gofastergetrounder The concept of a cop returning to the force with an eye to finding out who set him up has a ton of potential. Unfortunately, they didn't get the most out of that concept.This show made a strategic error -- trying to wrap too many short (single episode) cases as a major part of the plot time. Almost none of those were interesting-- perfunctory, blah, blah, blah detective stuff you see everywhere. More annoying, they detracted from what should have been plot time on the framed/set up element, which had a lot of potential. In short, I kept watching episodes now and again, but it took me a long time to get through the series. The really good series I have found on Netflix I would watch episode after episode until I worked through the series (e.g., Wallander, The Fall). One thing I found HUGELY annoying was that whoever did the makeup did a TERRIBLE job. Damien Lewis had so much obvious lipstick on at times I felt like he should have been in a dress too. Most unsubtle use of lipstick and makeup that I have seen since that one scene in "Wild at Heart." Makeup is not something I would normally look at or consider, much less make any comment about. But, in this case, it was really, really, really poorly done--enough to distract from the series as a whole. A really stupid mistake to make--didn't they watch the prior episodes before they shot the next ones?????

theoneheart A detective's job is to protect and serve even after 12 years in prison. When the lead character releases escaped prisoners he just witnessed kill, it's beyond criminal negligence. It's going to far when you shoot your car rather than a hostage taker holding a gun on a hostage. The writer could have at least put the con behind his hostage so we could imagine shooting him would place the hostage at greater risk. Instead the cops release two homicidal ex-cons in the hope that they wouldn't shoot the hostage and countless others. Why not just shoot the hostage and join the escaped cons in their criminal rampage? It must be a comedy.

Robert W. Anderson I was every episode of this show while it was running on NBC; and I've since bought bought the the two seasons of the show on iTunes. I've all the episodes a few more times over the years; and it hasn't lost any of it's original appeal. In the last five to ten years NBC has been making terrible programing decision; which is demonstrated by their terrible ratings numbers on nearly every time period of nearly every day of the week. This was an excellent show; with a great cast, turning in great performances, helped by excellent writing. Damian Lewis and Sarah Shahi bring to life two quirky and fun characters. Damian playing man deeply affected by the years he spent in spent being brutalized while serving time for a crime he didn't commit. Add to his problems, the problems of Sarah's character who has burned many bridges on her job with the LAPD; and is stuck with Crews (Damian's character). They are backed up by a very deep and excellent supporting cast. Adam Arkin doesn't get a lot of screen time but adds a great deal to the series. Other supporting characters include Donal Logue ("Terrers", "The Knights of Prosperiety", etc.) who joins the show half way through the first season as Crews shift commander. And those are just a few of the members of this wonderful cast. Each episode was a new a new case; but there were a few on-going story lines that were woven into various episodes; that involved Crews looking the men that helped him get convicted and put in prison, his discovery of a many of the new things (small cell phones, flat panels, and many other new bits of technology and pop culture) that he has not seen before and has to get used to, his interests in new cars, his use of Zen to help him survive jail and survive the outside world. I won't go into details of episode story lines; but suffice to say this is a fun, moving, and some times gripping series. This is a show that should have lasted at least five seasons. NBC didn't bother to publicize this show anywhere near enough; and didn't give it enough time on a specific day at a specific time for this show to gain an audience. This is a smart, fun, cop drama that I can't imagine anyone, who gives it a chance, could possibly dislike. You can get all the episodes for a reasonable price on iTunes; it's a great return for your entertainment dollars. If your reading this, take my advice look this show up on iTunes and check out the previews, and buy yourself a season. Once you do; you'll be sorry there's only one more season to come by. I'd give it 15 stars if I could!!!

call_me_crazy Another cop show with a twist. This one spent 12 years in jail for a murder he didn't commit, learns Zen and gets a multimillion dollar settlement before going back to work in the same city, with the same cops that put him away. The writing kept the shows light and had some cleaver dialog that was funny the stories were pretty typical of the genre. Damian Lewis does a good job as Charlie Crews, as do the rest of the cast, that is until the show spirals out of control toward the end of season 2. As you watch the second season you know things are coming to an end as the cast and stories seem to have lost all direction. What started out as a nice franchise, died a horrible death like many other have. I think Homeland was in the works and this show was left to run out a minimum contract for 16 shows in season 2.