Ep 8. Kilimanjaro

Perception is an American crime drama TV series that first aired on TNT in 2012 and ran for three seasons. Produced by Kenneth Biller and Mike Sussman, it stars Eric McCormack as Dr. Daniel Pierce, a brilliant neuroscientist who works as a professor at a Chicago university and consults with the FBI as a forensic consultant.

Season 1 episode 8 is titled Kilimanjaro and originally aired on August 27, 2012. The episode opens with Dr. Pierce waking up early in the morning and going on a jog, indicating his love for running. Upon returning home, he receives a call from his former student and mentee, Max Lewicki (played by Arjay Smith), who tells him about a case involving the death of a mountain climber on Mount Kilimanjaro.

The victim is identified as Jake Bannerman, an experienced climber who had attempted the mountain several times before and was known for being a risk-taker. Dr. Pierce and Max are called to Tanzania to assist the FBI in investigating the case, where they meet with Agent Kate Moretti (played by Rachael Leigh Cook).

The trio soon finds out that Bannerman was leading a group of climbers up the mountain to retrieve a rare mineral specimen, and they suspect foul play as several members of the group had motives to kill him. The suspects include Bannerman’s business partner, his girlfriend, and a rival mineral collector. As Dr. Pierce delves deeper into the case, he begins to have hallucinations and vivid dreams that he can't distinguish from reality.

The dream sequences show Dr. Pierce interacting with his deceased father, whom he has unresolved issues with. Through these interactions, we learn more about Dr. Pierce’s past and his father's alcoholism, which affected his childhood. Meanwhile, Dr. Pierce continues to use his intellectual prowess to solve the case, despite his recurring hallucinations.

As the investigation progresses, Dr. Pierce becomes convinced that Bannerman was killed by another member of his group using a rare poison found in local plants. However, the local police refuse to help, leading Dr. Pierce and his team to take matters into their own hands. They eventually find evidence that points towards the killer. In the end, the killer is caught and brought to justice, and Dr. Pierce has resolved some of his long-standing issues with his father.

Overall, Kilimanjaro is an suspenseful and thrilling episode that showcases Dr. Pierce’s ability to solve a complex case despite his emotional turmoil and hallucinations. It also highlights the characters’ strong relationships and how they work together to solve crimes. The use of hallucinations and flashbacks adds an extra layer of depth to the episode and provides insight into Dr. Pierce’s backstory and personal struggles.