Eleventh Hour

'Eleventh Hour' is a new show to UK screens but, so far, I'm liking what I'm seeing. Based on the same premise as a British show of the same name, this show centres around Doctor Jacob Hood, a gifted science adviser to the FBI who investigates cases with heavy science implications. Assigned as his bodyguard is FBI Special Agent Rachel Young, who ensures Hood's safety and also has to reel him in when he goes off on a tangent.

Part of what makes this such an interesting show is that it offers a mix of detective action drama and science fact with a dabble of science fiction. 'Eleventh Hour' deals with Hood and Young becoming involved in cases which sound like science fiction only to have a real science origin to them and, in come ways, can be described as a detective/FBI version of 'House' (with the male lead being far more amiable than House!). Rufus Sewell and Marley Shelton, as Hood and Young respectively, do well in their roles and have a great chemistry together even from the first episode. They give the characters a likable edge that compliment each other well.

I've not seen the British version of the show but I imagine there are quite a few moans that this show exists. I agree that there are some instances where American remakes are pointless and mediocre, however, I don't feel this is one example. I have to admit that when it comes to cop shows, I do prefer my US imports as they are not so dour-natured. American shows tend to offer a more positive outcome with characters who actually smile and, yes, they do tend to be flashier which I like.

'Eleventh Hour' has proved itself to be a promising show so far and certainly deserves a chance (not least to be judged on its own merit, without being compared to it's British processor). I do hope that it is given a second season because I'm getting sick and tired of seeing good shows being cancelled before a proper run.

I enjoyed the combination of shows wrapped up into this one. This show is a blend of odd mysteries like House without the harsh character that I find hard to watch too often. It adds in CSI type investigations looking at microscopic details. The amount of science trivia adds interesting information about everyday things. There is puzzle solving similar to Monk or The Psychic where the main character uses his memory to piece together obscure information into the solution. I have not seen the episodes with Patrick Stewart, but the episodes with Rufus Sewell and I like the way he plays the character in a calm and cool, lost in thought manner. I think the time slot the show has is its biggest problem in gaining more popularity. 10:00PM is after many working people have shut off the TV and gone to bed. I think if this show was given the 8:00PM time slot in place of trashy shows like "How I met your mother", it would do much better in the ratings.

Network: CBS; Genre: Remake, Crime/Mystery; Content Rating: TV-PG; Perspective: Contemporary (star range: 1 – 4);

Seasons Reviewed: 1 Season

I wanted to dislike "Eleventh Hour". Yes, it is yet another US remake of a UK series, yet another CBS procedural drama produced by Jerry Bruckheimer where nerdy professionals spout scientific and medical jargon paired with an attractive female. It's been disheartening watching Bruckheimer's name go from being associated with loud, boisterous, flashy, trashy, action movies to being a television brand name for "CSI" and endless, lifeless CBS procedural clones. The Bruckheimer Executive Producer template is tried-and-true and "Eleventh Hour" gets run through that ringer. Take a UK series starring Patrick Stewart and Ashley Jensen, flattening out any potential substance to leave only the most basic tent-posts of the CBS formula standing and bingo: ratings gold. Yet with a little polish in the production and an ear for creating mild thrills, "Hour" is a little bit better than the "CSI"s of the world.

Rufus Sewell plays genius scientist Dr. Hood, who advises the FBI through the lens of physics, biology and chemistry, under the handling of partner Rachael Young (Marley Shelton). This often includes viruses and toxins that are on the verge of spreading into a fatal pandemic unless Hood can find the a) terrorists and malevolent corporations or b) accidental combination of common chemicals responsible. Sewell fits the scientist bill well. He's halfway commanding on screen and about as devoid of personality as any procedural drama nerd. Sewell, perfect cast as the personality-free amnesiac in "Dark City", stretches limited acting abilities to the max here. With no chemistry (but a welcome lack of a forced sexual undercurrent) with Sewell, a miscast Shelton is also stretched to the max. Albe it with a smaller reservoir.

But around these obstacles, the writers, show-runners and directors behind "Eleventh Hour" actually stitch together a reasonably entertaining, intellectually stimulating and kind of exciting thriller. The first thing I appreciate is the show's willingness to be topical, not shying away from bioterrorism and stories about anthrax - both natural and engineered. The show also finds a good balance between the chemistry jargon, making it relatable and the thriller elements. These elements all come together well in "Subway" where a group of American teenagers who have formed their own radical Islamic sleeper cell set off a virus in the subway system. A sequence where Young and fellow agent Felix (Omar Bensen Miller, also miscast) track the potential path of the virus carrier through the subway halls is crisply turned into an action scene of excitement.

The look, sound and feel of the show come together to make a polished visceral thriller and "Eleventh Hour" solid shallow entertainment.

* * ½ / 4

I LOVE Eleventh Hour. This is, in fact, the only CBS show that I actually watch. Before Eleventh Hour came on, I always referred to CBS as the "CSI Channel". I'm also not into reality TV. BUT THEN CAME DR. HOOD! Eleventh Hour is SMART! It's engaging. It shows genuine human concern and compassion. It grapples with the very real possibilities of when science and technology go too far and what that means. IT MAKES YOU THINK! I have always thought Rufus Sewell was an excellent actor, and he has been a joy and pleasure to follow in this series. The chemistry between him and Rachel, and now Felix, is AWESOME. I DVR'd every episode so I wouldn't have to sit through commercials--I hated breaking up the story with ads, I was always on the edge of my seat. I'd very much like to see some reruns of Season 1 this summer and am definitely planning on getting the first season on DVD when it's available. This show has great potential for several continuing seasons. I'm eagerly (and slightly impatiently) waiting for the fall so that I can see new episodes of Eleventh Hour and Dr. Hood.

I love this show because it is similar to the CSI shows, yet it has a scientific twist to it. Everything is explained scientifically, as on my other favorites, Bones. It's very refreshing to divert from the good guy/ bad guy routine, and concentrate more on the scientific side of how they solved the crime.

If you can't follow the "squint talk" then you probably won't like this show. It's geared towards the more intelligent society. Regardless of that, there is still enough action and comedy (if you get the jokes)

Both the main character could use some "tuning", but that will come with more seasons. The acting and story lines are very realistic, introducing crime scenarios that most of us had not thought possible.