Dr. Sam Waters (Ally Walker) is a detective with the Violent Crimes Task Force. It's a federal agency which often works with the FBI, ATF, and other crime-solving agencies.It's a pretty simple dark crime procedural with a continuing manhunt for a killer known as Jack of All Trades. Ally Walker has enough presence to lead this show. It also had Julian McMahon, and Robert Davi as star actors. It was a pretty good show at the start, but generally declined as it went on. It lasted 4 seasons. The show really deteriorated in the 3rd season, and then Ally Walker leaves the show and destroys what was left.

When Profiler first got aired it felt fresh - its fast pace and neat cuts fitted well for the needs of the new MTV generation. In many ways Profiler made room for all those psychic thrillers that followed and series like "C.S.I.". The characters were well written and their separate story lines and personalities all had something to offer. The mystery surrounding Jack's identity (whose face was never revealed until the 3rd season) kept people hooked. The writes really managed to make Jack appear dangerous - you never knew what he'd do next. The cliffhanger in the end of the second season was powerful - no one could wait for the 3rd season... Then the writers, the producers and the directors changed and the show started to go downhill. The show had no dynamic anymore. Everything went wrong - the new mythology storyline surrounding Jack's trial was uninteresting. The writers made a poor effort in trying to convince the audience that the person they caught in the beginning of the season was the real Jack - but who believed them? The writers never did their homework - one plot-hole followed another and the standard "nutjob of the week" episodes were uninteresting and boring. The fourth season came and couldn't save the show either (except the great "Reunion 1 & 2" episodes where both Jack - played by the superb Dennis Christopher - & Sam appeared for the last time). Jamie Luner - the new profiler - wasn't really any worse than Ally Walker - it was just the writers who were unable to write anything good for her (and the same happened with Walker during the 3rd season). The new conflicts surrounding the lives of the main characters - George's drug addiction, the issues with Rachel's brother, romances etc. all felt forced and artificial. During Profiler's excellent seasons 1 & 2 the show was at times even better than my favorite show The X-Files. It's hard to understand how the new production team managed to ruin everything good the show had and offer nothing interesting in return.The first two seasons are without a doubt worth having on DVD. Once you have them I suggest that you pretend that the last two seasons never existed.

I once believed this was the best show on earth (thriller that is) until Ally Walker left. Don't get me wrong, I like Rachel Burke (Jamie Luner) too, but it's just not the same. Rachel is very much like Samantha, yet she is totally different. She's the same kind of pretty female, she's got the sixth sense and all. But still I found the power that drove Sam (Jack of all trades) much stronger. There is just something lost now. But it still is good. I mean you still have Davi, Maffia, George and the other guy who are funny sympathetic and believable. Luner is good too, but no-one could replace Walker. She does the best that can be done.

This show has totally taken Saturday nights by storm. The exceptional filming and story lines have taken NBC's "Thrillogy" to a higher level of suspense and intrigue. The characters are well played and well suited to the show. The themes are relevant and the overall atmosphere is, well, awesome! Me being slightly partial I can say that this is undoubtedly one of the best, if not THE best show around.