COPS L.A.C.
While the detectives tackle the big crimes, the uniforms handle the petty thieves at Seaview Local Command, the home of Nine's newest cop family.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under Programming, Reviews
Detective Samantha Cooper (Kate Ritchie) sure picked the wrong day to be wearing a skirt.
While she’s doing her best crimebusting as part of Seaview Local Command, some of her male colleagues seem a lot more distracted by her attire.
In the middle of an investigation where two cars collided and one man has died there’s a gratuitious shot of Kate Ritchie’s behind, as observed by her partner, Det. Snr Const. Rhy Llewellyn (Martin Dingle Wall).
“Nice view,” says Rhys.
“Are you a meathead all of the time, or just at work?” asks Cooper.
Later on Det. Snr. Cons. Matt Hilton (Damian De Montemas) checks her out too.
“I knew I should have worn pants today,” she sighs.
Can’t argue with that. But as Vanessa Gray on The Strip or Anna Hutchison on Underbelly could have told her, Channel Nine dramas prefer a bit of skirt (or less) at least somewhere on the screen. In shows like Rescue Special Ops it’s surprising anyone can keep their eye on the job.
Seaview Local Command is an inner Sydney, coastal cop station with a contemporary design and a boss in the form of Superintendant Jack Finch (Gary Sweet). He’s a swaggering superior in a smooth suit who leaves Inspector Dianne Pappas (Denise Roberts) and Snr. Sgt. Graham Sinclair (Roy Billing) to manage the station and staff under his command.
On the lowest rung is newcomer Probationary Constable Priscilla Smith (Kelly Paterniti) who kicks off the episode chasing a petty crim through the suburban streets. Smith is pretty green at her job and this hits home when she sees the driver of the car burnt alive following the show’s biggest car-crash stunt.
She also has trouble following police procedure.
“You’re a proessional police officer now. You don’t get out of that truck without a hat,” barks the streetwise Sinclair.
When Cooper and Llewellyn discover the crash may have actually been a homicide, they embark on a mystery that forms the show’s major plot. Strangely enough, nobody brings in the Homicide Squad.
Thus Seaview Local Command sets about spanning the big crime cases via its detectives, while the uniforms handle streetcrime and protecting the community. There are hints of more worthy drama contrasted with lighter moments.
The first episode, ‘The Learning Curve’ by writer Tim Pye, also includes Peter Overton reading the News on a TV screen, a sailor with a dodgy US accent, a customary car chase, a wayward fart, and a staff BBQ. The show seeks to establish an extended family of cops which has proven so successful for long-running dramas such as Blue Heelers and Cop Shop. Character actor Roy Billing as the crusty Snr. Sgt. Graham Sinclair is the most successful at establishing this, but Ritchie also rises above the material.
One goofy cop splashed with a milk shake by a member of the public early in the piece wears the same stained shirt through the remainder of the episode. It is at odds with an earlier reprimand of a constable not wearing her hat.
COPS L.A.C. also follows both City Homicide and Rush in comprising part of a ‘State Police’ rather than being in conjunction with NSW Police. This affords it the ability to steer from spotless cops, a benefit that is well utilised in one of the best moments in the final sequence.
The show opens with glossy credits and a rock track theme before closing with a classic Aussie rock theme to bookend its first episode.
As an in-house production COPS L.A.C. is more accomplished than Canal Road, but that isn’t necessarily saying a lot. With all the uniforms dominating our landscape it is surprising Nine didn’t opt for an adult melodrama to complement its stable of Rescue Special Ops, Sea Patrol and Underbelly.
In a top-heavy genre such as Police drama, COPS L.A.C. will have to prove itself if it is to rise above the pack.
COPS L.A.C. premieres 8:30pm Thursday September 2nd on Nine.
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- Tagged with Blue Heelers, Canal Road, City Homicide, Cop Shop, Cops. L.A.C., Rescue Special Ops, Rush, Sea Patrol, The Strip, Underbelly
32 Responses
Is it just me – or is this show one long wet-t-shirt competition?? I’ve never seen so many well-built coppers in one place in my life (male and female!!).
Great review David. I’m really looking forward to this one… I’m over Rush so lets hope this is a good alternative.
I’ll be watching 🙂
I love Martin Dingle-Wall. 🙂
Thanks David for the review, seems well balanced and of course ahs a respected person offering their viewpoints. I will watch and see, especially since I will record for later since Rush is my main cop show on Thurs and RSO on Mon less cop more rescue, however I do agree with the sentiment that there are already many existing shows, whcih is why Offspring is refreshing if not a critics or audience fave yet.
So what does LAC stand for – Local something Command?
Local Area Command -a NSW term.
In house Nine production = flop.
This looks sooooo 80s. My gawd.
I’ll give it a go, although my expectations are not high. Hopefully, I’ll be surprised.
Nothing could be worse than Offspring, I wouldn’t even call that a drama.
I will be watching this, hopefully it will be as good as Underbelly, hopefully not a terrible aussie drama like Offspring.
Yes Kate has a pivotal role. Aus drama is around $800,000 an hr.
I would encourage readers to watch for themselves and make up their own mind. I am just one opinion.
Sounds mind numbing. Thanks 9.
@ Peter I agree the dialogue is woeful but this show doesn’t look or sound anything like Cop Shop or Richmond Hill… this is just way too glossy, if it was anything like them it might actually be good.
It’s a tough environment to be launching a new, garden variety police procedural. It sounds like it’s trying to be all things to all people which can be a recipe for lame, tame, same same. The Bill has been axed, City Homicide is struggling and RSO’s numbers are not great. Why will this show stand out? Can the soapy popularity of Kate Ritchie make people commit to this series? I will choose Rush over this.
Anyone know the budget per episode of this show?
Blue Heelers did use authentic stuff (except for that weird made up logo at the head of an episode.) Water Rats and Police Rescue also used authentic gear and ex cops as consultants.
So does Kate Richie have the pivotal lead in this show?
Looking forward to seeing Denise Roberts back on our screens.
Please note Blue Heelers never used authentic Vic police badges or logos – this was the only thing not permitted.
Oh dear! What were they thinking? That dialogue sounds awful!
Looks like drama has gone back to the 80s – is this Cop Shop revisited? Or Richmond Hill perhaps?
I was under the impression that all fictional TV drama police characters (in NSW) had to wear ‘State Police’ uniforms rather than the real ‘NSW Police’ uniforms. Are there dramas that do use the real ‘NSW Police’ badges?
It would depend on the arrangements between prdn co. and NSW Police. Blue Heelers famously used Vic Police cars and uniforms by having a Vic Police consultant. When State Police arrived for City Homicide it opened up a new field of story possibilities incl. police corruption that they couldn’t really do on Heelers. Note also Sea Patrol has co-operation of the Navy.
a load of tripe…….. or should i say another….
You make it sound like a shot of Kate Richie’s behind is a bad thing 🙂
I’m a fan of your classic procedural so looking forward to Nine’s newest drama.
What’s Robert Trimbole doing in a Police uniform?
This series , a future addition to Universal Channel ??
I will watch this .I think Kate Ritchie will be fantastic and she hasn’t appeared in 4 other cop shows like other cast members. To see how different or similar this series you have to watch it.
Sounds like a touch of Blue Heelers, a touch of Water Rats and a bit of Police Rescue. Guess it was too much to hope we might see a local version of “The Bill” – oh well, I’ll still watch, but if they start reusing Rats scripts, I won’t be impressed.