Intelligence is a drama series starring Josh Holloway (Lost). His character, Gabriel Vaughn, is of great value for the American security forces as he is the first human who has a chip in his brain. With this chip he can access any online network allowing him to quickly analyse the situation he is in and use the information to his advantage. Secret agent Riley Neal (Meghan Ory) is his partner, not only to to fight threats, but also to protect Gabriel, as his bodyguard.
Does Intelligence succeed in using this unique ability to create a fascinating show?
The first episode succeeds in selling this high-tech concept and starts with Gabriel being caught by some bad guys near a big satellite dish. By using his chip he manages to take control of the situation and it allow the viewer to see his abilities. With his chip he can simulate a situation and walk around in this virtual environment to look for clues. He also can access all personal data of any person he encounters and take control of electronic equipment. That special ability makes him unique and especially at the start of the series it is used in a lot of original ways.
Whether that ability remains interesting all depends on the situations he is put in and those vary per episode. There are episodes about undetectable bombs, espionage, kidnapping, freeing prisoners in Syria and catching a dangerous hacker. That variation in subject matter makes it a fun show to watch. Even though there is an overarching story it is too thin to really matter. So every episode stands on its own, making it comparable to a show like CSI: There is a threat and during that episode this usually is neutralised. So don’t go in expecting an epic show like Games of Thrones.
Besides Josh Holloway (Lost) and Meghan Ory (Once Upon a Time) the show stars a couple of other well-known actors. Marg Helgenberger (CSI) is Lillian Strand, who is the director of the US Cyber Command who regularly has to talk to Jeffrey Tetazoo (Lance Reddick (The Wire)). The “nerds” behind the microchip, son Dr. Shenendoah Cassidy (John Billingsley (True Blood)) and father Nelson Cassidy (P.J. Byrne), are responsible for moments of humour. There is great chemistry between the actors which makes the show a joy to watch.
The show looks great thanks to the special effects (I loved the virtual spaces Gabriel walks around in). The way he quickly is able to access information is shown convincingly and makes it clear that he has a big advantage over someone holding a mobile phone being able to access the same type of information. The speed at which he can use information makes him the next step in the interaction between flesh and technology. Intelligence succeeds in bringing an entertaining mix of crime, drama, action, suspense and humour to the screen which I really managed to enjoy. I therefore think it is a shame that chances are there won’t be a second season.
Tuned in for the first couple of episodes of this, but it felt like an area that’s been tread before, and not nearly as well. As well as trying to combine previous successful series, like 24, Jake 2.0 and Chuck. Sure, I quit early on, but it lacked that something special to keep me watching.
Although I did see 24, I have not seen any of the other shows you mention. Don’t think it is a show you have to see, so you will not miss out on much, but I got some nice entertainment out of it.
Hi, Nostra:
CBS may be trying to sell ‘Intelligence’, but the pilot episode didn’t sell it for me.
Nothing I haven’t seen before. Dating back to the 1970s made for television, ‘Probe’. From NBC. With Hugh O’Brian as an investigator with an audio and video link in his Mastoid Sinus that connected him to an underground lab, whose set looked like it was stolen from ABC’s ‘The Time Tunnel’. And run by Burgess Meredith and a bevy of lab coated techno-babes.
And/or, ABC’s ‘The Delphi Bureau’. Which featured Lawrence Luckinbill as a bookish investigator with a photographic memory seeking missing federal funds and weapons systems.
‘Probe’ and ‘The Delphi Bureau’ became “One season wonders” for their respective studios. With a title change from NBC, from ‘Probe’ to ‘Search’.
‘Intelligence’ is more of the same. Bulked up by green screen special effects. And writing that is nowhere close to what one should expect from its cast’s and Marg Helgenberger.
The age difference comes in place here I guess, have not heard of any of the shows you mention but they sound interesting. I really liked the special effects in this show. I guess because I am such a big fan of tech and gadgets that I found this show so appealing.