miketaylor2007
Dark Blue truly takes these cop shows to a whole other level. I have always found the CSI, Law & Order type series to be so dreadfully boring they could actually put me to sleep. Dark Blue makes you feel more like you are watching a movie then a series which is a unique experience. We don't have to wait 45 minutes out of the hour for only a few minutes of action and gun fire because it's always happening and they keep you interested. Unlike focusing on the typical investigate this investigate that Dark Blue is all about a deep undercover unit hitting the streets and putting themselves right into the action. The cops are the ones who are actually committing the crimes so they can make that next bust. Save the put me to sleep and do some paper work garbage for CSI I promise you this one is a big hit and will keep you entertained. I would like to add that this review only applied to season 1. Unfortunately the show took a wrong direction for season 2 resulting in an epic fail and cancel. Everything I said that lacked in the typical cop series is what they applied to season 2. It's a shame because they really had something great here.
Ken Maskrey
You think they would have learned with E-Ring. BUT NO!! First, this is TNT, not some watered-down 5 minute attention CBS show. You cannot have a serious, undercover cop show where everything is solved in 50 minutes. I wanted to like this show. It's shot beautifully. It has potential if they'd just not try and compact it for an hour. And TNT...such potential...The Closer and now Leverage. You notice they don't show Leverage previews until partway into Dark Blue. They (TNT) know it's a piece of crap. And now...oooohh...let's draw it out with a bad girl character. We've seen that. It's just weak writing and producing. They can't make the stories work so they want you care about the character. Doesn't work. Dylan McDermott is not Jeff Goldblum (and we all know Dark Blue is no Law and Order...not even L&O:CI). As USA put it...Dark Blue should fade to black.
zttizzl
Just finished watching the season premiere of Dark Blue and decided to do a quick review over the show.Dylan McDermott... Just isn't right for this role. Every other movie I've seen him in, he naturally plays the part, but in this... I don't like him. Something in the way he acts is different. This may be construed as a minor complaint, but if it's with the protagonist, it foretells of other evils to come.Aycox wasn't seen enough in the pilot to really form an opinion over. I'm hoping for the best, but gearing up for the less-than-best.The other two actors are really in their element, aside from the fact that this is basic cable. It seems to me that if the show had been on HBO, they'd be using systematic foul language and vulgar terms. But the censorship doesn't detract from the pilot as much as you'd think.All in all, a decent show to watch. It's not as good as say, the original Law & Order, or the original CSI. But it's definitely better than all the crap TNT has been spewing out lately, such as Bones and Charmed.Perhaps this series could develop into something more over time, with the actors fitting into their roles more comfortably (especially McDermott) and a certain style developing. But my prediction is that the strong first season will be epically ruined in the "shocking new season" which usually happens with modern TV shows. Do what I did with this series: Hope for the best, but expect somewhat worse.
letterblush
I'm always wary of any production that has Jerry Bruckheimer attached to it - I never know if things will turn out for the best (CSI: Las Vegas) or for the worst (Transformers 2). When I heard Dylan McDermott was going to star, I decided to give the pilot a chance...and I'm glad I did.The show centers around Lt. Shaw's (McDermott) undercover unit, comprised of himself and two other cops, Curtis (Hardwick) and Bendis (Marshall-Green). Along the way, Shaw recruits a bright-eyed street cop with a dubious past, Allen (Aycox). The unit walks the line between committing felonies that could land them in jail for a considerable amount of time and nailing the criminal enterprises they have infiltrated.The writing is sharp, if a little predictable when it comes to the "Federal Bureau of Intimidation," but the show works. I hope it becomes serialized like 24 and The Shield, and not procedural like NYPD Blue, as I think that'll give the show more of a chance to delve into the psychology of what it takes to be an undercover cop and remain the person you were when you entered into a cover.All in all, a good start with a lot of potential. I hope they focus on the characters as much as they do on plot in the episodes to come.8/10