Emergence (2019)
A gripping ABC sci-fi mystery following a police chief who shelters a memory-less child and unravels a conspiracy that defies everything she knows.
Emergence - Series Information
- Original Title: Emergence
- First Air Year: 2019
- Last Air Year: 2020
- Created by: Michele Fazekas, Tara Butters
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 43 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 13
- Status: Canceled
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 24, 2019 (United States - TV-14), September 24, 2019 (Brazil - 14)
- Networks: ABC
- Alternative Titles: 浮现 (CN)
- Production Companies: ABC Studios
- Production Countries: United States of America
Emergence - Plot
A police chief takes in a young child she finds near the site of a mysterious accident who has no memory of what has happened. The investigation draws her into a conspiracy larger than she ever imagined, and the child's identity is at the center of it all.
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Emergence - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Michele Fazekas
- Tara Butters
Main Cast
- Allison Tolman
- Alexa Swinton
- Owain Yeoman
- Ashley Aufderheide
- Robert Bailey Jr.
- Zabryna Guevara
- Donald Faison
- Clancy Brown
- Maria Dizzia
- Evangeline Young
Writers
- Michele Fazekas
- David H. Goodman
- Nick Parker
- Jerome Schwartz
- Brant Englestein
Emergence - FAQs
Who plays the mysterious child Piper in Emergence?
Alexa Swinton plays Piper, the enigmatic child at the heart of the series. Her performance earned considerable praise for conveying both vulnerability and an unsettling otherworldliness. Allison Tolman stars opposite her as Jo Evans, the police chief who takes Piper in and becomes her fierce protector.
What is Emergence about?
A small-town police chief discovers a young girl near a mysterious accident scene — no injuries, no memory, no identity. As she shelters the child, she's pulled into a sprawling conspiracy that goes far deeper than anyone anticipated, with the girl's true nature sitting at the very center of it all.
Is Emergence cancelled or renewed for a second season?
Emergence was cancelled by ABC after its first and only season in 2020. The show ran for 13 episodes but did not receive a renewal, leaving several storylines unresolved. Fans of the series were disappointed, as the finale set up threads that were never followed through.
What is Piper's true identity in Emergence?
Piper is eventually revealed to be an artificial intelligence — a highly advanced synthetic being with human-like consciousness. The conspiracy surrounding her involves powerful forces who created her and want her back. Her journey raises questions about identity, humanity, and what it truly means to be alive.
Where can you watch Emergence online?
Emergence is available to purchase or rent digitally through Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. There is currently no subscription streaming platform offering the series, so buying individual episodes or the full season is the primary way to watch.
Who created the TV series Emergence?
Emergence was created by Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, the duo previously known for their work on Agent Carter and Reaper. The series premiered on ABC on September 24, 2019, and was produced by ABC Studios, running for one season of 13 episodes.
Is Emergence based on a true story or source material?
Emergence is an original story, not based on a true story or pre-existing source material. Creators Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters developed the concept from scratch, blending elements of small-town mystery, paranoid thriller, and science fiction to craft a story about identity, conspiracy, and artificial intelligence.
What shows are similar to Emergence?
If Emergence hooked you, try Severance for its eerie corporate conspiracy vibes, or Rabbit Hole for high-stakes paranoid thriller energy. Big Sky offers a similar small-town mystery atmosphere, while The Changeling blends the supernatural with parental protection themes in ways that echo Emergence's emotional core.
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