Instinct

2018
4.4
50 reviews
TV-14
Rating
Eligible
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Season 1 episodes (14)

1 Pilot
3/18/18
Former CIA operative Dr. Dylan Reinhart (Alan Cumming) is lured back to his old life when NYPD detective Lizzie Needham (Bojana Novakovic) needs his help to stop a serial killer.
2 Wild Game
3/25/18
Although Dylan has returned to teaching, Lizzie calls upon his expertise with profiling sociopaths to assist with a bizarre case in which a venture capitalist was murdered and his body ritualistically displayed. Whoopi Goldberg returns as Joan Ross, Dylan's Book Editor.
3 Secrets and Lies
4/1/18
The murder of a young man who recently left his family’s religious community leads Dylan and Lizzie to a series of possible suspects, including a short-tempered photographer and a mysterious girl with amnesia. Also, Lizzie’s younger sister, Katie (Genevieve Angelson), unexpectedly drops by for a visit.
4 I Heart New York
4/8/18
Dr. Dylan Reinhart and Det. Lizzie Needham are reassigned to a murder case in Central Park when their investigation into a chemical attack on the subway is taken over by an FBI team led by Dylan's estranged father, Roger (John Doman). However, Dylan can't shake the feeling that the cases are related.
5 Heartless
4/22/18
Dylan and Lizzie investigate the murder of a Jane Doe, but when they realize that the victim was killed by mistake, they must identify the killer’s motive and intended target before she suffers the same fate.
6 Flat Line
4/29/18
Dr. Dylan and Julian go undercover in a hospital when they suspect an “angel of death” is killing people with non-life-threatening ailments. Also, Lizzie asks Andy for his legal expertise when a personal trainer sues her for accidentally injuring him.
7 Owned
5/6/18
Dylan and Lizzie are under pressure to deliver results when they investigate the death of Jasmine’s friend, the owner of a professional basketball team who died when her car went off a bridge.
8 Long Shot
5/27/18
When a woman is shot outside a community center, Dylan and Lizzie are challenged by the mayor to solve the case in less than 24 hours to quell pressure from the media and special interest groups.
9 Bad Actors
5/27/18
Dylan and Lizzie work to uncover who would want to murder an acting troupe of costumed characters when two members are killed using highly sophisticated poisons. Also, Andy encourages Dylan to accept an invitation to a BBQ being thrown by Det. Fucci (Danny Mastrogiorgio) when he becomes concerned that Dylan isn't fitting in with his new colleagues.
10 Bye Bye Birdie
6/3/18
When Celia Baxter (Sutton Foster), a successful author, is almost killed in her home, Dylan and Lizzie's suspect list includes several people who may have held a grudge as she rose in stature in the publishing world. Also, Lizzie gets closer to learning the truth about the death of her fiance, who was killed while undercover.
11 Blast From the Past
6/17/18
Dylan and Lizzie are unable to identify a motive or connection when several average people blow themselves up using suicide bombs. Also, Julian, concerned that Dylan could be exposing himself to past enemies, enlists Lizzie to talk him out of hiring Ashely (Nikki M. James), a publicist.
12 Live
6/24/18
Dylan and Lizzie investigate the murder of a film student whose death was broadcast for the world to see. Also, Andy and Dylan realize that parenting is tougher than they thought when they agree to look after Madison (Onata Statler-Aprile), a friend’s 12-year-old daughter.
13 Tribal
7/1/18
Dylan and Lizzie investigate the murder of Joan's (Whoopi Goldberg) protégé, Kristy (Paton Ashbrook), uncovering long-buried secrets worth killing over. Also, Dylan and Andy apply to adopt a child, and Lizzie's reliance on Julian's illicitly obtained information puts a promotion in jeopardy.
101 Inside Instinct
3/4/18
Go inside the new CBS crime drama based on the James Patterson novel starring Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) as Dr. Dylan Reinhart, a university college professor-and former CIA operative-who is lured into a life of solving crimes alongside top NYPD detective Lizzie Needham (Bojana Novakovic). Watch what happens when this unlikely duo links up to stop a serial killer, who happens to be using Reinhart's first book as murderous inspiration.

About this show

Ratings and reviews

4.4
50 reviews
Charlie K Bales
September 7, 2019
The first season the writers were struggling with the tone and rhythm of the cast, which is strong from Alan Cummings to the dog Gary. There is a lot to work with between Alan Cummings character's work history and very strong relationship and clearly troubled parental relationship. The writers tried to add in his working as a teacher and working as a writer and avoiding his agent also and it all simply was too much. Added to that was Bojana Novakovic's character which they had struggling with the loss of her fiance and the pending loss of her only living connection to him, his dog. Now, as a disabled service dog handler, I can personally understand how close one gets to a canine partner and her attachment to Gary was understandable, especially since he was a Police Officer himself and had previously been her partner's right paw man. It just wasn't handled as well as it could have been by the writers. Season two was, by far, much better managed. Less was more in Dylan's life (Alan Cumming's character). Focusing solely on the crime factor with cameos of his family issues with his Dad and writing issues with a new agent/editor actually made the crime portion of the story lines much more focused on the telling of the victims story. I was glad they continued with the adoption, which ended Season 1. A decision Andy, Dylan's husband had he had chosen to do as a major choice together. The strength of that relationship is paramount to who Dylan is in how he solves crime. Had they taken that storyline another direction it would have undermined the truth of what the show finally settled and told the fan base they would tell us about. Dylan and Andy, together, supporting each other in solving crime in their own ways while building a family which included Aunt Lizzie. Season 2 not only picked up there, but continued to forge that part of the story. Dylan talking to Gary while Lizzie went off to vacation with his blessings. LIzzie plotting with Andy on Dylan's behalf. Both bringing her first into their happiness. All of them deeply and emotionally adult enough to know that each has to do their part and supports the other when that part is being done. A healthy family. What will the next, stronger writing a third Season will bring us? I can't wait! Can you?
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Jess Wall
June 19, 2018
Possibly the worst show currently on network television. Aside from having Alan Cumming in the lead role, there is absolutely nothing positive to say about this show. It's a total mess. Save your time and money...you deserve better!
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Ken R
April 21, 2018
Everyone is looking to replicate the success of whodunit shows such as Elementary and Castle. Instinct is CBS's latest attempt which pairs a university professor with the police in solving crimes. Mr. Cumming and Ms. Novakovic work well together. Mr. Cumming is quite talented and enjoyable to watch, and the show's camera and visual scenes are also enjoyable. The plots so far have been average, and this is the problem. The mystery plots are so difficult to write! There has to be a lot of creativity to keep this stuff coming. Therefore, the future of Instinct is unclear.
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