Without a Trace: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 7 Ratings

See All

6.0

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.0	Your Score
6.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 7 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Season Details & Credits

CBS | Season Premiere Date: September 26, 2002

Starring: Anthony LaPaglia, Eric Close, Poppy Montgomery

Summary: Without a Trace is a fast-paced procedural drama about the Missing Persons Squad of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The sole responsibility of the special task force is to find missing persons by applying advanced psychological profiling techniques to peel back the layers of the victims' lives and trace their whereabouts in an effortWithout a Trace is a fast-paced procedural drama about the Missing Persons Squad of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The sole responsibility of the special task force is to find missing persons by applying advanced psychological profiling techniques to peel back the layers of the victims' lives and trace their whereabouts in an effort to discover whether they have been abducted, been murdered, committed suicide or simply run away. The team reconstructs a "Day of Disappearance" timeline that details every minute of the 24 hours prior to the disappearance, following one simple rule: learn who the victim is in order to learn where the victim is. Senior agent Jack Malone (Anthony LaPaglia) heads the dedicated team that knows too well that every second counts when someone vanishes. His squad includes Samantha Spade (Poppy Montgomery), an agent who doesn't let her good looks get in the way of being tough; Vivian Johnson (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a no-nonsense investigator; Danny Taylor (Enrique Murciano), an intense and private agent; and Martin Fitzgerald (Eric Close), the newest member of the team, considered a lightweight by the squad because his only experience involves fighting white-collar crime.

In six seasons, much has happened. Martin Fitzgerald is no longer considered the lightweight he once was, having earned the respect of the team through his solid work. Jack Malone has been through many ups and downs and now finds himself in a bad position following the mishandling of a case. Vivian Johnson has proven herself, and a new agent has been welcomed into the ranks -- Elena Delgado (Roselyn Sánchez), a Hispanic female agent who came on in the program's fourth season as the squad faced ever-increasing demands on its time and resources. A former member of the NYPD, she is already known to Danny and their connection grows as the series progresses.

Without a Trace aired Thursday nights on CBS from its premiere in 2002 until the 2006-2007 season. CBS moved it to Sunday nights for one season, before moving it back to its regular Thursday slot for season six. The program now airs in its new timeslot of Tuesdays at 10 P.M. Viewers can catch the seventh season of the program in this timeslot beginning September 23, 2008. Repeats of [i]Without a Trace[/i] also air regularly on TNT. The first and second seasons of the program have been released on DVD in the United States, with latter seasons available only in other markets.… Expand

Creator: Hank Steinberg

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E23. Fall Out (2)
Air Date: May 15, 2003
tbd
S1:E22. Fallout: Part 1
Air Date: May 8, 2003
tbd
S1:E21. Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?
Air Date: May 1, 2003

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Hal Boedeker

Jul 9, 2013

Without a Trace uses the gimmick of having the missing person drop in and out of scenes like a ghost as the agents ponder evidence. The device sounds hokey; the way it works, it's stylish and involving. [26 Sep 2002]

Phil Rosenthal

Jul 9, 2013

As good a new drama as there is this fall. [19 Sep 2002]

Ken Tucker

Jun 14, 2013

As uneven as it is, the series is now showcasing some of the best acting on television. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Jul 9, 2013

A show that does what it's supposed to do -- keep you riveted and entertained. [25 Sep 2002]

Carina Chocano

Jul 9, 2013

'Without a Trace' adopts the requisite cop-show clipped pace and poker-faced acting, but the procedural approach is catchy. There’s something irresistible about a forensic drama that hooks you with hints at the ending and works backward from there. Read full review

Steve Johnson

Jul 9, 2013

Attractive but not arty, intelligent but not brainy. [22 Sep 2002]

Glenn Garvin

Jul 9, 2013

This is essentially CSI without the microscopes, petri dishes or Marg Helgenberger. Yawn. [26 Sep 2002]

SEE ALL 29 REVIEWS

User Score

Write a Review

6.0

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

User Reviews

drlowdon

Apr 2, 2013

Trying to list all the procedural crime dramas that have graced our screens over the last twenty year would be a difficult task indeed with every angle from forensics to cold cases being covered somewhere along the line.

Without a Trace focuses on an FBI team whose primary focus isTrying to list all the procedural crime dramas that have graced our screens over the last twenty year would be a difficult task indeed with every angle from forensics to cold cases being covered somewhere along the line.

Without a Trace focuses on an FBI team whose primary focus is missing persons' cases. With a strong cast and well written scripts it is certainly amongst the best of its genre, unfortunately it still suffers from many of the same issues as other procedurals. With cases having to be introduced and solved within the 45 minute time period each week we are never able to get the sort of in-depth look at the subject matter that shows such as The Wire and The Shield provide. This problem also applies to the characters themselves with the writers only ever making half-hearted attempts to delve into the personal lives and motivations of the law enforcement officers involved, why must two of the characters always have to had some sort of romantic past in this type of show?

Too many cases also seem to involve a 'leap in logic' whereby someone will make a link they could not possible make based on a seemingly innocuous piece evidence or an irrelevant conversation in order to wrap everything up before the episode ends. Anyone that enjoys procedural crime dramas like CSI or Law and Order will certainly enjoy Without a Trace but with no ongoing plot to draw me back I have found there are far more interesting dramas, crime based or otherwise, available on DVD.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Seasons & Episodes

75

Series Overview
Season 7

tbd
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2008
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: September 27, 2007
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: September 24, 2006
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 29, 2005
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2004
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 25, 2003
Season 1

75
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 26, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E23. Fall Out (2)
  Air Date: May 15, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E22. Fallout: Part 1
  Air Date: May 8, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E21. Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?
  Air Date: May 1, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E20. No Mas
  Air Date: April 24, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E19. Victory for Humanity
  Air Date: April 10, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E18. The Source
  Air Date: April 3, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E17. Kam Li
  Air Date: March 13, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E16. Clare de Lune
  Air Date: February 27, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E15. There Goes the Bride
  Air Date: February 20, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E14. The Friendly Skies
  Air Date: February 6, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E13. Hang On to Me
  Air Date: January 30, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E12. Underground Railroad
  Air Date: January 16, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E11. Maple Street
  Air Date: January 9, 2003
- tbd
  S1:E10. Midnight Sun
  Air Date: December 12, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E9. In Extremis
  Air Date: November 21, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E8. Little Big Man
  Air Date: November 14, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E7. Snatch Back
  Air Date: November 7, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E6. Silent Partner
  Air Date: October 31, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E5. Suspect
  Air Date: October 24, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E4. Between the Cracks
  Air Date: October 17, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E3. He Saw, She Saw
  Air Date: October 10, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E2. Birthday Boy
  Air Date: October 3, 2002
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: September 26, 2002