After a very successful first season, TNT announced what most assumed: They will be bringing PERCEPTION back for a second season.
The series stars Eric McCormack (WILL AND GRACE) as Dr. Daniel Pierce. Pierce is a brilliant and popular college professor that is more than a little odd. He suffers from paranoid Schizophrenia. He has opted to refuse necessary meds that would lessen his symptoms as they limit his creativity and make him feel dumbed down. Because of this, he is never entirely sure who around him is real and who is not. In the series, part of his hallucinations are related to the case (“Ghosts” talking to him and helping him think things through), these are his subconscious mind working through things. He sees crimes as puzzles and challenges.
Agent Kate Moretti (Rachael Leigh Cook) is a former student and understands Pierce better than most and sees the rewards of using his brilliance as outweighing the risks that come with his behavior. But more than that, she likes and appreciates him.
My overall impression of PERCEPTOIN is that it features good actors doing well in interesting roles, but the stories lack depth and often emotional impact. My hope is that the show follows the road of THE CLOSER and develops the characters rather than RIZZOLI & ISLES, which seems to be content coasting on the charm and talents of the staff.
Regardless of my thoughts, PERCEPTION has been a hit with viewers. The show’s premiere had 5.6 million viewers and the series held up fairly well, with many episodes doing over 4 million and the overall season (thus far) average for live plus seven days (on demand) was an impressive 7 million.
Not surprisingly, TNT president Michael Wright had nothing but praise for the series: “Perception has captured the imagination of TNT’s audience of armchair detectives with wonderfully intricate cases, emotionally charged situations and, of course, a terrific cast led by Eric McCormack. Daniel Pierce is a truly unique and fascinating addition to television’s pantheon of crime solvers. We look forward to seeing where Perception takes us next.”
Season one wraps up on September 17th. Season one consisted of ten episodes, while season two will have thirteen.