Copper

What the Hell's kitchen were they thinking of cancelling Copper? A third season shelved on such a cliff hanger, when the story was really gaining momentum, and just as Billy Baldwin showed up and confirmed he hadn't flat lined. Maybe a new TV commercial for a network provider beckons for Kevin Bacon's best mate, know what I mean? Anyway it was good to see his sleazy return to our screens, if only for a short while.

Copper was a great series, not as hard edged as Deadwood, or as sophisticated as Boardwalk Empire, however it was good fun. The violence was a little cartoonish at times and it certainly became a bit modest just when you thought something really awful or exciting should have happened. That said, it really left the viewer wanting to know more about the characters and indeed the actors, who more or less did a great job, especially Kevin Ryan, who plays Detective Francis Maguire. He displayed just the right mix of brooding malice and dogmatic honour that made him really fun and interesting to watch.

The first series starts off well and builds a good story, complete with a few historical inaccuracies and misplaced modern attitudes, but remember this is no Deadwood! Apart from a bit of violence, this was something your mother could probably tolerate. Then came the second season, which obviously must have caught a negative whiff about re-commissioning for a third, because the violence and the nudity are certainly ramped up. Now your mother may have a thing or two to say and you'd best watch it on your own first.

This is a fun and lively series if you fancy a bit of period drama, that is gritty at times but never really shocking or uncomfortable to watch for anyone with a medium strength stomach. However, be warned that you will probably really enjoy it, and will need to be prepared for the disappointment of not seeing a third series!

The historical evidence is correct. The cast is well assembled with unknowns in America. I sense Shakespearean acting experience in the deliveries of several of the cast members. This elevates the performances. I like the idea of the "mystery" presented in the first episode. This allows background to build along the way. Several openings were exposed for this material to grow. The beginnings of a budding city that will become a great city has major growing pains. The plot demonstrates this well. I enjoyed the artistry in showing the distinctions between the class system strongly evident in early America. The strength of the Irish element is excellently portrayed.

Copper may not be the greatest show on earth but it is damned good. Every time I start and episode I am put off by it for a few minutes, into it for a few more. Then straight up Enthrawled in it as the plot gains weight and momentum.

The show has exception gripping scenes of violence when it has them though it usually doesn't, but when they are their they fully justify the TVMA rating (which is hard to get considering the stuff that hell on wheels does only manages them a tv14).

The acting is superb, the setting well done despite a few quirks with some virtual backgrounds, though totally understandable given the small budget. all in all the people seem rough dirty and brutal.

Most of the show consists of a our main character corky navigating up and down the lines of inner and upper class as he searches for criminals. sick, petty. and vial criminals. that are intertwined in both.

The mellow drama isn't up to par with some other shows other but its not trying too hard and its also not trying to rip off these shows. In that the echos of deadwood are seen, if only they could make this like that, but that wouldn't happen, never the less the spirit in deadwoods creation is in this, just with less articulate melodrama.

The characters are interesting and engaging, the violence brutal and bloody and the way the plot snowballs in mini stories is great.

Its also a touch relaxing to watch, for all its brutality, its very comfortable. you trust the characters to behave as they should and in that kinda in a bit of a trip./

Ladies and Gentlemen, I want SOMEONE preferable the director, producer, cinematographer, somebody to explain why they took a captivating story- line cast, and perfect momentum and made several radical departures that obviously hurt the show so much that led to it's ultimate demise...

Where somebody working on Season 2 screwed up - perfect examples:

#1) Season 2 - Episode 1: Why would you start developing an absolutely maniacal antagonist in the first episode who carved up Franka Potente's back in over-gruesome fashion only to have him killed later in the same episode?

#2) The basic camera filter used to shoot Season 1 depicted a period piece beautifully, and you could tell in the first 3 minutes of the first episode in season 2, that awful over-sepia-toned filter would throw audiences immediately off who had been eagerly anticipating the show to pickup right where it left off at the end of season 1.

#3) Kiara Glasco...this young lady playing Annie Reilly was brilliant in playing a very difficult young character, and she held her own in nearly ever episode. Her role was minimized in season 2 and an obvious void was apparent.

I could go on but these are my top 3, and they are absolutely inexcusable. Whoever deviated so drastically from the success of season 1 should be ashamed of themselves, and they owe Tom Weston Jones a HUGE apology for taking away one of the new great period characters American audiences have seen and will see, in a long damn time.

Just a shame.

-DSC

Copper came out of the gate a bit slowly, and that turned out to be a good thing. It's written to give a good, solid character development that really comes in handy as the show progresses and avoids the usual 2 dimensional "good guy/bad guy" stuff where so many characters usually become boring in similar types of drama.

Tom Weston-Jones is solid as Irish American copper Kevin "Corky" Corcoran and he's completely believable as a 19th century law officer in the Five Points area of New York City trying to do the job as honorably as he can, as well as locate his missing wife and find the murderer of his young daughter, amongst other things. An added bit of gritty reality finds that he's human and sometimes finds himself tempted by stuff (and occasionally partakes in certain acts) that most viewers today know are pretty much illegal or at least borderline not lawful. That's what makes this series so good is that it plays on a part of 19th century history that was pretty messed up due to the tumult caused by the civil war, but not touched on too often in television, anyway, from the gritty appearances of the cast and the scenery, to the questionable law practices. That's what makes this show a standout.

BBC America has got a winner in this one and it just keeps getting better as the storyline is fleshed out a little more with each episode. I can see why Barry Levinson is not afraid to attach his moniker to this show as an executive producer. It's that good.