Low Winter Sun

There have been some solid American remakes of UK TV shows: All in the Family to Life on Mars. But there's also shows like "Coupling" too. This series seems to fit somewhere in the middle.

On the plus side, the acting isn't bad. The storyline has its multiple levels: it doesn't dumb itself down for the audience. And Detroit is an excellent choice of settings for this US remake.

On the negatives: my kingdom for a steady-cam. Are directors so infantile as to still believe the tired trope from Hill Street Blues that the more amateurish the guy holding the camera, the more it's supposed to feel like a documentary. Fail #1.

Fail #2: good directors make you care about the characters involved and some of the storyline before the blood and guts come out and create a visceral reaction. Unfortunately, this show opted straight for the violence as a cloying attempt to capture you're interest immediately -- except that it's performed on characters you know nothing about and have zero investment with. Maybe if I was 7 years old, but not as an adult.

Fail #3: the best dark shows often have comedic elements -- even if it's dark comedy -- to lighten up the pace. But this show is written with no redeeming moments -- no mood lighteners, no dark humor, no cracks. As such, it's a bit like listening to a 60-minute bass solo. Maybe you love bass, but it loses it's strength if that's all you get all the time. Darkness just has more impact when you get a reminder of the light once in a while. There is no light in this show.

Fail #4: Closing scenes where the actors emote to the soundtrack. Cheesy to the extreme.

I thought the actors were a good group and did well with their characters. The storyline seems a bit exaggerated. . . if this was anything remotely close to accurate, then I would join the Defund the Police movement. It can't possibly this bad, but it sure looks like Detroit is that bad - do people still live there, or survive there? I don't know how one would follow up this season, trying to out do the outrageous corruption of the first season. Best that it was not renewed as it gave politicos enough ideas to expand their repertoire.

This is a very well done show not like most of the crap that is on TV nowadays. I think what I liked best is they didn't overplay the story. When I was watching it I really enjoyed it but they didn't hype up the cliff hangers so I wouldn't wake up the next day thinking I have to watch the next show, and sometimes would forget for a day or two. When I did remember I was always happy that I had something so good to watch and would watch 2 or 3 after my wife had gone to bed. It is hard to explain or understand because usually shows that are this good I binge through in 2 or 3 days, but I think it is from not using cliff hanging tricks to bring you back each episode. It is like they knew we are good we don't have to do that and because almost all other shows use those tricks when they aren't used it stands out. Reminded me a little of Fred Zinnemann's style especially his "Day of the Jackal", not the same but in that direction.

Low Winter Sun's premiere was so intriguing. Shady cops who go too far like the premise of 'To Live and Die In LA'...kind of.

It is 'To Live and Die In Detroit'...I like it so far.

Lenny James may be nominated and maybe even WIN an Emmy for best supporting actor.

Awesome. I love to listen to him. Oh...and Gayle from Breaking Bad played by David Costable is on there too...he is in the Internal Affairs division on Low Winter Sun. I mean...it is dark and evil...so NOT for everyone, but I like what I have seen so far, but only one episode.

I have grown to trust AMC and their programming. Love Breaking Bad...LOVED Rubicon...love Mad Men and based upon those shows...I am more apt to check out new shows. Cannot say that about any other channel, so thank you AMC...again. Giving this show the green light was a good idea.

If you like smoldering, drama's this is your show. Its gripping, full of suspense, and the characters are gonna grow on you, as is the story line. I've seen negative remarks about this show. These types are usually the ones with the attention span of a gnat. There are a lot of shows on now days that don't blow you away the first episode, but always leave you wanting more. This is one of those shows, Breaking Bad is a prime example of that. Look how slow that show started and where it is now. I'm not saying this show is that good, but we will need a new show after the next few weeks, because BB is gonna be over. This show has the potential to be that fill in, at least it does for me..My advice is watch it and get into it..I am glad I did...Enjoy