Caught

I enjoy the look and feel that Caught provides (and especially the hit songs from the 1980's such as Creedence Clearwater Revival) with renegade near-to-retirement Detective Roy Patterson (Paul Gross) delivers while driving around the country in his (now defunct) hardtop Pontiac Bonneville. Not to be outdone in the 80's fashion department is the drug lord and jackal Brian Hearn (Eric Johnson) who escaped the lawman while his partner in crime David Slaney (Allan Hawco) was nabbed more than five (5) years ago and sent to prison.

The story gets interesting when we discover that renegade Detective Roy Patterson actually deceived the imprisoned David Slaney by convincing him to pretend to escape out of prison in this first episode, but no one knew it was a "pretend breakout" except Patterson, Rodd Murrin (Roger Cross) and Slaney. After escaping from prison David Slaney puts all of his effort in to catching up with his old traitor partner the jackal, Brian Hearn, who is hiding out in Mexico while both the Canadian and U.S. drug enforcement officers are looking to put Hearn in prison for the past five (5) years.

There are a half dozen or so cast members from the previous successful cop show (2010-2015) Rookie Blue, and all of them contribute in a positive manner to this retro 80's style drug dealing, prisoner on the run, crime/drama. I can't say that it compares favorably to crime shows such as the actual 1980-85 Miami Vice with Crockett and Tubbs, or more recently with the epic 2002-08 The Wire with Jimmy McNulty and Bunk Moreland, but this 5 episode series is good enough to keep me guessing and enjoying the acting and the cool hit songs of the 1980's era.

I like it and I give the series a 7 out of 10 rating

Ten leagues above it. I don't care what decade that the songs came out... where is it written, that every one of them had to have been released on the very day in time that is depicted ? Good music is timeless, and this TV show, of all things.... has the best music soundtrack EVER put to film, let alone television. So, lay that to rest.

There's the multi-layered stories... none outdone by the incredibly compelling estranged relationship / inescapable feelings between Slaney and the lovely woman and her child.

There's the real to life characters. Paul Gross.... just ROCKS ! No, definitely not a perfect hero cop... a true imperfect human being.

My favourite television program of all time, is of course, "The Fugitive" from 1963 - 1967. CBC's creation of "Caught"... is a VERY close second !

Firstly, its not a documentary. The clothing/hair/make-up and music I believe are extensions of the characters persona not so much the exact time and day of the era. A flashback is how someone remembers it, again not an exact replica of the position of the sun on that specific day in time. How ppl easily forget fiction often reaches beyond the borders of realism to illuminate the context. Keep up the great acting!

This show has caused me to contemplate a seemingly grey area between the line of guilty and/ or innocent. The need to resort to alternate methods of income acquisition in order to efficiently provide for loved ones is a relatable yearning. This show effectively depicts the inner conflicts and outward criminality and judging of marijuana. After watching the first episode I was hooked and continue to be.

The ability to take the written word to screen and have it become achingly alive is a tribute to the writers. Some unexpected twists in the plot leave you upset and wanting revenge. You know that what they are doing is wrong but can't help hoping Slaney will get away with it this time; feel the intensity and join in the thrill of the chase. The contrast between Hearn with his riches and Slaney's grittiness is obvious and poignant. Hearn and Slaney were best friends but are they destined to be enemies? The lighter side of the 70's with head bands, flower power and bell bottoms are what I remember growing up. Caught shows us the underbelly of society that we want to pretend wasn't there. This series is going by too fast!