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Eli Stone

Eli Stone

Partly cloudy... with a chance of visions.

2008–2009Ended2 seasons26 episodes~60 min/epTV-PGMidcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

Many lawyers consider themselves prophets, but Eli Stone may be the real deal. Eli has built a successful career at a top law firm in San Francisco representing only the biggest and richest corporations that make a habit of screwing over the little guy. But after experiencing a series of odd hallucinations, Eli seeks to find a deeper meaning to life while trying not to lose his job and destroy his relationship with the bosses' daughter. When Eli discovers an aneurysm in his brain, he wonders if his condition is truly medical or if perhaps he now has a higher calling.

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Where to watch

Where can I watch Eli Stone?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Eli Stone streaming on Disney+ and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about Eli Stone?

Eli Stone earns 3 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Hopeful.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Eli Stone worth watching?

Eli Stone's Midcredits score is the 77th percentile of all shows, from 12K ratings across 2 sources. 85% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

77th percentile

Better received than 77% of shows

75th percentile among Comedy70th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)67th
Approval (how many liked it)83rd

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

74 /100

67th percentile of all shows

67th percentile among Comedy59th percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

85% liked it

83rd percentile of all shows

80th percentile among Comedy79th percentile among 2000s
85% rated it 7–1015% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

89th percentile

11K ratings across platforms

83rd percentile among Comedy83rd percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 25% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Fans praised

  • Heartwarming and hopeful tone with strong emotional impact
  • Compelling lead performance and charismatic cast chemistry
  • Unique premise blending legal drama with spiritual/visionary elements

Detractors panned

  • Heavy-handed execution and overly sentimental moralizing
  • Lack of character coherence and logical plot progression
  • Unrealistic portrayal of legal profession and forced quirkiness

What stands out

Acting82

Jonny Lee Miller praised as charming; cast generally effective though some roles called flat

Sound and musicDivisive80

George Michael songs and musical numbers highlight episodes; emotionally resonant

Emotional impactDivisive76

Heartwarming and inspiring for fans; detractors call manipulative

OriginalityDivisive70

Fresh blend of legal drama with spiritual visions; derivative of Ally McBeal noted

CharactersDivisive68

Supporting cast enjoyable but main character's development criticized as inconsistent

AtmosphereDivisive68

Establishing hopeful, whimsical tone; some find it overly saccharine

HumorDivisive65

Quirky comedic moments land well; detractors find forced

Plot and storyDivisive58

Premise intriguing but execution deemed heavy-handed and predictable

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 13 points higher than non-US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2008 · 13 episodes

  • S2E1

    The Path

    Oct 14, 200860 min
  • S2E2

    Grace

    Oct 21, 200860 min
  • S2E3

    Unwritten

    Oct 28, 200860 min
  • S2E4

    Should I Stay or Should I Go?

    Nov 11, 200860 min
  • S2E5

    The Humanitarian

    Nov 18, 200860 min
  • S2E6

    Happy Birthday Nate

    Dec 2, 200860 min

Watch experience

What is Eli Stone like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you hopeful.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
ContemplativeHopefulBittersweet
Heaviest: throughout
Register
WarmSentimental · 4% of shows
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show holds its material with earnest warmth, balancing legal drama, fantasy, and comedy with sincere optimism.
The rideThe series sustains a reflective, introspective tone with bursts of emotional highs and lows across cases and Eli's personal journey.
StructureEach episode follows a conventional three-act structure, with Eli's visions integrated linearly into the narrative.
Episode formatEach episode presents a legal case that Eli takes on due to a vision, while the ongoing arc of his condition and personal growth unfolds across the season.
Season formatEach season continues Eli's story but with a distinct arc — Season 1 sets up his condition and mission; Season 2 deepens the consequences and raises the stakes.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
HopefulFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves you with a sense of optimism and warmth, believing that doing good matters and change is possible.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% (this title) · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Institutional injustice: A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).

18% of shows fit this archetype

with Rebirth underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeTypical episodes see Eli use his prophetic visions to fight institutional injustice and defend the wrongly accused, while the series arc tracks his moral transformation from corporate lawyer to a man of purpose.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfPurposeSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

PurposeIdentitySelf-worth · 7% of shows
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe show explores Eli's search for a higher calling beyond personal gain, with his visions and legal cases serving as vehicles for this quest.
StanceThe show celebrates Eli's moral awakening and the redemptive power of doing good, treating his flaws as stepping stones to a better self.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
PopOrchestral modernSupportive music · hybrid
Settinga San Francisco law firm and the city's courts and streets
MusicUses song choices and occasional musical numbers to underscore the show's whimsical tone.

Content guide

Is Eli Stone okay for kids?

TV-PG

Eli Stone is rated TV-PG. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its sexual content at mild (33/100). It has too few votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 1 other country
  • Spain16
Overall
needs 3 or more scored categories
not ranked
Sex & Nudity
Mild
too few votes to rank (5 votes)

Overall standing needs at least three scored categories; this title has 1.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Eli Stone have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Eli Stone?

Cast

Jonny Lee Miller
as Eli Stone
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Natasha Henstridge
as Taylor Wethersby
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Loretta Devine
as Patti Dellacroix
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Matt Letscher
as Nathan Stone
Sam Jaeger
as Matt Dowd
James Saito
as Dr. Frank Chen
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Victor Garber
as Jordan Wethersby
Julie Gonzalo
as Maggie Dekker
Jason George
as Keith Bennett
Tom Amandes
as Martin Posner

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