This column is scheduled to run in December, but I’m writing it before U.S. Thanksgiving, especially thankful I don’t have any struggling shows to report on in need of ratings boosts. The fall’s new crime shows that interest me have all received full-season pickups.
BATWOMAN – I’m intrigued by The CW’s look at the Batman legend from a lesbian perspective. I was familiar with the Batwoman character from the 2016 DC animated DVD movie BATMAN: BAD BLOOD, where she was voiced by Yvonne Strahovski (NBC’s CHUCK, Showtime’s DEXTER). This TV version is run by my favorite SMALLVILLE writer, Caroline Dries and is paired with veteran superhero show SUPERGIRL on Sunday nights.
STUMPTOWN – Based on a graphic novel series by Greg Rucka, Cobie Smulders stars as hard-living veteran-turned Oregon P.I. Dex Parrios. The role brings out Smulders’ dramatic and action chops. Its only weakness is the timeslot that most recently killed WHISKEY CAVALIER, Wednesday, 10 PM, but ABC is clearly giving it a chance.
NANCY DREW – The CW’s take on the iconic amateur sleuth reminds me of RIVERDALE in a good way. Star Kennedy McMann seems up to the task. I’m not sure about the show’s supernatural twist on a young woman’s murder, but I’m watching, and that’s what counts.
EVIL – Speaking of supernatural twists on the crime drama, this new Thursday 10 PM CBS show has a skeptical forensic psychologist (Katja Herbers) and a priest-in-training (Mike Colter) investigating purported supernatural phenomena at the behest of the Catholic Church. It’s clearly trying for an X-FILES vibe, and other critics have bought in. I’m not sure where the show draws the line between supernatural events it portrays as real and faked.
Moving from broadcast TV to streaming, Amazon premiered Season 2 of TOM CLANCY’S JACK RYAN October 31. The eight-episode running plot involves the assassination of a U.S. senator in Venezuela, and Ryan (John Krasinski)’s efforts to get justice.
The signature aspect of Clancy’s books is their early focus on intelligence analysis as opposed to action-oriented operations work. As the books progressed, Ryan rose in the ranks, becoming both something an action hero and the highest executive in the land, President of the United States.
Season 2 similarly promotes Ryan as his Season 1 frenemy Jim Greer (Wendell Pierce) is shown to have a debilitating heart condition. (In the books, Greer succumbed to cancer, elevating Ryan to his position.) Also, black ops specialist Matice (John Hogganaker), functionally equivalent to book character John Clark (played by Willem Dafoe in 1994’s CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER and Liev Schreiber in 2002’s THE SUM OF ALL FEARS), is killed when a mission goes awry.
The latter particularly moves Ryan into more of an action role than I think he’s meant to have. Ryan’s thoughtfulness and morality show best when he’s balanced by operators, not when he is an operator. Season 2 has him not just taking initiative, but manipulating the system so he can do what he wants despite contrary orders. He essentially burns his new boss (Michael Kelly)’s career in the process.
Again, I can’t say this is unlike the books, where a 9/11-prescient kamikaze attack gives Ryan the Oval Office. However, I’ll always relate better to Ryan the nontraditional everyman than to Ryan the unscathed golden boy. I haven’t read through a Clancy book since 1994’s DEBT OF HONOR, featuring said kamikaze attack.
With the departure of Pierce’s and Hogganaker’s characters, the show will be forced to find others to check Ryan’s prominence in previously-greenlit Season 3.
And finally, something I’m looking forward to next year, Netflix’s adaptation of Ace Atkins’ second Spenser continuation novel, WONDERLAND, will premiere in March. Despite all I’ve heard about changes to make Spenser edgier, I’m glad enough people were interested to make the movie. Atkins had no script involvement but his eighth and latest Spenser novel, ROBERT B. PARKER’S ANGEL EYES, sees Spenser follow the trail of a missing actress from Boston to Hollywood.
Until next time, warmest wishes for the holidays and new year.
