The new crime drama Memory of a Killer stars Patrick Dempsey as Angelo Doyle, a hitman with early-onset Alzheimer’s trying to balance his double life. The show is inspired by the Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer and made its broadcast debut on Fox in January 2026, also streaming on Hulu.
From its first scenes, this series pushes a high-stakes premise: a killer who might forget his own identity and secrets. Angelo’s two worlds — suburban dad and cold-blooded assassin — begin to collide as his memory slips. That clash fuels most of the dramatic tension early on.
Dempsey plays against type here. After years as the affable Dr. McDreamy on Grey’s Anatomy, he embraces a sleep-ier, more haunted vibe. His Angelo often moves slowly between caring for his pregnant daughter Maria (Odeya Rush) and carrying out lethal assignments for Dutch, played by Michael Imperioli. Imperioli’s presence adds grit to the criminal elements of the story.
Critics are divided on how well Memory of a Killer pulls all of this off. Some praise the show’s pace and Dempsey’s unexpected turn as an assassin. Those voices highlight clever plotting and engaging action sequences that break from standard network fare. Others find the writing uneven and surface-level, especially in early episodes where deeper psychological exploration should be stronger.
This duality stretches into the series’ approach to Alzheimer’s. The narrative uses Angelo’s memory loss as both a thematic anchor and a plot engine. Some reviewers think this adds emotional weight, placing familiar thriller beats into more human terrain. Others point out that so far, it feels more like a twist on a genre trope than a profound character study.
The supporting cast around Dempsey and Imperioli adds texture but rarely overshadows the leads. Richard Harmon, Odeya Rush, and Gina Torres each provide moments that hint at larger arcs, giving the story room to grow. But the focus remains heavily on Angelo’s struggle to keep control.
Visually, Memory of a Killer keeps a slick, modern look that suits its thriller roots. Showrunners Ed Whitmore and Tracey Malone balance standard crime drama conventions with moments of interior urgency as Angelo’s world unravels.
Where the series may find its stride is in how these elements interact over time. Early episodes deliver intrigue and enough action to stay engaging. But until it digs deeper into what Angelo’s memory loss means beyond plot mechanics, it risks feeling surface-level.
For viewers interested in genre twists and moral complexity, Memory of a Killer is worth attention. Dempsey’s turn as a conflicted killer is a reminder that familiar faces can surprise when placed in unfamiliar roles. Whether the show sustains its initial promise depends on how it balances character depth with its thriller momentum.
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