darkavenger77 As a retired cop, I watch a lot of cop shows on TV. I recently had the chance to pick up a set of the DVDs of Robbery Homicide Division and was reminded why I liked this show so much and how bad most other cop shows are in comparison.It's refreshing to see realistic police work- things like sitting on a robbery suspect for 3 days with nothing happening. Search warrants that are not instantaneous. Detectives that look like detectives- wearing suits and ties and clean shaved or with normal facial hair. Detectives with notepads writing things down. Morbid humor at crime scenes ("He missed the bus, but the bus didn't miss him!"). Lawyers that keep their clients from talking to police. Then there's one of my pet peeves- cops entering a tactical situation indoors while wearing sunglasses. It doesn't happen on this show. One of the most memorable scenes for me comes from "Free and Clear" where Lt. Cole confronts an armed kidnapper holding a shotgun on the victim. The suspect gets about 1 syllable out and Cole double-taps him with his gun, then secures the suspect's weapon. I've read the show had great technical advice from the LAPD and it is evident. Another plus for me is the lack of foul language or overly graphic scenes.The dialog was well-written. The characters and the cases were very believable. Tom Sizemore's quirkiness while apparently a reason for the downfall of the show also made Lt. Cole a realistic and interesting character.Having watched and enjoyed Michael Mann's earlier Miami Vice (1984) and Crime Story (1986 with the late real life cop turned actor Dennis Farina), I see elements of both here. It's unfortunate we only got 13 episodes of this greatness, but that is all too often the way of quality television, especially in our instant-gratification modern world.

snake77 Hands down. The episode "Had" is easily one of the finest hour's worth of television I have ever seen. What a nice change to see a show that has intelligent characters, complex stories and inspired direction. It's smart and moves fast and you have to pay attention as you watch, a sure sign it probably won't last - in fact by all appearances it's already done. Oh well, there's always insipid reruns of "Friends".

bob2 This show doesn't stand a chance.It has everything. A great cast, excellent music and beautiful photography. It has nothing that will allow it to survive on CBS.Another great show that had everything going for it was also on CBS. "EZ Streets" didn't last a full season. I don't expect RHD to last long either unless they somehow find a way to vote off members of the cast.

sbktex It may wear thin but so far two for two. Sizemore's quirks, real issues (so far cops for hire/scandal, gangs), and a very current juxtaposition of that great and tarnished "to protect and serve" enigma work very well. Even with great casting and good writing, East coast based cop shows are embarrassing predictable and dangerously thin (How big is the L&O franchise now?). And let's can both CSI's - Vegas crime lab as big as Quantico? In Miami, Caruso and Delaney still have those psycho NYPD Blue nauseating 'quiet and tense' personas.I abhor helicopter MOVIES so I can't explain why I thought the opening episode's 'Air Unit' tracking was so cool as a very routine fact of life in L.A. "Bag 'em" in L.A. is a stun shot, not your gritty and cute 'body bag' line back East. One hairline crack already though.. why didn't they stun him a second round instead of forcing his hand and wasting him on the front lawn??Thumbs Up! Let's go 4KING20!