suffer an injury.
 * Europa (Amy Acker) (Season 1) is another assassin. She is very quiet and keeps to herself. But rather can coming across as shy, she comes across as being a bit stuck-up. Her character is absent without explanation in season 2. According to Mike Kelley, Amy Acker was unavailable for filming the character was dropped from the series.
 * Alexander McConnell (Doug Savant) (Season 1 - present), President of the United States.
 * Cassandra Blake (Lucy DeVitto) (Season 2 - present) is a lawyer working to help Titania bring down the Initiative.
 * Senator Emerson Blake (Joe Morton) (Season 2 - present), husband of Cassandra with a secret of his own.
 * Colette McConnell (Andrea Parker) (Season 2 - present), First Lady of the United States.
 * Desiree Lung (Jada Pinkett Smith) (Season 2 - present), ex-assassin currently being held hostage by the Initiative. Was known as Pandora during her days employed at the Initiative. Constantly mentioned throughout season 1 and referred to as a "myth" by assassins at the Initiative due to nobody being able to prove she ever existed. Why she is being held captive by Ruth Benson is unknown and is part of season 2's mystery.

Casting
Regina Harper was the first to be cast in the role in 2012, in a role that had been written specifically for her.

On October 5, 2014 it was announced that Academy Award winning actor & singer Taylor would join the cast for a special guest arc in season 2.

Seasons
ABC ordered a total of 24 episodes for season one of 'Initiative' to air in two 12-part stints. The first 12 episodes of season one will air from September - November. The show will take a winter hiatus and air the second half of the season from March 10th until May 26th.

In December 2013, the show was renewed for a full second season of 24 episodes, despite the second half of season one having yet to air. The show averaged ratings of 7.4 million viewers per episode for the first twelve episodes.

Ratings
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of Initiate on ABC.