E-Ring

Chicago TribuneSid Smith

Besides its surefire pacing and startling moments, "Invasion" features a promising cast.

Baltimore SunDavid Zurawik

[It has] a tick-tick-tick pace almost as intense as that of 24.

NewsdayVerne Gay

An effective and well-wrought drama, with enough cinematic flair and energy to paper over some of its more obvious faults.

Wall Street JournalNancy DeWolf Smith

A slick production.

New York PostLinda Stasi

"E-Ring" is sometimes kind of silly, sometimes tightly drawn, and sometimes it's fun.

SalonHeather Havrilesky

We don't really learn anything new about the military or its operations, of course, but with the slick scenes and snappy one-liners coming in rapid succession, who really cares?

Hollywood ReporterRay Richmond

It pulsates with the requisite flash and dash we've come to expect of a Bruckheimer outing, in this case rather like "JAG" on steroids. But at the end of the day it rings emotionally hollow.

Chicago Sun-TimesDoug Elfman

The half-tense dramatic payoff is a pleasant surprise, but the bluster -- oh, the bluster and machismo are palpable.

People WeeklyTom Gliatto

Anyone who saw Team America, the movie send-up of all things Bruckheimerian, will find E-Ring hard to take too seriously. [24 Oct 2005, p.41]

PopMattersCynthia Fuchs

Hopper [is] so misfitted for this role that he seems perversely perfect.

USA TodayRobert Bianco

With each misstep, E-Ring becomes more ridiculous.

VarietyBrian Lowry

Remember those scenes on "The West Wing" when the Joint Chiefs assemble in the "situation room" to tackle some faraway threat? Reprise the tension with none of the intelligence, inject flag-waving machismo and high-tech imagery, and what's left is this Jerry Bruckheimer drama.

Miami Herald

The unarguable truth of E-Ring's central premise -- that America's national-security bureaucracy probably spends as much time in intramural squabbles as it does fighting terrorism or rogue states -- does not make it any better drama.

Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert

Unfortunately, despite an interesting pair of lead actors, ''E-Ring" is stubbornly conventional and bland.

New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley

The network may feel that Bratt could stand there, read the phone book and attract millions of adoring female fans. Starring in "E-Ring" may be the closest thing to finding out whether that's true.

San Francisco ChronicleTim Goodman

"E-Ring" is boring.

San Jose Mercury NewsCharlie McCollum

Both tonight's opening episode and next week's installment are predictable, loaded with cliched dialogue and lacking in the tension you want in this kind of show.

Seattle Post-IntelligencerMelanie McFarland

More proof that even Jerry Bruckheimer can spit out barely watchable productions.

Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen

Overcooked and preposterous to the point of being laughable.

Los Angeles TimesPaul Brownfield

As the mission's race against time ticks down, "E-Ring" thinks it's got you by the throat, and that's true, because you feel like you're being led around on a leash.

Kansas City StarAaron Barnhart

[A] surprisingly brain-dead series.

Philadelphia InquirerJonathan Storm

Interesting and exciting only when no one's saying anything, which isn't very often.

The New York TimesNed Martel

Chest-pounding [and] inept.