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Intelligence

Intelligence

What's in his head will blow your mind.

2014Ended1 season13 episodesTV-14Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

A drama centered on a high-tech intelligence operative who is enhanced with a super-computer microchip in his brain, and the director of the elite government cyber-security agency who supports him.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Intelligence?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Intelligence to rent or buy on Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about Intelligence?

Intelligence earns 3 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Under-30s.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Intelligence worth watching?

Intelligence's Midcredits score is the 41st percentile of all shows, from 21K ratings across 2 sources. 70% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

41st percentile

Better received than 41% of shows

32nd percentile among Action39th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)33rd
Approval (how many liked it)50th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

67 /100

33rd percentile of all shows

26th percentile among Action32nd percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.2 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

70% liked it

50th percentile of all shows

38th percentile among Action48th percentile among 2010s
70% rated it 7–1030% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

89th percentile

20K ratings across platforms

65th percentile among Action89th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 9% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show pairs a brain-implanted super-agent with a protective female partner in a familiar action-spy formula.

Fans praised

  • charismatic leading performance from Josh Holloway
  • intriguing cyber-rendering visual concept
  • solid cast chemistry, especially between Holloway and Ory

Detractors panned

  • illogical premise and laughable technobabble
  • wooden acting and flat, cliché characters
  • predictable plots and sloppy writing

What stands out

ActingDivisive55

Josh Holloway's charisma praised; supporting cast criticized as wooden or over-the-top

Effects and spectacleDivisive55

cyber-rendering visuals praised; VFX otherwise unremarkable

PacingDivisive50

first episode slow; later episodes improve but still uneven

CharactersDivisive40

shallow archetypes; hero's cockiness divides, partner's role feels forced

TensionDivisive40

action scenes lack real stakes; predictable outcomes

Plot and storyDivisive35

predictable case-of-the-week; premise called derivative of Chuck and Jake 2.0

OriginalityDivisive35

unoriginal fusion of earlier shows; chip-as-Internet idea not new

DialogueDivisive30

cheesy one-liners and bland technobabble

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Under-30s

Under-30s scored it 25 points higher than over-30s.

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

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • Critics vs users 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2014 · 13 episodes · 7.2 average across 2 rated episodes

  • S1E1

    Pilot

    Jan 7, 201445 minTMDB rating 7.3
  • S1E2

    Red X

    Jan 13, 201445 minTMDB rating 7.1
  • S1E3

    Mei Chen Returns

    Jan 20, 201445 min
  • S1E4

    Secrets of the Secret Service

    Jan 27, 201445 min
  • S1E5

    The Rescue

    Feb 3, 201445 min
  • S1E6

    Patient Zero

    Feb 10, 201445 min

Watch experience

What is Intelligence like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseThrillingMelancholic
Heaviest: middle
Register
Adventurous · 15% of showsBrooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcSingle-season story
ToneThe show treats its high-concept premise with a straight face, balancing action and drama without irony or self-mockery.
The rideThe show sustains a tense, mission-driven atmosphere with occasional emotional beats.
StructureEpisodes follow a conventional case-of-the-week structure with setup, confrontation, and resolution. The series also weaves in a serialized arc but the episodic form is dominant.
Episode formatEach episode features a mission against a cyber threat, while a season-long arc about Gabriel's chip and his past runs underneath.
Season formatThe series was canceled after one season, so it tells a single season-long arc without a new-arc structure.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
FunRousing · 9% of shows
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves a sense of excitement and satisfaction from the action, though it doesn't linger deeply.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous 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).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · 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. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeEach episode follows Gabriel and his team as they track and neutralize a specific threat to national security, leveraging his chip-enabled data access. This is a classic monster-of-the-week structure.

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 showsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7% (this title)
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · 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% (this title)

Self

IdentityLoyalty · 7% of showsTechnology · 1% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe series interrogates what it means to be human when a man is fused with a supercomputer, while loyalty to country and team is tested.
StanceThe series questions the trade-offs of merging human and machine, without settling whether it's a good or bad thing.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalUrbanRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score
SettingA covert U.S. cyber-security agency in a near-realistic present.

Content guide

Is Intelligence okay for kids?

TV-14

Intelligence is rated TV-14.

Ratings in 9 other countries
  • Canada14+
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • IndiaU
  • MexicoB-15
  • PortugalNR
  • Russia16+
  • Spain12

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Intelligence have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Intelligence?

Cast

Josh Holloway
as Gabriel Vaughn
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Meghan Ory
as Riley Neal
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
John Billingsley
as Dr. Shenendoah Cassidy
P.J. Byrne
as Nelson Cassidy
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Michael Rady
as Chris Jameson
Marg Helgenberger
as Lillian Strand
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Tomas Arana
as DNI Adam Weatherly
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
LeRoy Mobley
as Cybercom Agent Jones
Lance Reddick
as DCI Jeffrey Tetazoo
Faye Kingslee
as Mei Chen

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