Prime Suspect

This show is like a good wine - best if savored slowly, not in one gulp. Unfortunately, most TV execs seem to think a show has to be a "10" on episode #1. There are so many shows from years gone by that would never have had their long run if today's execs had been in charge. Just think "Hill St. Blues".

"Prime Suspect" started slowly, and with many stereotypes, but has matured nicely into a better-than-average drama. The character development is good and promises to continue, and lead Maria Bello as Jane Timoney is fabulous! Great supporting cast and improving writing should guarantee a 2nd season, but we viewers have to give it a boost.

Do yourself a favor and check it out!

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.

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.

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.