Watch Perception

Perception is an American crime drama series that aired on TNT from 2012 to 2015. The show follows Dr. Daniel Pierce, a brilliant but eccentric neuropsychiatrist, who has a unique perspective on criminal behavior due to his hallucinations and paranoia caused by his schizophrenia. His condition helps him to see patterns in the data that others cannot see, making him an excellent consultant for the FBI and the CIA.

Eric McCormack plays the lead role of Dr. Daniel Pierce, who teaches neuroscience at a Chicago university while consulting with the FBI on various cases. Rachael Leigh Cook plays Kate Moretti, an FBI agent who works with Pierce on many of his cases. Arjay Smith plays Max Lewicki, Pierce's teaching assistant, who helps him interpret his visions and behavior owing to his condition. Kelly Rowan plays Natalie Vincent, Pierce's former wife, who also happens to be a noted psychiatrist. LeVar Burton plays Paul Haley, the dean of the neuroscience department and Pierce's boss. Scott Wolf appears in the show as Donnie Ryan, a former student of Pierce's, who becomes romantically involved with Kate.

As the show progresses, the characters develop more depth, and the relationships between them evolve. Pierce's visions and hallucinations get more vivid and complicated, reflecting his struggles with his condition. The show also explores his past and how his disease has affected his personal life.

The show's premise is that Pierce's unique perspective on criminal behavior allows him to solve cases that others cannot. He uses his knowledge of the brain and behavior to unravel the motives of the suspects and solve seemingly unsolvable cases. Pierce's visions and hallucinations provide him with insights that allow him to solve cases that would otherwise remain unsolved.

Perception's writing is excellent, and the show is well crafted, with a mix of overarching character storylines and individual cases. The show's creators, Kenneth Biller and Mike Sussman, do a fantastic job of conveying the intricacies of Pierce's schizophrenic experience while keeping the tone of the show engaging and intriguing.

The show's performances are exceptional, with McCormack and Cook leading the way. McCormack does an outstanding job portraying Pierce's struggles with schizophrenia and how it impacts his ability to solve crimes. Cook brings depth to the show as the FBI agent who initially doubts Pierce, but comes to understand and depend on him for her cases.

Other notable performances include LeVar Burton's turn as Pierce's boss, who is both supportive of him and frustrated by his behavior. Scott Wolf's performance as Donnie Ryan is also noteworthy, as he plays that character with depth, humor, and complexity.

The show's production values are top-notch, from the cinematography to the sound design. But what sets Perception apart is its unique perspective on crime-solving, combining neuropsychiatry with law enforcement to create something fresh and engaging.

One of the most striking things about Perception is how it portrays Daniel Pierce's schizophrenia in a compassionate and humanizing manner. Instead of utilizing the stereotypes often seen in popular culture, the show takes a more nuanced approach, showing the intricacies and challenges of living with a mental illness.

In conclusion, Perception is a show that takes a unique approach to crime-solving, combining neuropsychiatry and law enforcement to create an engaging and compelling series. The show's strong performances, writing, and production values elevate it above the typical crime drama. It's a must-watch for fans of smart, well-crafted television.

Perception is a series that ran for 3 seasons (39 episodes) between July 9, 2012 and on TNT