Persons Unknown

:

Season 1
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Jun 7, 2010
Metascore
49

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 12
  3. Negative: 4 out of 12
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Critic Reviews

  1. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Peter Swanson
    38
    The real problem with the pilot is not with the situation, it's with the people placed in it. Not only are none of the seven characters particularly interesting, they simply fail to react realistically to their bizarre circumstances.
  2. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    30
    They don't promise to be more than a collection of types, like the generic figures in TV's "Poseidon Adventure'' remake. And if we don't care about them, then it's hard to care about the possible threats that surround them.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mary McNamara
    30
    Take "Lost," mash it up with "The Prisoner," throw in a little "Saw," over-season with badly written and poorly delivered dialogue, glaze with horror-film lighting, dream-scene camerawork and elevators like you haven't seen since "The Shining," and you've got "Persons Unknown."
  5. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Hank Stuever
    20
    Persons Unknown utterly fails to entice.

Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Most Discussed TV Season of 2010
62
#62 Most Shared TV Season of 2010

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 73 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 73
  3. Negative: 8 out of 73
  1. SwarleyStinson
    May 27, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. This is a good mystery show like lost and it has a very interesting story from episode to episode . Yes, it builds up a lot of questions throughout the show and then the ending doesn't answer any of them, but that's what I expected. These kind of shows NEVER do explain everything, but it was good along the way. The end doesn't explain much but its not outright bad like many endings are. There is one theory you will come up with thought the show (explained below) which it never confirms or denies, but if you assume it to be true then it the whole story makes more sense. (Spoiler: If you assume that 'the program' is a computer program (and the machine Joe is hooked up to is him 'jacking into the matrix') then it explains what happened with Tori, why the van went round in a circle when they tried to leave and that the break out was all fake. Then the ending makes more sense)… Full Review »
  2. surinder
    Feb 29, 2012
    10
    Hi, i have watched many series but i find this persons unknown series interesting due to how the mind works when someone is abducted. i reallyHi, i have watched many series but i find this persons unknown series interesting due to how the mind works when someone is abducted. i really enjoyed it cause if this is to happen in real life how will someone react. As how janet cooper would do anything to go back to her daughter. Well i guess thats how i will react if i want to get out in the situation. Further more all the characters played are good and each has an individual weired background. The ending should have been more dramatic and there should have been two survivors. Well i m looking forward to see the season 2 and hope to watch it soon and cant wait to see what is the level 2 .Well being in malaysia i have to watch it through internet .… Full Review »
  3. truerock
    Sep 17, 2010
    9
    I completely underestimated this series. At first I thought I was witnessing a melding of The Prisoner and Prison Break. After watching theI completely underestimated this series. At first I thought I was witnessing a melding of The Prisoner and Prison Break. After watching the first season I find my first inclination was correct - and I am more intrigued than I could have imagined. The actors are starting to develop their roles and the writing is turning out to be better than I anticipated. This might become a really excellent experience.… Full Review »
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