not horrible nor great

I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

After reading a half-dozen of the reviews convinced that a lot of folks who didn't like it were expecting a typical cop show. It isn't. May have been an experiment on Bruckheimer's part - turning cop show conventions on their head.First there's the shows low-key tone: no screaming sirens, no melodramatic hooks, no heart-pounding chases or rescues. Chases and especially rescues do exist but, like all of the other expositional elements, they're portrayed in measured, deliberate and muted tones. Just like the "teams" response to each week's puzzle. All very quiet with just a hint of intensity and a clear demonstration that they care about their victims.All elements that, except for the tone, Without a Trace shares with most cop shows. Just reversed.Now here's the really radical departure - the show's focus is centered on what are usually the secondary characters: the victims and the lives surrounding them. In fact, most of the "team's" interactions are with the secondary characters.Think about shows, very good shows, like Bones or Castle or Burn Notice or any one of dozens of cop shows: all centered on the "team" and it interactions. Victims, perps and puzzles exist mainly to highlight those interactions.This is not a criticism. I love the shows mentioned.My point is simply that Without a Trace reverses those conventions and does it very successfully. One one hand, enough time is spent on the team to humanize it; on the other, just enough emphasis on the victims and their stories to elevate them to the the primary focus.Takes some getting used to but well worth the effort. Surprising, those few scenes dedicated to the "team", either as individuals or a whole, wind up describing a very rich set of personalities, though you might have to watch a lot of episodes to realize it.Like all cop shows there there are problems with plot integrity and, with Without a Trace, the very premise: the FBI getting involved before the local cops and their 48-hour window. And like all cop shows, the inconsistencies and questionable plot lines are simply elements meant to invoke the suspension of disbelief. Nothing more.If this was an experiment on Bruckheimer's part, seven seasons speak volumes to its success.

I was expecting this show to be a great addition to the crime genre that has been prevalent since the nineties unfortunately that was not the case. Look the show is watchable and every now and then they have a great episode with a killer storyline but that feels far and in-between. I don't know maybe they just didn't have very good writers.Before I started watching this I thought I would also love the characters but far from it. For the most part they are negative and feel like they have given up. Even from the first season they seemed depressed and always negative.This show had so much potential but never really came into it's stride. Every now and then I enjoy watching it but mostly it feels dull and contrived.

I had never watched the show until it went into syndication, and I was intrigued by the show's plot and premise, becoming a regular viewer. Some have complained that the show lost some of it's edge as time went on, and I tend to agree. I rate it a 5 out of 10 overall, but much higher for the first few seasons and proportionately much lower for the last few.Rather than concentrate on intricate and intriguing plot lines, they did turn it into some kind of pathetic soap opera. To make matters worse, they bring in a new character half way through, who did nothing for the "team" or storyline, merely add more cost and essentially baggage to the process.They had a good group of actors and some good writing, but rather than moving forward with that, they instead de-evolved into something that was boring and tedious to watch. It is sad when a good show turns into something like this. The good actors from the show will move on to different roles. Perhaps the best news is that the writing team for the last few years will have a blot on their resume, and will hopefully prevent them from working industry again. Given Hollywood's penchant for lousy scripts these days, however, I doubt it, and that is the sad part.

Roselyn Sanchez has completely destroyed the interest I used to have in this show.Her complete lack of acting ability just annihilates every scene that she is in. She mumbles through every line and is barely intelligible (and I am being nice).Her face is so completely devoid of emotion, one has to wonder why anyone would ever want to have such a negative presence on a formerly hit show.It must be hell for the other actors to have to share the screen with someone who gives them absolutely nothing to play against.Come on CBS, do the right thing and force the bad producers who hired her to fire her. Maybe killing her character would be good. It could be sold as a "very special episode".I know I'd watch it.