29/13
American (English) remake of the French series HPI (2021)
Synopsis
Follows Morgan, a single mother of three, and how her exceptional wit helps solve a crime by reorganizing evidence during her shift as a cleaning lady for the police department. Despite her very high IQ, excellent memory, and deep knowledge of arcane law, Morgan makes a series of fundamental legal errors that anyone who has ever watched a TV show about law will know not to make. In the first episode, for example, she obtains a document from a locked safe in the suspect-victim’s law office that would never be admissible in court – evidence obtained illegally. Nor could it be used to obtain other evidence – a violation of the legal doctrine of “fruit of the poisonous tree”. In episode 2, she has to be reminded to wear gloves before handling evidence at a crime scene, and in #3, she removes all documented evidence from the police station, completely breaking the chain of custody and making whatever she removed no longer admissible in court either. HPI remake (2021). I waited 4 episodes, which gave the show plenty of opportunities to prove itself.
just in a different package
It’s the exact same formula for all the “detective”, “cop” or “legal” episodes. shows take. It’s more of a “light drama” vein than the more realistic series, but it’s still the same formula. It’s “The Finder”, “Elsbeth”, “So Help Me Todd”, etc… If it’s “based on a French series”. it just means the French are perfectly capable of using the same tired and hackneyed formula that the US shows in abundance, that’s all. Male + Female “detective” team, one is flippant and aloof, the other serious and respected, they clash, but end up supporting each other.
wash, rinse, repeat
The clues are MIRACULOUS in nature and often no viewer, no matter what, could ever figure them out… and there’s a catch… one show that did it where the audience CANNOT figure out the outcome because they aren’t. I’m not privy to the upcoming miraculous (and hidden) clues – but they were supposed to be there all along. 2-5 minute opening main story… 30-35 minute random “case” that plays out the same way as all the other cases… 2-5 minute closing main story scene to add a cliffhanger for next week…
I’m so sick of this hackneyed formula
The premiere of this type of show can be interesting because it sets up the main story… but the formulaic pattern sets in by episode 2… and then repeats itself over and over again for as long as the show is on the air – often the show is canceled long before the main story is resolved – meaning the missing father in this show will NEVER get an answer or closure because it’s just a “phishing scam”. story line to keep viewers hooked for next week. Olsen and Sunjata do a good job, fitting the characters well… some of the other cast members (mostly the cops), not so much. And each episode basically has a large guest cast…
which is hit or miss
Overall, it’s a bubblegum detective show… not exactly horrible, but not really deep or complex in nature. I can see why some might like it, but I’d be surprised if it sticks around for long.