I’ve never mentioned it here but I started watching Numb3rs back in November-ish. I had seen episodes here and there previously but never got into it until Rob and I used instant Netflix (SO awesome, btw) to watch from the beginning. NOW I LOVE IT. I thought it was going to be yet another typical procedural but after a few episodes, I was hooked by the characters. They give the show an emotional center. I love (most of) them so.
Last Friday was the season finale. Possibly the series finale. *sob* Please CBS don’t take away the show when I’ve just found it. In case it is, though, I wanted to dedicate a whole post to the show so you too can meet the characters I adore. A primer if you will. Nicola’s Make It or Break It primer is my inspiration (and MIOBI is another show that has recently become a guilty pleasure though I’m way behind).
Numb3rs is about Charlie and Don Eppes — two brothers who solve crimes for the FBI. In very different capacities.
Don Eppes. Also known as my favorite character. He’s a Lead Special Agent in the FBI.
He kicks ass. Has a great smile. Likes the ladies. But has serious commitment issues.
This is Charlie Eppes, mathematical genius and Don’s younger brother. Socially awkward. Means well but often doesn’t understand subtleties of human interaction. He primarily works as a professor at CalSci but also does consulting work for the FBI.
Charlie and Don start the show with a strained relationship. Don resents Charlie for having to live in his shadow growing up (they graduated from high school at the same time) and Charlie feels excluded from Don’s life. However, through their work together, they get the opportunity to see the other at their best and manage to find a way to fit into each other’s lives.
Their dad, Alan Eppes, is also featured on the show because Charlie lives with him (and later on, vice versa). He doesn’t typically figure into the cases too much — he’s there to ground the Eppes brothers. To share their backstory and push them towards their futures.
Amita Ramanujan. Charlie’s girlfriend. He was also her thesis advisor in the first season when she was a student at CalSci. Scandalous! Ok fine. They didn’t actually date until after she received her doctorate but there was definitely sexual tension present. She is now conveniently a professor at CalSci as well. I can’t decide whether I like her or not. My opinion changes each episode.
Rounding out the CalSci crew is Larry Flinehardt (on the right above). Quirky and unique. He was Charlie’s mentor and professor at Princeton and now colleague and best friend. Both he and Amita assist Charlie with FBI cases when their respective disciplines are involved.
On the FBI side of things…
Megan Reeves. Appeared as an FBI agent in seasons 2-4 (she replaced a totally forgettable female agent, Terry Lake, from season 1). She was a strong and spunky character who held her own in a team with 3 males. Eventually the emotion and stress of the job caught up with her and she left the FBI. I miss her AND her unexpected romantic relationship with Larry. Whoa.
Liz Warner. My other favorite female FBI agent. I love that she’s feminine and sexy yet tough. She was introduced in season 3 as an agent who was also a former love interest of Don’s when they met at Quantico. OMG. I really loved them together. But she came into his life again after his recent break-up with Robin Brooks and the writers gave Liz the rebound storyline.
Robin Brooks doesn’t deserve a picture because I think Don deserves better. She’s an attorney who frequently works with the FBI. She and Don have an off again/on again relationship.
Nikki Betancourt. Another female FBI agent brought in to replace Megan in season 5. Terrible choice. My LEAST favorite character. Possibly ever. I cannot stand her. She’s impulsive, arrogant, and has an attitude problem. She’s featured above on the left with Liz.
Now for the men of the FBI team. SQUEE. My absolute favorites next to Don.
David Sinclair. An original character. Has worked with Don since the pilot. I have to admit that he was a little bland in season 1. He didn’t really show much of his personality until…
Colby Granger showed up in season 2. They became partners and so started my favorite FBI relationship. 😀 They are the very definition of bromance. When a situation at the end of season 3 (don’t want to reveal too much) causes the team to question Colby’s loyalties, David gets PISSED. Ok, that’s understandable since they’re partners and he thought he had been betrayed. But he continues to hold a grudge at the start of season 4 when Colby’s actions are explained. David doesn’t speak to Colby, doesn’t look at him, and it affects their performance at work. What a girl! It takes Don yelling at them for David to come around. David <3 Colby. SQUEE. Seriously, they’re my favorites. The only time I ever liked Nikki was when she asked David, “Hey where’s your girlfriend? You know, Colby – not the other one.” Heh.
Phew! Now you know all the characters. As far as the episodes, the format is fairly typical — it starts off with a crime, then moves on to the investigation, and ends with the Eppes brothers (many times with their dad) hanging out, having a beer, and goofing off…
OMG. They’re so awesome. Watch this show! All seasons except the last are on DVD. Please CBS. Don’t let the Eppes brothers leave me.