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"Perception" review by Suzanne
Premieres Monday July 9 on TNT

I really enjoyed watching these shows, although I think some of it was predictable and could be written a little bit better. Most of it is really good, and I hope to see that it improves. I will probably watch it either way because I like the actors and the characters. The show is a bit like "The Mentalist" but not quite as well done. Sometimes it also reminds me of "House", "Sherlock" or "Monk".

Eric McCormack, best known for starring in "Will & Grace", plays brilliant college professor Daniel Pierce.  He's described as a "neuroscientist", which I guess means he knows about not only the brain, but behavior.  He's not only "eccentric" but actually he's schizophrenic. He goes to a therapist but doesn't take medication.  Yet somehow he mostly functions in the real world. I don't think that part is entirely realistic, and it will be interesting to see if there is any controversy surrounding the show with real life psychiatrists.

Daniel has a routine and sticks to it, which keeps him mostly sane. He has an assistant, Max, who helps him out.  Daniel's old friend Kate, an FBI agent, comes back in to town, so he helps her with solving crimes. He's really good at figuring out puzzles, and at diagnosing people's mental problems. He's not so great with people himself. Not only that, but he has hallucinations. He sees and hears people, and to him, they are real, but no one else sees them.  Not only that, but the hallucinations are really just parts of his brain trying to give him clues to solve the crime.

It's kind of an interesting idea with lots of possibilities. At the end of the first episode, we see something that is supposed to be a shocker, I think, but it's kind of obvious throughout the episode.  Some of the show is a little unbelievable and contrived. But it's all a matter of what you look for in a TV show. It's very entertaining, and the characters are great. I love the actors, too. I will definitely keep watching. It is not a boring show, by any means. Hopefully, it will improve, the same way, for example, that "Castle" did.

McCormack is just great as Daniel. He's the main reason to watch. Rachel Leigh Cook does a great job as Kate, too. She reminds me a bit of Robin Tunney, who plays Libson in "The Mentalist", too. Arjaye Smith plays Max. Jonathan Scarfe plays Roger Probert, Kate's partner, who doesn't like Daniel too much. LeVar Burton has a small part as the Dean in Daniel's college.

More Information:

Perception – New Series Premiere: Monday, July 9, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) Drama fans are about to meet one of the most unique crime solvers on television when TNT premieres this fascinating new series about an eccentric neuroscience professor who is recruited by the FBI to help solve complex cases. Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Eric McCormack stars as Dr. Daniel Pierce, who possesses an intimate knowledge of human behavior and a masterful understanding of the way the mind works. Although Pierce's mind may be brilliant, it's also damaged as he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. Also starring are Rachael Leigh Cook co-stars as FBI agent Kate Moretti, Pierce’s former student who asks him to consult on certain cases. Arjay Smith plays Max Lewicki who serves as Pierce's teaching assistant. Kelly Rowan is Natalie Vincent, Daniel's best friend and every bit his intellectual equal. In addition, Levar Burton will play a recurring role as Paul Haley, a dean at the university and Pierce’s friend. Perception was created by executive producer Kenneth Biller and co-executive producer Mike Sussman, with McCormack serving as producer. The series comes to TNT from ABC Studios. 

UPDATE: TNT sent me the final two episodes of the summer. They are really great. I like the show a lot, anyway - way more than I thought I would. Mostly because of Eric McCormack. He does an outstanding job. It's got pretty good scripts, too, though. 

Pierce starts really losing it, and he gets caught up in this whole conspiracy. It's very interesting because you don't know what's real and what's not.  The two episodes both very good. It's hard to say much without giving the whole plot away. We finally get to see the real Natalie... sort of! It's very shocking.

I expected it to end on a cliff-hanger, but they tie everything up pretty neatly at the end. Maybe they just did it this way in case they didn't get to come back. I'm happy to say that it's been renewed for a second season. Yay!  I can't wait until it comes back.

You won't be disappointed when you watch these finally two episodes! They are great!

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