Skip to content
MovieCove
APB

APB

A tech billionaire. A Chicago cop. Giving justice the reboot.

2017Ended1 season12 episodes~43 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

After a billionaire engineer witnesses his best friend’s murder, he takes charge of Chicago’s troubled 13th District and reboots it as a technically innovative police force, challenging the district to rethink everything about the way they fight crime.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch APB?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists APB to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about APB?

APB earns 3 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by US Viewers.

Reception

Is APB worth watching?

APB's Midcredits score is the 41st percentile of all shows, from 7.3K ratings across 2 sources. 70% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

41st percentile

Better received than 41% of shows

32nd percentile among Action39th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)33rd
Approval (how many liked it)50th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

67 /100

33rd percentile of all shows

26th percentile among Action32nd percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.3 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

70% liked it

50th percentile of all shows

38th percentile among Action48th percentile among 2010s
70% rated it 7–1030% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

82nd percentile

7.1K ratings across platforms

53rd percentile among Action82nd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 10% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Fans praised

  • fun, escapist sci-fi action with strong audio and visual effects
  • engaging high-concept premise of tech mogul overhauling the police
  • entertaining performances from leads like Justin Kirk and Natalie Martinez

Detractors panned

  • formulaic and derivative, 'cops and robbers' with a tech gimmick
  • plot holes and illogical character decisions undermine credibility
  • episodic, low-stakes storytelling that doesn't demand sustained investment

What stands out

Acting65

talented cast but some find performances uneven or underused

CharactersDivisive55

leads likeable but underdeveloped; one-note or uninvested

OriginalityDivisive55

fresh take on police tech but overused tropes and derivatives like RoboCop

Plot and storyDivisive50

high-concept but riddled with logical gaps and formulaic stories

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 11 points higher than women.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 17 points higher than non-US viewers.

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2017 · 12 episodes · 6.9 average across 3 rated episodes

  • S1E1

    Hard Reset

    Feb 6, 201745 minTMDB rating 7.5Season best
  • S1E2

    Personal Matters

    Feb 13, 201745 minTMDB rating 6.7
  • S1E3

    Hate of Comrades

    Feb 20, 201745 minTMDB rating 6.5
  • S1E4

    Signal Loss

    Feb 27, 201745 min
  • S1E5

    Above & Beyond

    Mar 6, 201745 min
  • S1E6

    Daddy's Home

    Mar 13, 201745 min

Watch experience

What is APB like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you hopeful.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseHopefulContemplative
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Adventurous · 15% of shows
Told as
Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe material is played straight, treating the crime-fighting and tech innovation seriously without overt irony.
The rideThe series sustains a steady tension through its procedural cases, while the hopeful core of Gideon's mission and the introspective moments about his methods keep the mood balanced across the run.
StructureA case-plus-arc procedural; each episode follows a standard three-act investigation structure with no non-linear devices.
Episode formatEpisodes pivot between a new tech-enabled crime case and the ongoing serialized development of Gideon's precinct and the resistance to his methods.
Season formatThough the show has only one season, its structure sets up a connected set of case arcs within a single season of the precinct rebuilding, with an implicit arc that would evolve with the characters.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
HopefulThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves a sense that technology can reform broken systems, balanced with questions about surveillance and justice.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe typical episode follows the precinct team using technology to stop a different criminal or threat each week, fitting a monster-of-the-week pattern.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfPurposeSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% (this title) · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

PurposeClass · 4% of showsJustice · 14% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeGideon's quest to revolutionize law enforcement through technology is driven by a personal mission to find meaning and prove that his approach can work, set against the backdrop of class divides between the wealthy tech sector and the troubled precinct's community.
StanceWhile celebrating Gideon's vision, the show critically examines the ethics of tech in policing, asking whether his methods truly serve the community or merely reinforce control.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score
SettingA run-down police precinct in New York City, retrofitted with cutting-edge surveillance and predictive technology by a billionaire benefactor.
MusicAn understated score that blends orchestral tension with electronic pulses, mirroring the clash between traditional policing and Gideon's tech-driven approach.

Content guide

Is APB okay for kids?

TV-14

APB is rated TV-14. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (42/100), sexual content at mild (17/100), language at mild (22/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (22/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 9 other countries
  • Germany12
  • France16
  • Brazil14
  • IndiaU/A 16+
  • MexicoA
  • PhilippinesG
  • Russia16+
  • SingaporeG
  • Spain7
Overall
Mild · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Profanity
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (3 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (15 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does APB have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in APB?

Cast

Justin Kirk
as Gideon Reeves
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Natalie Martinez
as Theresa Murphy
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Taylor Handley
as Nicholas Brandt
Caitlin Stasey
as Ada Hamilton
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Tamberla Perry
as Tasha Goss
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Ernie Hudson
as Ned Conrad
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
William Smillie
as Geoff Cobb
Abraham Benrubi
as Pete McCann
Bryant Romo
as Jimmy Reyes
Nestor Serrano
as Michael Salgado

More like this

What are shows like APB?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like APB include Minority Report (2015), Next (2020) and The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985).

Like this, but

Explore by

What other shows share a tag with APB?

207 other shows share the rarest tag below, follows: tycoon. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.