The Handler, on the other hand, seems to be getting into its comfort zone, though just as its apparent demise approaches. While it does traffic in well-worn narrative conventions (a gussied up way of saying "cliche"), the writing and acting is sharp enough for familiar plot devices to not matter. The show's very premise is appealing, I'm sure, to its actors, who get to put on a new character every week -- and watching the agents-cum-actors gives the viewers an almost smug satisfaction of knowing more than the people being staked out.