PILOT REVIEW: Deputy

DEPUTY

Starring: Stephen Dorff, Yara Martinez, Brian Van Holt, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Siena Goines, Shane Paul McGhie and Mark Moses

Created by Will Beall
Written by Will Beall, Directed by David Ayer

FOX's new drama Deputy was billed as blending the "spirit of a classic Western" with a "modern day attitude" and boy, do they try to hammer that home throughout the pilot. This is a show that wants to have it all and appeal to all without actually taking a stand on anything. It's like they wanted to do their rootin' tootin' shoot 'em up and get the bad guys approach that might appeal to conservatives but then bend over backwards to make progressive storylines such as immigration. As a result, the show suffers quite a bit from its tone and feel not matching its words and beliefs.

Deputy centers on a veteran lawman, Bill Hollister (Stephen Dorff). How do I know this? Well, his first line is "I'm a lawman." Due to an arcane law, his position as the longest serving deputy thrusts him into the job as sheriff of Los Angeles County. He immediately battles with under-sheriff Jerry London (Mark Moses) about anything and everything. His support network includes his wife, Paula (Yara Martinez) and confidante Cade Walker (Brian Van Holt) as well as his security detail Breanna Bishop (Bex Taylor-Klaus).

Do I think there could be a show about making a police department more progressive? Of course. But Hollister is played like a Jack Bauer type character - one who could care less about the establishment and prefers to handle things his own way. That's great, but then it doesn't seem in character for him to be as socially conscious and heavy handed about things as he is. It makes him not make sense as a character no matter how many gritty moments or close up looks at his grizzled face the show gives us. The show wants to have it both ways and instead they fail at both.

Even if the show can somehow strike the right balance in future episodes (and I doubt they could), there are so many other silly and cliche things. We have terrible dialogue. I already mentioned that it started with "I'm a lawman." Well, it ends with the line "Buckle up, we're just getting started." Cue major eye rolling from me. There are crazy and ridiculous car chases, a very heavy handed approach to PTSD in a stock character and even a Brady Bunch "Johnny Bravo" reference (ok, the last one I sort of appreciated).

WILL I WATCH IT AGAIN?
No, not interested.