Frequently Asked Questions

The PHQ

What does PHQ stand for?

PHQ stands for Pretender Headquarters.

What is the PHQ?

The PHQ is just a website dedicated to the tv show The Pretender. In the fan world, the PHQ was created for a roll playing story group as a secret organization of Pretenders who will stop at nothing to thwart the Centre and help the victims of the Centre.

Didn't you used to have a section of characters that were not from the show?

One our first site we did have a separate section to for a list of characters created by friends for the purpose of role playing. These characters have nothing to do with the show. They were created by fans for the purpose of telling their own stories. We still have some of those stories over at Missing Pieces.

Do you know any of the cast members?

Sorry. I don’t know any of the actors. I’m just a fan and have as much contact with the actors as you… being almost none save conventions and social media.

The Show

What are the cross-over episodes and alternate versions?

Back when The Pretender was airing on NBC it was part of something called the Thrilogy. The Pretender aired and then Profiler right after it. In the 3rd season of The Pretender, the two shows crossed-over.

 

So originally The Pretender episode End Game was “To Be Continued” and ended on the Profiler episode Grand Master. Because Profiler episodes would not be shown in the The Pretender syndication run or on The Pretender’s DVDs the PTBs made an alternate ending to the episode End Game (Profiler made alternate beginning for Grand Master).

 

This happened again in the 4th season of The Pretender with the episode Spin Doctor (Profiler episode called Clean Sweep). Also there is a lone Profiler episode called Pianissimo which guest stars Michael T. Weiss as Jarod. There is no Pretender counterpart to this episode.

 

So there are original versions which aired on TV (thankfully I have these). And then there are the alternative versions you can get on the DVDs.

I heard MTW was making the third movie. Is that true?

Movie rumors spread throughout The Pretender fans. Word spread about an article that actually stated Michael T. Weiss was working on the third Pretender movie. This is in fact a RUMOR.

The Creators did reboot things a bit with The Pretender books with a hope in the future for graphic novels and possible full length movies. It is unlikely any movie will have original cast members and we have yet to see more than 2 books. See our shop.

What happened to The Pretender, will there be more?

Check out The Creators Facebook Page for more in-depth news on what is going on in the #CentreUniverse. You can also check out the Pretender Headquarters Facebook Page for updates.

Can you watch The Pretender on TV?

I have heard some channels in different areas are running the show. You’d have to check your local listings. I do not know of it playing anywhere specifically.

The best way to watch is to buy the first two seasons digitally or all the DVDs from Amazon. See our shop.

Strangely, not streaming service has anything but the first 2 seasons.

Where can I find copies of The Pretender 2001 and The Island of the Haunted?

Check out our shop to find the movies on Amazon.com. Purchases made with our link mean Amazon kicks us back a small amount which in turn helps keep our site going.

What is the building that is used for the Centre? I keep seeing in on different shows.

The building used for the outside shots of the Centre is The R.C. Harris Filtration Plant in Toronto, Canada. The R.C. Harris has been on many TV shows and movies. You may recognize it from In the Mouth of Madness, Robocop, Half Baked, Undercover Brother, The Pretender, Mutant X, Flashpoint, Killjoys, Jett, Mimic, Nightmare Alley, Between and Code 8.

What is the symbol associated with The Pretender?

The symbol for The Pretender is called The Vitruvian Man and was drawn by Leonardo da Vinci quite a long time ago.

The Lore

What is Miss Parker's first name?

Who knows? This is something every fan thought would be addressed in the Island of the Haunted movie… but alas it was one of the many things left hanging. Let’s tell the Creator’s we want to know.

Some have speculated that Angel is her first name because of Island of the Haunted when Miss Parker sees the girl weeping at “Little Miss Parker’s” grave. The girl also told Miss Parker that only her father calls her Angel. Miss Parker shares this with the little girl. Could her father be the only one who ever calls her by her first name? Maybe. Still we don’t have concrete evidence of this.

Who is really Miss Parker's father?

Hints throughout the seasons pointed to a long time friend of Catherine Parker’s named Ben Miller. In the first TV movie, Alex (a pretender) told Miss Parker that Mr. Parker wasn’t her father. This led us to believe maybe Ben was her father. Then in the second TV movie, we find out that Mr. Parker can’t have children and so he used his brother’s, Raines (or Abel Parker), sperm to impregnate Catherine during a routine procedure. So the winner is Raines! Also, gross.

Didn't Raines have a daughter? Wouldn't that give Miss Parker another sibling?

Yep, In the episode Once In a Bluemoon (Season 3) we learn Raines had a daughter named Annie who died long ago at the hands of a serial killer. With the developments of Island of the Haunted this would then mean Annie was Miss Parker’s half-sister.

Do Miss Parker and Jarod ever get together?

In the movie, The Island of the Haunted Jarod and Miss Parker get THISclose to kissing but Ocee interrupts them. Jarod and Miss Parker do become closer because they have been forced to work together, and we even see the struggle it creates in Miss Parker in the end of the movie… but you’ll have to watch.

How many siblings does Miss Parker have?

Well lets list them and count them off.

  • Lyle (twin/full)
  • Ethan (half) via her mom
  • Faith (adopted)
  • Annie (half) via Raines who is biologically her father
  • Baby Parker (not biologically but Miss Parker sees him as her brother, though apparently its her cousin)

So technically 5. If you do not count Baby Parker then 4.

How many siblings does Jarod have?

Well lets list them and count them off.

  • Kyle (full)
  • Emily (full)
  • Ethan (half) via Major Charles
  • Gemini (The clone of himself could be considered another sibling???)

I’d say 3 unless you count the clone then 4.

What does DSA stand for and what are they?

DSA stands for Digital Simulation Archive. They are digital disc recordings of events at the Centre. All Jarod’s simulations are stored on these DSA’s. Jarod took them with him when he left which was one of the biggest (originally) reasons they wanted him back. The Centre didn’t want the DSA’s falling into the wrong hands, you know because they prove their criminal actions is kidnapping and their involvement in assassinations etc. You can find this and more in the Centre Dictionary.

Nope. They do have family members in common but they are not related. Miss Parker’s biological parents are Catherine Parker and Mr. Raines, and Jarod’s parents are Major Charles and Margaret. See no biological relation.

 

The confusion comes in because of Ethan who is the biological son of Major Charles (Jarod’s Dad) and Catherine Parker (Miss Parker’s Mom), making Ethan Miss Parker and Jarod’s half brother but not making the two related. Go to Family Tree to see more.

Why is Miss Parker always angry at Jarod if they were friends as children?

In my opinion, they were good friends as children… and then they were separated for a very long time. Miss Parker didn’t really have any contact with Jarod (after they were separated) until he escaped. She was then forced into putting in more time with the Centre to help find Jarod.

In the first season, Miss Parker wants to find Jarod and leave the Centre. Jarod’s constant escapes start stressing her out which results in an ulcer. Jarod becomes a constant source of torment for her even though most of Jarod’s actions are to help her. Her goal is to leave the Centre and move on, but to do that she must catch Jarod. When she first started Miss Parker didn’t care about Jarod’s story. It didn’t matter that he wanted to be free. The price for Jarod’s freedom is her freedom. I, personally, think it also bothers her that Jarod discovers so many truths about her life and the pain she endures about her mothers death.

By the end of the series and movies, we begin to notice Miss Parker’s lack of interest in capturing Jarod. By the end it is more of an automatic reaction to pull a gun on Jarod even though more often than not she ends up not bothering to stop him from escaping.

I believe by the end of the series, Miss Parker realizes that Jarod is the only one in her life (besides maybe Broots) that she can trust (Sydney has lied a couple of times even though I think he is still trustworthy). He tells her the truth and helps her when she needs it.

Miss Parker is a complex character who lives in a world of lies. She is very quick to snap at people (mostly Jarod and Broots) but is truly a lost child like Jarod.

Where did Baby Parker come from if Mr. Parker can't have children?

Excellent question! This is something that has been debated by Pretender fans. Some believe Mr. Parker’s DNA was used in some kind of fertility experiment and some believe the baby is Lyle’s.

I personally believe the time Lyle and Brigitte spent together kind of insinuate that Lyle is probably the father. Of course, there is no way to know this because the PTB’s cancelled the show. My answer would be Lyle is the real father but I’m not the Creator’s of the show and I don’t honestly know who Baby Parker’s real father is. Maybe he’s a medical miracle.

BUT if Baby Parker is Lyle’s bio-baby then Baby Parker is Miss Parker’s nephew. Interesting. I wish we had these questions answered.

Ask Me

Feel free to ask me questions if you have them. Please, before you do, see if the FAQ answers your question. If not use the below form.