Limitless is a tv series about a man who discovers a drug known as NZT, which enhances a person’s mental abilities, purportedly allowing the user to utilize every part of his or her brain, leading to complete memory and superb reasoning abilities. This man, Brian Finch, is a 20-something, who hasn’t quite gotten his act together, who first takes this drug to help his father, recently diagnosed with an incurable disease.
Brian’s use of NZT results in a series of misadventures. He finds his friend and supplier dead, is accused of murder by the FBI, is shot, and is mysteriously taken to an unknown location where he makes the acquaintance of Senator Edward Morra. His meeting with Senator Morra is significant because the senator offers him a shot which lets him avoid the side effects of the drug, side effects which can lead to disability and death. However, the senator insists that Brian tell none of this to anyone.
Later, when the FBI discovers Brian has an immunity to NZT, they decide to employ him as an operative to can help them solve cases in a fraction of the time it would take regular agents. When Morra finds out, he demands that Brian become a double agent for him, keeping him informed of the FBI’s investigation of NZT. In addition to denying him access to the shot if he refuses, Morra has threatened to kill his family if Brian fails to cooperate or tells anyone about the immunity shot. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that Brian comes to like his handler Rebecca Harris and considers her his friend, a friend to whom he must lie.
I’ve enjoyed the first season of this series, mainly due to Jake McDorman, who plays Brian, a quirky, childlike character. Other cast members include Jennifer Carpenter as Rebecca Harris, Hill Harper as Rebecca’s partner Spelman Boyle, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as SAC Nasreen Pouran. Also of note are occasional appearances by Bradley Cooper as Morra and Ron Rifkin and Blair Brown as Brian’s parents.
I will admit to feeling ambivalent about some of the plots, especially those in the middle of the season. The main draw for me was the character of Brian, who though sometimes childish and often prone to rash decisions, was very likeable. The series is also a lot of fun because of the visual effects used to convey Brian’s mental processes, including many scenes of him discussing problems with himself. So, I watched it mainly for that character, but found that as the season wore on, the plots also became more complex and intense.
I would recommend Limitless to anyone looking for a sometimes serious, but often not, story of an improbable drug leading to unlikely results. You’ll enjoy it.