Frequency (2016)
A detective and her long-dead father connect across twenty years through a crackling ham radio — and together they race to rewrite the past.
Frequency - Series Information
- Original Title: Frequency
- First Air Year: 2016
- Last Air Year: 2017
- Created by: Jeremy Carver
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama, Mystery
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (42 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 13
- Status: Canceled
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: October 5, 2016 (United States - TV-14), October 5, 2016 (Germany - 12), October 5, 2016 (France - 12), October 5, 2016 (India - U), October 5, 2016 (Brazil - 12), October 5, 2016 (Spain - 13)
- Networks: The CW
- Alternative Titles: シグナル 時空を超えた捜査線 (JP)
- Production Companies: New Line Cinema, Lin Pictures, Jeremy Carver Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America
Frequency - Plot
Detective Raimy Sullivan is stunned when a voice suddenly crackles through her father's old, long-broken ham radio – it's Frank Sullivan, somehow transmitting over the airwaves and through the decades from 1996. Separated by twenty years, father and daughter have reunited on a frequency only they can hear, but can they rewrite the story of their lives without risking everyone they love?
Frequency - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see how one impossible radio signal changes everything:
1996 called. 2016 answered.
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Frequency - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Jeremy Carver
Main Cast
- Peyton List
- Riley Smith
- Devin Kelley
- Mekhi Phifer
- Lenny Jacobson
- Anthony Ruivivar
- Daniel Bonjour
- Britt McKillip
- Julius Fair
- Michael Charles Roman
Writers
- Toby Emmerich
- Nancy Won
- Jeremy Carver
- Michael Alaimo
- Jeannine Renshaw
Executive Producers
- Jeremy Carver
- Dan Lin
- Toby Emmerich
- Jennifer Gwartz
- John Rickard
Frequency - FAQs
Is Frequency based on a true story or film?
Frequency is based on the 2000 film of the same name directed by Gregory Hoblit and written by Toby Emmerich. The film starred Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel. The TV series adapts the core concept — cross-time communication via ham radio — but reimagines the leads as a father-daughter detective duo.
What is Frequency about?
Frequency follows NYPD detective Raimy Sullivan, who discovers she can communicate with her father Frank across a 20-year gap through his old ham radio. Together they attempt to prevent tragedies and solve crimes, but every change they make in the past ripples dangerously into Raimy's present.
Where can you stream or buy Frequency?
Frequency is not currently available on a major subscription streaming service. You can purchase episodes or the full season digitally on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. Availability may vary by region, so check your local platforms for the latest options.
Why was Frequency cancelled after one season?
The CW cancelled Frequency after its first season in 2017 due to low ratings. Despite a loyal fan base and critical appreciation for its emotional storytelling, the show struggled to attract a large enough audience to justify renewal. The series concluded with 13 episodes, leaving several storylines unresolved.
Who plays Raimy and Frank Sullivan in Frequency?
Raimy Sullivan is played by Peyton List, and her father Frank Sullivan is portrayed by Riley Smith. Their cross-time chemistry is the emotional engine of the show. Devin Kelley plays Julie Sullivan, Raimy's mother, while Mekhi Phifer rounds out the core cast as veteran detective Satch Reyna.
How was Frequency received by critics?
Frequency earned generally positive reviews, with critics praising its emotional depth, strong lead performances from Peyton List and Riley Smith, and its clever use of the time-communication premise. Some felt the procedural elements occasionally overshadowed the more compelling family drama at its heart, but the show was widely seen as one of The CW's more ambitious offerings.
What are shows similar to Frequency worth watching?
If Frequency hooked you, try Timeless (2016) and Travelers (2016) for time-bending thrills, or Fringe (2008) for sci-fi procedural depth. Life on Mars (2006 UK or 2008 US) offers a similar past-meets-present detective vibe, and Continuum (2012) delivers compelling time-travel consequences with a strong female lead.
Does Frequency have a satisfying ending?
Frequency's season finale wraps up its central Nightingale Killer storyline but leaves broader character arcs open, clearly designed to set up a second season that never came. Fans of the show often find the ending bittersweet — emotionally resonant in places, but frustratingly incomplete given the cancellation that followed shortly after.
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