Out of nowhere it seems that many cable channels are coming
alive with some of the best television shows on the air. I've found myself
captivated by shows like WHITE COLLAR, BURN NOTICE and COVERT AFFAIRS while
passing over many network shows. The reason is that these shows are smart, well
written and entertaining. That holds true with the A&E series THE GLADES.
Season one of THE GLADES introduced us to the main
characters, who they were and how they ticked. The show focuses Jim Longworth
(Matt Passmore), a Chicago detective who made a mistake and was forced out of
town. Longworth now works in a small Florida town for the State Police in their
homicide division. His methods are unusual to say the least but his record is
tops.
Side characters in the series include Carlos Gomez as Carlos
Sanchez, the local coroner and friend of Longworth, Michelle Hurd as Colleen
Manus the head of the local division and Jordan Wall as Daniel Green, Carlos
assistant and resident nerd. But there is an additional main character as well
in Callie Cargill (Kiele Sanchez), a local nurse and single mother who finds a
mutual attraction to Longworth that begins in season one and continues to
develop in season two.
While solving a weekly murder is the main focus of the
series, the relationship between Jim and Callie is of equal importance. In
season one we found out that Callie is still married but that her husband is in
prison. She wants to divorce him but has held off until his release. With
season two he gets an early release and now Callie must decide what to do: stay
with a man who is trying to get his act together or go with Jim. The fact that
her son continues to love his father but finds a friend in Jim complicates
matters.
If that weren't enough there is a problem on Jim's side as
well. An ex-colleague from Chicago comes down to help with a case. But this
isn't just any ex-colleague. This is a woman that Jim was involved with, not
just a partner of the force but in life as well for a time. Will romance
rekindle or will Jim wait for Callie to make up her mind about what she wants?
These and other personal questions make the series interesting from a different
standpoint than the murders he investigates.
But the investigations are of interest as well. Jim
Longworth is a character who is long on smart aleck quips, sarcasm and the
insight to see beneath what lies on the surface. My only misgiving about the
character is his willingness to toss out accusations like they hold no meanings
and hoping they will stick. It would seem a charge of harassment might stick if
one of the accused here considered filing. But that's reality and this is TV.
The remarks help him solve the case and we get entertained in the process.
The cases are much like season one in that they don't always
have the normal type murders that actually exist in the real world. Instead we
have a murder in a community where sideshow carnival acts have gone to retire.
Or we get into a murder of a NASCAR driver. These are not the typical fare for
most murder mystery shows but they all seem to fit into this one.
There isn't an actor in this series who doesn't fit their
part to a T. Not only that, each and every one excels at the role they play. To
pull one front and center as the best would be to do a disservice to the rest.
They all are phenomenal. As the main character Passmore does take center stage
but he's often more than willing to share that with his co-stars.
It seems odd to say this as I read it in print, but this
show about murder and crime is actually quite entertaining and funny. But there
are moments that touch the heart as well. Give it a view and my guess is you'll
find yourself much like I have, watching the series as it airs as well as
enjoying the DVDs. This is one series that delivers the goods.
Click here to order.
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