Saturday, February 15, 2014

Review: Suspects 1x01


Original Air date: February 12, 2014

I have seen my fair share of police procedurals (more than some could say).  It’s a tried and true story format.  Suspects, however, tries to do something a little different.  It attempts to present the information as organically as possible, "fly on the wall storytelling" was the way it was described.  The show takes on a documentary and semi-news footage feel to it.  This isn't a slick crime show, with fast talking detectives, who always know more than their audience members.  In fact, the actors were regularly told to use improvisation in their scenes, which in turn made for some clunky pieces of dialogue.    

Starring Fay Ripley, Clare-Hope Ashitey, and Damien Molony the premiere episode throws us right into the story already in progress.  There’s no introduction of our three detectives and we’re expected to just fall into step with the action.  The audience watches news-like footage and listen to a reporter’s voice over explaining the basics of the crime that has occurred.