NYC 22

Though i liked the pilot, the last three episodes have been on a descending slope; oh, hasn't The Killing thought me anything? Well apparently not because i just dedicated a whole day catching up with NYC 22's last outings and i'm noticing more and more of the same: this is purely a "fantasy" police drama.

Now experience tells me that Fantasy and Drama don't normally go well together and there you have it, my review of NYC 22. too many weird, unrealistic things happening which completely befuddle you into thinking, "is this a serious show, i am watching, or complete rubbish?"

Rookie cops defusing bombs, radios that malfunction, specialist jobs being assigned randomly, such as investigations or detainee transport .. these are not beat-cop jobs, and have the writers really run out of ideas after four episodes? If you are going to center your show on rookies then you have to come up with rookies-related stories... other stuff won't do.

So, it's not really horrible, but we've already got CSI for those times when we want a completely unrealistic show and no thanks, we don't need one more, especially when it's this slow.

My vote, a forgettable 5/10

At first watch, NYC 22 is knockoff of ABC's Rookie Blue. Perhaps Blue set the bar too high for this type of crime/drama/police show. Instead of finding 22 complementary to Rookie Blue, I found it inferior and difficult to watch without making comparisons.

Both cop shows with rookie officers, the plot line of the first NYC 22 episode was interesting, but again, I kept seeing where they'd spun off of or would do something very similar in Rookie Blue. Maybe because the shows are on a different network, but it's going to be difficult to make these two shows work in tandem like the CSI's. Unless you just really love rookie cop shows, go with Rookie Blue and don't waste your time with NYC 22.

While 22's cast is more established ((total aside, watching Lazarus (Adam Goldburg, sp?), I kept thinking, that's Joey's weird roommate!)) overall, Rookie Blue has a less well known but more cohesive and enjoyable cast.

It's a cop show that's reminiscent of countless other cop shows. It follows the story of six rookie cops which is so similar to Rookie Blue. The difference being Rookie Blue is probably much cheaper to produce filming in Toronto and not having big stars. The show is led by movie veterans Adam Goldberg and Leelee Sobieski. Both of whom just don't fit the traditional cop character. Leelee looks like a girlie girl, and wouldn't have a chance against most criminals. Adam is way too old. Although they explain it away that he was a former reporter on the police beat, it's still hard to accept. If they wanted to do a show centering on Adam Goldberg's character, they may have something original. But being just one of many, it just seem too gimmicky. It's as if they were trying to figure out what special weird thing can each character get. If they centered it on him, they would have more time to expand on his character.

The only reason I am not voting 10 for this masterpiece is because I don't want this review to seem too rash, but believe me, this one is the new, if not a better - third watch. For those of you who enjoy the fast pacing, fresh, almost intoxicating feeling of the New York jungle style police\action drama shows, and miss the writing and acting style forgotten in the scripts of "third watch", "ER" (though set in Chicago) and a likes - you are going to feel that "thing" again.. I almost fear of liking this show too much as unfortunately the TV crowd these days have succumbed to the vampire\zombie trash (no offense)and cannot take in the amazing atmosphere this great show has to offer. Atmosphere, that's what it's all about, and it's back!

story wise - I can say for sure it's started out quite good, giving the viewer the usual point of view of the inner works of the police precinct, the usual good and bad guys, which will soon surprise us (or not..) as being the opposite, but that's a good thing, that's what we are missing today, something old and comforting, almost womb like, but still fresh and new.

Actors - I had good hopes for this show solely after looking at the casting, and they delivered; Adam Goldberg, with his Jeff Goldblumish feel is amazing as always, Leelee Sobieski we all know and love is a bit slow at the beginning but catching on, the new skin's are quite good as well, especially Harold House Moore which shines and promises a good, stable and confident acting role.

watch this one, you'll see what I mean, this one should be with us for a long time.

I haven't watched a TV cop series since Hill Street Blues, but I made a point of watching the premier of NYC 22 when I saw that Richard Price was writer/producer. I think highly of his writing and have enjoyed his novels very much.

The series has a wide variety of rookie cops which keeps the pace of action interesting. I appreciate the lack of shaky cam and the fact that every street they show in the series hasn't been recently wet down. (Not a cloud in the sky and it just rained? A pet peeve of mine.)

Yes, there were a few scenes that were groaners. Plus some obvious paint by numbers plot points and character choices that must have looked good on paper, but you do what you have to to get a series on the air I guess.

There's some good humor in the writing and the show has a good balance between character and action which is why I went on to watch the second episode and will keep watching the remaining 10 and hope it gets renewed. So far I think it's definitely worth a look.