Women's business
I
have an odd feeling of déjà vu as I come to write
about Ten’s new crime series, Women’s Murder Club.
The show has strong similarities to Nine’s new series Cashmere
Mafia; as both shows feature four women using connections
to further their professional lives, while dealing with personal
issues. What makes this show different is the crime aspect that
overlays the oestrogen rush.
Set in San Francisco, the show is based on a series
of books by popular crime writer James Patterson. Essentially
it's about the efforts of SFPD Detective Lindsay Boxer (Angie
Harmon) to solve murders. To do this, she enlists the aid of three
friends: medical examiner Claire Washburn (Paula Newsome); assistant
District Attorney Jill Bernhardt (Laura Harris) and reporter Cindy
Thomas (Aubrey Dollar). One of Lindsay’s cases – the
“Kiss-Me-Not killer” – has become an obsession;
to the extent that it’s ruined her marriage to fellow cop
Tom Hogan (Rob Estes). In a twist of fate however, Hogan has become
Lindsay’s superior, and the close working environment naturally
makes for some uncomfortable moments.
It will come as no surprise that the other members
of the “club” have their own personal issues, and
there’s some hand-wringing and tears involved in getting
through those too. But the focus of each episode is on a particular
murder, with the personal stuff providing more of a thread through
the series; rather than being its prime focus. So that makes this
a more palatable proposition (especially for men) than Cashmere
Mafia.
There are a couple of other key differences too
that should be noted. First off, Women’s Murder Club
has a clear protagonist in Lindsay, with the others essentially
being supporting players; unlike Cashmere’s ensemble
approach. The setting in the world of criminal investigation is
also probably a bit more familiar to local audiences than the
rarefied atmosphere of high-end business; with the result that
the characters are more approachable. Finally, the settings are
rather more prosaic – and therefore, “real”
than in its counterpart.
For
a female audience quickly wearying of the likes of CSI,
Women’s Murder Club could well prove to be a boon.
The combination of murder mystery and relationship drama makes
this show a lot more palatable than its testosterone-fuelled predecessors.
Also, the violence is considerably toned down, with the audience
usually only seeing its aftermath, not the act itself.
How men will react to this is debatable. I suspect
many will be frustrated by the fact that the characters take time
out to discuss their feelings in the middle of a murder investigation;
but hey, it’s probably better than some clichéd male
reaction than punching a wall in anger.
Angie Harmon, a Law and Order alumni, seems
to slip back easily into the crime genre. Her husky voice and
statuesque frame certainly make her character an imposing figure.
But therein lies a problem, as her dominance of the series doesn’t
allow much room for the other characters to shine. Probably the
pick of them is Laura Harris as the determined but emotionally
fragile DA. As with Cashmere Mafia, the men don’t
figure too prominently, but one who does stand out is Tyrees Allen
as Lindsay’s aging cop partner.
Women’s Murder Club is a reasonable
meld of crime and soap that should satisfy most audiences. Certainly,
it treads a fine line between the two; but it has enough going
for it to at least stay with it for a while and see where it goes.
Phil James
