Canadian television is really starting to show the world that it can make compelling TV shows that are just as good as any American show without having that documentary feel or stuffiness that people often associate with Canadian programming. With Durham County, Canada showed the world that it could make a cop show that was darker and edgier than anything in the US, yes even darker than Dexter. Then came the hit series Flashpoint that gave shows like Law & Order and CSI a run for their money. Our latest effort is Rookie Blue, all Canadian and filmed in Toronto, just like Flashpoint.
Rookie Blue follows a group of new police officers during their first days on the job. It follows their personal lives and relationships as well as what they encounter every day as police officers, and how they learn and adapt to a dangerous job that is very new to them.
Rookie Blue is not a dead serious, real life show. This is high drama more along the lines of Grey’s Anatomy or ER. The rookies encounter everything from murderer’s to kidnappers to terrorists in the first few weeks of their new jobs, which we know is just ridiculous, but I am sure if they made a show about being a beat cop new on the job, it would be pretty boring watching them stop purse snatchers or jaywalkers every week. So once you accept that, how does Rookie Blue stack up? Pretty good actually. As a fan of Grey’s Anatomy and ER, Rookie Blue has that same pull of wanting to find out week to week what happens to the characters we get to know more about every episode. Everyone on the show is enjoyable and the characters are well written and engaging. Missy Peregrym is great as the lead rookie Andy, all hard nosed but green as can be, learning how to be a cop as she goes. Gregory Smith, formerly of the excellent show Everwood, is the smarmy and know it all Dov, and Enuka Okuma rounds out the main three as Traci, perhaps the most level headed and street smart of the group. Everyone is charismatic and likeable and the situations the rookies are put in each episode make for fun to watch stories that keep you wanting to tune in the for the next one. It ain’t Hill Street Blues or NYPD Blue, but it is a fun escapist cop show.
The BluRay from eOne is really nice. I was quite surprised by the quality as I have seen many episodes on TV and they never looked anywhere near this good. The transfers here almost rank as high as those from Showtime or HBO. Detail and clarity is very good, and being filmed in Toronto, it is fun to try and pick our familiar locations during each episode. The picture overall is a real stunner and I think I will wait for the next season on BluRay to take full advantage of the picture quality when watching the show. Light and fun with likable characters and over the top drama and situations, Rookie Blue is escapist cop television and a fun time filler when all of your regular shows are on hiatus. Recommended.
