The best thing that FOX’s K-Ville (debuting September 17th and streaming now for free at Fox.com) has going for it is its setting. Through the course of the pilot, post-Katrina New Orleans develops as the most interesting character in this buddy-cop show that follows two mismatched NOPD detectives (Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser). Shot on location and employing NO film crews, the production’s good intentions pay back dividends in that the show is given a sense of realism and weight that it wouldn’t have in any other place in the US.
That sense of realism only lasts, however, when the show isn’t in action-mode. A series that would work best as a gritty earth-bound cop show, K-Ville begins to feel phony when the car chases/shoot-outs/explosions feel like something more out of Miami Vice than The Shield.
It’s obvious that FOX wants this to be a companion piece to its action shows Prison Break and 24, but it challenges the integrity of a potentially important program to have the cops behave as Lethal Weapon superheroes as opposed to Hill Street Blues policemen.
The pilot introduces to veteran NOPD officer Marlin Boulet (Anderson) who after going through the nightmare of Katrina is dead set on rebuilding his neighborhood and re-establishing his family in the city he loves. Those who know Anthony Anderson from his performances in such films as Kangaroo Jack and not from his work on The Shield will be surprised to find out that this. guy. can. act. Anderson was the chief reason I decided to check K-Ville out and will be the reason that, despite some reservations I have about the pilot, I’ll be tuning in for at least a couple of weeks.
Boulet is paired with recent NO arrival Trevor Cobb (Hauser), a US marine just returned from Iraq and desperate to earn Boulet‘s trust. It’s obvious from the start that Cobb is hiding some skeletons in his closet and there’s a twist in the end involving Hauser’s character that again stretches the show’s credibility to a dangerous point.
The pilot’s central mystery surrounds a series of shootings at neighborhood fundraisers. It’s a plot that utilizes the unique situation of the citizens of NO (and features cameos from Lost’s Sam Anderson and William Mapother ), but by the episode’s end the viewer will see every beat coming. This is what will make or break K-Ville—a show set in New Orleans, even post-Katrina, runs the risk of turning into the Chief Wiggum P.I. segment from the The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase. If the pilot is any indication, the second episode could very well involve a hovercraft chase through the bayou with Hauser and Anderson using crocodiles as water-skis. Hopefully, the show can stay away from cliché’s and notch up the realism a bit. If so, it could be a keeper.
Though that water-ski scene might be kind of fun to watch.
Additionally-on the subject of those scaly critters, anyone want to put up a guess as to how long the show takes until it uses crocodiles to dispose of a body? I’m going to guess Episode 3.
K-Ville (Pilot): 6/10
1 comment:
Hola - interesting review of "K-Ville."
As a NOLA resident, I can happily point out that no one generally gets shot in the French Quarter - but that chases are more frequent than you might think. Last night, as my boyfriend and I were watching the TCU-Air Force game, we heard sirens outside. Peeking through the curtains, we saw a chase down the street that runs past our house.
Regardless, you're right that "K-Ville" relies on tired Louisiana stereotypes. And the dialogue does no service to its pretty good cast. Here's to hoping that subsequent episodes reveal grittier dialogue with truthful plots.
Post a Comment