The Sentinel (TV Series) The Switchman (1996) User Reviews

Fun, Lightweight action show

[gazebo · 18 December 2003]

Jim Ellison, a policeman in the city of Cascade, has super senses. He can hear, see, touch, smell to such a high degree that he can help solve seemingly unsolvable crimes. Blair Sandburg, a college student majoring in anthropology, is the guide who helps Jim Ellison control his super senses. Together, these two men help fight crime in Cascade.

This is a really fun action show! The actors are all very good and the writers for this show really know how to hook a viewer's attention in the first five minutes of the show. All the episodes are very well plotted and very exciting. What is a real shame is that one can see that this show had the potential to be even more. I wish there was more mysticism and more magic in this show. But other than that, it's a great hour of TV.

Richard Burgi is gorgeous and a great talent. I hope he makes it on the big screen one day.

I give this great show a "B++".

Great Show

[Lord_Ahriman · 10/10 · 22 May 2003]

This show really is great, its like the only show with a completely new story and locations for the show every time. It all so has a great cast in every way. Its a shame that they did not make more episodes but you can always watch the old ones again

The most satisfying show ever!

[BBB-6 · 10/10 · 28 April 1999]

I really, really love this show. I don't think I have enjoyed a show this much since "Quantum Leap". This is one of those rare drop whatever you're doing, lock yourself up in your room, "shut-up-and-don't-bother-me" type of shows. It has everything you watch television for: action, drama, humor, personality, good stories, plus the one thing missing from most television-ORIGINALITY! I cannot think of another show that was ever like this one. It also has characters that you can really care about (which, if you examine it, you'll find is the deciding factor in most of the shows that are historically considered really great television). Richard Burgi, Garett Maggart and Bruce A. Young are the stars of this show and I feel that this is the best television work so far in their careers.

The Sentinel back Sci-Fi

[sl02 · 10/10 · 6 January 2003]

The Sentinel back Sci-Fi January 2 2003, 11 AM, Monday-Friday. I like this TV show very much. Garett Maggart (Blair Sandburg in The Sentinel)is an excellent actor. I would like can see him in new chapters of The Sentinel and in movies. The Sentinel have many perspective such as prove the countless reading of The Sentinel Fan Fiction writers and the many web pages in all word.

acceptable show that's lacking something

[gporritt · 6/10 · 14 November 2005]

Overall this show is quite entertaining but there are a few things about it which really grate on me. I quite like the acting and overall scripting of the show, but like many people I think that it was just a little contrived. The stories, though different in context, always followed the same basic premise. A crime would be committed. Someone (either a cute girl or a young male) would witness it, and be unforthcoming to Ellison and Sandberg's charm. a friend of the witness would be killed, and the person would then try and find Ellis or Sandberg. they would get in contact and then be kidnapped and Ellison will have to use his special senses to discover where they are and then he will shoot them from long range. Cue the little jokey quip between Ellison and Sandberg and roll the credits.

It could have been so much more but the creators were lazy. No wonder it got canned so quickly.

THE BEST SHOW

[Lannieta · 7 April 1999]

In my opinion, this is THE BEST show ever. Richard Burgi, Garett Maggart, and Bruce A. Young are terrific actors! Watch an episode if you haven't already, and you'll see that it's worth it. Now if only UPN would see that it's worth it.

Fun Fun Fun

[Hazel-12 · 24 April 2000]

For anyone who thought that science fiction and cop shows could not be effectively combined, think again. While the X-Files deals with the unreal, The Sentinel deals with real life crimes. It is funny and clever, with many of the qualities that made Superman a hit. Richard Burgi is strong as the Superman character, not always sure of his powers, but a tough guy with a strong heart. Bruce A. Young as Perry White, the bark worse then his bite commander. But the best part of all is scene stealer Garrett Magartt as the combo of perpetual victim Lois Lane and on the fringes Jimmy Olsen. Four stars!

Intelligent

[UACW · 17 November 1999]

What this has to do with Peruvian jungles I do not know. And it doesn't seem to have that much to do with heightened senses either. But the writers! Goodness, who are these guys? Almost every episode is different, and whatever they dream up, it's very good. One week a "whodunnit", the next "Die Hard" for TV, it's ambitious on that level, and that's enough for me. Seeing something at least halfway intelligent is rare and therefore very refreshing.

Great action films of the Sentinel

[uriahrose · 1 December 1999]

Hello, We really enjoy the program the Sentinel, the reason being is because Bruce Young is my cousin and my little sisters uncle we have sent off for autograph pictures and email the show but no luck with that but overall we still watch all of the shows that come on here in Tacoma WA all of the time re-run or what ever we love you and all of the rest of the cast so keep up the good work and remember we all in Tacoma WA are very proud of you.

One of the poorest TV series ever

[iRobin · 16 May 1999]

The downside of user feedback is that nearly only people that like the subject of the vote participate.

I came upon the Sentinel entry while researching info on an actor who shamed himself taking part in the series, and noticed the high grade (9.1/10) that it got.

Back in when I was in France where it is still showing, I remember The Sentinel as being that boring and unimaginative piece of fiction that occurred between two other interesting TV shows, no more, no less.