7 classic paranormal TV series with gifted characters

I always loved watching television shows that feature extraordinary characters. Recently, I felt a sense of nostalgia that prompted me to watch some of my favorite paranormal shows. Listed here are several TV shows from the 90s and 2000s that showcase ‘gifted’ characters.

The Sentinel (1996-1999)

“In all tribal cultures, every village had a sentinel. Now, a sentinel is chosen because of a genetic advantage—a sensory awareness that can be developed beyond normal humans. Your time spent in Peru has got to be connected with what’s happening to you now. I’ve got hundreds of documented cases of one or two hyperactive senses, but not one single subject with all five. You could be the real thing.”

— Blair Sandburg

In this late 1990s classic buddy cop show, Richard Burgi portrayed Detective Jim Ellison, the titular “Sentinel”. He possessed super-heightened senses and had a genetic predisposition to protect his tribe—in his case, the city of Cascade, Washington. 

Opposite him was Blair Sandburg (Garett Maggart), an anthropology doctoral student specializing in ancient cultures. In a unique arrangement, Blair offered to guide Jim in honing his senses, while Jim allowed Blair to use their experiences for his doctoral thesis.

At first glance, Jim and Blair couldn't have been more different—one is a stoic cop and the other a free-spirited son of a hippie mother. Yet, their differences were the very foundation for a remarkable bond, forged through the roles of Sentinel and Guide.

Amidst its crime-solving premise, the show embraced elements of science fiction, Shamanism, and spirit guides, adding an intriguing dimension to the narrative.

Millennium (1996-1999)

The grim and graphic saga revolved around Frank Black (Lance Henriksen). The retired FBI profiler worked for the Millennium Group, a secret organization made up of former law enforcement professionals. The show predominantly delved into cases involving (serial) killers and morally bankrupt individuals with criminal intent as the world approached the new millennium. 

Frank's ability to perceive the world through the eyes of serial killers and connect with these disturbed criminals allowed for some truly horrifying imagery and sequences. Series creator Chris Carter clarified Frank was not a psychic but possessed what he termed “a gift”. However, akin to Nathaniel Colt, my main character of “The Empath Series”, Frank viewed his ability as a “curse”.

As the narrative progressed, it seamlessly integrated elements of supernaturalism and ventured into the realm of dark science fiction.

Although there was no direct crossover, “Millennium” inhabited the same universe as Carter’s more renowned creation, “The X-Files”; yet it was darker and tinged with a harrowing ambiance that set the shows apart.

The Pretender (1996-1999)

“There are pretenders among us, geniuses with the ability to become anyone they want to be… In 1963, a Corporation known as “The Center” isolated a young pretender named Jarod, and exploited his genius for their research. Then one day, their pretender ran away…”

— The show’s intro

The series propelled Michael T. Weiss into the limelight as Jarod, an unparalleled human chameleon who possessed the ability to assume any identity and excel in any profession. 

The child prodigy was raised in “The Center”, a secret facility built for experimenting on special children and adults, in fictional Blue Cove, Delaware. Jarod escaped their custody as an adult after he realized his captors used his research for nefarious reasons. While trying to find his real identity and reconnect with his family, he leveraged his extraordinary skills to assist those he encountered, seeking to rectify injustices and make the world a better place.

At the same time, Jarod had to evade the operatives sent to recapture him: Andrea Parker portrayed Miss Parker (the daughter of the head of The Centre), Patrick Bauchau starred as Sydney (a psychologist who raised Jarod), and Jon Gries played Broots (a computer expert).

Jarod's relentless pursuit of his family and his childlike innocence created a charming character. In a narrative often steeped in darkness and suspense, Jarod's presence added a crucial balance that infused hope and humanity into the tale.

Profiler (1996-2000)

Profiler followed the exploits of the FBI's fictional Violent Crimes Task Force based in Atlanta, Georgia. The first three seasons of this grim paranormal cop show starred Ally Walker as forensic profiler Dr. Samantha “Sam” Waters, a borderline-empathic criminal profiler. In her mind, she could “see” the thoughts of the perpetrators and their victims. 

As one of the first police shows, Profiler had a series-wide arc that involved “Jack of All Trades”, an elusive serial killer fixated on Sam (he killed her husband pre-show). In season four, Jamie Luner took the lead as Dr. Rachel Burke, who possessed a similar gift as Sam. Her central antagonist for Rachel Burke emerged as the elusive crime kingpin named Damian Kennasas. The culmination of the series came with the shutdown of the VCTF, marking a poignant conclusion to this narrative.

Drawing inspiration from “The Silence of the Lambs”, “Profiler” profoundly influenced subsequent shows.  I consider it the predecessor of modern police dramas, especially Criminal Minds, with its characters chasing serial killers.

The Dead Zone (2002-2007)

The paranormal suspense and science fiction series was “based on characters” from Stephen King's 1979 novel of the same title. The plot revolved around the life of Johnny Smith (Anthony Michael Hall), a high-school science teacher, who woke up after a six-year coma—and now possessed psychic abilities.

Upon contact with people or objects, he experienced visions of both past and future events—a phenomenon known as psychoscopy or psychometry. His visions were made possible by his brain working around the damaged areas, referred to as the “dead zone”.

Johnny used his powers to help solve criminal (mostly murder) cases. However, an overarching arc within the series was Johnny's battle against politician Gregory “Greg” Ammas Stillson (Sean Patrick Flanery). Johnny had foreseen that the future President of the United States would propel the world into a catastrophic nuclear war.

Missing (2003-2006)

Originally titled “1-800-Missing”, the show drew its inspiration from the book series 1-800-WHERE-R-YOU by Meg Cabot. The show followed the story of Jess Mastriani (Caterina Scorsone), a young woman whose life changed after lightning struck and gave her with psychic abilities.

At first, Jess used the clues from her visions to consult with a special FBI Task Force to find missing people. Over time, her exceptional skills led to a full-time position within the bureau, where she received formal training and became an agent in her own right.

The series initially starred Gloria Reuben as Brooke Haslett, Jess's skeptical partner. Vivica A. Fox as Nicole Scott replaced Reuben after the latter left at the end of the first season.

Medium (2005-2011)

Medium was based on the real Allison DuBois bestseller “Don't Kiss Them Good-Bye”. In the series, Patricia Arquette played the lead role, who worked in the District Attorney’s office. Allison could communicate with dead people, witness past events, or foresee events within her dreams. She used her natural intuition about people and her gift of interacting with the dead to help solve crimes.

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