John Doe (television)

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John Doe (2002-2003) is a television program formerly aired by Fox. It featured the exploits of John Doe, played by Dominic Purcell, an amnesiac with beyond encyclopedic knowledge of anything factual in the universe.

[edit] Story

John Doe (previously unnamed) woke up falling into the waters near an isolated island. He is picked up by Cambodian fishermen, who are just as surprised as he is that despite having no memory of who he is or where he's from, he speaks and understands Cambodian perfectly.

Being an amnesiac, he is given the name John Doe, and wanders Seattle. Due to his incredible knowledge, he is able to play the stocks and eventually build up a small fortune. He then helps the Seattle police force, dealing with crimes previously thought "unsolvable", and fast becomes friends with various people.

Most of the charm of the cancelled series is Doe's immense knowledge. In one episode he goes to a nearby library and challenges anyone to ask him a question, in an attempt to see the limits of his brain. The questions start out easy, as simple, albeit lengthy and convulated mathematical equations to strange questions that would probably never normally be considered (the total number of blue cars in the state of Washington), to harder, nearly impossible questions even renowned geniuses would have problems with. Eventually, Doe realizes the only questions he does not have answers for are either about himself, colors (he is colorblind unless the object or person is something of significance to him), or the more esoteric ones (the meaning of life).

The final question in the series is the problem of who John Doe is. Despite his incredible knowledge, he cannot unearth information faster than the mysterious black-tied government agents working against him. Not knowing whether he is a former government worker or even an extra-terrestrial, he looks for clues about his identity, starting first with the only things he can see in color, everything from a mysterious girl who was kidnapped to a puddle of water.

According to an interview, given shortly after the shows cancellation, the shows creators explained the reason John Doe had such incredible knowledge. Everyone, just as they die, is granted complete knowledge of this life, to take with them to the next life. Only John didn't die.