""Variety" noted in its review of the pilot episode in 1995 that "Elliott looks great in dress whites, but should display more personality if he's to be a sympathetic continuing lead" and that "JAG" "borrows from recent features "Crimson Tide" and "Apollo 13" in being jargon-heavy to help generate atmosphere but as Rabb’s character is allowed to develop, "JAG" could become one of the season's highlights".