Detroit’s a tough place, and life as a homicide cop in the once great Motor City of America post-GFC is an ugly place to be. Once you get past Michael Imperioli’s turn as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos and accept that he’s gone good as Detective Louis Fitch, the show flows over you very easily. It’s slick, dark, and fast – at least they offer supers to help you keep up with the various story arcs!
Imperoioli’s Fitch is a Detroit Homicide 10 year veteran – renown within his department as a dysfunctional loner, but a sharp detective who gets results. Sure he’s quirky (not Monk quirky, but still good – he teaches his 1st year partner through phone conversations standing right next to him, but talks to him face to face with generic disrespect), but he’s observant and talented, and a gifted police officer.
I’m not sure I like the blend of drama and pseudo-documentary style it delivers, with characters talking straight to camera, but the story is so compelling I was able to ignore it. The cast are sharp, and not cliched (as much as can be allowed given all the cop drama that exists or has gone before), and it’s pretty much all about work. That makes for a nice change.
Fitch rockets from a quiet intensity to a quick-mouthed hostage negotiator. He’s cool under pressure yet he’s sitting on a wicked temper. His new partner better learn quick, because the lessons are fast and unforgiving. It’s a pace that Law and Order have weaned us on, and Detroit 1-8-7 (code for a homicide call out) impresses upon us and delivers in a compelling, can’t-turn-away manner that will have you hooked
“Get ’em (the homicide cases) solved. Make room for the next one. We might be the last assembly line in Detroit.”
And the final scene of the pilot is brilliant, if only for Fitch’s facial expression when the phone rings.
Detroit 1-8-7 – premieres Wed 13/4 9pm, Ch7.