Limitless (TV series)

Limitless is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on CBS for one season from 2015 to 2016. It is a continuation of the 2011 film of the same name, and takes place four years after the film's events. The series stars Jake McDorman as Brian Finch, who samples a mysterious nootropic drug, which unlocks the full potential of the human brain and gives its user enhanced mental faculties.
Limitless premiered on CBS on September 22, 2015 to mixed reviews from critics. After a single 22-episode season that ended on April 26, 2016, showrunner Craig Sweeny announced that CBS cancelled the series.

Premise

Brian Finch, a 28-year-old burnout and struggling writer, is introduced to NZT-48, a miracle drug that gives him access to every neuron in his brain. For twelve hours after taking the pill, he becomes the smartest person in the world, able to perfectly recall every detail of his life and capable of prodigious leaps of intuition and reasoning. With the mysterious US Senator Eddie Morra providing him with an immunity shot to counteract NZT's deadly side effects, Brian uses his enhanced abilities to help FBI Special Agent Rebecca Harris. The FBI does not know about the shot and Brian has to struggle to keep both worlds separate.

Cast and characters

Main

Jake McDorman as Brian Finch
Jennifer Carpenter as FBI Special Agent Rebecca Harris
Hill Harper as FBI Special Agent Spelman Boyle, named for Spelman College.
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Nasreen "Naz" Pouran, of Iranian origin, commander of the Cross Jurisdictional Command team
Recurring
Bradley Cooper as U.S. Senator Edward "Eddie" Morra, the original protagonist from the 2011 film
Lio Tipton as Shauna, Brian's ex-girlfriend
Ron Rifkin as Dennis Finch, Brian's father
Blair Brown as Marie Finch, Brian's mother
Megan Guinan as Rachel Finch, Brian's sister
Tom Degnan as FBI Agent Jason "Ike", Mike's partner and Brian's bodyguard
Michael James Shaw as FBI Agent Daryl "Mike", Ike's partner and Brian's bodyguard
Colin Salmon as Jarrod Sands, a former MI6 officer who now works as a fixer for Morra
Desmond Harrington as SWAT Agent Casey Rooks
Georgina Haig as Piper Baird
Michael Devine as James "Tech" Padgett
Henry Gagliardi as young Brian Finch
Episodes

No.

Title

Directed by

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U.S. viewers

Production

Development

On October 31, 2014, it was announced that actor Bradley Cooper had decided to develop a television series based on a movie, and had teamed with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci to develop the concept. CBS Television Studios was shopping the show to the American broadcast networks. Craig Sweeny would write the series, while Cooper would serve as executive producer. CBS ordered a pilot on January 28, 2015. In addition to Cooper, Kurtzman, Orci, and Sweeny served as executive producers for the series, which is set 4 years after the original film. On February 3, 2015, it was announced that Marc Webb would direct the pilot.

Casting

On February 26, 2015, it was announced that Jake McDorman had joined the production as Brian Finch. Several additional cast members were announced in March 2015. Jennifer Carpenter plays FBI Special Agent Rebecca Harris. Hill Harper is FBI Special Agent Spelman Boyle. Finally, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Nasreen "Naz" Pouran, of Iranian origin commander of the Cross Jurisdictional Command team.

Broadcast

Premiere of Limitless was broadcast in the U.S. on CBS on September 22, 2015. In Canada, the show was simulcast with the American broadcast, which was aired on Global. In Brazil, the TV station Space aired the series on October 1, 2015. The series premiered in Australia on Network Ten on October 11, 2015. In Italy, the series aired on January 3, 2016 on Rai 2. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the series aired on February 17, 2016 on Sky One.

Reception

Limitless received mixed reviews from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 58% approval rating with an average rating of 6.4/10 based on 48 reviews. The website's critics' consensus reads, "Even with a likable hero, Limitless cannot overcome its credulity-straining premise and shaky, hole-riddled narrative." On Metacritic, the series holds an average score of 57 out of 100 based on 30 critics.