My reason for asking is that season 1 was just so explosive with Morrow being such a kickass FBI agent. I caught the cloning episode online recently from S6 and was disappointed with the lack of energy in the writing and direction (and the fact they have other field agents doing the running around). Having said this, can any hardcore Numb3rs fans tell me which seasons after one, are as good in their pace and perhaps improved?
shareI agree with you about the writing in Season 6. If you were ever a fan of the The X-Files, you'd know that the writers eventually shifted the focus in writing to include more humour instead of good mysteries in the later seasons, and that ultimately led X-files to its demise. I think the same happened with Numb3rs, as sad as that may be. But I think it hadn't become that weak as to warrant a cancellation.
Having said that, I personally felt Season 3,4 and 5 were the strongest apart from the first season. Many people would also say the second season, but to me the most enjoyable and pacy episodes are in the aforementioned seasons.
Some of my favorite episodes are:
Season 3: Contenders, The Art of Reckoning, Killer Chat, One Hour , The Janus List
Season 4: Thirteen, In Security, Primacy, Breaking Point, Power, When Worlds Collide
Season 5: Jack of all trades, Conspiracy Theory, Frienemies, Jacked, The Fifth Man, Disturbed (my favorite Numb3rs episode).
Also, did you recently discovered the show?
Hey Ramizq,
Thanks a heap man, that's very helpful to know and very insightful on your part. Would I be missing any pivitol story arcs if I just bought the above seasons and can I watch them as stand alones? (if that made any sense?)
I didn't mean my last post to say that Season 2 is mediocre and I personally think it'd be a mistake not to watch Season 2. To many Numb3rs fans, S2 was one of the stronger seasons. And you will be missing out on quite a lot, most important of which was the introduction of several new faces.
shareIMHO it starts to suck from episode one of season 3. That season has a couple of okay episodes but generally, for me, that was the beginning of the downhill trek. By season 4 it was unwatchable.
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[ Albert. Dead men don't ride rollercoasters. ]
I agree with you. Now that I'm seeing Season 1 for the first time in 5 years, I'd forgotten how exciting and fascinating the series was. I had just seen "Vector" (1.3) and I went "Wow! When do you ever do that for a broadcast network drama?
I'm horribly math challenged, but the explanation of the mathematical theory applied to the crime in question was clear and quick. I got the idea instantly, the on to the crime-solving! The crimes themselves were clever and often contained an unexpected twist or complication. The interaction of the brothers was great when a young and brilliant Charlie first started working with self-assured Don. Their relationship, along with their father, is the only relationship that mattered, or should have mattered. It's even nice to see Terry Lake as the obligatory token woman on the squad in the first season, as opposed to the sometimes cloying Megan Reeves.
The series went through their decline clearly beginning with season 3, I'd say. Diane Farr was pregnant for most of that season. Larry was gone most of the season, and when he came back, his NASA experience ultimately disappointed him (and by osmosis, us). Applying math to the storyline seemed less natural and more forced and compulsory. And the Colby double-agent story arc was a breach of the audience's faith. You don't make one of the good guys bad, then say "oh, he's really on our side" and expect the auidence to trust his character again. He could have had any flaw, but to side with the enemy...nah-uh.
Enjoy the first two seasons before watching the later ones, if possible.