James Halcomb deconstructs Fox’s new crime drama.
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Rainn Wilson, best known as Dwight Schrute on NBC’s ‘The Office’ stars in Fox’s “Backstrom.” Backstrom is a slovenly detective who makes Colombo look like the height of TV detective fashion. Its obvious that Wilson is relishing this part, wallowing in exhibiting his doughy physique then alternately solving crimes as much as insulting anyone within shouting distance.
The shows setting of Portland, Oregon is often a character onto itself. It’s gloomy, and constant overcast state, is a perfect reflection of the title character and his general demeanor.
The show has put together a solidly eclectic ensemble with Gravely (Genevieve Angelson) who he is in a constant clash for dominance, forensics specialist Peter Niedermayer); uniformed detective Frank Moto (Page Kennedy) and tech specialist Nadia Paquet (Beatrice Rosen), who has got to have an interesting backstory, she and her heavy European accent, would hardly fit in an exotic American TV cope show, but is so out of place. Backstrom also has a young gay tenant, Gregory Valentine (Thomas Dekker), who doubles as an underworld informant.
The shows need to be eclectic can at times feel erratic in tone, overshadowing what we show up for, which is to Backstrom and his crew solve a case. This may be due to weakness of the cases, at least in the pilot. As time passes and the show finds a rhythm, they may find something that clicks and works. Right now though, unfortunately, I have to give this show a pass.
2 stars from me.