Patrick Dempsey goes all Liam Neeson in 'Memory of a Killer' – Review
- - Patrick Dempsey goes all Liam Neeson in 'Memory of a Killer' – Review
Kelly Lawler, USA TODAYJanuary 26, 2026 at 4:00 AM
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McDreamy no more.
Patrick Dempsey may still have his silver fox hair and a disarming glint in his eyes, but don't look for comforting hugs and romantic meet-cutes in his latest TV role.
No, the one-time "Grey's Anatomy" heartthrob has officially crossed over into his Liam Neeson era. There's distinct "dad thriller" vibes to "Memory of a Killer," premiering in a two-night event on Fox starting Jan. 25 immediately following the NFC Championship Game, then moving to Mondays at 9 ET/PT starting on Jan. 26. In addition to the big football lead-in, "Memory of a Killer" has everything a dad could want in his capers: mob bosses, assassins, black Porsches, and existential reminders of the fleeting nature of life and memory and the hardships of aging.
Patrick Dempsey as Angelo in "Memory of a Killer."
Some of that is standard fodder for a Neeson or Sylvester Stallone geriatric action thriller. But "Memory of a Killer" (★★½ out of four) has a greater emphasis on the "geriatric" part, with a focus at its aging protagonist's cognitive function. Dempsey plays the titular killer, Angelo, a hired hitman managing a double life between the worlds of organized crime in New York City and a milder, family-focused existence in the suburbs. In the city, he's a professional killer employed by his genial-but-dangerous pal Dutch (Michael Imperioli), while in the 'burbs he's a copier salesman who spends time with his pregnant daughter (Odeya Rush) and son-in-law (Daniel David Stewart). Chaos from both lives starts to violently collide just as Angelo starts forgetting the security code to his apartment and accidentally leaving his gun in the fridge.
Michael Imperioli as Dutch and Patrick Dempsey as Angelo in "Memory of a Killer."
It's an ambitious, philosophical concept for a network TV show. The episodes are not procedural, case-of-the-week easy viewing, but part of a larger narrative about Angelo's work life intersecting with his home life. Dempsey has all the glower required – when he is wearing the right apparel and driving the right car, that is. Via an abandoned gas station, Angelo goes from his killer (literally) black suits and gelled hair style to wool sweaters and loose curls straight out of a Better Homes and Gardens spread. If Angelo's home life is less thrilling, his assassin life is pretty fun, particularly in any scenes shared with Imperioli, alum of "The Sopranos," who radiates "organized crime" without even having to utter a single line.
So what happens when dementia, which so far is only implied in the script, comes for Angelo, a man with some terrible memories, as the title of the show suggests? In the first two episodes made available for review, it's hard to tell exactly how much Angelo's declining mental capacity will play into the show overall. In those episodes, he's more concerned with mourning his late, murdered wife, killing his targets in the showiest ways possible, protecting his daughter from any criminal elements who may have discovered his private identity and bashing his son-in-law's business prospects. He's a busy guy, but it's clear his memory will take more precedence as the show goes on, especially as we see Angelo's brother Michael (Richard Clarkin) dealing with Alzheimer's himself, and is living in a memory care home.
Looking for something good to watch? Amid the deluge of television in 2025, here are the very best, starting with number 20: "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" (Paramount+)
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Looking for something good to watch? Amid the deluge of television in 2025, here are the very best, starting with number 20: "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" (Paramount+)
">Looking for something good to watch? Amid the deluge of television in 2025, here are the very best, starting with number 20: "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" (Paramount+)
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"The Gold" (PBS)
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"The Gold" (PBS)
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"The Gold" (PBS)
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"The Gold" (PBS)
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"High Potential" (ABC)
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"High Potential" (ABC)
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"High Potential" (ABC)
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"High Potential" (ABC)
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"IT: Welcome to Derry" (HBO)
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"IT: Welcome to Derry" (HBO)
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"IT: Welcome to Derry" (HBO)
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"IT: Welcome to Derry" (HBO)
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"The White Lotus" (HBO)
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"The White Lotus" (HBO)
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"The White Lotus" (HBO)
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"The White Lotus" (HBO)
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"Sirens" (Netflix)
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"Sirens" (Netflix)
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"Sirens" (Netflix)
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"Sirens" (Netflix)
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"Severance" (Apple TV)
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"Severance" (Apple TV)
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"Severance" (Apple TV)
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"Severance" (Apple TV)
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"Matlock" (CBS)
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"Matlock" (CBS)
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"Matlock" (CBS)
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"Matlock" (CBS)
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"Apple Cider Vinegar" (Netflix)
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"Apple Cider Vinegar" (Netflix)
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"Apple Cider Vinegar" (Netflix)
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"Apple Cider Vinegar" (Netflix)
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"Overcompensating" (Prime Video)
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"Overcompensating" (Prime Video)
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"Overcompensating" (Prime Video)
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"Overcompensating" (Prime Video)
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"Task" (HBO)
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"Task" (HBO)
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"Task" (HBO)
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"Task" (HBO)
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"North of North" (Netflix)
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"North of North" (Netflix)
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"North of North" (Netflix)
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"North of North" (Netflix)
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"Taskmaster" (YouTube)
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"Taskmaster" (YouTube)
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"Taskmaster" (YouTube)
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"Taskmaster" (YouTube)
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"Boots" (Netflix)
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"Boots" (Netflix)
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"Boots" (Netflix)
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"Boots" (Netflix)
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"Death by Lightning" (Netflix)
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"Death by Lightning" (Netflix)
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"Death by Lightning" (Netflix)
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"Death by Lightning" (Netflix)
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"The American Revolution" (PBS)
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"The American Revolution" (PBS)
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"The American Revolution" (PBS)
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"The American Revolution" (PBS)
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"Adolescence" (Netflix)
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"Adolescence" (Netflix)
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"Adolescence" (Netflix)
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"Adolescence" (Netflix)
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"Andor" (Disney+)
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"Andor" (Disney+)
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"Andor" (Disney+)
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"Andor" (Disney+)
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"The Pitt" (HBO Max)
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"The Pitt" (HBO Max)
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"The Pitt" (HBO Max)
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"The Pitt" (HBO Max)
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1 / 19The 20 best TV shows of 2025
Looking for something good to watch? Amid the deluge of television in 2025, here are the very best, starting with number 20: "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" (Paramount+)
The series is based on "De Zaak Alzheimer (The Alzheimer Case)," a book by Belgian novelist Jef Geeraerts that's already been adapted for the screen twice: first in a 2003 Belgian film of the same name, then in the 2022 American movie "Memory," starring the actual Liam Neeson. But "Memory of a Killer" isn't quite the neo-noir thriller of its source material. It's a bit lackluster and tedious, particularly during scenes of Angelo's "Leave it to Beaver" family life. Without actors as talented and charming as Dempsey and Imperioli, it would be entirely forgettable. Their powerful, charismatic presence, however, suggest this is worth sticking with beyond the two-night premiere.
Odeya Rush as Maria and Daniel David Stewart as Jeff in "Memory of a Killer."
Too often, stars like Dempsey get typecast in the same role over and over again, so it's easy to see why he would be attracted to "Memory of a Killer," for which he also serves as executive producer. And if it does nothing besides expand Dempsey's range and persona, it will certainly be an achievement. If it goes deeper and finds more thrills and surprises as the season goes on, it can be another kind of success entirely.
Only then might it be a show worth remembering.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patrick Dempsey goes all Liam Neeson in 'Memory of a Killer' – Review
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
