The essential episodes of Perception
Watch these 25 in order and you've got Perception — each pick states its reason.
- 01
An offbeat neuroscience professor suffering from paranoid schizophrenia works with the FBI to crack intricate cases in this crime drama. In the series premiere, the professor zeros in on the death of a pharmaceutical executive.
- 02
Pierce is enlisted to help crack the case of a murdered mail-order bride. A twist marks the investigation when it's discovered the prime suspect suffers from an unusual condition. Elsewhere, Moretti is drawn to a handsome new professor.
- 03
Pierce and Moretti spring into action when a serial killer from 1986 returns and begins murdering again. Moretti receives advice about the case from her father, who investigated the original killing spree.
- 04
Pierce scrambles to crack a coded newspaper message left by someone possibly connected to a murder.
- 05
Pierce and Moretti investigate the murder of a young man who was a member of a cult. Elsewhere, Pierce scores a university award for his research.
- 06
Pierce is enlisted to help the FBI investigate the slaying of a therapist. Elsewhere, Moretti inches closer to Professor Hathaway; and Haley uses Pierce as a pawn to get funding for a new building.
- 07
Pierce investigates a case revolving around a schizophrenic. Meanwhile, Moretti tries to impress her new FBI boss.
- 08
Pierce and Moretti investigate the slaying of a female college student, but the case soon forces Pierce to face truths from his past. Meanwhile, Moretti reconsiders her relationship with Dr. Hathaway.
- 09
A conspiracy theory swirls about an effort to cover up the murder of a senator. Pierce is on the case, but he begins to suspect that seemingly trustworthy people are plotting against him.
- 10
New evidence emerges that gives credibility to Pierce's conspiracy theory. Meanwhile, Pierce is forced to confront truths about Natalie.
- 11
Agent Kate Moretti asks Dr. Daniel Pierce to determine the mental competency of a man being retried for murder. But the trial takes a shocking and unexpected turn when Pierce's findings question whether the person standing trial is the same person he was six years ago. Meanwhile, Moretti is unpleasantly surprised to discover that the Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case is her soon-to-be-ex-husband Donnie Ryan.
- 12
Pierce and Moretti take on an extraterrestrial case when a woman reports that aliens have abducted her husband. When Pierce and Moretti arrive to investigate, however, they make a startling discovery. Meanwhile, things heat up between Pierce and his real-life girlfriend, Caroline, but his relationship could be jeopardized if he can't get his imaginary girlfriend, Natalie, out of his mind.
- 13
When a series of bizarre public murders occur, Pierce realizes that the killer is trying to send a message about inattentional blindness, but Donnie doubts this theory. Pierce has a trick up his sleeve that can prove his point, and they must scramble to piece together the clues before the clever killer can make any more examples out of innocent victims.
- 14
Pierce accepts an invitation to work on a case from a renowned environmental activist concerning a chain of abnormal neurological reactions in a group of young girls. However, upon examining the girls, Pierce discovers that a dark secret is at the root of their ailments. Meanwhile, Moretti questions Pierce's motives in working on a case without her.
- 15
New brain device to control tremors seems to have a defect that turns out to be far more serious than a technical malfunction, and Pierce partners with Donnie to investigate. Their unlikely alliance is tested when the case escalates to murder. Meanwhile, Lewicki learns a valuable lesson about dating.
- 16
When Moretti receives a deathbed confession about the hit-and-run murder of a teenager from 1992, she calls on Pierce to determine the ailing man's credibility. The case becomes complicated, however, when the alleged killer's physician, Dr. Hutchins, reveals that his patient's tumor has mysteriously disappeared. Pierce and Moretti must dig deeper into the past to uncover the truth behind a shocking series of apparent homicides.
- 17
Pierce investigates a gruesome stabbing at a psychiatric hospital. Guided by his hallucination of Sigmund Freud, Pierce becomes convinced the hospital is full of dark secrets.
- 18
Donnie tries to help a war hero suffering from a neurological disorder, but what starts out as a good deed ends up having major implications. Meanwhile, Pierce gets an unexpected surprise when a fling from his past shows up.
- 19
Morretti faces criminal charges after taking things into her own hands while working on a dangerous case. Pierce and Donnie strive to clear her name, but as conflicting evidence builds, even Kate begins to question her own innocence.
- 20
With the help of his hallucination, Hall of Famer Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown, Pierce fights for an autistic teen under interrogation for murder. Meanwhile, Dean Haley turns on the charm in order to convince a neuroscience prodigy to attend CLMU.
- 21
Pierce and Lewicki are caught off guard when Lewicki's brother Kenny shows up unannounced. In an unwelcome turn of events, Kenny is named the key suspect in a homicide case, leaving Pierce torn between helping a friend and serving justice. Meanwhile, Lewicki is approached with a tantalizing offer that makes him question Pierce's loyalty to him.
- 22
When a prosecutor mysteriously drops dead in the middle of a courtroom, Pierce and Moretti go on the hunt for a killer. Meanwhile, Moretti and Donnie make some decisions about their future.
- 23
When Donnie finds himself in a compromising situation, he calls Pierce for help. As the evidence begins to stack against Donnie, Pierce and Moretti struggle with their own fears and doubts, as they work to solve the case. During the chaos, Pierce must deal with his father after he assaults someone at the assisted living facility.
- 24
After a student is found murdered, Pierce tries to find the killer while defending the victim's boyfriend, who is believed to be mentally ill and guilty of the crime. Meanwhile, Pierce must confront his feelings as Kate and Donnie prepare for their wedding day.
- 25
When Moretti goes missing the day of her wedding, Pierce and Donnie set off in pursuit of the runaway bride. They soon learn that Kate has been abducted by a dangerous person from Pierce's own past. Now, Pierce and Donnie must risk everything to save Moretti before it's too late.
Shows like Perception
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Drama·Crime·ThrillerThe essential episodes of True Detective2014–present
Touch darkness and darkness touches you back. - 02Drama·Crime·ComedyThe essential episodes of Fargo2014·FX
Fargo is a seasonal anthology crime drama with some dark comical elements, inspired by the film Fargo written by the Coen brothers. - 03Drama·CrimeThe essential episodes of Chicago P.D.2014–present·NBC
District 21 of the Chicago Police Department is made up of two distinctly different groups. - 04Drama·Crime·ActionThe essential episodes of NCIS2003–present·CBS
NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is more than just an action drama. - 05Drama·Crime·ThrillerThe essential episodes of The Blacklist2013–2023·NBCThe Blacklist is a crime drama involving a former government agent who turned into a high-profile criminal turning himself in to the FBI offering to help catch criminals.
- 06Drama·Crime·ThrillerThe essential episodes of Criminal Minds2005–present·Paramount+Criminal Minds revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again.
