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John Doe

  • TV Series
  • 2002–20032002–2003
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
8K
YOUR RATING
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Dominic Purcell in John Doe (2002)
  • Drama
  • Mystery
  • Sci-Fi
A man who seems to know everything but his own name helps police solve crimes as he searches for his identity.A man who seems to know everything but his own name helps police solve crimes as he searches for his identity.A man who seems to know everything but his own name helps police solve crimes as he searches for his identity.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
8K
YOUR RATING
  • Creators
    • Brandon Camp
    • Mike Thompson
  • Stars
    • Dominic Purcell
    • Jayne Brook
    • John Marshall Jones
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Brandon Camp
    • Mike Thompson
  • Stars
    • Dominic Purcell
    • Jayne Brook
    • John Marshall Jones
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 61User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Episodes22

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season

    Photos8

    Rekha Sharma in John Doe (2002)
    Ani Kyd on TV series "John Doe"
    Ani Kyd on TV series "John Doe"
    Dominic Purcell in John Doe (2002)
    John Doe (2002)
    William Forsythe, Jayne Brook, Sprague Grayden, John Marshall Jones, and Dominic Purcell in John Doe (2002)
    William Forsythe, Jayne Brook, Sprague Grayden, John Marshall Jones, and Dominic Purcell in John Doe (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dominic Purcell
    Dominic Purcell
    • John Doeas John Doe
    22 episodes22 eps • 2002–2003
    Jayne Brook
    Jayne Brook
    • Jamie Averyas Jamie Avery
    21 episodes21 eps • 2002–2003
    John Marshall Jones
    John Marshall Jones
    • Frank Hayesas Frank Hayes
    22 episodes22 eps • 2002–2003
    William Forsythe
    William Forsythe
    • Diggeras Digger
    21 episodes21 eps • 2002–2003
    Rekha Sharma
    Rekha Sharma
    • Stellaas Stella
    16 episodes16 eps • 2002–2003
    Sprague Grayden
    Sprague Grayden
    • Karen Kawalskias Karen Kawalski
    14 episodes14 eps • 2002–2003
    David James Lewis
    David James Lewis
    • Stuas Stu
    13 episodes13 eps • 2002–2003
    Michelle Hart
    • Nance Fentonas Nance Fenton…
    12 episodes12 eps • 2002–2003
    Grace Zabriskie
    Grace Zabriskie
    • Yellow Teethas Yellow Teeth
    6 episodes6 eps • 2002–2003
    Gary Werntz
    • Trenchcoatas Trenchcoat
    5 episodes5 eps • 2002–2003
    David Parker
    • Detective Rooseveltas Detective Roosevelt
    5 episodes5 eps • 2002–2003
    Meshach Peters
    • Tyler Hayesas Tyler Hayes
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002–2003
    Claudette Mink
    Claudette Mink
    • Turquoiseas Turquoise
    4 episodes4 eps • 2002–2003
    Matt Winston
    Matt Winston
    • Samuel Donald 'Sam' Clarksonas Samuel Donald 'Sam' Clarkson…
    3 episodes3 eps • 2003
    Adrian Hough
    Adrian Hough
    • Detective Kerriganas Detective Kerrigan…
    3 episodes3 eps • 2002–2003
    Ona Grauer
    Ona Grauer
    • Theresaas Theresa
    3 episodes3 eps • 2002–2003
    Dion Luther
    Dion Luther
    • Brokeras Broker…
    3 episodes3 eps • 2002–2003
    Adam Henderson
    Adam Henderson
    • Medical Examineras Medical Examiner
    3 episodes3 eps • 2002–2003
    • Creators
      • Brandon Camp
      • Mike Thompson
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The original (unaired) pilot episode was shot with a different cast. Elizabeth Lackey was the first to assume the role of Lt. Jamie Avery, Azura Skye played Karen Kawalksi and rock musician Meat Loaf, was barman Digger. The only "survivors" from that shoot were Dominic Purcell, and, John Marshall Jones.
    • Quotes

      Frank Hayes: Just because you know everything, doesn't mean you know everything, John.

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Another Top 10 TV Cliffhangers That Remain Unresolved (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Beautiful
      Written by Joe MacLeod, Dave Rosin, Morgan Smith, Jesse Smith

      Performed by Day Theory

    User reviews61

    Review
    Top review
    Surprisingly entertaining twist on the crime drama (with a little "X-files" feel)
    Network: Fox; Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi; Average Content Rating: TV-PG; Classification: Contemporary (star range: 1 - 4);

    Season Reviewed: Complete series (1 season)

    I went into 'John Doe' skeptically. This was, after all, the year after some of the finest shows of the new millennium had lost their heads on the chopping block under the Gail Berman regime over at Fox. So it goes without saying, and it went without saying from minute one of this show, that it was going to be canceled before it's time. This is the Fox network where talking about, after all. As the sun rises and sets so does Fox pull out a great or if not that an extremely promising show before its time. When it's all said and done I would put 'John Doe' firmly in the latter category.

    The surrounds an enigma, about a man (Dominic Purcell) who awakens with all the encyclopedic facts of the universe but lacks any memory of his own identity. It sounds a little formula and hockey but stick with it. Despite my skepticism it managed to hook me in the very first episode. After a summer of seeing the over-dramatic scene of nothing more than Doe waking up nude on an island in all of the Fox promos the lighter, more breezy nature of the opening was a good sign. Instead of Doe muddling around trying to find himself the pilot script jump right into reality, having Doe do exactly what anyone would - use his new found knowledge to enrich himself. Soon enough he's got a hot car and a nice apartment on his ability to pick horses at the track. He can do so much that he becomes bored with this life and soon finds himself trying to help others by helping the police solve the usual TV 'unsolvable crime'. It all follows a pretty linear cause-and-effect plot, which is why I feel myself forgiving the show for the more formulaic show it often became. Essentially it became another 'MacGyver' in which Doe uses household items like paper-clips and dish-washing liquid to scientifically get himself out of one absurd jam after another. However, it's jams where pretty good. Such as when Doe tussled with a killer on an airplane or tracked down a Jack the Ripper copycat. Although, the endings are often a cop-out in the usual TV way. The best, by far where the 2 episodes in which Doe went up against his doppelganger - a psychotic serial killer who had the same abilities and would put Doe up to tasks like defusing a bomb before the traffic light turns red.

    In that way, and in the way the series is based on a larger premise but takes time away from it - breaking the momentum if you will - to focus on a self contained mystery, 'John Doe' recalled 'the X-Files'. With that show now retired, Fox would have been better advised to keep his one around and see what it could do. It was different but similar enough to make a run at it. This show also calls back to 'The Pretender' and numerous other recent crime dramas where a genius solves the unsolvable cases. The difference here is in the execution. I actually think 'John Doe' is better than most of the shows it recalls. As I said, not only does the premise make the crime elements seem logical, but it also works due to it's crisp direction - often from movie director Mimi Leder. What makes the show fly most of all is the charming lead performance of Purcell. His take on Doe is one of a man without a past or a personality and Purcell strikes that cord, but also keeps him lively, colorful and away from being the face-less wooden hero Doe could have easily been.

    While some of the self-contained stories (all of which felt very much like the writers satisfying a network requirement) seemed to grow tired before the hour was up, the driving mystery of the series was a compelling and original one. What where the nature of Doe's powers? What was the Phoenix group? All mysteries that remain unanswered as the series was canceled. The show had a knack for keeping us on the edge of our seat, answering questions only to pose more in an ending twist. And the best shock of them all came in the final second of the series. Hey, if it had to go at least 'John Doe' went out with a bang. You've got to give it that.

    * * * / 4
    helpful•36
    3
    • liquidcelluloid-1
    • Apr 13, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 2002 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Джон Доу
    • Filming locations
      • Lion's Gate Studios, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Camp / Thompson Pictures
      • New Regency Productions
      • Fox Television Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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