If
you have a long memory – or pay-TV – you’ll
know of a now rather ancient Aussie series called Homicide. The
show debuted in 1964, and was not just a staple of the 7 Network,
but was the first truly successful Australian cop show, spawning
imitators like Division 4. It also was the show that gave a generation
of actors their start on television. Now 7 is pinning its hopes
for local drama on a new version, titled City Homicide.
This new series however probably shares more in
common with overseas shows like CSI or Criminal Minds than its
local predecessor. Not that that’s a bad thing. Indeed,
this is one of the most polished Australian shows to hit screens
in quite a while – certainly streets ahead of its contemporary
competition such as Nine’s Sea Patrol.
For once, a network has invested in some talented
writers to provide quality scripts for the show (at last!). Unlike
the US shows, this series concentrates mainly on one case per
episode, invariably involving a murder. That investigation essentially
drives the plot along.
Running alongside that plot line is the sub-plot
involving the relationships between the various characters –
and it's here that City Homicide really works. The writers recognise
that cops are as fallible as anyone, and their job doesn't insulate
them from the weaknesses that inhabit all of us.
The homicide team is led by Det Snr Sgt Stanley
Wolfe (Shane Bourne), a devoted Christian who does his best to
keep a lid on the volatile emotions in his squad. There's the
brash young bucks, DCS Duncan Freeman (Aaron Pedersen) and DCS
Simon Joyner (Daniel MacPherson) who regularly lock horns, despite
both seeing the world rather similarly. They're restrained to
some extent by the sombre DCS Matt Ryan (Damien Richardson), whose
past holds a dark secret. This group has been in a kind of unstable
equilibrium, but their little world is upset by the arrival of
DCS Jennifer Mapplethorpe (Nadine Garner). Now only are they now
five instead of four, but they've never had to cope with having
a woman on the front line before. Mind you, their ultimate boss
is a woman – Det Supt Bernice Waverly (Noni Hazelhurst).
This is a really interesting mix of characters,
and one where the group imperative (ie the need to catch the perpetrators
of the crime) sometimes collides head-on with individual egos
and emotions.
The
other thing about the show is that variety in the cast. Shane
Bourne is best known as a comedian, yet is excellent as the upstanding
citizen Wolfe. Aaron Pedersen and Daniel MacPherson have both
played cops before (Pedersen in Water Rats and McPherson in The
Bill) and both slip easily into the roles. Pedersen re-teams with
fellow Secret Life of Us alumni Nadine Garner, who makes every
post a winner as the determined but perhaps fragile Mapplethorpe.
There are however two aspects of the show that irk
me. The first is that the script is occasionally a bit too PC,
which tends to detract from the harsh realities of the homicide
cop's lot; and secondly it sometimes calls for histrionics that
are a little over-the-top. These however are more distractions
than anything seriously wrong with the series.
City Homicide is like a little breath of fresh air
in a fairly dire year for Australian drama. This show at least
has the makings of something great – good scripts and decent
acting – and for that alone I guess we should be grateful.
It's now up to Seven to build on the show's solid platform to
create something truly compelling.
Phil James
To see the promo
spot for City Homicide, click the play button below:
If
you have a long memory – or pay-TV – you’ll
know of a now rather ancient Aussie series called Homicide. The
show debuted in 1964, and was not just a staple of the 7 Network,
but was the first truly successful Australian cop show, spawning
imitators like Division 4. It also was the show that gave a generation
of actors their start on television. Now 7 is pinning its hopes
for local drama on a new version, titled City Homicide.
The
other thing about the show is that variety in the cast. Shane
Bourne is best known as a comedian, yet is excellent as the upstanding
citizen Wolfe. Aaron Pedersen and Daniel MacPherson have both
played cops before (Pedersen in Water Rats and McPherson in The
Bill) and both slip easily into the roles. Pedersen re-teams with
fellow Secret Life of Us alumni Nadine Garner, who makes every
post a winner as the determined but perhaps fragile Mapplethorpe.