Genres

Visitors Review

peterclik 2012-05-21 22:28:33

Far Too Classy A Show To Survive

First off, the casting in Prime Suspect is excellent. Maria Bello isoutstanding as the lead character, showing all the grit necessary topull off the role with class and realism. What's truly outstanding ishow Bello borrows nothing from Mirren's British adaptation, insteadrelying on her own interpretation of the flawed - yet giftedinvestigator Jane Timoney entirely. In short, this woman has someserious acting chops.Her supporting actors are also brilliantly cast. Kirk Acevedo, afavorite of mine since OZ, gave weight to my initial interest in theshow, and I'm glad he did. Should also add that the camaraderie betweenAcevedo and Tim Griffin is refreshing and portrayed very naturally, notat all contrived like so many other 'buddy' teams on NBC and othernetworks. (See the Hawaii 5-0 buddy team for a great example ofcontrived, forced, and utterly horrid 'buddy' performances) All in allI really can't say enough about the casting director. Obviously he/sheis at the top of his/her game and we're all the better for having aproper ensemble to unveil some pretty compelling storytelling.Speaking of the storytelling, every episode (I'm up to the latest - 6)are all based firmly in reality, the procedural aspects are depictedspot on and quite in line with how an investigation is actually run bymost big city police departments. In fact the realism is most of whythis show is so refreshing, as it seems to purposefully avoid thetypical clichés present in other police drama/procedural (see: CSI) Butalas, since this show was cursed enough to be picked up by NBC, I fullyexpect the corporate 'Talent Assassins' will be released from theirdungeons soon enough to summarily kill this fine show from their lineup of otherwise useless crud, thereby making room for some unoriginaltrash. Perhaps we're finally in for the premiere of 'Real Housewives ofAfghanistan' as it's replacement.Yes, unfortunately I fully expect Prime Suspect to go the way ofTrauma, Detroit 187, The Chicago Code, The Unusuals, and of course,Dinosaurs. So bloody unfortunate for the networks to continually teaseaudiences with quality and talent, only to have it fall away beforehaving been given a proper chance, consistently replaced by retardednonsense. Even more unfortunate that Prime Suspect is on NBC, as theyseem to have the worst record out of all the networks for leveling thedeath blow ax to truly quality TV.

aadams 2012-05-12 03:34:44

Interesting Female Lead

I watched the British version with Helen Mirren which was a fantasticseries. This new series with Maria Bello is a bit lighter and she is ofcourse, younger -- although not young. Actually, I appreciate thatsomeone 23 wasn't cast in the role with perfect hair, clothes andnails. Jane sometimes looks like an unmade bed. She is a toughcharacter and I like the way she can both take and dish it out. Shelives in the real world where life is harsh and she just accepts it.She's in her stride at her job and does it well, if not aways by thebook. Well written, well directed, and fun to watch. Maria Bello isexcellent in the role. Part of what makes it good is her restraint. Themen detectives can be jerks, but is it just culture? They are becomingaware of Jane's strengths. That realization is fun to watch as they arehit in the face with Jane's abilities that they assumed couldn'tpossibly be there.

spskstal48 2012-05-08 01:30:05

More real than drama, well worth watching

These actors act like real cops. The good the bad as well as the ugly.Please don't change a thing and you will go far. It is very funnywithout trying to be funny.Pay your writers more money. They areearning it. Great great show!To think all shows have to have superheroes or super cops is complete nonsense. It might help if they don'tsolve all their cases every episode.These actors have that New Yorkattitude down pat. What was really interesting was when some policeofficers traveled to other areas doing investigations and we were ableto see the different styles of cops which really do exist. I'd like tosee more of that. Whether it be small towns or larger cities. Anyway,keep up the great work. Let's just hope the moron squad doesn't cancelsuch a great show like they have done so many times in the past.

Pansopher 2012-05-02 11:59:12

I wanted to like this show, but I just can't take it.

Briefly: She's tough and cold (and smart at her job). The men areirrational whim-worshipping wimps (and chase along behind her likebarking dogs while she solves the crimes). Prime Suspect was a disappointment to me. I like Bello and was preparedto love seeing her in her own show. But several things precluded that:The writing suffers from too much naturalism: the 2 writers wanted (asthey said in their interviews) to keep things really really *real*. Buttheir idea of reality is to show most NYC cops as sophomoric, drunken,foul-mouthed, narrow-minded, anti-woman buffoons. I can't stand a oneof them, and the idea of those morons working to protect citizens'rights... is a bad joke.Maria Bello's character is a cut above the sub-human males, but at aterrible price: her femininity is somehow missing. She's tougher thanthe men--and more important, far more intelligent and reasonable in herwork. I could get to liking a woman like Jane T., if she were written*as* a woman. In her present form, I don't quite know *what* she is.Seeing her act like that makes me cringe.In another TV board, they were talking about the "empowered women"trend in new shows, and a fellow reviewer complained about all theemphasis on gender, asking "why can't we just be human beings insteadof male and female?" My answer to that is apropos to Prime Suspect: Wecan't "just be human beings" because our gender is built in, and deeplyaffects our world view and sense-of-life. That, in a nutshell, is myproblem with Prime Suspect, which portrays a woman who's more grufflymanly than any of the men in the show. (In fact, the men are painted aseither wimps or frothing idiots -- or both.) Every second we have tospend watching the needless nagging and straining based on anti-womensilliness -- is a precious second taken from the advancement of thereal plot: solving crimes with tenacity, ingenuity, and guts. Thatgender-battle stuff bores me to death.Somewhere buried down amongst the fol-de-rol of this show is a grandpotential: to portray a woman who's bold, courageous, independent inher thinking, and a very clever, intuitive cop.I wish we could have more of that. Prime Suspect could be - and shouldhave been - great TV art. Unfortunately, as it stands now, it ain't.

pdunne 2012-04-30 22:03:21

Brilliant

Prime Suspect is not the usual cop formula. It is hands down one of thebest shows I've ever seen. The writing is brilliant, the acting is offthe charts, the characters are drawn so specifically and with suchnuance it's difficult to fathom it's written, acted and edited in theshort amount of time that television allows. You have to pay attention,it is so intelligently drawn and detailed. The boys' club mentalitysurrounding Detective Jane Timoney is so accurately portrayed, it'scringe-worthy, but the male characters are also fleshed out to belikable. All the characters are flawed realistically and have toconfront those flaws and past mistakes through their relationships withthe other characters. The humor comes out of the sometimes dark realityof life. There are many scenes that are so unbelievably hilariouscoming out of the situation, I've had to watch them over and over. Ican't say enough about this show. It shouldn't be compared to theBritish series. It's a different show and it should be. They seem tobase it on the same plot lines and dealings with sexism, but it's not aremake and it doesn't make any sense to even compare the two shows.They're both great and both stand on their own merits. It'sunbelievably delicious.

Jessica 2012-04-28 02:56:20

Worth watching

I was skeptical about yet another cop show, but I decided to give thepilot a try. The cast looked interesting, at the very least. It wasn'tan easy decision since it's been a busy season for new shows and thereis a lot of competition for my DVR's time. I watched the pilot and knewthat this was not only on my list for the season, but was possiblygoing on my favorites list. I really don't want to see it canceled.Even though the episodes deal with serious issues, there's this great,twisted sense of humor and camaraderie between the detectives thatmakes this fun to watch. And right from the beginning I couldn't helpbut root for Maria Bello's Jane Timoney. I want her to succeed becauseshe's tough, passionate about her job and not afraid of getting dirty.I enjoy the other characters, too, which may be as much about thequality of the actors as the writing. They are a good fit.It's certainly worth checking out.

Mahmoud Sh 2012-04-27 21:00:08

Prime Suspect is a good detective drama.

This series is perhaps one of the best detective series I have everseen. It is a rich drama. First, it is not overwhelmingly focused oncrime scene investigation. There other series for that purpose. Second,the characters are depicted in a three dimensional frame work. Thepolice officers are not portrait as always perfect. The criminals arealso not always presented as incorrigibly nefarious. The good guy doesnot always win and the strong sometimes cries. I was very impressedwith the first episode when the strong lady detective went home andcried in the arms of her husband. She was simply human. Finally, thisseries has avoided irrelevant office work romance. The main detectiveis a married woman who only works in her office. This series hasprovided the balance between a rich drama and entertainment.

ben_arner 2012-04-23 06:24:52

umm no it is'nt

I've been a big fan of the British series since it started way backwhen so was interested to see an American version, I'm still waiting.If your a fan of the original avoid this, all it has in common is 1/the title, 2/ its a woman trying to make it in a mans world, 3/ herfirst name (they even changed her surname) Based on it being a "primesuspect" id rate it 1 outta 10, it lacks everything that is good aboutthe British one, every episode is wrapped up neatly after an hr, itlacks the grit an depth of the original and, well, everything but thethree things named above.If you watch it not knowing the original series then you'll get yourusual formula cop show that seems to be thrown at us from all sidesthese days and would rate it maybe a 7 based on the first few episodes

canarycaia 2012-04-22 22:14:58

Another probe that TV executives are clueless

How is that any excellent TV show has been canceled in recent yearswhile horrible shows were renewed year after year? Shows with highratings and good critics were terminated without hesitating. Somereason that has nothing to do with doing a good job must be the cause.If not, it is impossible to understand that a show like Prime Suspectis finished after a flawless first season.Even the pilot episode was perfect. That's very rare. Typically, a showneeds 2 or even 3 episodes until it gets what it needs to be a hit. In the Prime Suspect case,the casting was very good. The direction,also very good. The script,impeccable. The performance, perfect. It wasonly natural that the public chose to support it. What else might wantthe TV executives?I guess all those cancelations must be related to a matter of sympathyor not between the executives and those who make the shows. I can'tthink of any other excuse. But whatever the reason, they destroyed thepossibility of giving the public a product that could have lasted atleast a decade. What a waste!

brent_a_graham 2012-04-13 02:46:33

Give It a Chance!

This show is like a good wine - best if savored slowly, not in onegulp. Unfortunately, most TV execs seem to think a show has to be a"10" on episode #1. There are so many shows from years gone by thatwould never have had their long run if today's execs had been incharge. Just think "Hill St. Blues"."Prime Suspect" started slowly, and with many stereotypes, but hasmatured nicely into a better-than-average drama. The characterdevelopment is good and promises to continue, and lead Maria Bello asJane Timoney is fabulous! Great supporting cast and improving writingshould guarantee a 2nd season, but we viewers have to give it a boost.Do yourself a favor and check it out!

Bruce L. Jones 2012-04-12 10:04:44

Great female lead

I rarely review TV series as they are so changeable from one episode tothe next. However, sometimes I can see some promise that bearsmentioning. This series is derived from a successful series in the UKof the same name, starring no less than Helen Mirren. This US versionis set within the NYPD and stars Maria Bello as tough-as-nails NYPDhomicide Detective Jane Timoney, an outsider who has just transferredinto a new squad where her prospective colleagues have prejudged herand decided to not like her before even meeting her.Now, unlike some, I have spent a bit of time wearing a badge on thestreets so I know what it's like, to be one and to convince others thatyou belong wearing a badge. To me, women playing cops, regardless ofwhether it's in the movies or on television, begin with a serioushandicap. That handicap is that most of them are never convincing ascops. Almost every actress I've seen try on such a role fails becauseshe doesn't have the necessary "edge" to her mannerisms or manner ofspeaking to make them convincing in the role.The speech aspect isn't about getting the jargon right either, althoughthat helps, it's literally about the manner of speech they learn toadopt. Women in our society have a characteristic way of speaking.Female cops, real female cops, no longer speak that way and that is thepart almost no actresses get. That convincing part is the depth ofself-assurance and self-confidence that it takes for a woman to succeedin such a man's world and also survive. A female LEO learns to havethat fairly early in her career. The result is that they are cops tothe bone and it shows in how they handle themselves and how they talk.Any cop, even a girl, has to convince people that they own the piece ofground they are standing on or they will fail. If they can't do thatwell you may as well put them in a cape and high heels because thatwon't sell either.Now, the people making this series have actually tried to get togethera group of actors that can come across with a degree of accuracy. Theyaren't perfect, but they're working on it. The star, Ms. Bello, hasdone some great work in motion pictures. She appears to have beentrying to get into this role as she doesn't come across as a lameactress trying to do it. She has been believable to a degree thatalmost no women ever have. We'll see how it goes, but I think herefforts can be torpedoed by the people making the show, writers,directors, etc.I also like the choices for the other actors; Bello's boss is played byAidan Quinn as Lt. Kevin Sweeney (find a way to use him more); KirkAcevedo plays Det. Luisito Calderon; Brian O'Byrne as Det. Reg Duffy(he's been especially great thus far) and Peter Gerety as DesmondTimoney, Jane's father.So, the bones of a great beast are there. I'll have to watch longer tosee if the makers can truly breathe some life into the creature so thatit can reach it's full potential. So-far, so-good. The most immediatedisappointment is that it's airing on network TV, which is all but deadcreatively in the US now. I hardly know anyone who watches much networkTV any more. The cable shows have such greater chance at approachingrealism now days that it's a shame the makers of this show will bedenied a great many of the newer tools; especially for this kind ofshow. Good luck. Sincerely.

shinerchick05 2012-04-04 23:00:04

Good Show Love the Actors.

There are so many cop shows on TV now days, but a lot of them are overthe top. I like that Prime Suspect is written around the main characterand everything is played off of that. It's just a straight forward copshow nothing fancy like CSI and stuff like that. The actors are reallygood and at times the show is funny. I like it, it's simple and I am asimple person. The main actress which the show is based off of does afantastic job, she is a really good actor. I love her personality onthe show trying to make it in an all guy department, she holds her own.I also like how at the end of the day she shows vulnerability andemotion from the stress of her job as well as her personal life. I havenever seen the British version and don't really care to. I know somemight compare it to not as good as the British version; but being Ihave never watched that version, the show is great. Give it a chanceand see for yourself.

Maniac-9 2012-04-04 07:01:35

Solid cop drama

Prime Suspect the drama on NBC starring Maria Bello while it's not thebest TV cop drama on now or anything like that is still a good solidshow that isn't completely terrible.They have a lot of good episodes with some interesting cases but noneof the TV cop drama is anything you haven't already seen on multipleother shows.The main draw back is trying to half ass some homelife storyline withBello's character which really leads nowhere. Which is really a shamesince Kenny Johnson who portrays her boyfriend is actually a reallygood actor who's severely wasted here.

Dan Bullock 2012-03-31 19:03:23

Smart, Snappy & Intelligent.

First up, I'm a UK Viewer. Secondly, this is an adaption so don't worryabout what they'll do with the old material. It's whole new take andMaria Bello excels in the lead role of Jane Timoney, a slightalteration on the name but no-less a strong female lead.It's a very special cast as well, Kirk Acevedo (Fringe), Brian F.O'Byrne (Mildred Pierce), Aiden Quinn (Legends of the Fall) and manymore work wonderfully as an ensemble cast. This challenges a lot ofother cop shows out there at the moment, offering something fresh andintriguing.You may not like everyone to start with but stick with it, surelythat's more interesting than liking everyone straight away and agreeingwith the quick viewpoints, slick camera work and so forth. In the daysof CSI and all those similar, this is refreshing, gritty, real and Ireally hope the US - or other countries - start to take to more andgive it a bigger chance because at least it's taking risks.It's also quite brutal in places and makes you question all parts ofevery character. Well worth your time if you want something intelligentand original. Even if it's another part of La Plante's legacy.

cmscoon 2012-03-31 01:47:40

I am not a TV watcher, but I love this show

I love this show. One of the few TV shows that I have been hooked on. Ilove the characters. Please do not cancel this show. In the age of DVRand very busy lives, live viewing is not the way to measure the qualityof a show. I record this show and watch it the next day. Please do notcancel. The cast is excellent! The story lines are interesting and thedynamics between the cast characters is excellent. The emotions areintense and the humor is enjoyable. Jane is a complex character whoportrays both strength and vulnerability. The relationship that she haswith other cops and with her immediate family continues to evolve. Thisis not a superficial cop show.

IBrakeForTrees 2012-03-28 23:36:49

OK Police procedural

I just happened to have watched the first two series of the original UKPrime Suspect around the same time I watched the first two episodes ofthis series. It may not be fair to compare the two, as one reviewersaid, but for the benefit of those looking for a good mystery....1 - This is a police procedural, and not a mystery. The difference isthat in a mystery, as in the UK Prime Suspect, we're introduced toseveral characters, one of whom is the killer, and we ride along tryingto figure out who dun it. With a police procedural, we essentiallywatch the cops do their job, narrowing in on the killer, who is notanyone we've seen before.2 - The UK Prime Suspect took 3 hours to tell a story. This one triesto do it in 42 minutes, so the depth of the story is considerably less.3 - The original show's idea of a female detective coming on board intoa group of guys, who think she slept her way to her job, was donebetter on The Closer than it's done here. Actually, in many respects,the Closer, which borrows some elements from the UK Prime Suspect, is abetter written, better acted program. 4 - The idea of a strong female crime-solver is no longer new. We haveIn Plain Sight, Castle, Bones, Body of Proof.... tSo, this Prime Suspect is an OK show -- and Maria Bello is interestingto watch, though not as tough as Kyra Sedgwick, as sarcastic as MaryMcCormack, as hot as Stana Katic, as weird as Emily Deschanel or asbitchy as Dana Delaney.... In fairness, I've only seen two episodes, somaybe the writers can still come up with something to make the showdifferent, other than the thick-headedness of its characters.

diggus doggus 2012-03-28 14:55:38

Well acted, but formulaic

Prime Suspect is a great TV show, and i would not complain if someoneloudly proclaimed it worth of a 7/10 or 8/10; but it's not that good.The main character("Jane Timoney",Maria Bello)'s struggles with life inthe force and her own humanity (trying to quit cigarettes, trying tofit in with "the boys") are close to reality than most shows but don'treally make for an engrossing character, and while well actedthroughout, the show lacks any real punch compared to the - now sadlycancelled - Chicago Code and other, similar police dramas - Jane's justa cop, and that's that.The show's plot lines are nothing to write home about either, withhardly any suspense, twists, or hints of unusual writing going on inthe series - which could also use some stronger underlying theme thanjust "end of the day, back to the bar".So, great show, amusing for the easily amused, but for the more cynical- or more demanding, Prime Suspect not only fails to soar, but showslittle promise for future developments. My vote: 6/10Great to pass some time, but it's OK to miss an episode or two.

pvbklyn 2012-03-27 13:26:44

Not fair to compare to the original series

I think the new Prime Suspect is watchable and has some believableaspects. Maria Bello is very good in the role -- except for the hat. (Ihate the hat. Way too trendy and cliché.) But comparing this series ordisliking it because it wasn't like the Helen Mirren gem does a bit ofdisservice to the new show and to Maria Bello. Let the new one developit's own way. As police dramas go this one is not bad.. . I've watchedmany detective & police dramas: Brit, Canadian, American. Outside ofHomicide: Life on the Street (and I won't even mention "The Wire") veryfew American police dramas have any credibility other than just pureentertainment and distraction or just for looking at pretty people withguns. I've seen four episodes of Prime Suspect so far and though Ithink Jane's detective counterparts are a bit over the top sexist wisesince it is 2011 and I think more respect is given to women these days,that's an area that needs to be developed better. It makes the malecops look really stupid. And homicide cops are anything but. There mustbe more subtle ways of demonstrating sexism. Use irony instead ofsarcasm & meatball comments.

pdtp911 2012-03-26 23:35:06

If you like this one at all, see the original

When this show was announced, I researched it and learned about theoriginal starring Helen Mirren. I have watched many fantastic Britishcops shows but the original "Prime Suspect" is now at the top of mylist. The episodes were 3 hours long and I was riveted to the screenfrom beginning to end. They are indeed murder mysteries. Please doyourself a favor and see that series. That being said, I love the castof this American version and agree that it has not tried to copy theoriginal but forged its own path. Maria Bello is such a great actressand I was thrilled at the prospect of seeing her perform on a weeklybasis yet sadly, her character seems without color or depth, butperhaps that IS her character. I also hate the hat but even that andthe incessant gum chewing hardly detract from her astounding physicalbeauty. Unfortunately, I could not care less about any of thecharacters and I am hoping that as the series develops, the writerswill flesh them out. All in all, it is pretty much the run of the millformula cop show - the crime, the investigation and the arrest. Ho Hum!I will give it two more episodes because of the super cast (I'mcurrently on episode 7)before I stop watching.

Filmbrewer 2012-03-25 07:15:18

A fresh, old story

With all sorts of shows coming out this year featuring a strong femalelead, this one by far has the strongest. She's head-strong,unrelenting, ambitious, driven, willful and carries a duffle bag fullof vices which brings a depth to her character rarely seen in copshows, but makes her very likable as well as human. The show is gritty and feels a bit more realistic than most of thehigh-tech, ultra-forensic one- man cop shows that seem to come and goevery season. It takes a team to catch the bad guys and suspects don'talways willingly confess to murder (who would really?) There's tensionand rivals among the police and detectives, as well as sexism you'dexpect to see in a male dominate New York police force. All in all, this show is very well done with a great cast andbelievable plot lines. I hope it can find its audience to gathermomentum and keep going.