Shades of Blue is a brand new cop show from NBC starring a Latina pop singer, one sober Drea de Matteo, a multiform support cast and haven’t-aged-a-day-since-the-80’s Ray Liotta.
First off, we are introduced to a bruised and crying Jennifer Lopez breaking down in front of her webcam.
We get that e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g is falling apart too slowly to realize and too quickly to see it coming.
I must admit, Lopez is a better actress than I give her credit for.
2 weeks earlier, NYPD De
tective Harlee Santos’ (Lopez) rookie partner Michael Loman (played by Dayo Okeniyi), straight outta the Academy, makes an epic mistake.
He kicks down the door and shoots a suspect only to find that the gunshot he heard was from a video game the perp was playing, no gun in sight.
With absolutely no time-out, Santos rearrange the crime scene and their story, so it matches a how-not-to-be-fired-on-the-second-day-script. Because the perp was a bad guy. No doubt about it.
She even shoots her poor rookie partner in the vest. Without warning him, and she is somewhat cold and eerily calm while doing all of this.
This is not her first rodeo.
When asked later why she did not warn him, she answers, “Cause you would have flinched. And I’m not that good a shot.” Okay, then. That makes it alright, I guess.
And even when she meets her teenage daughter and banters her, she still seems emotionless.
But it does not feel limited to Lopez’ acting. I actually believe she is this cold.
The first time she is even remotely emotional is when the rookie seeks her out, telling her that he wants to come clean when talking with Internal Affairs. He even suggests keeping her part out of it all.
Her reaction is to rant on how HER daughter is HIS daughter because the badge makes them family, and that she saved him today and that he need to save her tomorrow.
Her boss Lt. Wozniak (Liotta) is of course in on it all. They all are. Santos and a bunch of colleagues meets in the cold unit in a backroom somewhere, getting their dirty money. Mr. Lt. Police Boss is in charge.
Okay, so she has money problems. Her daughter’s school is too expensive. However, her boss is there for her. He is taking care of it all. Just like family should.
Enter the FBI.
And trouble.
Because corruption is still corruption. Even if it makes a good and safe family, and it has cleaned up the neighborhood.
Santos needs to choose between her family and her dirty cop family. And I am guessing this will fuel the drama and suspense of this show.
Liotta is marvelous as a loving father figure gone psychotic dirty cop. The rest is kinda meh.
I enjoy the 80’s flare and Lopez is actually not that bad. I like her character (before the FBI). Here’s hoping she keeps her cool and not fret out. Keep the suspense and less drama.
There is also something about the weird tension between Santos and FBI agent Robert Stahl (played by Warren Cole) I find musing.
I think I will give it a few more episodes.
Christine
christines rant 