Prime Suspect

I was skeptical about yet another cop show, but I decided to give the pilot a try. The cast looked interesting, at the very least. It wasn't an easy decision since it's been a busy season for new shows and there is a lot of competition for my DVR's time. I watched the pilot and knew that this was not only on my list for the season, but was possibly going on my favorites list. I really don't want to see it canceled.

Even though the episodes deal with serious issues, there's this great, twisted sense of humor and camaraderie between the detectives that makes this fun to watch. And right from the beginning I couldn't help but root for Maria Bello's Jane Timoney. I want her to succeed because she's tough, passionate about her job and not afraid of getting dirty. I enjoy the other characters, too, which may be as much about the quality of the actors as the writing. They are a good fit.

It's certainly worth checking out.

Prime Suspect is not the usual cop formula. It is hands down one of the best shows I've ever seen. The writing is brilliant, the acting is off the charts, the characters are drawn so specifically and with such nuance it's difficult to fathom it's written, acted and edited in the short amount of time that television allows. You have to pay attention, it is so intelligently drawn and detailed. The boys' club mentality surrounding Detective Jane Timoney is so accurately portrayed, it's cringe-worthy, but the male characters are also fleshed out to be likable. All the characters are flawed realistically and have to confront those flaws and past mistakes through their relationships with the other characters. The humor comes out of the sometimes dark reality of life. There are many scenes that are so unbelievably hilarious coming out of the situation, I've had to watch them over and over. I can't say enough about this show. It shouldn't be compared to the British series. It's a different show and it should be. They seem to base it on the same plot lines and dealings with sexism, but it's not a remake and it doesn't make any sense to even compare the two shows. They're both great and both stand on their own merits. It's unbelievably delicious.

With all sorts of shows coming out this year featuring a strong female lead, this one by far has the strongest. She's head-strong, unrelenting, ambitious, driven, willful and carries a duffle bag full of vices which brings a depth to her character rarely seen in cop shows, but makes her very likable as well as human.

The show is gritty and feels a bit more realistic than most of the high-tech, ultra-forensic one- man cop shows that seem to come and go every season. It takes a team to catch the bad guys and suspects don't always willingly confess to murder (who would really?) There's tension and rivals among the police and detectives, as well as sexism you'd expect to see in a male dominate New York police force.

All in all, this show is very well done with a great cast and believable plot lines. I hope it can find its audience to gather momentum and keep going.

Maria Bello can do no wrong in my eyes. This is an Uber American take on the Mirren classic that misses the mark a bit in early episodes but comes into its own around epi five. With a stellar cast, energetic rocker soundtrack and great city energy, I think it's a solid show. The tension of being a fast talking badass female in a male dominant mysogynistic station tracks well to those of us who live through it every day. She's gorgeous, smart, unapologetically assertive and sets the world on fire with a single blond hair flip behind her shoulder. I love this show and I'll always support anything Bello does.

I think the new Prime Suspect is watchable and has some believable aspects. Maria Bello is very good in the role -- except for the hat. (I hate the hat. Way too trendy and cliché.) But comparing this series or disliking it because it wasn't like the Helen Mirren gem does a bit of disservice to the new show and to Maria Bello. Let the new one develop it's own way. As police dramas go this one is not bad.. . I've watched many detective & police dramas: Brit, Canadian, American. Outside of Homicide: Life on the Street (and I won't even mention "The Wire") very few American police dramas have any credibility other than just pure entertainment and distraction or just for looking at pretty people with guns. I've seen four episodes of Prime Suspect so far and though I think Jane's detective counterparts are a bit over the top sexist wise since it is 2011 and I think more respect is given to women these days, that's an area that needs to be developed better. It makes the male cops look really stupid. And homicide cops are anything but. There must be more subtle ways of demonstrating sexism. Use irony instead of sarcasm & meatball comments.