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Normally one reads a review of a DVD of a television series that they may have already seen in order to read about the fantastic extras and bonus features. Well, unfortunately this DVD does not have many extras or any at all for that matter. This complete first season does however contain one Hell of a show that I know went under the radar for a lot of TV watchers including myself.
The series starts off playing out much like a movie and traps you in with these characters. You quickly learn about Dr. Daniel Pierce, Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), who is quite the eccentric Cubs loving professor. I read before the plotline, but I didn’t realize by eccentric that they actually meant a schizophrenic.
This is actually an exciting twist to your average everyday cop drama that has taken over most primetime network television. Perception is actually quite refreshing and feels clever and new. It continues to compel you to keep watching as the beginning always foreshadows what is about to come and ends with a moralistic monologue that will definitely leave you thinking.
Even with this fresh take on a classic serialized television, the story and loosely related buddy cop premise does feel a bit recycled. In fact, Elementary has a similar premise. That’s the story of Sherlock Holmes and both shows follow suit of an eccentric man that becomes a consultant for the FBI to help solve challenging cases. Of course there has to be an attractive sidekick. Each have that agent that is a “nonbeliever” of the main characters ways feeling they are crazy.
Dr. Pierce helps FBI Agent Kate Moretti, Rachel Leigh Cook, as he was her professor in college. Leaving a lasting impression of his brilliance, she know sees the value he can be helping her murder mysteries. Every episode stays quick and fast pace throughout the entire episode. There hasn’t been a dull moment and as each episode ends, I just want to turn on the next.
Now sure there is definitely some outlandish storylines and cheesiness that is just so farfetched that the show screams a reminder that you are watching an incredibly fictionalized drama, but is sure is entertaining. The show remains well produced, well written, witty and smart from episode to episode with each one having that same energetic race to solve the case through Dr. Pierces unconventional ways.
By no means is a show that will ever be talked about by everyone, but there is definitely potential for the continuing story between the two leads and his interesting invisible lady friend that they keep eluding toward what we are already thinking anyway. If they can keep the story strong and stories clever without getting too outlandish, this could be a sleeper show that survives 6+ seasons. I guess it will depend most on the success of the summers run of season 2.
Perception, which is produced by ABC Studios and airs on TNT, was created by executive producer Ken Biller (Star Trek: Voyager, Smallville) and co-executive producer Mike Sussman (Star Trek: Enterprise), with McCormack serving as producer. Alan Poul (Six Feet Under) directed and served as executive producer for the pilot.
