It's time for Walter's kiss of death television review. Year after year I find a TV series which I really like and it disappears as if weighted with concrete and thrown into the ocean. My taste clearly runs counter to the vast TV audience which, come to think of it, is the story of my life. Past doomed favs include Hack, The Others, Moonlight and about one series per year which no one will remember.
This years "winner" is The Glades. As far as I am concerned A&E has captured lightening in a bottle. It is, I guess, a police procedural set in south Florida. But, all comparisons to CSI Miami or any other cop shows set in beautiful places end there. First, the cast in excellent and perfect for the tone and flavor of the show. Matt Passmore is a natural as a laid back displaced detective with hidden depths. Kiele Sanchez is his love interest and both the woman and the complex relationship are perfect. Passmore and Sanchez are two of the most attractive people in acting playing two of the most attractive characters to surface in a long time. By attractive I don't mean pretty in a movie or TV sense, I mean people you like, would like to know and can't help but care about.
The scripts are consistently intelligent and funny. The humor is not "jokes" or "sitcom situations." The humor grows naturally out of the characters and the action. The location is wonderful. It is not a beautiful vacation spot inhabited by privileged people. It is a regular place inhabited by real seeming people; more blue collar than classy. Still, you can accept and believe that Jim and Callie can find a spanish treasure buried in a mangrove swamp. And the best thing about the treasure is not the riches or beauty, but Callie's epiphany about her relationship with Jim.
The characters seem like real people showing up for real jobs. But if your loved one was murdered you'd want Jim Longworth on the case and if your loved one was only injured you'd want nurse Callie Cargill taking care of her. Even the kid is real and someone you'd like to know.
So, big cheers for The Glades. Sorry guys.
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