Instinct

Alan Cumming (Eli Gold on The Good Wife) plays a Dan Brown like character, a symbologist/psychologist who teams up with a chirpy female police detective to track down a serial killer (pilot). The dialog is witty; the acting brisk and convincing. It's a fun series well worth a look!

The first couple of episodes seemed clunky and full of exposition, as first episodes often are. But now it's finding its feet and going in a good direction as the plots are becoming more intriguing and the characters are fleshing out. Sure there have been a number of super-smart and pompous lead characters (Sherlock, House, Lucifer), but Dylan is a nice guy who cares about other people, who quit the CIA for love. In fact, there is a lack of vindictive snark but there is snappy dialogue. Kind of refreshing. Also refreshing to see a marriage that is a happy one as well as a cop partnership that ISN'T a will-they-won't they kiss thing (which is getting a bit tiring). Dylan gives psychological assessments along the way - giving the show a different lean - and I find the relationships between the main characters are believable (in the context of an obviously contrived show, let's face it). The plots are getting stronger, the dynamics are smoother. It reminds me of a more pleasant Hannibal, with the psychologist helping the police - and both shows have some pretty good clothes! It was worth sticking with the show, and I'm looking forward to another season to see it really grow.

Alan Cummings plays a former CIA agent now turned successful author and professor named Dr. Dylan Reinhart whose publisher Joan Ross (Whoopi Goldberg) tells Dylan that his most recent storyline is missing the magic that was present in his first book. Joan suggests to Dylan that he needs to become active in the field again to regain his lost writers mojo.

So Dylan agrees to tag team with a young and pretty blonde detective named Lizzie Needham (Bojana Novakovic) and their on screen tag team magic is quite evident from the get go. Detective Lizzie Needham and scholar/writer Dylan Reinhart feed off of each other in solving this the pilot episodes first murders. This particular serial killer murders each victim and at the murder scene the killer leaves one (1) of the fifty-two (52) poker playing cards to which Detective Needham and Dylan have to figure out the cards clue in solving the next murder before it happens

The TV series writers did more than an adequate job of keeping their audience in suspense and the on screen chemistry between actors Alan Cummings and Bojana Novakovic was very entertaining. This new series has some good momentum with this the pilot episode and I trust the series writers will provide new material each week to sustain and maintain a new audience.

I give the series an excellent 8 out of 10 rating and look forward to seeing more of the same.

Every detective or medical show must decide how much of the characters' personal lives to allow in with the plot. Instinct is teetering on the brink, but it's still engaging and has great characters. Alan Cumming is a personal favorite. He brings so much heart to everything he does. The chemistry between a Dylan an Lizzie really works. I hope this show lasts!

Lots of similarities to castle. likable characters and good plots. alan cummings owns it as always. binge watched the first season and cant wait for season 2. definitely an above average show. well worth a look.