Few "Cha-Cha-Changes" For PERCEPTION

Article first published as PERCEPTION Season 2 Premiere Review on Seat42F.

Grade: 85%

TNT’s PERCEPTION picks up months after the previous season in this week’s sophomore premiere, “Ch-Ch-Changes.” Daniel Pierce (Eric McCormack) is seemingly stable and healthy, having found a medication regime that works for him, and his life is moving on. Which is why he feels strong enough to assist the F.B.I. again when Kate (Rachael Leigh Cook) asks him for help.

In fact, Daniel is more confident and sure of himself than we’ve practically ever seen him. Daniel is a very intelligent person and knows it, but he is willing to push his ideas a lot further this year, especially when Kate’s almost-ex-husband and new boss, Donnie (Scott Wolf, V, Everwood), tries to manipulate the evidence of a court case.

I don’t buy that Donnie and Kate were ever a couple. Donnie’s personality is awful, and that’s immediately apparent. To think that Kate found redeeming qualities in this man for any length of time, let alone enough to marry him, is unthinkable based on her characters that have been established. Sure, Donnie brings some interesting conflict to the series, but the inconsistency in the back story ruins his presence. Why force the history?

The source of Daniel’s happiness comes from his secret relationship with Dr. Caroline Newsome (Kelly Rowan). Previously his psychiatrist and the same woman, sort of, Daniel hallucinates a long-term relationship with, Caroline isn’t completely comfortable with the time they are spending together and the “great” sex they are having. But Daniel doesn’t worry about that, delighting in just being happy and being with a woman that is real.

Or is she? It is not spoiling anything to say Caroline’s existence in Daniel’s company is immediately suspect. After all, PERCEPTION has established a pattern of what Daniel experiences not necessarily being real. And by keeping Caroline separate, away from the other people in Daniel’s life, there is no definitive proof that she exists one way or the other. “Ch-Ch-Changes” leaves viewers guessing for most of the hour, and I won’t say what the result is here.

I will say that, Caroline aside, it doesn’t take long for Daniel’s paranoid schizophrenia symptoms to rear their head. His hand shakes; he hallucinates a patient. Daniel will never be completely stable because that would ruin the conceit of PERCEPTION. It’s just a little sad, for those sympathetic with the character, to see he isn’t doing as well as he thinks he is.

Thankfully, Daniel still has friends, which will provide a support system no matter what might be going on inside of his mind. Kate is closest to him, of course, valuing Daniel’s rare talents. But we also have Lewicki (Arjay Smith), Daniel’s care giver, and Dean Haley (LeVar Burton), Daniel’s boss and old friend, who aren’t on screen nearly enough, but it’s always great when they are. With this layer of protection around Daniel, no matter how crazy he gets, he’ll still have those that look out for him and help him to maintain his life.

The ongoing plot concerning Daniel’s mental illness is an intriguing one. I love how the writers play with fan’s minds, and McCormack delivers a memorable, amazing performance in the role. I wish that this was what the series was actually about, because any time this arc takes center stage, the show gets really, really good.

Unfortunately, TNT doesn’t usually do serial, and the main meat of this episode, as well as all but one of the first season’s episodes, is about a specific case that Daniel works on. The self-contained story this week isn’t bad, and there are some triumphant moments for Daniel, but it just pales in comparison to how well done the other scenes are. PERCEPTION is an example of a wonderful idea mostly squandered.

PERCEPTION airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on TNT.

Perception comes from the imagination

Reality is a figment of your imagination. These words are spoken early on in the "Pilot" of TNT's PERCEPTION, premiering tonight. This statement is important, because much of this crime drama is about reality, and how things are seen. What is real? What isn't? What is important in solving the case, and what is superfluous? All of these questions crop up, and will continue to drive the show going forward.


PERCEPTION is an hour long, case-of-the-week, crime procedural. Normally, this would be a recipe to write it off. However, it is also a series that questions how the human brain works, and the limit of the organ. There are deeper mysteries present besides who committed the murder, and if they continue to be explored, as they are somewhat in the "Pilot," there will definitely be something worth watching here.


It certainly doesn't hurt that the man in the center of PERCEPTION, Dr. Daniel Pierce, is played by Eric McCormack (Will & Grace). McCormack is great at capturing the various nuances of the character, a college professor who assists the F.B.I. Pierce is comfortable while lecturing and when at home watching the Cubs, but nervously twitching nearly everywhere else. It's the details, though, that make Pierce come alive, crazy enough to be believable as a genius with mental issues, but with just enough sanity to justify how he functions in the world. McCormack does a masterful job in the role.


In the first episode, in a total Indiana Jones moment, Daniel has the added challenge of dealing with a student's attraction to him. While he is definitely tempted by her, and has no problem saying so, he turns her down in a publicly embarrassing way. This says something about Daniel as a person. He is simultaneously extremely perceptive and oblivious, with his brain activity focused, rather than meandering. It also adds a bit of edgy, but not too edgy, humor that fits well within TNT's brand.


Pierce is assisted by Max Lewicki (Arjay Smith, The Journey of Allen Strange) and Natalie Vincent (Kelly Rowan, The O.C.). One is a grad student who assists Daniel in everyday tasks, such as organizing his crossword puzzles and making sure that he eats. The other concentrates more on Daniel's mental health, talking through problems with him, and helping him realize important things about himself. Oh, and one of these people is a figment of Daniel's imagination, which, after the reveal, will make viewers constantly question what is real and what isn't.


The crime element comes into play when Daniel's former student, Kate Moretti (Rachel Leigh Cook, Psych, She's All That), gets a demotion which places her back in Chicago. Having formerly worked with Daniel in the past, which is probably why she is so lax about the rules, and is kicked back down in the first place, she calls upon his services again. Together, they make a great team, both contributing to solve the case.


The case in the "Pilot" involves faking a drug trial. It's hard not to notice the political overtones, with Daniel (and, presumably, the show's writers) against the government and the pharmaceuticals industry. This is a stance that will appeal to most Americans, and is a safe move. The later dig on President Bush may alienate some conservatives, but probably not the people who would tune in to PERCEPTION in any great numbers anyway, considering the intellectual bend of the premise. The episode's late attempt to balance by showing a brief clip of Clinton does not assuage, and only makes the stunt more obvious.


PERCEPTION is not without its predictability. There are plenty of hints as to the character that isn't actually there before the camera reveals who it is at the end of the "Pilot." Also, the story does flow along in pretty much an expected manner, familiar to those who spend lots of time watching detectives on TV.


But overall, the fantastic performances, including LeVar Burton (Star Trek: The Next Generation) as Daniel's dean, and exploration of the brain will keep fans entertained enough to stick with the show. Let's hope that PERCEPTION lasts longer than McCormack's previous project with the network, Trust Me, which was really good, but canceled quickly.


Check out PERCEPTION, Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.