Numb3rs

As opposed to some users that write comments before viewing a new show/film, I just finished watching the first episode and I am so far very impressed. While the show may lose some points for taking the "safe route" of being yet another crime drama, I felt that the show's unique concept of mathematical probability dictating life (a la "Pi") and unconventional lead roles set it apart from its predecessors. I've never even been a big fan of any of the CSI series, but found this show very entertaining and watchable. I'm also happy to see that Sabrina Lloyd (Sliders) is still alive and well on the planet Earth.

Some viewers seem to let prejudices decide whether or not they like a show, but I've taken a look at the evidence, and I happen to be looking forward to the rest of the series.

FBI agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow) works out of the L. A. office. He has an extra tool in his toolkit. He gets help from his math genius brother Charlie Eppes (David Krumholtz). Alan Eppes (Judd Hirsch) is their dad. David Sinclair (Alimi Ballard) is a fellow FBI agent. Amita Ramanujan (Navi Rawat) is Charlie's student turned love interest. His friend Dr. Larry Fleinhardt (Peter MacNicol) is also a professor. Terry Lake (Sabrina Lloyd) is an FBI agent for season 1 who transferred to Washington. Megan Reeves (Diane Farr) is the female FBI agent for seasons 2-4.

This is basic network police procedural for the most part with a covering of math. The family part gets the other big slice of the pie. The tone is serious. It's a CBS. I'm not that convinced with the math part of the show, but it's a fine gimmick. It's a waving of the magical math wand. At least, it differentiates this show from all the rest.

Terry Lake had the potential to develop into Don's romantic partner but actress Sabrina Lloyd left the show after one season. Don's romantic storyline remains the show's glaring weak point. It's funny that Larry has a better romance. Amita does start with a problematic issue. The show skips over it a bit. What I really want is that she doesn't become simply Charlie's assistant. She kinda does. Mostly, I like the group.

This is a fine network show. It lasted six seasons. It's a middling Friday night show which never broke top 30, but never decline that much either. It could have gone another season or two, but there's no point.

Despite being another police drama (this time it is the FBI), it has several unique elements. I don't think I have ever seen a mathematician as one of the main characters in a TV show. It worked. I liked how he related to those he dealt with. He was able to communicate on a human level. The mystery and suspense aspect of the show was very good. The writing was also very good but it may be difficult for the show to keep up the quality of its writing with its main subject a mathematician. Although it is somewhat unrealistic, I liked the idea of the two brothers working together with a common objective with the father putting his two cents in once in a while. I found the show very entertaining and I hope it lasts.

Numb3rs offers a fresh and interesting look at the worlds of law enforcement and mathematics. The two subjects, though seemingly different, work well together in this series. The focus of this show is not the crime, mathematics or policing, but the relationship between these three components and how they can work together to find a solution that is otherwise elusive - each offering information that would not normally be entertained. The relationship between Don, Charlie and their father is secondary to the plot, but no less important to the show's ideas. I can't say that I've watched a lot of their previous work, but I can say that I look forward to watching this show each week to see how Charlie and his mathematics can help DOn and his FBI team solve another crime.

I like this show a lot. I'm not mathematically gifted, but I appreciate the logic behind it, and the universal applicability. Robert Heinlein said "If it can't be expressed mathematically, it's not a fact, but opinion," and he was right. I enjoy seeing an extremely intelligent person portrayed as a human being. During the last 15 years many popular shows have featured likable but illiterate louts (the characters of Dan Connor, Joey Tribiani, Jerry Seinfeld, and Doug Heffernan have all stated that they don't read,don't want to read, and don't like to read), and I appreciate having both the central- character brothers shown as bright, each in his own way. I also love the cast of this show. The only one with whom I wasn't familiar was David Krumholtz, and he more than holds his own in this group of old pros. I loved Sabrina Lloyd in the sharply-paced "Sports Night," and she's wonderful here as well. Peter MacNicol may be risking being type-cast as Mr. Looney Tunes, with his socially dysfunctional character in this show following his socially dysfunctional character in "Ally McBeal," but he's so good that it's still a pleasure to watch him work. "NUMB3RS" is primarily a good cop show, not an intellectual exercise, so no viewer should skip it because he's afraid it'll be too brainy for him. I'd recommend this show to anyone who isn't afraid to think, and to watch others do it who are better at it than we.