Biggest Mistakes Made by "Medium"

Patricia Arquette is perfect as Allison Dubois in "Medium." The show is a delicious combination of family, crime and the supernatural. Each week, the psychic mom juggles work and family, solves crimes and helps the dead. Obviously, it takes a little faith and suspension of disbelief to enjoy "Medium," but these big mistakes test the dedication of fans.

Ongoing Skepticism Doesn't Pay Off
Allison's outlandish claims sometimes push the boundaries of common sense. So, it is understandable that those close to her have doubts at times. However, it is disappointing to watch her husband, Detective Scanlon and D.A. Devalos discourage and dismiss her after knowing the power of her abilities.

On the flipside, they sometimes take her at her word without exhibiting enough skepticism. Why doesn't anyone ask her to relay the exact details of her dream and help her decipher it? Instead, the characters inexplicably alternate between blind faith and frustrated dismissal. After seven seasons, they should have a happy medium without Allison constantly struggling to relay her visions.

Losing Ariel
The growing psychic abilities of the Dubois girls are a promising plot development. In particular, Ariel's psychic visions and acting ability led to some of the most emotional, captivating episodes. ("Means and Ends" and "Time Keeps on Slipping" both delivered the "Medium" experience without following the typical formula.) Bridgette held her own and brought a fresh perspective in "Bring Your Daughter to Work Day" and scene-stealer Marie was amazingly cute when she befriended the burglar alarm, but both are too immature to carry heavy stories. Ariel grew to carry big plots worthy of Allison herself, but sending her away to college leaves the Dubois family back to business as usual.

Misunderstanding Signs
Allison's passion and enthusiasm drive the show, but her overzealous misinterpretations grow tiresome. The recent episode, "Where Were You When...?" is a perfect example. She repeatedly misinterpreted her dreams because she did not pay attention to key details such as the placement of Detective Scanlon's coffee stain. He said that he kept spilling coffee because his new coffee mug did not seal properly. At some point, she should have realized he spilled coffee more than once. Granted, she was concerned about a possible catastrophe, but it seems as though she should have caught on earlier. Can the plot unfold without her making unbelievably foolish mistakes over and over?

"Medium" airs Fridays at 8 pm ET on CBS.