Perception: The Complete First Season

Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) joins the ranks of damaged TV detectives in this mystery series airing on TNT, playing eccentric neuroscientist Daniel Pierce, a brilliant college professor who had a mental breakdown years ago and is now recruited by former-student-turned-FBI-agent Kate Moretti (Rachael Leigh Cook) to help out on tough cases. Daniel, who suffers from hallucinations and engages in conversations with people who aren't there, has trouble distinguishing between delusion and reality. In short, Daniel is a schizophrenic (but the lovable, funny kind that makes for good TV), who refuses medication that could help him because it also dulls his senses, and because he's too attached to his imaginary friend, Natalie (Kelly Rowan), who serves as his sounding board while he bats around ideas. These specifics aside, Perception otherwise resembles a number of better network and cable shows, and Daniel's visions actually seem to be little more than momentary sidebars on Psychological Issues That Must Be Confronted. While reasonably amiable, with an easy chemistry between McCormack and Cook, the show just doesn't offer much in the way of distinctive mysteries, unique characters, or unusual situations. Compiling all 10 episodes from the debut 2012 season, this is an optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)