Let’s talk television! CBS recently unveiled an action-packed new series called “Intelligence.” Does it make the grade?
According to the official website, “Intelligence” is a “dramatic thriller starring Josh Holloway as a high-tech intelligence operative enhanced with a super-computer microchip in his brain. With this implant, Gabriel is the first human ever to be connected directly into the global information grid and have complete access to Internet, Wi-Fi, [and] telephone and satellite data.”
As a result, Gabriel is a super spy. He’s a human being with the mind of a machine. With all that ability, what else could the guy possibly need?
How about a bodyguard? “Intelligence” offers several strong leading ladies to balance our super guy. Former “CSI” actress Marg Helgenberger is Gabriel’s boss at US Cyber Command, and “Once Upon a Time” actress Megan Ory is the ex-Secret Service agent tasked with protecting the secret weapon, Gabriel.
He also is haunted by the disappearance of his wife some years prior, and things are about to get really hectic for him. The Chinese have copied his technology to build a female arch-enemy.
This show definitely is cool and presented in a believable manner. It’s got some exciting potential. Gabriel isn’t just a government operative; he also has some amazing forensic skills, thanks to that chip in his brain.
While the notion of our one-man army needing a bodyguard seems a little silly at first blush, the show’s dynamic works. In one of my favorite action sequences from the show’s pilot, Gabriel has a shootout with Chinese terrorists inside a paintball arena. When he turns on infrared, the enemies don’t stand a chance.
The weakest link in the new series is Gabriel himself. That is no offense to Mr. Holloway. My problem is with the character. He needs to get some personality — and fast!
Despite the show’s enormous potential, it already is being compared to “Person of Interest” and “Almost Human.” It’s hard to compete, and viewership for the new CBS venture already is down, according to ew.com.
I’m worried. And for that reason, I’m going to say … I’m not a fan!