Skip to main content

PILOT REVIEW: Chase

CHASE










Starring: Kelli Giddish, Cole Hauser, Jesse Metcalfe, Amaury Nolasco, Rose Rollins
Created by Jennifer Johnson
Written by Jennifer Johnson, Directed by David Nutter

Chase is a new procedural from Jerry Bruckheimer who knows a thing or two about crime procedurals. This one follows US Marshals who are always in pursuit of fugitives. As Deputy Annie Frost (Kelli Giddish) says, "the police care about where he's been, we care about where he's going." It seems as though there are going to be many chase scenes, hence the title and while they were decent enough in the pilot, they'll have to make each one unique enough to keep it from being the same every week. Annie is the protagonist who works with friend and partner Jimmy Godfrey (Cole Hauser). They are given a "new guy" as well in Luke Watson (Jesse Metcalfe) that they are unsure about. Rounding out the team are Marco Martinez (Amauray Nolasco) and Daisy Ogbaa (Rose Rollins).

Chase has its moments as a procedural, but it's not one of the standouts. Part of the reason is that Giddish and Hauser come off very unlikable. It seems as though the writer and director wanted Giddish to be a "tough girl" which is fine but she just comes off annoyed. And in the few times they gave her sentimental moments, it came off fakey and forced. Hauser is also unlikable and seems to have one general disposition. Of course this is better than Metcalfe's character who seems to have no character traits at all besides being the new guy. How obvious was it that the "new guy" would make a big mistake when catching Week 1's fugitive? Very obvious in my book. Nolasco and Rollins were so inconsequential in the pilot, it's hard to even comment. The best character in episode one was the villain Mason Boyle (Travis Fimmel) who at least had some dimension to his character. However, for a show that boasts a strong female character, Boyle's girlfriend was a very cliche part.

From a cinematic standpoint, it is stronger than the average procedural and is well produced. The pace is fast, almost too fast. Boyle was committing crimes left and right and heading out again. While it's good to have twists and turns in a show like this, it was almost one or two too many as each new revelation couldn't really be developed. All in all, Chase was utterly average. Nothing that was laughably bad or mind blowingly incredible, just a run-of-the-mill procedural that happens to have a big chase scene. There are many other better shows like this to choose from, this one just doesn't quite make it.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SEASON IN REVIEW: 2017-18 Miscellaneous Awards

As usual, I am ending the season with a few miscellaneous awards. The blog will be quiet this summer but I will continue to do the week ahead posts with broadcast TV news as it happens this summer. Then I'll be back for previews, pilot reviews, and more in the fall! BEST RETURNING COMEDY Superstore (NBC) - Superstore was awarded my "Best Returning Comedy" last year, but it only got better in season three. The funniest ensemble on TV took another step forward with some truly hilarious moments (the season premiere, the Golden Globes party, and the Christmas episode to name a few) and some major plot points moving forward. It also has the potential to be surprisingly sentimental at times. I think back to the first year of the show and how I felt like it had so many funny elements but didn't always bring it completely together. Well now it does on a weekly basis and it is one of those shows that just seems to be in the sweet spot of what will hopefully be a long run. ...

EPISODE GUIDES: Happy Days Season Five (Part 1)

On Thursdays, I take a detailed and critical look at a TV show by season. Today I am looking at Season 5 (Part 1) of  Happy Days ! HAPPY DAYS: SEASON FIVE 1977-1978 27 episodes Season Five is the year where Fonzie infamously jumps the shark. It happens at the beginning of the season and while  Happy Days  does eventually decline in quality, it is not this season. In fact, this season graded out slightly higher than the previous season even though it doesn't feel as strong. I think that's because there's not a lot of outright stinkers in this season. It's a very solid season with the show continuing to hum along. There are some signs of the troubles to come but it doesn't happen on a regular basis in the fifth season. Starring Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham  (27 episodes) Henry Winkler as Arthur Fonzarelli  (27 episodes) Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham  (27 episodes) Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham  (27 episodes) Anson Williams as Potsie Webber  ...

EPISODE GUIDES: That 70s Show Season Seven

On Thursdays, I go through classic series with a critical look at each season. Today I am looking at Season Seven of  That 70s Show ! THAT 70s SHOW: SEASON SEVEN 2004-2005 25 episodes The seventh season of  That 70s Show  is the final season with Topher Grace as a series regular and also the final full season for Ashton Kutcher. Despite still having both of those cast member, the show finds itself flailing especially with Topher Grace's Eric, who is stuck in a terrible arc for most of the season. The show also brings many characters back at one point or another but everything just feels tired. This season actually graded out the worst for me. Even worse than the often maligned final season (more on that next week). Every title this season is named for a Rolling Stones song. Starring Topher Grace as Eric Forman  (25 episodes) Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart  (25 episodes) Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso  (25 episodes) Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde  (25 e...