"Look at you, so… academic.
Why does that sound like an insult?
Because it is."
"INSTINCT stars Alan Cumming as a former CIA operative who is lured back to his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer. Dr. Dylan Reinhart is a gifted author and university professor living a quiet life teaching psychopathic behavior to packed classes of adoring students. But when tenacious top NYPD detective Lizzie Needham appeals to him to help her catch a serial murderer who is using Dylan’s first book as a tutorial, Dylan is compelled by the case and comes out of retirement. Helping them is Julian Cousins, Dylan’s invaluable CIA comrade who rivals Dylan in brilliance and wit and can get top-secret dirt on anyone, anywhere, anytime. Lizzie’s boss, Lt. Monica Ford, is glad to see her best detective finally agree to work with someone on a case since Lizzie has refused any partner since a tragic event one year ago. But as Dylan feels reenergized tapping into his old skill set, his husband, Andy, is concerned that Dylan is breaking their pact about leaving his dangerous job at the CIA for good. Though Dylan and Lizzie initially clash, when it comes to catching killers, they realize they will make an ideal team if they both trust their instincts."
I feel this synopsis gives you pretty much all you need to know about the show, as for my thoughts on it... To tell you the truth, as soon as I heard the name and the subject matter I expected to love this, but then I saw the first picture and by the tone alone I realized this wouldn't be my favorite new show. That doesn't mean there's no enjoyment to be found. I did find it entertaining, a little cheesy, and definitely not groundbreaking. It's a procedural, a fun one, but it never lets you forget what it is.
To be honest, I'm not hopeful on its success, but I've been VERY wrong before, so don't let me stop you if this is your kind of show, I, for one, will give it a few episodes to decide wether I'll continue watching, hopefully, the Pilot is just that, a Pilot where everyone is still trying to figure out how they fit into the show and how to let the energy flow in a more harmonious way (did I get cheesy? I think it's contagious).
Alan Cumming (Battle of the Sexes, The Good Wife) is fun, if a little too over the top, as Dr. Dylan Reinhart, Bojana Novakovic (Shameless, Satisfaction) is functional, maybe even endearing, as Detective Lizzie Needham and we also have a few awesome appearances by Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost, though I think she needs no introduction) as Dylan's editor and Naveen Andrews (Sayid!) as a former associate of Dylan's. There's also Daniel Ings (Lovesick, The Crown) who I love but I don't think he fully fits with Cumming as Dylan's partner.
As for the cases, I found none of them all that interesting, and they're usually too obvious, or at the very least they felt cheap and weightless. I hope they find they're footing because this could be quite entertaining, but, given how unpredictable some of these things can be sometimes, it remains to be seen how this show will fair in the deadly ratings war (cheesy again? Sorry, I'm pretty sure this too shall pass).
"Stupid, but brave. That’s what I want on my tombstone."
Catch the premiere of Instinct Sunday, March 18th at 8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT on CBS. Are you excited about this show? Let me know in the comments.
