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Ironside

Ironside

His team. His town. His rules.

2013Ended1 season9 episodesMidcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

In the gritty world of the NYPD, no one's tougher than Detective Robert Ironside. He and his trusted, handpicked team of specialists will do whatever it takes to solve New York's most difficult and notorious crimes - even if it means breaking the rules. As a detective, his instincts are second to none, and those around him have to stay on their toes if they want to keep up...because when his spine was shattered by a bullet two years ago, Ironside swore he'd never let a damn wheelchair slow him down.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Ironside?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Ironside to rent or buy on Apple TV, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

Buy

Reception

Is Ironside worth watching?

Ironside's Midcredits score is the 7th percentile of all shows, from 1.7K ratings across 2 sources. 45% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

7th percentile

Better received than 7% of shows

2nd percentile among Crime7th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)5th
Approval (how many liked it)12th

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

53 /100

5th percentile of all shows

1st percentile among Crime6th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Ratings scatter across the whole scale — one of the most divisive reactions in the catalog.

Approval

How many liked it

45% liked it

12th percentile of all shows

5th percentile among Crime12th percentile among 2010s
45% rated it 7–1055% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

65th percentile

1.6K ratings across platforms

44th percentile among Crime68th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 4% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A dark, gritty reboot that tries to modernize the classic series with a handsome, athletic lead and a focus on edgy action.

Fans praised

  • Blair Underwood's charismatic, modern take on the role
  • Action-packed, fast-paced, and gripping storytelling
  • Talented ensemble cast with standout moments

Detractors panned

  • Boring, predictable plots with poor writing
  • Heavy-handed political correctness over substance
  • Unrealistic treatment of the protagonist's disability

What stands out

ActingDivisive65

Blair Underwood's performance is charismatic but divisive

AtmosphereDivisive50

Dark and moody tone that divides opinion

CharactersDivisive45

Supporting cast underdeveloped, Ironside too superhuman

PacingDivisive45

Fans call it fast-paced; detractors find it dull

DialogueDivisive40

Functional but unremarkable

Plot and storyDivisive30

Predictable, messy storylines with weak logic

Emotional impactDivisive30

Flashbacks and personal backstory fail to connect

Originality20

Uninspired reboot lacking fresh ideas

Preferred by

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

  • Women vs men 5 points apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2013 · 9 episodes

  • S1E1

    Pilot

    Oct 2, 201342 min
  • S1E2

    Sleeping Dogs

    Oct 9, 201342 min
  • S1E3

    Action

    Oct 16, 201342 min
  • S1E4
    S1E4

    Uptown Murders

    Oct 23, 201342 min
  • S1E5

    Hell on Wheels

    Oct 30, 201342 min
  • S1E6

    Pentimento

    Nov 7, 201342 min

Watch experience

What is Ironside like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you wrung out and released.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseContemplativeWarm
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Hardboiled · 1% of shows: Terse, unsentimental, noir-inflected.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Nonlinear · 5% of shows: Events shown out of chronological order.Procedural · 7% of showsSingle-season story
ToneThe show plays its gritty crime drama straight, with a dark, moody atmosphere and a sincere commitment to its serious subject matter.
The rideEpisodes build tension during the investigation and resolve with reflection, with the warm team dynamic providing relief.
StructureEach episode follows a case-of-the-week structure but includes flashbacks to Ironside's pre-shooting life, adding nonlinear elements.
Episode formatEach episode features a self-contained case, with no significant serialized arc across the short run.
Season formatThe series aired only one season and concluded after 9 episodes, telling its story within that single season.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Cathartic · 3% of showsBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayEach episode provides a satisfying resolution, but the show's short run and mixed reception leave a lingering sense of missed potential.
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

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

Why this archetypeIn a typical episode, the team tracks and apprehends a criminal, fitting the predator subtype of overcoming_the_monster.

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 showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · 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% (this title) · 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% (this title): Community 25% (this title) · 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%

Society

CommunityJustice · 14% of shows
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe series focuses on the team's collective bond and their pursuit of justice despite the protagonist's disability.
StanceThe show observes the team's pursuit of justice without overt moral commentary, centering on Ironside's leadership.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score
Settingpolice precinct and streets of New York City

Content guide

Is Ironside okay for kids?

As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its sexual content at severe (100/100). It has too few votes to rank yet.

Overall
needs 3 or more scored categories
not ranked
Sex & Nudity
Severe
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

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 Ironside have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Ironside?

Cast

Blair Underwood
as Robert Ironside
Pablo Schreiber
as Virgil
Spencer Grammer
as Holly
Neal Bledsoe
as Teddy
Kenneth Choi
as Captain Ed Rollins
Brent Sexton
as Gary Stanton
Julien Allouf
as Teddy
Jamie McShane
as Detective Callahan
Afton Williamson
Anthony Jennings
as Officer Hines

More like this

What are shows like Ironside?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Ironside include Kojak (1973), New York Undercover (1994) and T.J. Hooker (1982).

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What other shows share a tag with Ironside?

629 other shows share the rarest tag below, follows: police officer. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.