Backstrom.
The new FOX police-comedy drama brought to us by Hart Hanson (creator of fellow FOX crime drama Bones), based off of the Swedish book series by Leif G. W. Persson. Here's a brief overview:
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Everett Backstrom is a Lieutenant in the Portland Police Bureau and head of the bureau's Special Crimes Unit. He is also a man with no filter.
Growing up with a well-respected sheriff father, who was abusive towards him and whom he shared a mutual hate for, plus a childhood of bullying, along with other yet-to-be mentioned incidents has turned him into a snarky, pessimistic man with a dim view of the world, self-destructive tendencies, and the ability to only see the worst in everyone.
Despite this, it has also given him the ability to put together the city's most sensitive and serious cases and nail the perpetrators responsible, allowing him to be come a successful (though not very well liked) police detective.
Prior to the series' first episode, however, Backstrom is demoted to Traffic following an racially insensitive outburst after catching the murderer of six Native Americans. Five years later, he is brought back by Portland's Chief of Police (who is also his ex-partner) to lead to the new S.C.U. Together, with a team of brilliant criminologist cops, they take on the most serious and unusual crimes in Portland, Oregon.
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The overall formula is very similar to FOX's House, M.D.: a sad, self-destructive man who hates the world and life, and whom everyone looks down upon as a person, but who's skills and talents are respected in the least. The only difference is it's a police drama instead of a medical drama.
Backstrom demonstrates in my view how everyone has demons, and some of us let them get the best of us in the worst ways. But it also show's how the main character tries to conquer his demons, though with currently poor outcomes (at least so far). And it makes you ask yourselves: will Everett Backstrom ever find light, love and happiness before his demons and xenophobia conquer him?
The cases in the series pique my interest as they are as expected from FOX: gritty, grim, and twisty. Some end with the person you most suspect as the criminal, while others end with the person you least suspect. The first and fourth episodes are prime examples of the latter. But what really piques my interest is how Backstrom solves the cases: he confronts the suspects, putting the info together in his head, then imaginarily puts himself in their shoes, while describing how and why they committed their crimes.
My favorite episodes are the third episode which investigates a murder within a cult disguised as a mega-church and the fifth episode, which starts of as a teenage girl's disappearance which is linked to a similiar case from Backstrom's past, which all turns out to be a Shawn Hornbeck/Jaycee Dugard story in the end. Both episodes (the fifth in particular) have their moments in which Backstrom actually demonstrates a sense of justice and empathy, and I hope personally to see many more of these.
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Now for the cast:
Rainn Wilson, whom many of you know as Dwight Schrute from The Office, plays the title character of Detective-Lieutenant Everett Backstrom, a self-destructive, xenophobic police detective who uses his dark instincts and peculiar abilities to outsmart his foes, manipulate his peers and, with the help of his eccentric team, solve the case, even as he less ably adjusts to the progressive sensibilities of 21st century Portland. Wilson, in my view, plays the role very well, and really works to give Gregory House a run for his money in the a**hole department.
Genevieve Angelson, a small-part actress until now, plays Backstrom's second-in-command Detective Nicole Gravely, the ambitious, by-the-book, and optimistic yin to Backstrom's yang, who extends herself to the limit to counterbalance his erratic and controversial behavior. Angelson does very well as the light to Wilson's dark, and despite their differences, both appear to have very good on-screen chemistry.
Dennis Haysbert, whom we all know as President David Palmer from fellow FOX series, 24, returns to the network as Detective John Almond, a nondenominational minister and tested veteran of the Portland Police Bureau, who often tries to see the light in Backstrom and convince him that there's light in everyone, with little results. Haysbert's return to the network brings some comfort for those who like to see a familiar FOX face on a new show, and his portrayal of Detective Almond definitely shows he's earned those veteran credits.
Kristoffer Polaha, another FOX veteran actor, from North Shore stars as Sergeant Peter Niedermayer, the handsome, free-spirited, philosophical Forensics Liasion whose open approach to the universe pushes all of Backstrom's buttons. Polaha's portrayal of Niedermayer really impresses me as do Wilson's on-screen insults to his character's quirks. Just goes to show how some people just can't stand seeing even the smallest bit of happy in the world.
Beatrice Rosen, a relatively unknown minor role actress, plays Nadia Paquet, a tech-savvy French immigrant who works as a civilian with the Portland police and has immense knowledge of criminal acts, which allow her to manage the chains-of-evidence on the S.C.U. cases. Rosen seems to have the best chemistry with Polaha's Niedermayer and the latest episode shows the two might have some romantic tension amongst them.
Page Kennedy, known for his role in Spike's sports-comedy Blue Mountain State, plays Officer Frank Moto, a uniformed cop who wishes to be a detective and goes out of his way to prove himself by being Backstrom's physical side. Kennedy shows he has plenty to prove as Moto and I really feel this role could be the catalyst for something bigger in a few more years. Frankly, I hope if the show gets another season, Moto gets more development, and he gets his promotion.
And finally, Thomas Dekker, ex-child-actor-turned-mature actor, does very well as Gregory Valentine, a semi-flamboyant gay man who serves as Backstrom's tenant, decorator and underworld connection. Dekker has the best chemistry with Wilson, considering they have the most scenes together; on-screen, their characters have something of an unusual father-son relationship (in the pilot, it's somewhat implied they may very well be just that). Personally I hope to god that Dekker is gonna be a big key in Wilson turning his life around on-screen.
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The one flaw about this show that I can see is that it hinges FOX's attempt to keep its dying trend of anti-hero series going. Though more successful than FOX's previous attempt, Rake, if it can make it past it's freshman year (which Rake failed to do), I will drop all dim views I see of it.
Overall, this is a series I recommend for those who love crime and comedy, but more of the former than the latter. I give this TV series a 8/10 and recommend that you TRY IT!
