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I hope this becomes a sleeper hit, because it's a fantastic show. Both main characters (Charlie Crews and his partner Dani Reese) have rich back stories and are well cast. The always-excellent Adam Arkin (Northern Exposure, anyone?) is entertaining as Crews's friend and house guest. I even like Crews's Zen philosophizing (and, as someone who has practiced Zen Buddhism semi-seriously, in affiliation with a legitimate Zen temple, I was prepared to hate it).
This show is an unusual mix of elements. Crews the eccentric detective is a lot like Monk; the cinematography and pacing remind me of Boomtown; and the soundtrack is so prominent at times that brief segments are like a music video. The show also reminds me of Veronica Mars in combining a central mystery (who set up Charlie Crews for a crime he didn't commit?) that runs through all episodes with, in each episode, one or two crimes that are solved by the end of that episode. (There may be other shows with the same type of setup, but they don't leap to my mind.) It's unclear how long they'll be able to string out the central mystery. On the one hand, if they wrap it up too soon, it's hard to see how they will replace it. (Though Veronica Mars managed to do so a few times.) On the other hand, if they drag it out too long, it might become tedious.
For now, though, this is one of my and my wife's favorite shows (and our tastes often don't overlap; when they do, it's a sign of a quality show that should have broad appeal).
score 10/10
b_hagerty-1 29 November 2007
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1772345/ |
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10-10-2020 03:07:08