Limitless

Brian Finch is a washed-up musician whose life flips after he tries NZT-48, a pill that temporarily unlocks extraordinary mental clarity. With the drug his thinking speeds up, his memory sharpens and solutions arrive almost instinctively, but each high brings confusion and risk. That blur of advantage and danger pulls Brian into a job where his talents are useful to law enforcement, and into the orbit of powerful figures who want to control NZT for their own ends. As he juggles new responsibilities and personal consequences, allies and adversaries complicate his choices, and the show keeps the mystery and moral cost front and center without giving away later twists.

Premiered in 2015, the series was created by Craig Sweeny and Alan Glynn and builds on the 2011 Limitless film; Bradley Cooper reprises his film role as Edward Morra while Jake McDorman leads the cast.

The show didn't attract major industry awards, and it saw limited recognition during awards season. There weren't high-profile wins or long awards runs, though individual performances and the concept drew attention from fans and some critics.

On a cultural level Limitless helped move the NZT concept from movie to television, sparking conversations about cognitive enhancers and the ethics of performance drugs. It generated fan interest online, led to memeable moments tied to NZT's effects, and gave viewers a procedural format that still felt serialized and character-driven.

Critics and audiences generally reacted positively, reflected in a 7.3/10 vote average from 909 users. Reviewers praised Jake McDorman's energy and the chemistry with Jennifer Carpenter, while noting the mix of drama, comedy and action. Major themes include addiction and ambition, the price of accelerated intelligence, and how power reshapes relationships and institutions.