Yes, the editing can at times feel ambiguous, but these moments are so few and far between that they are quite easy to move past and even embrace. When that small imperfection is measured against Dempsey's performance, which gives away just enough to convince you he's a seasoned hitman, along with the constantly twisting plot and enjoyable action, the qualities far outweigh any negatives.

What's clear is that Memory of a Killer is so far a decidedly watchable show that, novel premise aside, has done little to make itself feel like essential viewing.

It's a bit lackluster and tedious, particularly during scenes of Angelo's "Leave it to Beaver" family life. Without actors as talented and charming as Dempsey and Imperioli, it would be entirely forgettable. Their powerful, charismatic presence, however, suggest this is worth sticking with beyond the two-night premiere.

We still think that Memory Of A Killer has the potential to go in directions other thrillers haven’t, simply because of the cognitive decline Dempsey’s character will be suffering through. But through the first two episodes, there’s not enough of that to make the show feel much different than other conspiracy thrillers of recent vintage.

Disjointed and bland in the two episodes provided to critics in advance, this assassin drama has some execution issues.

One of the issues with the show is that this program and its universe feels surprisingly contained and even slight. There’s too little world-building, almost no setup for Angelo as a character outside of his descriptors like “assassin,” “father,” and “patient.”

I was — full credit — never bored watching Memory of a Killer. Lots of things happen in the two episodes I’ve seen. Too many of them, though, are risible.