Instinct

Dr. Dylan Reinhart, a gifted author, university professor and former CIA operative is lured back to his old life by tenacious top NYPD Detective Lizzie Needham. Though Dylan and Lizzie initially clash, when it comes to catching killers, they make an ideal team.

Instinct (2018-2019) is an American crime drama created by Michael Rauch for CBS. Alan Cumming plays Dylan Reinhart, a gifted author, university professor and former CIA operative who is lured back into his old life by Bojana Novaković as tenacious NYPD detective Lizzie Needham. The two initially clash, but when it comes to catching killers they prove an ideal team. Daniel Ings and Sharon Leal appear among the principal cast as the wider investigative circle, and Naveen Andrews plays Julian Cousins. Across two seasons and twenty-four episodes, the show moves through New York City murder investigations, with each case built around the psychology of a killer and the friction between Dylan's unconventional methods and Lizzie's procedural discipline. The tone is brisk and intense, with a moody, urban atmosphere and occasional dark, unsettling imagery. Fans of Bones, The Mentalist and Dexter will find resonance in its blend of forensic puzzle solving, a brilliant outsider and a sharp, character-driven procedural engine set against the New York skyline.

Audience reception is mixed, with a solid second season rated well above the first, and praise centering on Alan Cumming's lead performance and the odd-couple partnership.

• Bonesserialized crime procedural with a criminal-expert partnership and a case-of-the-week structure
• The Mentalistcrime drama with a brilliant outsider consulting on murders alongside a detective
• Dextercrime thriller with a psychologically driven hunt for serial killers and a dark edge

Created by

Michael Rauch

Release Date

2018-03-18

Episode runtime

40 min

Rating

6.7 / 10 (137)

What is Instinct about?

A gifted author and former CIA operative is pulled back into investigations by a tenacious NYPD detective to hunt killers.

What is Instinct like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Instinct as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Instinct violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Instinct as moderate.

What did critics think of Instinct?

Audience reception is mixed, with a solid second season rated well above the first, and praise centering on Alan Cumming's lead performance and the odd-couple partnership.

Which shows are like Instinct?

Shows with a similar feel include Bones, The Mentalist, and Dexter.

How long is Instinct?

Instinct: 2 seasons, 24 episodes.

Is Instinct still running?

No, Instinct was canceled.

Where can I watch Instinct?

In United States, Instinct is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home.