Patrick Dempsey swaps romance for revenge in ‘Memory of a Killer’

Patrick Dempsey has built a career on charm, silver hair and emotional vulnerability. In Memory of a Killer, he deliberately leaves that image behind.

The former Grey’s Anatomy star takes a dark turn in the new Fox crime drama, embracing a far more violent and brooding role. The series blends mob violence with a quieter, more unsettling focus on ageing and memory loss.

Memory of a Killer premieres as a two-night event on January 25, airing immediately after the NFC Championship Game, before moving to Mondays at 9pm ET from January 26. The high-profile scheduling signals Fox’s confidence in a show designed for prime-time audiences who prefer action with a psychological edge.

Dempsey plays Angelo, a professional hitman leading a carefully divided life. In New York City, he works for mob boss Dutch, portrayed by Michael Imperioli. In the suburbs, he is a mild-mannered copier salesman, spending time with his pregnant daughter Maria, played by Odeya Rush, and her husband Jeff, portrayed by Daniel David Stewart.

The tension builds as those two worlds begin to collide just as Angelo starts experiencing troubling lapses in memory. He forgets access codes, misplaces his gun and shows early signs of cognitive decline, a dangerous vulnerability for someone whose work depends on precision and control.

Rather than following a procedural format, the series unfolds as a serialised narrative, focusing on the slow convergence of Angelo’s criminal life and his family obligations. Dempsey convincingly shifts between hardened killer and restrained suburban father, helped by strong visual contrasts that underline the duality of his character.

The show is at its strongest when Dempsey shares the screen with Imperioli. The Sopranos alumnus brings an effortless authority to Dutch, elevating scenes that might otherwise feel routine. Their chemistry gives the series much of its momentum.

Where Memory of a Killer stumbles is in its domestic storyline, which can feel sluggish and overly familiar. Scenes set in Angelo’s home life lack the urgency of the crime plot and occasionally drag the pacing down.

Dementia remains largely implied in the early episodes, though its significance is signposted through Angelo’s brother Michael, played by Richard Clarkin, who is living with Alzheimer’s in a memory care facility. The illness is clearly positioned to play a larger role as the season progresses.

The series is adapted from De Zaak Alzheimer (The Alzheimer Case) by Belgian author Jef Geeraerts. The novel has previously been adapted into a 2003 Belgian film and the 2022 American movie Memory, starring Liam Neeson. Unlike those neo-noir thrillers, this version opts for a slower, more reflective tone.

Without Dempsey and Imperioli, the show might struggle to stand out in a crowded genre. Their performances, however, give Memory of a Killer enough weight to justify sticking with beyond its opening episodes.

At the very least, the series succeeds in reshaping Dempsey’s screen persona. Whether it becomes truly memorable will depend on how deeply it explores the themes it has already introduced.