Da Vinci's City Hall

I have been a DaVinci fan for years since the first episode in fact. But this new season opener just blew me away it has to be the best yet.

I have never, to my knowledge seen a show so full of biting socially relevant issues in a drama format before. This is not season 8 of DaVinci's Inquest, this is the beginning of a whole new form of Television Drama.

I liked the way that there was no long drawn out explanation of how Dominic DaVinci got to be The Mayor of Vancouver, And that he was thrown to the LIONS on his first day in office without even having unpacked his stuff. I have lived in and around Vancouver for 25 years and have seen some of the Social and economic hardship that exists there.

My hat is off to all Cast and Crew and Production team you have outdone yourself once again.

Watching the new Da Vinci's City Hall after seven seasons of Da Vinci's Inquest is a bit like playing MahJong--same pieces, same board, totally different configurations. Or, as the show's new motto goes: "Same Da Vinci. Same Vancouver. More lives in the balance." DVI is not the first show to get a face lift. It's just more honest than other shows in changing its name when it did it. As usual, the beginning of this season is a lot brighter and harder, cinematographically-speaking, than the end of last season, reflecting the change in external lighting between Vancouver's summer (when filming for each season starts) and Vancouver's winter (when filming ends). But the new show also comes across as brighter and harder, especially in the opening scene of Da Vinci glad-handing under the harsh lights of a nighttime racetrack.

Everyone is in a different situation: Da Vinci is mayor; Mick Leary is coroner; Angela Kosmo is back in Homicide but paired up with an old enemy; Chick is in Homicide; Zack is working undercover for Da Vinci; Leo Shannon has retired and "moved on", as Chick puts it; Bill the Police Chief, and his familiar Charlie Klotchko, are still around but chafing at having Da Vinci for their new boss. And there are new friends and potential enemies to match the new font in the new show titles--Da Vinci's two "handlers", an angry businessman, an even angrier gay rights advocate and a really torqued off homeless advocate. Some of these new characters are interesting, but most are pretty flat compared to the regulars, who have the advantage of lots of show history; introductory exposition is kept to a skeletal minimum in this pilot. Hopefully, these new characters will plump out eventually, but if they don't, I'm sure the regulars will take up the slack. The irony of the premiere's title--"Zero to Sixty Pretty Quick"--is that not only Da Vinci is expected to get up to speed in an hour, but so is the audience. It's a brand, new show; but it's also season eight. Vintage Da Vinci.

This is my favorite show period not just ON Canadian Broadcasting. I have long been a Nicholas Campbell fan. Remember Diamonds? I thought the change from coroner to mayor was a great idea and the first episode did not disappoint. I could feel the great story lines waiting in the wings! My only problem: no Donnelly Rhodes! I am really going to miss him, and hope he returns, after all. Ian Tracey was really good as a cop, I hope he has some good things going on as the new coroner. So far, it seemed like he mostly agreed with people. I didn't like that! I recommend this show to everyone who is tired of the American conveyor belt of TV shows... it's like I can't believe the WB canceled Just Legal, the new Don Johnson show!! It was just too fresh for American viewers, I guess, TOO BAD for us.

I was a fan of both Da Vinci's Inquest and if anything this incarnation was even more intense and captivating than the first Da Vinci series. If you want to know how people wheel and deal and want to see how politics really must work, this show really delivered the goods.

In politics and in business (really the same thing) as many personal agendas as well as corporate and social interests as possible must be served and this show was all about that. I loved watching the trading of favours and compromises that occurred in order 'make the deals and move ahead' and both wanted and had to watch carefully in order not to miss the intrigue.

It was a thinking person's show and for those who wanted cerebral versus physical action this was the best show since The Sandbaggers. Perhaps Da Vinci's City Hall was too intellectual to survive the test of ratings alone and needed time to collect the requisite viewers before cancellation but I hope that viewers will find a way to watch and appreciate the 'dance' that it portrayed so well.

Well Mr. Haddock, what's next ?

Being American, the first thing that jumps out at you is the different accents, cadence, expressions of the characters. The show is based in Vancouver and you really get a feel for a distinct area (never been to Vancouver or even close so don't know if its authentic, just unique).

The show is extremely fast paced with a large number of plot lines that move slowly throughout the show. Its really the kind of program you need to follow, now that its in syndication on WGN I've taped it daily so that's easier to do. The characters are very well developed and the plot lines intricate.

Show also has a nice soundtrack and is very well produced. Recommend it highly!