The series just doesn't know what it wants to be. The scope is just enormous and it does not have the foundations to carry any of it. There are some arcs but they're buried under episodic elements that completely undermine plot-lines that have the potential to grab me for an entire season. Someone mentioned The Wire and perhaps I did too hope that this would stand up to something that incredible but it just isn't happening. Aside from The Bridge's reliance on cliche in lieu of character, The Wire's genius as opposed to this is that everything had consequence and the characters actually learned rather than have their hand held through the plot. Kenard is a beautiful example of this. Judging from this second episode we'll be lucky if we ever see a third of the new characters ever again and it's a shame.
Now, I really liked the first episode. It showed me The Bridge has an incredible potential to convey a dynamic between the newly-appointed Union leader, a ridiculously corrupt department [it's like Serpico's wet dream] and Frank's beloved brothers in blue. Where did all that go? Despite Frank's moan about being over his head, the show is just damn well comfortable with him walking through walls and getting everything accomplished with ease. His cops are murdering psychopaths? Oh well, what the hell. Yes, an innocent man died tragically and meaninglessly, but ten minutes later it's like "who cares?" None of the characters seem to, anyways.
That being said, I will watch the third episode. I am intrigued by what Mike has up his sleeve [though I do not care about the doomed cop he's allegedly protecting], Billy as the fall-girl is sure to result in some kookiness and I like Aaron Douglas to a fault. Tyrol just has that effect on people I guess.
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