In a highly unusual move, CBS canceled Unforgettable after the 2011-12 season, only to reverse course, and order a second season of 13 episodes to begin airing in summer 2013. Unforgettable is another entry in a seemingly inexhaustible line of police procedurals on CBS, but the twist here is that the lead character, New York City police detective Carrie Wells (Poppy Montgomery), has hyperthymesia, a rare medical condition that gives her the ability to visually remember everything. The one thing she can’t recall: who murdered her sister when they were children? Her inability to remember this vital incident made her a bit of a risk taker—a cop who dated mob guys and had a taste for high risk card games.

Dylan Walsh plays her former boyfriend and fellow detective Al Burns. They broke up back when they both worked in Syracuse and she decided to leave police work. The first season found now Lieutenant Burns, Queens Homicide unit, asking Carrie for help on a case, which brings her back to the force, and stokes her fire to find out who murdered her sister.

The series has been significantly revamped from its inaugural season, with Montgomery, Walsh, and Jane Curtin as Medical Examiner Joanne Webster, all that remains of the original cast. Carrie and Al are offered a transfer to the NYPD’s Major Crimes Division in Manhattan. Joining them is their politically connected Captain Elliot Delson (Dallas Roberts, The Walking Dead), ex-FBI agent, and Senior Detective Cherie Rollins-Murray (Tawny Cypress, Heroes) and Senior Detective, high tech guru Jay Lee (James Hiroyuki Liao). Because Major Crimes is a city-wide division, Carrie, Al and crew are given a much more diverse range of crimes to solve, which is definitely more interesting, given Carrie’s abilities.

Carrie’s sister’s murder has been couched. While it’s brought up a couple of times in the first episode of the season, it’s largely to make clear that Carrie is no longer obsessed with it. That change was a good decision, because the constant references to it during the first season often felt like it dragged down a perfectly good standalone case. It also means that Carrie doesn’t have to be so burdened all the time; her character is far more fun and mischievous with Al and her co-workers.

The types of cases NYPD’s Major Crimes Division works on—kidnapping, robbery, murder, and terrorism—aren’t unique, but Poppy Montgomery and Dylan Walsh have an enjoyable chemistry and work much better with their new set of co-workers. With Carrie’s sister’s storyline out of the way, they can have a little bit more fun, which helps the overall tone of the series.

Episodes: “Bigtime,” “Incognito,” “Day of the Jackie,” “Memory Kings,” “Past Tense,” “Line Up or Shut Up,” “Maps and Legends,” “Till Death,” “Flesh and Blood,” “Manhunt,” “East of Islip,” “Omega Hour,” “Reunion”

The video is 1.78:1 anamorphic. The transfers bring out the New York City feel. The audio is Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo. The episodes have English subtitles.

The following extras are available:

  • Deleted Scenes
  • Additional Scenes: “An Unforgettable Reboot” and “Unstoppable Action”
  • Unbreakable: The Cast & Crew of Season 2
  • Bloopers/Gag Reel