Golden Boy

I don't know why this is not on Prime Time on Demand. I love the show and can't wait to watch it every Tuesday. I want to share my new find with my husband but as stated it is not on Prime Time so I can not share the back episodes. I love the Golden Boys relationship with his partner. They both are learning form each other and I know something sad and bad is going to happen to his partner. I can't stand the other cop and will be glad to see Golden Boy get the top job. I also enjoy the relationship he has with his sister. I DVR this show and watch it on Wednesday nights. I have also shared the new series with friends. So far it looks like it isn't doing well, it keeps me on my toes.

This show could've been a really good and long running show if it was given a chance. 13 episodes is all we get though. Network TV has really gone in the crapper lately where when they finally put together a good show they give up on the show shortly after debuting it. It's like why do they even bother putting shows on TV if they have no faith in them? And they cancel the show shortly after adding Michael Madsen as a recurring character, which sucks since he's one of my favorite actors and they suddenly cancel the show right after introducing him.

The show has a fantastic so the success of the show was not because a lack of quality performances on screen. It was from a lack of promotion by the network.

"Golden Boy" illustrates a literary technique called intercalation, which isn't as hard to understand as its highfalutin' name suggests. It means that one story is sandwiched inside of another. Every episode begins with part one of story A: Commissioner Clark, in about the year 2020, finds himself in a situation that reminds him of a lesson he learned (or in some cases mis-learned?) in 2013. Flashback to story B: How then-Detective Clark learned a lesson. Finally, flash forward to part two of story A: Commissioner Clark either applies or reflects on the lesson he learned back in 2013.

Variations on this technique are old: The Gospel According to Mark is full of intercalation, and there as here, the effect can be to underline the moral of the story. ("Pulp Fiction" (1994) uses it seemingly to underline the randomness of life.) It undermines much of the suspense in "Golden Boy": When Clark gets in trouble, the tension is relieved by our knowledge that he will not only live but become commissioner of police; so we know he is going to get out of any trouble he is in. The only thing we might feel anxious about are the hints that his path to the top is going to be costly. His conflict with a fellow detective is going to lead to a crisis, and we do not know whether his old partner (Chi McBride) is going to live to see Clark become commissioner. We also see that Commissioner Clark has a permanent limp, which seems to indicate that he might be going to face death even though we know he will cheat it for the time being.

This show would be edgier if we didn't know that Clark is going to overcome his obstacles. Knowing that he cannot die, even though those around him might, is a source of tension only where the other characters are concerned; his own near immortality seems a bit weird.

This new series is definitely not a typical cop show, but does have the key components included in the script of current crime events in NYC. The appealing factor to this program (one of many) is the character development balanced with the plot of each episode. The inner turmoil of Clark as a young homicide detective, his savvy ways and street smarts for dealing with criminals, and his own battles with his past all combine to form a complex and interesting character that entertains and intrigues. Theo James is doing an extraordinary job of acting in his role, and makes you believe he has been professionally acting for years. He may have been, I am not certain, but this is the first time I have seen his work. It's impressive. He is not just another pretty face, there is substance behind the gorgeously chiseled bone structure. Chi McBride is just wonderful; he's calm, cool, and delivers the wisdom that his young partner needs. The one liners are sharp as a tack when you catch them. All the cast seem to have great chemistry, and the editing is superb. There is nothing 'corny' or cliché about this cop drama. It is better than I expected, and hope it continues to grow a fan base for the quality of program it delivers. I think CBS has a winner, and they need to promote the marketing to make sure people know when it comes on. I have been confused about whether it was Tuesday or Friday night, but I like the Tuesday night slot. Thumbs up for this golden nugget!

At first glance it may appear as a basic crime investigation show but that's purely surface. Underneath the familiar exterior lies a show with a lot more to say about morality, good and evil and other matters of character. The main character has a duality about him that will keep you watching his every move from start to finish. While i suspect people will say the case they working on is weak from a story point of view, I would say the cases in this show are meant to be far less interesting than the way the the characters manipulate them. Watching our golden boy make decisions to further his career is what I feel will be the main draw of this show. Seeing his ambition and pride blind him and causing lapses in judgement or conscience is where the real drama will shine through.

The way the writers have him navigate between the light and dark can make this show as high a caliber as Breaking Bad, if they were to make the title a misnomer. Watching our protagonist start slowly down a path of corruption to further his career and protect his sister could make this a great character study.

The acting is the last thing I will touch on and I will say its superb for a pilot episode. Theo James performance is perfectly layered with presenting us with a supercop exterior but giving us glimpses of fear and uncertainty that his character has to contend with.

Chi Mcbride brings his veteran acting skills which compliment his characters veteran status on the police force, creating one of the most believable and sympathetic performances of a cop on television.

Holt Mcallany while in just a supporting role manages to steal each scene hes in with a certain charm and levity that he brings to his character. The closest thing to comic relief in the show his character of detective Joe Diaco could turn out to be a fan favorite if given more screen time.

Golden boy is a show that's well worth your time if you're tired of all of the run of the mill crime investigation shows and you're looking for a cop show that could contain a rich and meaningful character arc.