It wouldn’t be a new season with a new cop show hoping to become the next big hit. At first, Detroit 1-8-7 was supposed to be a fake-documentary style cop show, but they had to change it due to tragic real-life events. This series also marks the return of Michael Imperioli to television after his last run with The Sopranos.
Here is the synopsis of Detroit 1-8-7 straight from ABC:
“What does it take to be a detective in one of America’s toughest cities? Follow one homicide unit as Detroit’s finest unearth the crisis and revelation, heartbreak and heroism of these inner city cops in this series shot entirely in Detroit, Michigan. There’s the damaged but driven Detective Louis Fitch, a wily homicide vet who is the most respected — and most misunderstood — man in the division; Detective Damon Washington, Fitch’s new partner, who finds the first day on the job is a trial by fire, complicated by the imminent birth of his first child; Detective Ariana Sanchez, sexy, edgy and beautiful, who has emerged from a rough background to become a rising star in the department; narcotics undercover cop John Stone, a streetwise smooth talker, clever and quick with a smile made for the movies, who is teamed with Sanchez — a combustible pairing rife with conflict and sexual tension; Sergeant Jesse Longford, a 30-year veteran and sage of the department struggling with his impending retirement from the force and the city he loves, who, together with his partner, Detective Vikram Mahajan — a fully Americanized son of Indian immigrants — form an amusing mismatch of experience and enthusiasm, intellect and instinct, old school and new world, but whose combined skills have never encountered a case that couldn’t be cleared; and all are headed by Lieutenant Maureen Mason, a strong-willed single mom struggling to balance home and work. The unit works with the primary medical examiner, Dr. Abbey Ward, who has an unusual hobby in her off-hours – roller derby.”
My First 10 Thoughts on the “Pilot” Episode of Detroit 1-8-7:
1. Detroit does have the highest crime rate now, so the perfect place to have as a setting for a cop show.
2. Still this is just like every other cop show ever with one exception.
3. Since this was supposed to in a documentary-style, the single camera cinematography is a lot different from
most cop shows.
4. Some might like this style of filming, while other may hate it.
5. Michael Imperioli is great as the lead detective here. The Sopranos fans will be excited.
6. The supporting cast is not bad either.
7. It still can’t compare to the ultimate “cop show”, The Wire.
8. In a decent time slot against two shows in season two, so it could hold its own.
9. I didn’t see that ending coming, and I was shocked by it. But he can’t be dead already, can he?
10. The ending kept be intrigued for the next episode, but you have to like the cast to continue watching another police procedural show that is slightly shot differently.
