Suspect n°1 New York

I rarely review TV series as they are so changeable from one episode to the next. However, sometimes I can see some promise that bears mentioning. This series is derived from a successful series in the UK of the same name, starring no less than Helen Mirren. This US version is set within the NYPD and stars Maria Bello as tough-as-nails NYPD homicide Detective Jane Timoney, an outsider who has just transferred into a new squad where her prospective colleagues have prejudged her and decided to not like her before even meeting her.

Now, unlike some, I have spent a bit of time wearing a badge on the streets so I know what it's like, to be one and to convince others that you belong wearing a badge. To me, women playing cops, regardless of whether it's in the movies or on television, begin with a serious handicap. That handicap is that most of them are never convincing as cops. Almost every actress I've seen try on such a role fails because she doesn't have the necessary "edge" to her mannerisms or manner of speaking to make them convincing in the role.

The speech aspect isn't about getting the jargon right either, although that helps, it's literally about the manner of speech they learn to adopt. Women in our society have a characteristic way of speaking. Female cops, real female cops, no longer speak that way and that is the part almost no actresses get. That convincing part is the depth of self-assurance and self-confidence that it takes for a woman to succeed in such a man's world and also survive. A female LEO learns to have that fairly early in her career. The result is that they are cops to the bone and it shows in how they handle themselves and how they talk. Any cop, even a girl, has to convince people that they own the piece of ground they are standing on or they will fail. If they can't do that well you may as well put them in a cape and high heels because that won't sell either.

Now, the people making this series have actually tried to get together a group of actors that can come across with a degree of accuracy. They aren't perfect, but they're working on it. The star, Ms. Bello, has done some great work in motion pictures. She appears to have been trying to get into this role as she doesn't come across as a lame actress trying to do it. She has been believable to a degree that almost no women ever have. We'll see how it goes, but I think her efforts can be torpedoed by the people making the show, writers, directors, etc.

I also like the choices for the other actors; Bello's boss is played by Aidan Quinn as Lt. Kevin Sweeney (find a way to use him more); Kirk Acevedo plays Det. Luisito Calderon; Brian O'Byrne as Det. Reg Duffy (he's been especially great thus far) and Peter Gerety as Desmond Timoney, Jane's father.

So, the bones of a great beast are there. I'll have to watch longer to see if the makers can truly breathe some life into the creature so that it can reach it's full potential. So-far, so-good. The most immediate disappointment is that it's airing on network TV, which is all but dead creatively in the US now. I hardly know anyone who watches much network TV any more. The cable shows have such greater chance at approaching realism now days that it's a shame the makers of this show will be denied a great many of the newer tools; especially for this kind of show. Good luck. Sincerely.

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.

First up, I'm a UK Viewer. Secondly, this is an adaption so don't worry about what they'll do with the old material. It's whole new take and Maria Bello excels in the lead role of Jane Timoney, a slight alteration on the name but no-less a strong female lead.

It's a very special cast as well, Kirk Acevedo (Fringe), Brian F. O'Byrne (Mildred Pierce), Aiden Quinn (Legends of the Fall) and many more work wonderfully as an ensemble cast. This challenges a lot of other cop shows out there at the moment, offering something fresh and intriguing.

You may not like everyone to start with but stick with it, surely that's more interesting than liking everyone straight away and agreeing with the quick viewpoints, slick camera work and so forth. In the days of CSI and all those similar, this is refreshing, gritty, real and I really hope the US - or other countries - start to take to more and give it a bigger chance because at least it's taking risks.

It's also quite brutal in places and makes you question all parts of every character. Well worth your time if you want something intelligent and original. Even if it's another part of La Plante's legacy.

First off, the casting in Prime Suspect is excellent. Maria Bello is outstanding as the lead character, showing all the grit necessary to pull off the role with class and realism. What's truly outstanding is how Bello borrows nothing from Mirren's British adaptation, instead relying on her own interpretation of the flawed - yet gifted investigator Jane Timoney entirely. In short, this woman has some serious acting chops.

Her supporting actors are also brilliantly cast. Kirk Acevedo, a favorite of mine since OZ, gave weight to my initial interest in the show, and I'm glad he did. Should also add that the camaraderie between Acevedo and Tim Griffin is refreshing and portrayed very naturally, not at all contrived like so many other 'buddy' teams on NBC and other networks. (See the Hawaii 5-0 buddy team for a great example of contrived, forced, and utterly horrid 'buddy' performances) All in all I really can't say enough about the casting director. Obviously he/she is at the top of his/her game and we're all the better for having a proper ensemble to unveil some pretty compelling storytelling.

Speaking of the storytelling, every episode (I'm up to the latest - 6) are all based firmly in reality, the procedural aspects are depicted spot on and quite in line with how an investigation is actually run by most big city police departments. In fact the realism is most of why this show is so refreshing, as it seems to purposefully avoid the typical clichés present in other police drama/procedural (see: CSI) But alas, since this show was cursed enough to be picked up by NBC, I fully expect the corporate 'Talent Assassins' will be released from their dungeons soon enough to summarily kill this fine show from their line up of otherwise useless crud, thereby making room for some unoriginal trash. Perhaps we're finally in for the premiere of 'Real Housewives of Afghanistan' as it's replacement.

Yes, unfortunately I fully expect Prime Suspect to go the way of Trauma, Detroit 187, The Chicago Code, The Unusuals, and of course, Dinosaurs. So bloody unfortunate for the networks to continually tease audiences with quality and talent, only to have it fall away before having been given a proper chance, consistently replaced by retarded nonsense. Even more unfortunate that Prime Suspect is on NBC, as they seem to have the worst record out of all the networks for leveling the death blow ax to truly quality TV.

Best ensemble of actors ever to grace a cop show. All seasoned and Maria Bello is a terrific hard hitting actress to push forward the idea of a female led cop show, or any drama for that matter.