tv_talk | Intelligence: Home Base + Primer

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Intelligence: Home Base + Primer

This is the homebase post for discussions of Intelligence! (The 2014 US version; not the older Canadian show by the same name.)

Discussion Threads

1.01 Pilot
1.02 Red X
1.03 Mei Chen Returns
1.04 Secrets of the Secret Service
1.05 The Rescue
1.06 Patient Zero
1.07 Size Matters
1.08 Delta Force
1.09 Athens
1.10 Cain and Gabriel
1.11 The Grey Hat
1.12 The Event Horizon
1.13 Being Human

If anyone's looking for caps for icon purposes, you can find some here.

Also, a primer for anyone who missed the show when it aired.

Introduction to Intelligence

What happens when you take a man and stuff a computer chip in his head? Besides a lot of cool special effects?

The Premise

Intelligence is about Gabriel Vaughn (Josh Holloway), a former Delta Force operator with a particular genetic quirk that allows scientists to implant a computer chip in his head that gives him mental access to the information grid. They then assign Secret Service agent Riley Neal (Meghan Ory) to protect him and keep him in line. The former she's happy to do; the latter...not so much.

The Characters

Gabriel Vaughn. Highly-decorated soldier turned human computer. Courageous. Skilled. Occasionally reckless. And desperately searching for his CIA agent wife, who vanished seven years earlier while undercover in Mumbai.

Riley Neal. Secret Service agent. The youngest women ever assigned to Presidential detail, and the only one who made it through the vetting process to be considered as Gabriel's protector.

Lillian Strand (Marg Helgenberger). The director of US Cyber Command, with deep roots in the intelligence community.

Dr. Shenendoah Cassidy (John Billingsley), the neuroscientist who created the chip, and his son, Nelson Cassidy (P.J. Byrne), who also works as a scientist on the project.

Amos Pembroke (Eldon Henson). Yet another technician working on Clockwork.

Chris Jameson (Michael Rady). Cyber Command all-purpose extra body, good with a gun or a computer.

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Meet the characters, save a scientist!

Wow, they wrapped up Amelia's plotline faster than expected.

Anyone else think they're going to come back to this somehow?

And then there were two.

Also, I take it as a positive sign that they remembered the pilot.

Time for a little background on Riley. Also with BSG alum Michael Trucco.

And we're settling into the story-of-the-week format!

Gabriel and Riley are sent to Mexico to rescue a kidnapped senator's daughter.

Favourite parts:
- Both of them getting to play hero at one point or another. I absolutely love that the show lets Gabriel and Riley both be competent.
- Lillian's father! Who's apparently the Sherlock Mycroft of Intelligence.
- More background on Gabriel. How sad is it that basically all of his family has died in battle?

Question:
- Shouldn't Gabriel be able to do some investigating of Leland Strand? And wouldn't he have done so early on? Or does the guy really deal only in whispers, to the point that there are no electronic records at all?

I really need to make more icons, for variety.

Shenendoah Cassidy - What a great name!

I need to catch up on a few eps. I adore Josh Holloway, so I watched the pilot and I think the next ep.

So much TV, so little time!

So much TV, so little time!

I know! So hard to choose what to watch.

Intelligence such a fun show! I think it's my new favourite procedural. Well, favourite new procedural, maybe. I have some older ones that are favourites too. (I'm really bad at picking favourites, tbh.) I really came into it for Meghan Ory, but I've now joined in the Josh Holloway adoration as well. They're both awesome.

Way to mislead, show! From the previews, I figured Gabriel would spend half the episode dying from this virus. Happily, no.

So what'd you all think?

- I notice they keep changing the opening dialogue. I wonder if all the explanation is an attempt to bring in more viewers?

- I really liked the beginning! Nice use of Gabriel's chip and touching on its limitations.

- Also nice use of Riley's protective role. And she was totally right about the gloves.

- I wonder how Cassidy feels about the fates of the three test subjects who preceded Gabriel?

Edited 2014-02-11 06:12 (UTC)

I liked this episode. Actually I've been enjoying this show a lot in general. I like how Gabriel and Riley are growing closer and forming a better partnership yet at the same time he's still uncomfortable having someone who's basically a bodyguard and obviously also one who's female. It's not like he seems to think she's not capable it just makes him uncomfortable. I like when she joked about how he looked pretty :)

I also like how they finally addressed the other test subjects that came before Gabriel.

Oh and that bad general (or whatever his rank was) is the actor who plays Art on Justified!!!

Edited (edited so I could use my intelligence icon!) 2014-02-13 10:07 (UTC)

I've been enjoying it a lot too!

I think it's a bit of a challenging situation for him not just because she's a woman, but because he's the guy who's used to protecting other people - former Delta Force and all that. So it probably seems a bit silly to him to have a bodyguard. But yeah, her joke about him being pretty was funny.

And yes! So glad we're finally getting something about the previous test subjects. I wonder if they figured out the genetic mutation before or after they performed the surgery on Gabriel? Did the others have it too, or was their lack of that mutation why things went wrong? Was it a pure fluke that it worked for Gabriel, and then they went back and figured out why, or did they pick Gabriel because he had what they needed? (Plus, I really do want an episode where they touch on how Cassidy feels about the first three. Maybe he can mention the guy who was paralyzed or something?)

Oh, THAT'S where I know him from! (I'm slowly working on catching up on Justified, btw. I watched the first couple of episodes from this season last weekend.)

I hope they figured out the genetic mutation thing before Gabriel because I don't think that one thing after the fact could prove that it's the genetic mutation that makes it work for some and not others. Like I'd think if they had it work with him in the other failures and then looked at what made him different from the others and found the genetic mutation and then said "oh that must be what make's him special"...I don't think that's enough for scientific proof? Not without more test subjects after Gabriel.

Eh, I don't know. Science isn't my strong point but it doesn't seem logical. (not that a lot of TV shows care about that much sometimes) It would be enough for a working theory and for them to say they "think" it's the genetic mutation that makes it work in him. And now we know that the girl who has the other chip, who was a success too also has the mutation so at this point the theory is more sound.

I'm guessing the genetic mutation thing is in there as a reason why we don't have an army of people like Gabriel at this point. If it's isn't always a success even with the mutation, that would be even more reason not to try it on more people too quickly. Of course we have no idea how common the mutation is either. Hmmm...

I'd like to have them go in deeper with the other test subjects especially the one that was paralyzed. That would be interesting. And Cassidy's feelings on the whole thing, yeah I'd like an episode with that too.

Hmm...why would they be more likely to be able to figure out the genetic mutation before implanting the chip than after? (I mean, I'm assuming here they wouldn't start from the mutation--they'd start by observing actual brain activity and seeing what neurotransmitters were involved or something, and then looking at previous gene mapping work and realizing it was genetic.)

Obviously, though, on a meta level, the genetic stuff is there to explain why they picked someone who's "difficult" (reckless, insubordinate) for this very important role, and why they don't have dozens. The scientific details don't have to matter for storytelling unless the writers want them to.

I hope we eventually meet the guy who was paralyzed; I think that could be an interesting conversation.

I'm not really saying that they would have been more likely to figure the mutation before implanting than after, rather that to say after only a few test subjects and one success that the specific gene theory would be a hypothesis and not in any way a sure thing. It seems like bad science to say after only one success that since he had the genetic mutation that must be what makes it work in him and not the others.

Again, I'm not in any way a science person but I have a recessive hereditary disorder caused by a defect in the B1 subunit gene ATP6V1B1 (yes i just clipped that from the internet)…probably. I was part of a study years and years ago when they took my blood and a bunch of my family members blood to to add to the study.

They didn't actually tell me about it after or anything and what I've read about it is confusing and seems to change every few years. And sometimes people that have the defect don't always have the same symptoms as others with it and sometimes those with a different defect have those symptoms. Eh… and there could be other mutations in other genes not yet identified involved etc. whatever.

Anyways I think what I'm trying to say is genetics and mutations etc. are way more complicated than x mutation = this success or defect or whatever.

I'm just saying that it's not good science to say that just because Gabriel has a specific genetic mutation, that's the reason the chip works in him in not the others. They may say it's the reason but it would only be a working hypothesis and a relatively week one at that because they don't have enough data unless they've experimented on more people than they've claimed. Though now with an another success they come closer to being able to say it's the mutation.

I have no idea why they would have been looking for people with the mutation to use the chip on though, unless is was part of another study or something.

But the science doesn't really matter in this. It's about the characters and the story and I've really been enjoying that :)

Yeah, the show's not super-realistic about science. And science has definitely had very uneven results in predicting what specific genes do. I guess I just don't see--in the context of the show--why it would be more likely that they formulated the hypothesis about the effects of that particular gene before they gave Gabriel the chip rather than after. But maybe I misunderstood what you were saying.

Yeah, I don't really think they had the gene theory before, I just kind of hoped I guess. I don't think it was more likely but I hoped they had more data to back the whole thing up.

Because going around saying it's the gene that makes it work with out any other data seems clumsy, also the whole human subject (even voluntary) thing is a little iffy ethically.

Of course maybe the reason they haven't voluntarily put the chip in anyone else is that they know that the gene may not be the only connection and that even with he gene there are no guarantees.

Usually I don't actually think that much about the science in TV shows, I rarely care. At this point I'm just over thinking it.

And why don't I have more than one Intelligence icon uploaded? I know I made more than one ;)

I have two Intelligence icons and I really need to make more. Which I intend to do! As soon as I finish my

capshare posts.

One of Shen's former students decides to kill off the competition with nanites, and Riley objects to Gabriel calling himself a freak.

Edited 2014-02-18 04:35 (UTC)

So that was a really horrible job of covering up what Gabriel can do. Riley was the only one even trying! Clearly they really need to avoid having other people around, like, ever. At least when they're working.

Am I the only one who was waiting for Gabriel to start "talking" directly to the nanites, persuading them to change their ways? All that talk of machine intelligence.

I love that conversation between Riley and Gabriel SO MUCH. Riley's ongoing campaign to make sure everyone--including Gabriel--remembers that Gabriel is human is awesome.

Also, I kind of want to see Gabriel's family now. And Riley's too.

They really were so bad at covering up Gabriel's abilities. Wow.

I was waiting for him to starting interacting with the nanites too!

Riley is so awesome. She really is so good for him to have around, not just to protect him but to remind him that he's not a machine.

Seeing their families would be cool too.

My one real problem with this episode is that I guessed who it was behind everything right away. As soon as he called his assistant really.

That and why did everyone open a package with no return address? I thought most people didn't do that anymore these days. Last time I went to the post office they wouldn't let anyone even mail anything without a return address.

Did we stop being careful about packages and I not notice?

Yeah, I guessed it too.

Honestly, I don't ever remember being that careful about packages. Maybe because I'm in Canada?

I know we started being careful about them in the US around the time of that white powder thing...Oh Anthrax attacks in 2001 (I had to look it up). It was just after 911, and they started being extra careful about mail after that. They started asking about the contents of what you were mailing and I know my local post office wouldn't let you mail anything without putting a return address of some kind on it.

Of course these packages were light so they could have been dropped in a mailbox but still our postal system tends towards the paranoid last I checked and even if it got past all that I'm surprised that at least one scientist wasn't paranoid enough to not open an unknown package with no return address.

After 911 we started getting more vigilant about that sort of thing in general here. Though not all the scientists were in the US if I remember correctly.

So, yeah, It's probably because you're in Canada that you don't remember. It's a paranoid post 911 US thing I think :)

Oh here...

http://www.rochester.edu/emergency/mail.html

that's a good example of the mail paranoia that's been fed to us around here in the US.

I remember the anthrax attacks!

I think they probably take precautions for politicians here, but there were no notices aimed at the general public that I can recall.

I remember they tried to make everyone paranoid about it here. I think scientist in the US would at least be more cautions about a suspicious package, not just because of the anthrax thing but because of bomb scares too.

I was just kind of waiting for Riley to comment on people not being careful/not following protocol about opening suspicious packages or something.

It's just a little quibble.

Were a lot of scientists targeted by bombs?

Honestly, it would never occur to me as a civilian to be worried about a package, so I didn't even notice that part.

On another note, I'm thinking now about the problems that might arise from one of the bad guys knowing about Gabriel. Though I suppose we already had that Chinese agent (plus Mei Chen, of course), so maybe it doesn't add anything new to the story.

I don't know if any scientist have actually been targeted but here the culture of fear is strong amongst civilians, so I'd expect someone deemed more important would be more cautious? But maybe it depends where in the US too. I've heard that NYC are is still super alert and I'm about an hour north of the Boston area and since the Marathon bombings last year the whole fear thing/extra caution has increased. Maybe we're just crazy paranoid over here on the east coast of the US ;)

A look at Gabriel's Delta days! Jameson getting to be awesome! Riley being her usual awesome self! Gabriel refusing to be an assassin!

The real question of the day, though: how many leather jackets do Gabriel and Riley own?

So what'd you think?

Jameson finally gets to do something! You know, besides play doctor. Next, maybe we'll learn something about him.

It was interesting getting a look at someone else's perspective on Gabriel. Like learning that he wasn't much of a tech guy pre-chip ("How did a guy like you end up in Cyber Command"). Plus the whole, "did they do something to you," which could make for an interest conversation if they ever follow up on it.

The other interesting part is the ongoing friction between Lillian and Tetazoo. She cracks down on both sides; I wonder how that will end for the two of them.

Cyber Command is compromised with some, uh, negative consequences for Gabriel. Probably good that Riley's not allowed to shoot him.

Lots of Lillian this week, including an introduction to her artist-daughter and mention of the daughter's father, whom Lillian does not appear to talk to.

Also, our local scientists are uncomfortably interested in how Gabriel's feeling. Apparently they think he's feeling more than he's admitting to. And a quick hint of what Riley's life looked like post-shooting. It seemed to involve some pretty profound estrangement.

So much sympathy for Gabriel in that first scene. I wouldn't want people poking around in my head like that either. Although it might also be because I find Nelson a touch creepy.

Lots of personal info about Lillian, which was awesome. Hmm...I wonder how Rebecca feels about her grandfather?

I loved that we got Lillian talking individually with both Riley and Gabriel, with each of them telling her the same thing.

Only three episodes to go! Will we get a Cassidy episode next?

Blackouts! Child hackers! Well, a young-ish hacker, anyway. And Gabriel's Delta training comes out again: leave no one alive.

Uh...going by the preview, Gabriel is accused of a crime and Mei Chen returns?

I'll come back after I watch, but in the meantime, here's a thread!

Gabriel, in need of some private medical care, directs Riley to take him to his retired Army combat nurse mother. She gets the bullet out with the help of a good, stiff drink. While we're there, we get some banter and a glimpse of his mother's shrine to the military men in the family, which kind of contradicts her continuing to scold him for joining the army. While Gabriel's on his mother's kitchen table, Mei Chen warns him of an impending assassination, then runs away.

Back at CyberComm, Team Gabriel refers back to Gabriel's intake interviews and guesses where he might have gone. Unfortunately for Gabriel, one of the Iranian Tigers figures it out first. There's a brief fight, Gabriel burns down his mother's kitchen (well, blows up some hair spray in the microwave), and takes out the assassin. Jameson shows up in time to have a show-down with Riley before they decide to put their guns away and go help Gabriel instead.

Team Gabriel reunites with Gabriel, Jeffrey dies heroically sending them vital evidence, the governor (and presumed future president) is saved (and hopefully Griff's reprimand is withdrawn), and Gabriel has a nice dinner with his mother and Riley where his mother talks about how happy she is that Gabriel has found someone new after Amelia.

Oh, and it turns out Weatherly was one of the Iranian sleeper agents. They arrest him trying to kill the governor and send him to a secret prison where Mei Chen breaks and kills him on the orders of...Leland Strand. Duh duh duh duh.

I thought this as a great finale, even if io9 disagreed! Lots of bits from previous episodes, including meeting Gabriel's family and the return of Riley's ex, plus a lot of delicious teamminess.

I love that Gabriel's mother was also army. I wonder who took care of the kids while she was deployed? The alcoholic angle was interesting; Gabriel seemed very matter-of-fact about it. Recent development, or something he grew up with?

Okay, question. Was I the only one who thought that phrases like "the youngest is always the freak" and "I was the only one my mother forbid from joining the army" implied more than two kids in the family? Well, maybe Gabriel has an older sister who didn't join the army. I think that's my new headcanon.

Poor Jeffrey Tetazoo! So he was a good guy after all. Mostly. At least he got a heroic death, but why do they keep killing off Lance Reddick?

If this show does come back (unlikely, yes), they're going to be introducing a few new characters. Or giving Lillian's father a bigger role.

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Intelligence: Home Base + Primer

Discussion Threads

Introduction to Intelligence

The Premise

The Characters

1.01 Pilot

1.02 Red X

1.03 Mei Chen Returns

1.04 Secrets of the Secret Service

1.05

Re: 1.05

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1.06 Patient Zero

Re: 1.06 Patient Zero

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Re: 1.06 Patient Zero

1.07 Size Matters

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1.08 Delta Force

Re: 1.08 Delta Force

1.09 Athens

1.10 Cain and Gabriel

Re: 1.10 Cain and Gabriel

1.11 The Grey Hat

1.12 The Event Horizon

1.13 Being Human

Re: 1.13 Being Human