Pilot
New Orleans: Sept. 1, 2005. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Anthony Anderson's Marlin Boulet patrols the flooded streets of the city with his partner, Charlie. When they're back on solid ground, Charlie deserts him.
Sept. 1, 2007: Boulet is a changed man. He's on the edge of a breakdown and doesn't mind bending and breaking rules while he works his cases. His new partner,
Cole Hauser's Trevor Cobb, is a bit of an enigma. Boulet can't understand why a Yankee, just back from a tour in Khandar with the Army Rangers, would choose to work in K-Ville.
The case: Boulet's neighbor is killed at a charity event for the 9th Ward, which Boulet and Cobb are working. They pursue the shooter, first on foot then on wheels, but the chase ends at the Riverfront Casino where they find the car abandoned. When drive-by shooters tear up the next charity event, once again organized by local Christine Dubois, the team gets suspicious. No one was shot so they think it was more to scare people than to hurt them. Boulet's ex-partner Charlie, trying to get back on the force and in Marlin's good graces, gives him a lead and helps capture the suspects.
The team: Jeff, Ginger and Captain Emery. We didn't get much face time with any of them, but I'm looking forward to getting to know them better. I'm happy to see
Heroes'
Tawny Cypress and
Big Love's
John Carroll Lynch with TV gigs again so soon.
Personal stories: Boulet's wife and daughter are in town for two days. They've been living in Atlanta and have returned for their belongings. Boulet is trying to convince his family their place is with him. His wife won't say she's back for good and their romantic night is spoiled when someone deliberately pumps water into their house from a fire hydrant. Cobb isn't much of a talker and doesn't feel the need to share with Boulet. But Boulet, showing signs of returning to form as a good cop, digs up Cobb's criminal past.
The resolution: Christine Dubois has been grabbing land through intimidation and violence. Boulet and Cobb suspect her father at first but soon learn she hired the security company from the casino to do her dirty work. Her brother was killed in the 9th and she wants to cleanse it of all the people there. People who don't value life. The people who killed her brother with a tire iron for $80.
I think there is a lot of potential here. I would imagine there are a lot of stories to tell about New Orleans and dealing with the aftermath of Katrina, although I think a little more subtlety wouldn't hurt. I like our leads. I've enjoyed Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser on the big and small screens and there are some other familiar faces in the crowd as well. I like Cobb's criminal history. He's making an effort to reinvent himself and do some good and I think that's compelling stuff. I absolutely think Boulet should keep an eye on him but he's got to watch out for himself too. He's got to make sure he's doing right by his family while making sure the desperate lack of resources in the city and on the force doesn't drive him over the edge. I think Charlie will be a good resource and since he's proven himself worthy of Boulet's friendship again, it looks like he'll be back on the force. And, although brief, it was nice to see
Lost's
Sam Anderson as Mr. Dubois and
William Mapother as Mr. Wicks.
What did you think of this show? Let me know if you plan on sticking around to see how things develop. In the meantime, check out our
Online Video Guide and this
New York Times
piece for more on
K-Ville.
