On Call

Title kinda says it. Pretty well written characters on both sides of the law. Plot line is wild but kinda realistic. Really solid acting across the board. Even the minor characters are pretty great.

The story takes place in Long Beach's port, beaches, and cultural hotspots as well as the slums and homeless camps. I think it does a good job of featuring the city as a backdrop for the diverse mix of characters portrayed.

My only issue is the show chooses to not translate Spanish even when it helps the story. I end up doing a little google auto translate to keep up. My Spanish is too poor to keep up.

This is a lot like Southland, yet there are considerable differences. The character development is quick, and pretty much centers on the training officer and the rookie, both of whom have a lot of baggage. There are quite a few predictable scenes, but the surprises outnumber those. No police procedural is anything like real law enforcement. But that's entertainment! In the end, the series is definitely worth watching, and I enjoyed it enough to binge watch it in one day with the excuse that it was cold outside. I'm certainly hoping there will be further seasons! I will be watching for it and waiting!

I wasn't in Long Beach, but I was a CA street cop and this show catches the tone, cross-talk and culture well (so far, I'm halfway through the series). There are very few shows that accurately do that (two others being Bosch and Southland). But unlike those shows, it's only 30 minutes.... one of the few cop dramas I've seen in a 30 minute format since Adam-12, and I like it.

It follows a trainer and trainee unit, Officer Harmon and Officer Diaz (Troian Bellisario and Brandon Larracuente) patrolling in Long Beach, CA. You have the usual drama you've seen on COPS that comes from responding to patrol calls, plus the rookie needing to apply the academy to real life, conflicts of cultures and work eras.

When Harmon and Diaz are told to stand by and observe street drifters at an intersection, the rookie is frustrated at the inability to do anything. The show has the "old-school" cops that remember being able to react to a crime, not just observe. Sergeant Lasmen and Officer Barlowe (Eric LaSalle and Mac Brandt). LaSalle is always great as a competent, but endlessly frustrated by the system, employee (which he mastered on ER). There are tidbits he brings to the character, like a quick swig from a non-labeled baby-blue bottle never addressed, but anyone that's had heartburn will recognize as antacid. LaSalle also directs most the episodes.

Brandt's Officer Barlowe feels a bit darker. He's reminding me of a character from a Joseph Wambaugh book. Officer Barlowe's handling of a homicide body part had a hint of Rosco Rules from The Choirboys.

If you enjoyed Bosch and Southland, you should like On Call. If you don't like those shows you should still check this out because at only 30 minutes it's quick and you might find something else on the show that works for you.

I have really enjoyed the show however have found the episodes to be too short for full development of characters and the story line although that is over story arcs i just feel that by having slightly longer epsisodes more could be achieved. I also would have liked to see more of Lieutenant Bishop protrayed by Lori Loughlin as she is the main reason I tuned in. I really liked the strength of the actors in the show as the female cast were not seen as weak and incapable, they were strong and equal to the male characters. Knowing that Eriq le Selle is at the helm of the show and staring in it was another draw and I think his characters and that of Lori Loughlin need more screen time as we didn't learn much about them as characters and what was driving their actions.

Been waiting for a cop drama that could be close in comparison to Southland and Bosch...two of the best! Four episodes in and this show has delivered! Between the body worn camera views and in-car camera footage, the action scenes, it leaves you with and End of Watch/ Southland feel after each episode! So far, no corny, unbelievable investigations, seen on many police shows today, which has been nice to see! Hope it gets the traction it needs to stay around for a few seasons, and new cast members are brought in to continue the storyline. Was upset when Southland left, but this show has brought back those great episodes!