TNT is one of my favorite cable channels. They suck you in with Law and Order re-runs and then hit you with their original procedural dramas like The Closer, Rizzoli and Isles, etc. They had a hole to fill with the departure of The Closer, so they turned to a new, surprise, procedural called Perception staring Eric McCormack and Rachael Leigh Cook. Its largely successful inaugural 10-episode run is now available on DVD. Perception was created by Kenneth Biller and Michael Sussman – the folks behind several of my favorite TV Shows: Smallville, Star Trek Voyager and Legend of the Seeker (a show that ended before its time).
McCormack (of Will and Grace fame) is Dr. Daniel Pierce a quirky, brain neurologist and University Professor who due to being a Paranoid Schizophrenic happens to speak to dead people – ok, not dead people just figments of his imagination. He happens to also be a brilliant criminologist who helps his former student FBI Agent Kate Moretti (Cook) solve cases. LeVar Burton has a minor role as the Dean of the University and Arjay Smith rounds out the cast as McCormack’s assistant.
It is isn’t necessarily a bad thing for me to say that this follows the TNT procedural show template – right down to the way each episode starts. Would it kill TNT’s production budgets for their shows to actually have a real opening credit sequence – you know, with music? Cold openings, just sort of puts me in a relaxed mood and don’t make me excited to watch a program. At its core, the main issue with this show is that while the cases are intriguing it lacks a sense of “urgency.”
The cases themselves are intriguing but you quickly sense a formula being created. Almost every case seemingly ends with a, “wait, there’s one more player involved” scenario. The first two or three episodes had this basic resolution, but the stories had enough meat on the bones to keep you guessing the outcome. It would have been nice is there were more suspects to muddy up the waters a bit, but you can do so much in an one hour procedural.
Dr. Pierce’s quirkiness is well played by McCormack and as written his character never comes across as hateful as in lessor writer’s hands could easily be the case. The chemistry between McCormack and Cooke isn’t there yet and it seems a bit early in the series to start the UST stuff. While I like the show, the episode of the week story structure doesn’t make this a must watch show. The two part season finale was very well done and I’m curious to see where they go.
DVD Release
The picture quality and the 5.1 Dolby Digital sound on the DVD release is excellent. Unfortunately this is a barebones release so there’s nothing else to chew on in this two-disc set.
Conclusion
Not much to say here. If you like the show this is a fine, barebones DVD release. While I did say that there’s not enough meat here to hook me in, I did find myself binging on all 10 episodes in a single sitting. So there is clearly something here, that I can’t quite put my finger on. Perception: The Complete First Season is now available on DVD. Season two returns to TNT, Tuesday, June 25th at 10pm.
Grades
- TV Show – B
- Audio/Video – B
- Extras – F
Final Overall Grade – B-