Josh Holloway
Meghan Ory
Michael Rady
John Billingsley
P. J. Byrne
Marg Helgenberger

Created by:
Michael Seitzman

2014
Action, Sci-Fi
CBS
TV-14

(After watching two episodes)

“Intelligence” has a premise that’s mildly intriguing: Gabriel Vaughn, played with reliable cockiness by Josh Holloway (“Lost”), is an super-intelligence agent who has some sort of computer chip in his brain. Gabriel mentally scans every computerized, online data file to protect the country. Predictably, he’s shadowed by a former female secret service agent, who’s charged with keeping him safe. But, of course, he thinks that he doesn’t need her help and has no problem reminding her and us of that. To add in an overarching story line, he also has a wife who may or may not be a dead traitor. The character of Gabriel is the only thing that separates “Intelligence” from every other police-military procedural.

Look, CBS loves these kinds of shows, but this one doesn’t differentiate itself enough. The whole computer-chip enhanced agent idea is a good one, but that idea isn’t taken far enough to make “Intelligence” worth the investment. Plus, the dialogue can be awkward at times (“I know that you have all that extra processing power”), calling for impossible feats of acting from some of the supporting players. (I’m tired of actors being called upon to fake intensity when the script simply doesn’t support it.)

Despite all of that, I wouldn’t call “Intelligence” bad; it’s just not that good. I’d rather watch “Almost Human” for the tech and “Homeland” … for the intelligence.

Verdict: OK

About: (Source: intelligence)

INTELLIGENCE is a dramatic thriller starring Josh Holloway as a high-tech intelligence operative enhanced with a super-computer microchip in his brain. With this implant, Gabriel is the first human ever to be connected directly into the global information grid and have complete access to Internet, WiFi, telephone and satellite data. He can hack into any data center and access key intel in the fight to protect the United States from its enemies. Leading the elite government cyber-security agency created to support him is Director Lillian Strand, a straightforward and efficient boss who oversees the unit’s missions. Strand assigns Riley Neal, a Secret Service agent, to protect Gabriel from outside threats, as well as from his appetite for reckless, unpredictable behavior and disregard for protocol. Also on the team is Chris Jameson, a resourceful federal investigator. The brains behind the design of the chip is Dr. Shenendoah Cassidy, whose son, Nelson, is jealous of Gabriel’s prominent place in his father’s life. As the first supercomputer with a beating heart, Gabriel is the most valuable piece of technology the country has ever created and is the U.S.’s secret weapon.