Customer Reviews

Intelligence: Season One

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I could not disagree more with Sam Graham's analysis of this program (see Amazon's review). First, he unfortunately compares what he considers failings of this show with U.S. programming. Who ever said programming in the States is something writers should try to emulate!
"Intelligence" does have a large cast, and you will recognize many of them from the DaVinci series if you have been fortunate enough to see those. (Acorn - please put that entire series out on DVD!)

I like this show for exactly the reasons that Sam Graham finds fault with it. There is not gross visualization of violence and gore - because it is written with more development of character than the standard shoot 'em up you will find in U.S. programming. (How many times can we watch CSI and all those carved up bodies!)
Ian Tracey is great as the low key bad guy you can't help but like and they give the strongest role opposite Tracey's to a woman. Klea Scott as Mary is compelling because she holds her own with the big boys, never using her sexuality to get what she wants. She uses her brain and intuition to get the "Intelligence" she sees as the way to fight crime in her city.

It is apparent Mr. Graham is not a Canadian and seems to think crime is
neat and tidy in Canada....too whitewashed to be interesting. Has he not heard of the pig farmer lately?
I live in Seattle and drugs crossing our borders from Canada are a constant worry here. Amazon is based about a mile from my house, but Graham's lack of understanding of the drug problems in the Northwest make me wonder where he lives!
Readers, pay no mind to Amazon's review of this series. Take a chance on "Intelligence". I think you will be as fascinated as I have been. Chris Haddock continues to produce writing for our times - realistic writing with well developed characters and doesn't depend on shock value to hold an audience. He gives you tension, suspense and intrigue without the blood and guts which so often attract the average 12 year old mind.

I first started watching this show on the Hallmark Channel in Eastern Europe -- unfortunately, it is not being broadcast in the United States. If it were, it would quickly eclipse the usually predictable and increasingly gory American crime series that Amazon's reviewer seems to prefer.

Unlike many of its American competitors, "Intelligence" is not a show that aims at the lowest common denominator. Instead, it requires a bit of intelligence on the part of the viewer to sort through the convoluted plots and the complex characters, but the effort is worth it. The second season, which just started playing overseas when I returned to the States, is even better, which makes it all the more shameful that the Canadian Broadcasting Company is apparently not going to pick it up for a third season.

I have heard that there is some talk of reviving the series on cable and changing its locale to an American city. Continuing "Intelligence" is a great idea, but changing locales is not. A series like "Intelligence" is tailor-made for American cable, and would fit in very nicely on HBO or Showtime, but it gets most of its unique appeal from its Vancouver location and its incredibly strong Canadian cast. If it is to be revived, it should stay in Vancouver.

WWWWOOOOWWWW!!!! Instantly hooked in INTELLIGENCE!!! This is a great crime drama - violence like any crime show but not gruesome-perfectly creepy.Deep characters who by the end of disc 2 it's hard to decide who you like and who you don't. Almost everyone has something to love about them and most have something that makes you cringe a little. You never know what's going to happen and can't wait for the next episode. I started it 2 days ago and I'm on the third disc already - when I watch an episode I'm suddenly 3 episodes into it and force myself to shut it off and go to bed already. Great actors, great plot, great characters, great show, lots of layers. PLEASE TELL ME THERE"S MORE SEASONS THAN THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.

Like most Canadians, I've grown up thinking that any Canadian tv shows - must be bad by definition. Of course, we always give the exception rule over to SCTV and Kids in the Hall - which are almost excused because they were almost counter-culture type shows. I didn't even know "Intelligence" was even on air until I heard American podcaster and radio announcer/personality John Siuntres mention it in passing on his Wordballoon podcast on comic books. John's comments made it seem interesting - so I gave it a chance and ordered it sight unseen.

Wow!!! What an amazing show. My prejudging of Canuck shows was sorely wrong this time. What we have here is a HBO quality show along the lines of "The Wire", a fictional drama about what the intelligence community in Canada trying to do to investigate crimes in their domain. The line between who is good and who is bad, tends to be more blurred than black and white. The politics of the situation seems at time more evil than the criminal elements themselves. Writing is excellent, as is the acting. Special kudo's to Matt Frewer for playing maybe the biggest scumbag ever on tv.

Chris Haddock of Davinci's Inquest has done it again with his signature
high quality production of compelling characters in a series with a rivetting story. Nobody who loves Davinci's Inquest will be dissappointed.

I am so happy to have gotten this show on DVD. I was curious as am American so the show does not air here, or at least not in the NY metro area. I LOVED IT and was pleasantly surprised. The story lines are good and the characters are well developed. I watched the WHOLE set within a week of receiving it, ignoring all my other responsibilities as I could JUST not stop watching. I have always enjoyed Davinci's Inquest and like seeing some of the regulars in different roles. As for the closed caption, I think that may be an oversight. I simply cannot wait for Season 2 now and hope the CBC does not cancel it after only 2 seasons!

I watched the entire first season in 2 viewings over the New Years holiday. I also could not disagree more with the Amazon review. Point in fact that if I could give 4 1/2-stars I would, as the series is just a notch under perfect. First and foremost, for a crime drama there is a surprising lack of gratuitous violence. Could this be a result of the copious amounts of alcohol consumed? The aforementioned may put many people off that are accustomed to American TV a la "24" and the "CSI Trilogy." Violence does lurk beneath the surface, though even when deemed necessary we rarely get to see it on screen.
Perhaps my reason for not giving the series 5-stars is that a good portion of the show is filmed in a strip club with nary a bare breast seen (not sure if this is a result of CBC sensors or simply a decision made by the producers). Seriously, it may actually be the lack of gratuitous sex & violence that make this series work, as the focus is more on interior & exterior power struggles and the resulting sub plots, yea? (Apparently, in Vancouver it is common to finish a sentence with "yea"). The other interesting aspect to show, which was frequently a topic of discussions among my friends and I, was how such relatively "soft" organization could manage a criminal enterprise that generated 9-figures annually? Again, perhaps this goes to how criminal enterprises are managed in Canada?

I would recommend this series to anyone that is a fan of well written crime dramas sans the sex & violence. If you pinned me down I would have to say the real reason why this would not rate 5-stars is that the characters are not multi layered, which while may be enough to not generate a fifth star, still place this series in the top tier of anything that is currently in the USA/UK.

*Does anyone recognize Jimmy's Brother Mike as the Rick Diesel from "Eddie & the Cruisers 2?"

A refreshing departure from the run-of-the-mill American TV crime dramas. A diversified international starcast includes almost one actor from every country in the world. Even the background music is from India.

Intelligence, counter intelligence, derivative counter intelligence...so on... keeps the story absorbing. Take a break from your U.S TV serials and watch this.

I purchased Season 1 on video without ever having seen a minute of the show. I was familiar with the actors and creator from DaVinci's Inquest that runs late at night on American TV. My husband & I were hooked from the beginning. We stayed up way too late because we couldn't stop watching. Our friends are tired of hearing about this terrific show. Although I'd love to see the show continue on cable or American TV, I can't imagine any other actors in the show. Ian Tracey and Klea Scott are perfect. And in this show, it's all about the acting (NOT the special effects!). Lots of close-ups, street scenes and get-to-the-heart-of-the-matter dialogue. Believe it or not, all Americans are NOT INTO those fluff comedies or cop shows where everyone looks as if they just walked out of the beauty parlor.

One of the best written shows I have ever seen. While there are so many characters to keep track of that's part of the enjoyment. Ian Tracy and Klea Scott turn in world class performances. I haven't started season 2 yet because that's all there is for the show. I find it hard to believe this show only got 2 seasons. What were the ratings? It may be that this wonderfully crafted show is just a little too "intelligent" for the average viewer.