Intelligence (2013)

:

Season 1
  • Network: CBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 7, 2014
User Score
6.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 79 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 79
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 79
  3. Negative: 12 out of 79
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User Reviews

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  1. Ittiaces
    Jan 12, 2014
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The premise for this show isn't bad but it's presented to the viewer in a way that is so far fetched it lacks any plausibility so as to allow the audience, even for a moment, to suspend their disbelief. In other words, I just didn't buy it.

    Josh Holloway's character, in my opinion, wasn't likeable which is a shame because he's a decent actor. The female lead lacked any charisma, and there is zero chemistry between them even though she's obviously intended as a love interest. A love triangle between her, Josh and his missing wife is clearly on the cards at some stage. I also noticed a great similarity between the female lead's character bio and that of Kate in Lost. She also bears more than a passing resemblance to her. Could the creators be attempting to recreate the Sawyer-Kate relationship as a means to spark some interested in the show? Me thinks yes. Shame. The actress cast as his wife also appeared in Lost. The apparent need to piggyback on the success of that show is honestly disappointing.

    The FX are great, slick and add polish to what is otherwise an underwhelming introduction to the show's storyline. I don't want to be too harsh, it was only the first episode after all and perhaps the upcoming instalments will provide some redemption. I'm sure Holloway's fans will give a decent showing of support for the season regardless, he is as they say, 'hot'.    … Expand
  2. Craphound
    Jan 7, 2014
    6
    Having Holloway and the wonderful Billingsley in the cast is a huge plus. But the female sidekick is a bore. Have to wait and see how this develops. Hard to say if the stories will be engaging, but this one was not.
  3. BogKid
    Jan 8, 2014
    4
    Interesting enough show with nothing very special to make it a regular TV event. Only the pilot so far, but. The wise-a$$ hero has certainly been overdone in recent TV shows and it is right on top again with "Intelligence". Gets tedious. The top-notch Secret Service lady chosen to protect our hero is about as lackluster a character as possible. Pretty girl, and that's about it.Interesting enough show with nothing very special to make it a regular TV event. Only the pilot so far, but. The wise-a$$ hero has certainly been overdone in recent TV shows and it is right on top again with "Intelligence". Gets tedious. The top-notch Secret Service lady chosen to protect our hero is about as lackluster a character as possible. Pretty girl, and that's about it. Marge Helgenberger does her limited job on this show with efficiency.

    All-in-all a derivative show which will require an otherwise pretty boring Monday evening to build a large and regular audience.    … Expand
  4. X-Abrupto
    Jan 21, 2014
    4
    I gave this one many chances before giving up on it. Feeling the LOST nostalgia, I was looking forward to seeing Josh Holloway as the lead actor in Intelligence. Unfortunately, Josh appears to be limited in the way he acts. Everything he does, whether it be the way he moves or the way he talks is an exact replica of Sawyer, something I already noticed in the few appearances he has madeI gave this one many chances before giving up on it. Feeling the LOST nostalgia, I was looking forward to seeing Josh Holloway as the lead actor in Intelligence. Unfortunately, Josh appears to be limited in the way he acts. Everything he does, whether it be the way he moves or the way he talks is an exact replica of Sawyer, something I already noticed in the few appearances he has made since the series was over. Having once again a wiseass character in his hands, it's even harder for him to become someone else. We pretty much have the Sawyer we had through the later seasons of LOST, a tough guy on the outside but a softie on the inside.

    The whole idea of a "cyberagent" has been greatly overused throughout the years. It's a tired formula which needs to be refreshed. Alas, this series has no originality whatsoever. Ever worst, they appear to have ripped off video games such as Metal Gear Solid 4, Heavy Rain and Deus Ex: Human Revolution whereas characters pretty much have the same kind of "cyber-vision".

    The show is trying to look smart, but it isn't. There are many inconsistencies concerning Gabriel's powers. Sometimes, he seems to know pretty much everything, and then, he seems to lack data which would probably be available to him normally. Basically, the writers made Gabriel's knowledge so great that it goes beyond their own limits of imagination. Handling almighty characters such as Gabriel in a scenario is an extremely tedious job and usually ends up creating major plot holes.

    The whole plot surrounding his wife is badly written. You don't feel bad for Gabriel since you don't know him at all and neither do you know his wife.

    The supporting cast is trying really hard but they lack personality, there's nothing that makes them human, they're just Gabriel's co-workers.

    The music heard throughout the series is more or less original. It's pretty generic cyber-spy music.

    The special effects however are very high quality and it's a lot of fun to look at Gabriel's frozen rendition of events. Looking at the files popping up and trying to read them whilst Gabriel walks around is interesting too.

    I'm tired of the whole USA Vs. "Foreign Evil Country" stuff. It's getting old and most people don't believe in it anymore. This series sort of makes an apology of the NSA. I'm not sure it was done willingly because I don't even think the writers are smart enough to realize what they are writing about but it sure is very patriotic. Perhaps would it be time to move on and see the middle east differently instead of brandishing the same terrorist flag again and again. I don't know how middle eastern-looking actors can cope with this. I would find it humiliating to say the least.

    In retrospect, the main problem with this series is the way it is written. It's dumb. The writers need to be replaced ASAP if they hope to keep moving on with Intelligence. They have no idea of what they are doing, they created a universe too complex for them to handle. Whoever supervised the script of this series and allowed it to be ultimately used on TV should definitely be fired.    … Expand
  5. smb12321
    Mar 26, 2014
    5
    I was expecting more - not a Battlestar Galactica or Breaking Bad but something original. It's a sci-fif / spy / action mishmash with inappropriately-timed comedy thrown in for some measure. The plots are anything but dazzling, mostly derivative of current news. It's hard to believe these highly paid writers can't come up with a storyline. Every series needs an internal story, aI was expecting more - not a Battlestar Galactica or Breaking Bad but something original. It's a sci-fif / spy / action mishmash with inappropriately-timed comedy thrown in for some measure. The plots are anything but dazzling, mostly derivative of current news. It's hard to believe these highly paid writers can't come up with a storyline. Every series needs an internal story, a mythology that drives the plot. Mentalist (Red John), X-files (missing sister), Blacklist (spy husband), Castle (love affair and mom murder). The "guard" is improving but still seems boring. The director huffs and puffs Gabriel appears confused. So why have I watched every episode?… Expand
  6. SwarleyStinson
    Apr 9, 2014
    4
    The pilot was decent, but not great, then after that it gets worse. It's the concept of Chuck except super serious, which doesn't really work with such a ridiculously unrealistic concept. Everyone on IMDB seems to hate the show cos its so 'patriotic and pro CIA' but that's not really the problem. It's just not very interesting. The story about his wife and his obsession with finding her isThe pilot was decent, but not great, then after that it gets worse. It's the concept of Chuck except super serious, which doesn't really work with such a ridiculously unrealistic concept. Everyone on IMDB seems to hate the show cos its so 'patriotic and pro CIA' but that's not really the problem. It's just not very interesting. The story about his wife and his obsession with finding her is an annoying and pointless distraction from the episodes main plot. Maybe a serious version of computer-brain-man could be executed well in the right hands but this isn't it. Chuck was way better at computer-brain-man and Person of Interest is way better at action with a meaningful plot.… Expand
  7. cumovies
    Jul 26, 2014
    4
    didn't watch all the episodes after first three i realized this was going to be a very bad show and i haven't watched it since not recommended by me. @@

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
68
#68 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. The Lincoln Journal Star
    Reviewed by: Jeff Korbelik
    Mar 27, 2014
    75
    The good thing about procedurals is you can come and go and not miss much. The bad thing about procedurals is you can come and go and not miss much. Holloway, though, should be enough to keep you coming back.
    Read full review
  2. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Tim Molloy
    Jan 15, 2014
    40
    The attempt to ground the show in reality feels unnecessary and not fun, because nothing here is all that unbelievable.
    Read full review
  3. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Jan 10, 2014
    75
    Intelligence is nicely done. [20 Jan 2014]
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