FBI

FBI is like every other crime procedural you’ve already seen, and if that’s what you’re looking for in a TV show, then nothing here will come as a revelation. It probably won’t come as a disappointment, either.

It's all just straightforward follow-the-clues, rinse and repeat, with no real twists or high drama, but a steady pace. ... Almost none of the character-based exposition in the pilot feels fluid and easy--still artistic compared to something like Bull--yet it's done in a way that lets the pilot move along and, after 42 minutes, I know a few things about several main characters. It's also just enough character development for the core cast members to do solid work.

FBI has inherited good bone structure from its "Law & Order" ancestors, with its promising partner chemistry and intricate plot structure. But it needs to flesh out a stronger identity if it wants to be more than just another cop show.

Given that it hits all the familiar Law & Order beats, the success of FBI is contingent on the charisma of its two leads, and the first episode does little to convince that Maggie Bell is even playing the same sport as Olivia Benson.