Homicide: Life on the Street Series Review

Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-1999)
Season 1 - 9 episodes (1993)
Season 2 - 4 episodes (1994)
Season 3 - 20 episodes (1994-95)
Season 4 - 22 episodes (1995-96)
Season 5 - 22 episodes (1996-97)
Season 6 - 23 episodes (1997-98)
Season 7 - 22 episodes (1998-99)

Rent Homicide: Life on the Street on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Created by: Paul Attanasio
Starring: Richard Belzer, Clark Johnson, Yaphet Kotto, Kyle Secor, Andre Braugher, Melissa Leo, Reed Diamond, Jon Seda, Zeljko Ivanek, Daniel Baldwin, Ned Beatty, Peter Gerety, Jon Seda, Callie Thorne, Michael Michelle, Toni Lewis, Giancarlo Esposito
Rated: TV-14
Watch the trailer

Plot
A police procedural series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide Unit.

Verdict
This show always feels grounded; in the job, the paperwork, the politics. While detectives come and go the cases remain, and this show stays consistent for the duration. I was continually impressed with the depth of story and characters explored through the cases; it's riveting. This creates an attachment to the characters through the buildup of small momentss depicting daily life that gives this a sense of reality. This is underrated, and I'm surprised it isn't discussed more. Just like the characters were diligent in working every case that came in, this show diligently provided quality episodes week after week. The final episode ends like any other, and that's fitting. The show always focused on the cases. It's phenomenal, and you can see foundations for The Wire in this as well as what feels like dozens of actors that would later appear on that show.
Watch It.

Review
The series is based on David Simon's book about Baltimore crime, and he was a writer for the show. Simon would later create the series The Wire.

Season one introduces us to various homicide detectives as they tackle cases day in and day out in Baltimore. While there are a lot of characters, they're distinct enough that we don't mix them up. We get small moments in between cases that define them and their approach. It's this dialog in between that grounds this show and gives it a sense of being realistic. Even being detectives, they deal with typical workplace annoyances while still providing a view into what it's really like to be a cop. The dialog feels like they placed a camera in a police station. There's a detective trying to solve Abe Lincoln's murder, another suggesting they flood Camden yards as game days take up too much parking, and always some kind of disagreement between characters.

S1: Clark Johnson, Jon Polito, Daniel Baldwin, Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher play
Meldrick Lewis, Steve Crosetti, Beau Felton, John Munch, Frank Pembleton

It's a great show, and I'm surprised it was a network show as it strives for a level of realism I didn't expect. So many cop shows lack the authenticity this possesses, from the range of cases to the politics in the office. Each episode focuses on a case or cases that usually wrap up in that episode. What makes this show is the characters, how they interact, disagree, and work cases.

Despite critical acclaim, viewership was low and this only got a second season due to Emmy awards from the first season. The studio requested a short season to assess whether they would continue the show. Despite the short season, this has intense episodes like when Pembleton coerces a confession to make a point. It's troubling thinking about how that can really happen. This show was ahead of its time.

I remember hearing about this show, but NYPD Blue always had more buzz. I think part of that is this show never tried to be sensational. This show focuses on the cases, paperwork, and how the characters cope. There's frustrations from cases and colleagues, and despite that we get silly banter in between. That also fleshes out the characters. They aren't just cops, they are people good and bad that make mistakes. With the longer third season, this show really hits a stride. Every single actor does such a great job.

S3: Andre Braugher, Yaphet Kotto, Clark Johnson play Frank Pembleton, Al Giardello, Meldrick Lewis

This season is the first time Pembleton plays into politics, and it ends up with him being hung out to dry by the bosses. They're always looking for someone to blame. With more episodes, this season also features a serialized story with a police officer attack being a large focus. It's riveting television. Some of these interrogations are incredibly emotional. I was continually impressed with this show, the depth of story, and characters. I kept thinking how authentic it feels. These cops can be incredibly cynical, and it's easy to see why based on what they see day in and day out.

S3: Andre Braugher, Kyle Secor, Richard Belzer play Frank Pembleton, Tim Bayliss, John Munch

This show depicts the ups and downs of working the homicide unit. A running story line in the fourth season is the investigation of a retired cop that's killed. The suspect is acquitted but later ends up dead. The cop's son, a detective, is suspected in the killing. A later episode is a stakeout that the show takes advantage of by varying the pairs of detectives. They discuss Bayliss's pending movie to Los Angeles and their feelings on his departure. It's a rare moment when the detectives aren't working a case and we get to see them as people. So much of this show is the characters opposing bureaucracy. The cops want to solve cases while the administration often steps in for public relations and appearances sake.

Season five is a tough season. Frank deals with health problems, and he's frustrated about his diminished abilities. It's sad that he's no longer capable of being the cop he was. The ongoing story line in this season is a Baltimore drug dealer that keeps evading the police. The cops run into him a few times, and this season questions a cop's duty to uphold the law versus dealing with the destruction and havoc a drug dealer causes. This show delivers a solid story every episode. This season ends with a new mandate for detectives to rotate departments. It's a great way to work in a changing cast for the show. Every season introduces new characters and bids others farewell.

Season six maintains the consistency, but it's a dark season as Kellerman deals with events from the previous season. Like with all of the multi-episode story lines, they're usually developed piece by piece. They're never the focus. The cases this season especially challenge beliefs and morals. While so many shows are hesitant to move characters, this show often has characters leave and not always temporarily. It does bolster the realism as I would expect homicide detectives have a grueling job.

S7: Michael Michelle, Callie Thorne play Rene Sheppard, Laura Ballard

Giardello's son joins the show in the final season which seems too self serving. There's also an internet based episode that is comical. Maybe less so at the time, but it's the silliest the show gets.

This show remained engaging from the start. Characters continually evolved and not always for the better. I like that characters come and go, but it's unfortunate when a character you like doesn't return. It's also difficult to rank the seasons. The first two are so short that they never hit a stride. The final season is my least favorite due in part to the internet episode and the absence of Pembleton. Season three and four are hallmarks for the show while season five and six have big arcs. The foundations for The Wire are clear in this show. While it clocks in at over one-hundred episodes I was never bored. New characters keep this lively, but the show also rarely lets characters sit idle. There's always red on the board and a case that needs to be solved.