Home > Backstrom > Season 1 « TV Series Page Backstrom: Season 1 (2015) + WANT TO SEE Episode List Season 1 Backstrom Critics Consensus Backstrom's stale cop humor is a cop-out, availed little by the talented cast's attempt to make good of sloppy schtick. 37% TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 41 85% Audience Score User Ratings: 399 NEW More Info × Close ADD YOUR RATING Share on Facebook Post Want to See Add Rating My Rating × Want to See Post Share on Facebook Episodes 1 Dragon Slayer Air date: Jan 22, 2015 Crime series about the troubled but brilliant Det. Lt. Everett Backstrom, who returns from exile to run a special-crimes unit in Portland, begins with the investigation into a college student's suicide, which may actually have been a homicide. Later, Backstrom bangs head with his doctor, who promises to fail him on his physical if he doesn't start making better dietary choices. More 2 Bella Air date: Jan 29, 2015 An arson investigator enlists the S.C.U.'s help after a firebug's latest crime gets escalated to attempted murder when it involves a family. Although evidence points to a local, Backstrom believes it may be someone who's the least likely suspect. Meanwhile, Valentine tries to help helps Niedermayer recover stolen evidence. More 3 Takes One to Know One Air date: Feb 5, 2015 The unit investigate when a youth pastor is murdered in the church, and there is suspicion the killing could be the work of a cult. Meanwhile, the Chief of Police recruits Backstrom's former fiancée to run a newly formed Civilian Oversight Committee tasked with investigating questionable conduct within the bureau. More 4 I Am a Bird Now Air date: Feb 12, 2015 Backstrom considers the murder of a drag queen and blogger, who's a prominent member of Portland's LGBT community, a hate crime, and the case takes a surprise turn when Backstrom's gay tenant becomes a suspect. Meanwhile, Backstrom is pulled before the Civilian Oversight Committee as the result of his shooting a suspect in a previous case. To complicate matters, his former fiancée is in charge of the group. More 5 Bogeyman Air date: Feb 19, 2015 The unit is under the gun and has only three days to rescue a teenage girl abducted by an online predator, and the case hits close to home for Backstrom, who is jarred by the girl's resemblance to a victim of an unsolved case that dogged him seven years ago. Meanwhile, Det. Sgt. John Almond's church stares down eviction after he missed the last three rent payments. More 6 Ancient, Chinese, Secret Air date: Feb 26, 2015 The investigation into the murder of a Chinese fortune teller in Portland's Chinatown leads the unit to a laundry service that appears to be a front for illegal gambling activities. More 7 Enemy of My Enemies Air date: Mar 5, 2015 An oil-pipeline explosion in Backstrom's childhood hometown looks to be the work of ecoterrorists, and brings back his estranged father, Sheriff Blue Backstrom, to assist in the investigation. The father-son reunion reopens old wounds, and a late-night visit from Everett's former fiancée further complicates his personal life. More 8 Give 'Til It Hurts Air date: Mar 26, 2015 Backstrom and the S.C.U. investigate a hit-and-run that leaves a wealthy woman dead. (C) FOX More 9 Inescapable Truth Air date: Apr 2, 2015 The S.C.U. investigates when a key witness in a drug case is murdered after escaping from a court-mandated rehab facility. Meanwhile, Backstrom suspects Valentine may be more than a tenant. More 10 Love Is a Rose and You Better Not Pick It Air date: Apr 9, 2015 The S.C.U. investigates the death of a young female sex surrogate in Portland's Rose Garden. Meanwhile, Backstrom hears unsettling news about his mother. More Show More Episodes Backstrom: Season 1 Photos View All Photos (152) Tv Season Info This crime comedy-drama centers around Det. Lt. Everett Backstrom (Rainn Wilson), who is resuming his career following a demotion for a racially charged outburst. Now the head of the Special Crimes Unit of the Portland Police Bureau, his first case is the apparent suicide of a college student. But, Backstrom convinces his team to investigate it as a homicide. Later, he faces the murder of a prominent member of Portland's gay community, the abduction of a teenage girl, an oil-pipeline explosion and the murder of a key witness in a drug case. Genre: Drama Network: FOX Premiere Date: Jan 22, 2015 Creator: Hart Hanson Cast Rainn Wilson as Det. Lt. Everett Backstrom Genevieve Angelson as Det. Nicole Gravely Page Kennedy as Frank Moto Beatrice Rosen as Nadia Chickikov Kristoffer Polaha as Peter Niedermayer Dennis Haysbert as Det. Sgt. John Almond Thomas Dekker as Gregory Valentine Sarah Chalke as Amy Rizwan Manji as Dr. Deb Chaman Inga Cadranel as Chief Anna Cervantes Benjamin Hollingsworth as ADA Steven Kines Robert Forster as Sheriff Blue Backstrom Lolita Davidovich as Louise "Lou" Finster Evan Jones as Gene Visser Terry Chen as Dominic Chan Angelique Cabral as Samantha Orland Mikey Foy as Albert Reid Frank Collison as Norman Gilman Jim Frederick Dreichel as Dante Trippi Adam Beach as Capt. Jesse Rocha Eddie McClintock as Sam D'Agostino Matt Battaglia as Nick D'Agostino Kamran Fulleylove as Sebastian Lindsay Kraft as Claire McGrail Mark Daugherty as Jimmy Fei Michael B. Silver as Agent Jacob Cole David Carzell as Larry Dabkey Faran Tahir as Dr. Alan Kobrine Tiffany Hines as Cassandra Jarod Joseph as Charles Turner Elysia Rotaru as Melinda Norburg Garrett Black as Drew Carver Pat Healy as Leon Mundy Camille Chen as Celia Gu Marco Soriano as Robert Hodstetter Brent McLaren as Chris Borden Keenan Tracey as Toby Percival Matt Mazur as Craig Lasalle Judi Shekoni as Lady Mah Kyle Secor as Sen. Tobias Percival Kurt Ostlund as Martin Phinney Sterling Bauman as Ryan Durst Michael D. Cohen as Tiny Gregory Cruz as Edgar Norwest Gerard Plunkett as Leyland Eaton Alison Araya as Danielle Black Dale Dickey as Judge Nunn Danyella Angel as Emma Germain Aubrey Deeker as Dale Kritko Samantha Ferris as Rebecca Forrester Show More Cast News & Interviews for Backstrom: Season 1 Critics Consensus: Strange Magic is Less Than Enchanting Oh It’s Already Been Broughten (Part 3) View All Backstrom: Season 1 News Episodes 1 Dragon Slayer Air date: Jan 22, 2015 Crime series about the troubled but brilliant Det. Lt. Everett Backstrom, who returns from exile to run a special-crimes unit in Portland, begins with the investigation into a college student's suicide, which may actually have been a homicide. Later, Backstrom bangs head with his doctor, who promises to fail him on his physical if he doesn't start making better dietary choices. More 2 Bella Air date: Jan 29, 2015 An arson investigator enlists the S.C.U.'s help after a firebug's latest crime gets escalated to attempted murder when it involves a family. Although evidence points to a local, Backstrom believes it may be someone who's the least likely suspect. Meanwhile, Valentine tries to help helps Niedermayer recover stolen evidence. More 3 Takes One to Know One Air date: Feb 5, 2015 The unit investigate when a youth pastor is murdered in the church, and there is suspicion the killing could be the work of a cult. Meanwhile, the Chief of Police recruits Backstrom's former fiancée to run a newly formed Civilian Oversight Committee tasked with investigating questionable conduct within the bureau. More 4 I Am a Bird Now Air date: Feb 12, 2015 Backstrom considers the murder of a drag queen and blogger, who's a prominent member of Portland's LGBT community, a hate crime, and the case takes a surprise turn when Backstrom's gay tenant becomes a suspect. Meanwhile, Backstrom is pulled before the Civilian Oversight Committee as the result of his shooting a suspect in a previous case. To complicate matters, his former fiancée is in charge of the group. More 5 Bogeyman Air date: Feb 19, 2015 The unit is under the gun and has only three days to rescue a teenage girl abducted by an online predator, and the case hits close to home for Backstrom, who is jarred by the girl's resemblance to a victim of an unsolved case that dogged him seven years ago. Meanwhile, Det. Sgt. John Almond's church stares down eviction after he missed the last three rent payments. More 6 Ancient, Chinese, Secret Air date: Feb 26, 2015 The investigation into the murder of a Chinese fortune teller in Portland's Chinatown leads the unit to a laundry service that appears to be a front for illegal gambling activities. More 7 Enemy of My Enemies Air date: Mar 5, 2015 An oil-pipeline explosion in Backstrom's childhood hometown looks to be the work of ecoterrorists, and brings back his estranged father, Sheriff Blue Backstrom, to assist in the investigation. The father-son reunion reopens old wounds, and a late-night visit from Everett's former fiancée further complicates his personal life. More 8 Give 'Til It Hurts Air date: Mar 26, 2015 Backstrom and the S.C.U. investigate a hit-and-run that leaves a wealthy woman dead. (C) FOX More 9 Inescapable Truth Air date: Apr 2, 2015 The S.C.U. investigates when a key witness in a drug case is murdered after escaping from a court-mandated rehab facility. Meanwhile, Backstrom suspects Valentine may be more than a tenant. More 10 Love Is a Rose and You Better Not Pick It Air date: Apr 9, 2015 The S.C.U. investigates the death of a young female sex surrogate in Portland's Rose Garden. Meanwhile, Backstrom hears unsettling news about his mother. More Show More Episodes Critic Reviews for Backstrom Season 1 All Critics (41) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (26) What you'll see is the best broadcast TV cop drama of the season, with a dirty-to-the-touch sleuth played to the hilt by an actor who's very much up for this. Rainn Wilson has found a role that fits him like an ugly, stretched-out poncho. Jan 21, 2015 | Rating: A- | Full Review… Ed Bark Uncle Barky Top Critic On Backstrom, neither the character-driven byplay nor the mystery-driven suspense is award worthy, but together they kill an hour pleasantly. Is that a crime? Jan 21, 2015 | Full Review… Tom Conroy Media Life Top Critic This is one of those shows where one starts to feel bad for the ensemble, as they trudge through bad scripts, doing all they can to elevate it but sinking into the generic quicksand as Wilson over-acts his way into cancellation. Jan 20, 2015 | Full Review… Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com Top Critic The characters talk at a breakneck pace, the tone is dizzy and yet the results feel run of the mill. Jan 20, 2015 | Full Review… Hal Boedeker Orlando Sentinel Top Critic It's all deeply familiar territory. Jan 20, 2015 | Rating: C+ | Full Review… Verne Gay Newsday Top Critic Backstrom isn't just far-fetched; at times it's downright silly. And clumsy. And painfully obvious. Feb 23, 2015 | Rating: C- | Full Review… Tom Long Detroit News Top Critic Halfway through the episode I realised that Backstrom is just a bad House, with a few more dead bodies. Jan 15, 2019 | Full Review… Alex Casey The Spinoff Wilson's talent for dark humor helps keep us interested in Backstrom, even when he's irritating. Jan 20, 2015 | Full Review… Kristi Turnquist Oregonian It's hard to find much in Backstrom that feels fresh or original: It's as if a collection of cop cliches, anti-hero ideas and grouchy-genius concepts were put in a blender and garnished with some attempts at humor, many of which don't quite land. Jan 20, 2015 | Full Review… Maureen Ryan Huffington Post If given the chance, there's a real possibility for the show to become a decent hit with a passionate fan-base that will follow it to the depths of hell. Jan 15, 2015 | Full Review… Merrill Barr Forbes View All Critic Reviews (41) Audience Reviews for Backstrom: Season 1 Oct 10, 2018 saw 10 episodes so far. great show. never saw it promoted on local tv stations. watching via amazon prime. George F Nov 02, 2017 Why did Fox cancel one of the most intelligently written and well performed series ever shown? Was it because of the critics who wanted it to be more art house and pretentious? There is ALWAYS such wide disparity between critic consensus and that of the REAL viewership, the general public, people who know what they want and dont need to be told what to watch like a herd of sheep! Im just so mad that I dont get to see Rainn Wilson play this role sober, together with the agony of expectation of his relapse, and its so much better than some of the pap detective shows that are aimed at the stupid! Yes, it was occasionally corny and formulaic but always in a fresh and amusing way. My only hope is that another network decides its worth picking back up. Nicole W May 31, 2017 Fox is by far the worst. Every time they have a great show they cancel it. Backstrom was everything you could want, funny, emotional, dramatic, relatable and they just ended it on the worst possible note. I will never again in my life start watching a new fox show. Jason A Feb 08, 2017 Really enjoys it. Made me laugh a lot and hope the books are as clever as I found the show. Geoff W Jan 18, 2017 Funny, quirky characters with interesting adventures and relationships. The cast is incredibly talented. Jane W Nov 25, 2016 The things that happen with the lead characters health is kind of off putting after a point and it is s hit of miss when used as a comic relief filler.Not all episodes are good - it is actually 50-50....but it kind of grows on you and just a begin to get it...they pull it...damn. Karthik V Dec 07, 2015 I was really disappointed that this was canceled. I enjoyed Rainn Wilson's acting and Backstrom's "I'm you..." monologues. Gena K Sep 27, 2015 Rainn Wilson breaks out of his usual typecasting, but unfortunately he falls right into another generic FOX procedural. Todd A May 25, 2015 Sad that this got cancelled, it was one of the better of this year's crop of new shows. Well-written and clever, good acting and interesting characters. Tod G May 22, 2015 Rainn Wilson is brilliant as always, and the rest of the cast is terrific as well. I particularly like Dennis Haysbert (great voice!) and Thomas Dekker, whose portrayal of Valentine is both complex and endearing. Genevieve Angelson brings just the right amount of lightness to offset Backstrom's gloom. The stories behind Backstrom are unfolding slowly, with revelations in each new show. Linda C See all Audience reviews News & Features 150 Erotic Movies Ranked worst to best! 2019's Most Anticipated 63 movies coming up this year 200 Essential Movies Chosen by RT staff! 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