Hats and Bats

I'm fairly certain the transition between seasons four and five was the least significant; which means 'Hats and Bats' gets off to a smooth start, getting right down to the everyday lives of these characters - whether it's trouble on the home front (Cooper, Bryant, Lydia) or just responding to mundane calls over trivial stuff. What this lacks in shootouts, it more than makes up for in confidence, a show that has all of its pieces in place; characters well-defined and the sense that the audience doesn't need its hand held.

This is my favorite season for a number of reasons. But as an opener, this episode just feels right; it's funny, engaging and delivers on pretty much every front.

9/10

I tuned in to watch what was a cool cop show. Now, like so many cop shows when they run out of ideas, it turned into divorce show where all the characters have relationship issues, crying babies, etc. I want some good cop action and dialog. Did they fire all the good writers?

And does every show like this, think The Shield, have to have some gay issues thrown in to cover all the diversity issues? At least make them seem real and not so stereo typical. Please, get some good writers. Bring back the fun banter and action like it had a while back. This is turning into a lame soap opera.

This show sucks now.

We've known all these characters for a few years now; but what have they done to them with this season? This episode was heavy on what seemed like character introductions; I guess they felt we needed it with what they've done to them. While they look the same they're all over wrought with psychological problems. If I lived in Los Angeles I would have to think twice before dialing 911. It looks like they get assistance from the real LA police department; but with the looks of the start of this season, I'm surprised their willing to help. Here's hoping that the only way this can go is up; especially since this is the last season of the show.