Chance 

A forensic neuro-psychiatrist reluctantly enters a dangerous and violent world of mistaken identity, police corruption and mental illness.

Creators:

Alexandra Cunningham, Kem Nunn

Stars:

Hugh Laurie, Ethan Suplee, Greta Lee

Cast

Series cast summary:
Hugh Laurie	...	Eldon Chance / ... 20 episodes, 2016-2017
Ethan Suplee	...	D 20 episodes, 2016-2017
Greta Lee	...	Lucy 16 episodes, 2016-2017
Stefania LaVie Owen	...	Nicole Chance 13 episodes, 2016-2017
LisaGay Hamilton	...	Suzanne Silver 10 episodes, 2016
Paul Adelstein	...	Raymond Blackstone 10 episodes, 2016
Gretchen Mol	...	Jaclyn Blackstone 10 episodes, 2016
Clarke Peters	...	Carl 9 episodes, 2016-2017
Diane Farr	...	Christina 9 episodes, 2016-2017

Storyline

Modern day noir story about Psychiatrist Eldon Chance, who's in a rut. He's middle-aged, his wife wants a divorce, which might put a strain on his relationship with his astute teenage daughter he deeply cares about, and he's getting tired of his professional work. Chance's natural talent for psychoanalysis allows him to easily assess everyone that wants his help but that doesn't mean he can actually cure them or even help them. Everything changes however, when he meets mysterious and attractive Jaclyn Blackstone, who turns out to have both dark secrets and big psychological as well as private problems. But her most immediate problem is her abusive ex-husband Raymond Blackstone, who also happens to be a corrupt cop with connections. Chance falls for Jaclyn and becomes obsessed with helping her but he quickly realizes that he's in over his head. Help eventually comes in the form of a hulking man called D. While clearly a bit unhinged, asocial and disturbed, D is also highly skilled, ...

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Plot Keywords:

san francisco california | police corruption | mistaken identity | unlikely friendship | father daughter relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 October 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dr. Chance

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox 21,Groundswell Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The second TV show, after "House," in which Hugh Laurie stars as a troubled doctor whose last name is a common noun as well as the one-word title of the show. (Although in the first case the noun is a concrete object while in the other it is an abstract quality.) Also, Laurie uses an American accent in both series.

User Reviews

Terrific Noir with an Electrifying Performance from Ethan Suplee

This compelling series-noir follows Hugh Laurie as a neuropsychiatrist who plays white knight for a femme fatale in distress, assisted by a helpful tough guy.

Chance feels a lot like classic Noirs like Double Indemnity, and I spent much of the series worried that there would be a too-obvious 180-degree turn. But the series offers more zig-zag turns than turnarounds. Things aren't quite what they seem, but this isn't a house of mirrors either. And for the most part the story holds together well, although one can criticize the unlikely convenience of D, who seems almost Deus Ex Machina.

Hugh Laurie tends to be the most riveting presence on screen, as in House or the Night Manager, but here the rest of the cast is too good to give Laurie and opening to take over. Gretchen Mol is terrific as the fragile damsel, and Ethan Suplee is riveting as D. I was shocked to see in the three pages of user reviews on this series he is rarely mentioned and most of the focus is on Laurie; it's as though people are so used to him being the best thing in a series that they can't tell when he's being outshone. Even though he himself is excellent as the obsessed intellectual going down the rabbit hole.

Chance takes more focus than most TV series. I didn't binge watch it simply because it requires more of me than something like iZombie. But if you're in the mood to pay attention, this is a great series to pay attention to.