The Listener: Hear no evil, but see no amazing

Season 2 cast of The Listener.

The Canadian drama The Listener is a good with good intentions and interesting storyline, but tends to mess it up. Its an interesting concept of having a main character who has telepathic abilities and helps the police solve crimes. The Listener first aired in 2009 and to this date has 2 seasons with a third airing sometime in 2012.

The running storyline of The Listener is about a paramedic named Toby Logan (that name just screams bad boy) who can read minds and decides to use it to help people. Similar to Clark Kent, Toby can't tell anyone about his abilities. In a way this is a downfall for the series in the beginning since only one person, who hardly see, knows about his abilities. Few episodes in, the writers realize this and decide to bring in Toby's good friend Oz. Oz is the funny sidekick and used for comic relief. I would also like to mention the on/off romantic interest of Dr. Oliva. It's a bit sad to see Toby pinning for her when she obviously doesn't like him. The writers realized this too, but too late into the first season.

The first season of The Listener, was not the strongest. The weakest point was at the very beginning of the season, but as the show went on, it began to find its grove and got stronger. Some of the stronger episodes are Beginning to See the Light and My Sister's Keeper. The main story arc of season 1 is who is Toby Logan? Throughout the season, you see flashes of Toby's past and attempts to make you curious about Toby's past.

Season 2 of The Listener fixed what was wrong with season 1. It is overall better than the previous season and delves deeper in the characters as well as introducing new ones. Even as far to introducing a new cop friend called Michelle McCluskey. It first sets out to make Toby look like more of a bad boy by making him ride a motorcycle and working out. This season also decided to forget about the search for Toby's past and mother, which was a good call. This season has a strong story arc that plays briefly in each episode.

Despite its weak start, The Listener grew stronger, and by Season 2 became the show it should have been from the start. With season 3 on the horizon, only time can tell where Toby Logan's path will take him. The Listener is an interesting show to watch and it could be a great show one day.

Promo below. Sorry about the quality.

Another promo might want to check out.