Jack is a by-the-book detective whose habit of undermining himself has resulted in a dead-end position with the Police Dept. His partner Dan, a drunken, lecherous veteran hangs onto his job only because of one heroic act... Read allJack is a by-the-book detective whose habit of undermining himself has resulted in a dead-end position with the Police Dept. His partner Dan, a drunken, lecherous veteran hangs onto his job only because of one heroic act years ago.Jack is a by-the-book detective whose habit of undermining himself has resulted in a dead-end position with the Police Dept. His partner Dan, a drunken, lecherous veteran hangs onto his job only because of one heroic act years ago.Jack is a by-the-book detective whose habit of undermining himself has resulted in a dead-end position with the Police Dept. His partner Dan, a drunken, lecherous veteran hangs onto his job only because of one heroic act years ago.Jack is a by-the-book detective whose habit of undermining himself has resulted in a dead-end position with the Police Dept. His partner Dan, a drunken, lecherous veteran hangs onto his job only because of one heroic act years ago.
It is almost like Hanks Junior is trying to do the opposite to what his father did in Dragnet, in taking the Dan Aykroyd type straight man role alongside Bradley Whitford's burnt out maverick supercop. And they both excel in their parts.
Hanks as Jack Bailey is a young, ambitious, by-the-book police officer, trying to keep one eye on his new partner and one eye on his ex, whom he still lusts after and constantly tries to impress. Whitford is supreme as Dan Stark, the best realised character I have watched in a very long time. He is a cop's cop, headmaster of the old skool, willing to do anything to get his man, and yet stuck in the past, not understanding the new rules and politics of the post millennium policeman. To him, a perp is a perp, a woman is a woman, and a partner is a partner, and a drink is a drink, just like it was in the 70s and 80s.
The writing in this is second to none, Matt Nix is a genius, topping Burn Notice easily, even though I love this show too. Some of the one-liners and catchphrases are just outstanding and I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud on numerous occasions watching a TV show. I love Stark's constant misty-eyed references to what he and his ex-partner used to get up to, and his complete lack of comprehension as to how anything can be more important than putting bad guys in the slammer.
The plot and their cases are usually fairly simple, as they are given the lame cases nobody else would touch, stolen dehumidifiers, etc, but they always get caught up accidentally in another big case, but it's always a great action- and comedy-filled ride getting to the inevitable destination.
I cannot speak highly enough of Bradley Whitford in this show, he really brings Dan Stark to life, and if he does not win, or at the very least, get nominated for some of the top awards this year it will be a travesty, nay a crime.
And if you don't find yourself wanting a t-shirt saying "let's go bust some punks" after watching this, then I don't know what is wrong with you.
- edantes77
- Aug 13, 2010
