Review: "The Chicago Code"

I am a sucker for a well done police drama. When I first saw the ads for "The Chicago Code," I knew it was right up my alley. FOX gave the show a heavy promotional push during playoff football and during the Super Bowl, with it's premier taking place last Monday. I wondered if the show could possibly live up to the hype. I was pleasantly surprised.

The show is centered on a new police superintendent (Jennifer Beals) determined to clean up the police department and corruption in the city they protect and serve. She recruits a gruff but effective detective (Jason Clarke) and his new partner (Matt Lauria) to get the job done. The pilot flowed much as you'd expect, with the principle villain role of a corrupt Alderman played by Delroy Lindo. The show comes from "Shield" creator Shawn Ryan.

One of the stumbling blocks for gritty police dramas of this type can be the constraint of being on a network. Network television is probably the most regulated form of entertainment. Even on basic cable the rules are more loose, but networks are still held to a higher standard. That makes it tough (not impossible) for a gritty network drama to compete with pay cable and basic cable shows in the same genre.

"The Chicago Code" came up with some unique solutions to that. Another of my favorite new shows, "Detroit 1-8-7," has shown you can offer a compelling, gritty police drama on a network. The pilot for "The Chicago Code" wasn't perfect (I'd give it a B+), but the show has promise. That's because it has the one element a show needs to succeed regardless of its format — strong character development.

The pilot introduced the characters, gave the audience a feel for them and the tone of the show, and set up a story arc that will carry through the first season or more. The performances, particularly for Clarke, were strong as well. Though the show had the unfortunate luck to use the same plot device as the aforementioned "Detroit 1-8-7" in it's pilot, there is something to build on. That's what makes "The Chicago Code" possibly the best of the midseason pilots to air.

"The Chicago Code" airs Monday nights at 9 p.m. on FOX.

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