Medium (2005)
Created by Glenn Gordon Caron and premiering on NBC in 2005, Medium is a supernatural drama that combines crime solving with psychic phenomena. The show follows Allison DuBois (Patricia Arquette), a medium who uses her ability to communicate with the dead and predict events to help law enforcement solve crimes. Inspired by real-life medium Allison DuBois, the series balances supernatural elements with a procedural format, making it both unique in its genre and popular with viewers. Over its seven-season run, Medium offered viewers a blend of mystery, family drama, and the supernatural while exploring complex themes such as the nature of death, morality, and human intuition.
At its core, Medium revolves around Allison DuBois, a wife and mother of three daughters who works as a consultant for the Phoenix District Attorney's Office. Her ability to communicate with the dead, experience visions of the past and future, and decipher dreams puts her in the middle of some of the most perplexing criminal cases. While her powers give her a unique edge in solving crimes, they also present personal and ethical challenges as Allison struggles to balance her gift with the demands of her family life.
The show largely follows a "case of the week" structure, with each episode revolving around a crime-often a murder-that Allison helps solve using her psychic abilities. However, Medium goes beyond the typical crime procedural by focusing on Allison's personal life, particularly her relationships with her husband Joe (Jake Weber) and her daughters, who also begin to show signs of psychic abilities. As the series progresses, these family dynamics, along with Allison's ongoing journey to understand and control her powers, become as important as the mysteries she helps solve.
The primary hook of Medium lies in its combination of the supernatural and crime solving. Unlike other crime procedurals that focus solely on detective work and forensic science, Medium introduces psychic visions, dream interpretation, and communication with spirits as legitimate tools for solving crimes. This unique blend gives the show an edge, allowing it to delve into darker and more mysterious realms than traditional police dramas. By combining these elements, the show appeals to both fans of supernatural fiction and viewers who enjoy crime dramas.
The show treats Allison's abilities with a degree of skepticism from the characters around her, particularly within law enforcement, which reflects the broader societal skepticism of the paranormal. However, as her track record grows, the show develops a sense of trust and legitimacy around her powers, blurring the lines between what is real and what is beyond normal perception.
One of the central ethical questions in Medium is whether having psychic knowledge of future events, including crimes, gives Allison the right to intervene. Her visions often present her with moral dilemmas as she must decide when and how to use the information she gathers from the spirit world. In many cases, the show explores the limits of the legal system, and Allison's powers offer an alternative form of justice - one that operates outside the law but is driven by a higher moral purpose. This raises complex questions about the balance between personal ethics and societal laws.
At the same time, Allison's gift allows her to connect with victims of violent crime in a deeply personal way, often leading to emotional moments where she serves as a voice for the voiceless. This unique ability to empathize with the dead creates a sense of moral responsibility that weighs heavily on her throughout the series, making her more than just a tool for solving crimes, but a moral agent who must navigate the consequences of her knowledge.
The show's portrayal of Allison's personal life is one of its most compelling aspects. Unlike many crime dramas that focus solely on professional relationships, Medium devotes considerable time to exploring Allison's role as a wife and mother. Her husband, Joe, is supportive but at times skeptical of her abilities, and their marriage becomes a central anchor for the series. Joe's character provides a grounding element for the show as he deals with the practical implications of living with a medium, from financial stress to emotional toll.
The DuBois children also become integral to the show's themes as they begin to exhibit psychic abilities of their own. This creates a generational dynamic in which Allison must navigate the challenges of raising children with psychic gifts while trying to maintain a normal family life. This element of the show offers a unique twist, portraying psychic abilities not as a burden, but as something passed down through generations with the potential to shape the family's future.
Medium frequently explores the tension between belief and skepticism, both in the supernatural and in everyday life. Characters often question whether Allison's visions are real or just a figment of her imagination, and this skepticism is mirrored in the viewer's experience. The show leaves room for doubt, allowing the audience to question whether Allison's powers are infallible or open to interpretation. This constant push and pull between belief in the unseen and reliance on empirical evidence creates a tension that runs throughout the series.
In addition, Allison herself struggles with doubt. Although she frequently has visions and communicates with the dead, she is not omniscient, and her powers often leave her in frustratingly ambiguous situations. This sense of uncertainty adds depth to her character and keeps the show from becoming formulaic, as even Allison cannot always rely on her abilities for clear answers.
Patricia Arquette's portrayal of Allison is one of the strongest aspects of the show. Rather than being portrayed as a stereotypical psychic or paranormal investigator, Allison is grounded, relatable, and often vulnerable. Her psychic abilities are shown to be both a gift and a curse, creating both personal and professional challenges. Over the course of the series, we see Allison grapple with the toll her visions take on her psyche, her family, and her sense of self.
Allison's character also evolves as she learns more about the limits and potential of her abilities. The show avoids making her a perfect or infallible figure, instead showing her as someone who frequently questions herself and makes mistakes, both in her personal life and in her work. This complexity makes her a compelling protagonist and elevates the show beyond a simple supernatural procedural.
Joe DuBois (Jake Weber) serves as a grounding force for both Allison and the series as a whole. His character is practical, logical, and often skeptical of his wife's abilities, which provides an interesting counterbalance to the supernatural elements of the show. However, Joe is also deeply supportive and loving, and his relationship with Allison is one of the most stable and enduring aspects of the show. Over time, Joe's skepticism softens and his role becomes more about supporting Allison emotionally and mentally as she navigates the challenges of her gift.
Manuel Devalos (Miguel Sandoval), the district attorney who hires Allison, and Detective Lee Scanlon (David Cubitt), her primary law enforcement contact, are both crucial to the procedural side of the show. Devalos represents the institutional faith in Allison's abilities, while Scanlon serves as the skeptic-turned-believer. Their evolving relationship with Allison over the course of the series adds a layer of depth to the show, as both men must come to terms with the unconventional methods she uses to solve cases.
Medium blends procedural storytelling with character-driven drama, creating a balance between episodic crime solving and long-term character arcs. The show's use of dream sequences, flashbacks, and surreal imagery heightens the supernatural aspects, giving the series a unique visual and narrative style. Each episode often opens with a cryptic dream or vision that sets the stage for the mystery to unfold, and these dream sequences often use visual metaphors or symbolic imagery to represent deeper truths.
The show's pacing is also notable, alternating between intense moments of crime solving and slower, more introspective scenes that focus on Allison's personal life. This balance helps maintain a consistent emotional tone while allowing episodes to vary in intensity and focus.
Medium received generally positive reviews during its run, with particular praise for Patricia Arquette's performance, for which she won an Emmy Award. The show was often praised for its fresh take on the procedural format, blending supernatural elements with grounded, character-driven storytelling. While it was never a massive ratings hit, it developed a loyal fan base and maintained a steady audience throughout its seven seasons.
In terms of legacy, Medium stands out as one of the more thoughtful and emotionally rich entries in the supernatural crime genre. Its exploration of family, morality, and the afterlife resonates with audiences who appreciate character depth along with mystery and suspense. Although it shares thematic elements with other supernatural procedurals such as The X-Files and Supernatural, its focus on family life and its unique take on the psychic detective trope set it apart.
Medium is a compelling fusion of supernatural drama and procedural crime solving, anchored by strong performances and thoughtful writing. Its unique focus on the personal toll of psychic abilities, combined with its exploration of moral dilemmas and family dynamics, elevates it beyond the typical crime drama. The show's careful balance of supernatural intrigue and emotional depth makes it a standout in its genre, offering a fresh perspective on the intersection of crime, the paranormal, and human relationships.
