Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent

I am a Torontonian and I was looking forward to Toronto being a character. The scene from the island was good because it showed people who have Never considered Toronto, what it looks like from it's best side. The local references were good except, the business being at 3 Bay Street, when it was obviously at Front and York.

The cliche Toronto sign at City Hall, Cherry Beach, those placed are fun to see in a favourite TV series.

There were at least 3 references to Muskoka, so I thought maybe we would see that, but nope, it was a dead-end part of the story. Also,,,The Filmore...really? Did you have to ?

The actors, well, as soon as I heard Graff speak I cringed because that is so obviously a put-on accent which no Toronto resident has. It's from "not quite sure where" or maybe just east of that. Non-local viewers are going to think that's what we sound like...we don't.

BUT, I know that these things take time so I will stick with it and hope for better.

I liked the first show, but they need to tone down the platitudes. The two main characters are interesting, but they are a little too intensely focused on delivering clever repartee instead of solid police work. A few too many cliches. There is one point where the two detectives are walking at a break neck speed across the plaza at city hall speaking to what is supposed to be someone in the Crown Attorneys Office. Are they trying to suggest the C. A. is a D. A.? It feels off. Are they also trying to quickly set the series scene with recognized landmarks? The scene would have been better in an office with more dialogue, where they could introduce other characters. Instead they chose the quick fix that was entirely without context.

The series first episode gets off to a lukewarm start, but it seems to have possible potential. That is if the writers can avoid some of the platitudes, and numerous cliches, and if the producers can restrain their rush to introduce a new series without letting characters, and stories drive the series. Do they have a tiny budget, or are the producers too inexperienced; I guess time will tell.

The series debut was fine.

People seem to forget that this is Criminal Intent so we get a twisty plot, over-intelligent detectives who might be on the spectrum and not much courtroom action.

Although far from perfect I think the premiere delivered.

The quips exchanged by the lead detectives keeps things light when things are heavy (and it might hint at a deep relationship between the two) and the plot twists were just enough to keep the episode moving along.

The use of the city of Toronto is done well without bludgeoning the spectator with Toronto overdose.

My only qualms with the first episode is I'm not sure I enjoyed the police lieutenant, her dialogue seemed off and also there was way too much walking (fast) and talking!

All in all I'll be sticking around to watch other episodes.

This is a well-executed, engaging, entertaining Canadian version of Law & Order CI (the series franchise that focuses on the police investigation and not so much the courtroom). Detective Graff is gruff, experienced, canny, distanced, and perhaps cynical about human relationships. His accent is classic rural Ontario and for foreigners, immigrants and first gen Canadians who've only ever lived in a city, you'd need to visit Sudbury to get it. It is the speech of hockey arenas outside the GTA. Bateman is probably intended to be the urban, less experienced counterpoint (the character went to university in Montreal and is a single mom from a two-ish-night stand). Canadians pride themselves on not being slick, brash, Americans and that contrast definitely comes through. If you need bombast and machismo in your characters you aren't going to like it. The colour-palette is also much less gritty than the NY versions - the old chestnut is that "Toronto is New York run by the Swiss" and there is a consistent cool blue-grey-green-glass tone-International style to the series settings. I bet the Australians will get it and like it.

The main detectives Graff and Bateman almost mirror the American counterparts Goren and Eames. Which was my favorite partnership on the American version of Criminal Intent. And I like K. C. Collins. I hope the writers give him some more screen time.

It does have potential. Toronto is a super diverse and beautiful city. There is abundance possible concepts for the writers to use that would not only set the show apart but showcase the city.

I would love to see the show follow the basics of the Law & Order brand but it needs to set it self apart. It has big shoes to fill. With the shortest current spin off on its 5th season.