Homicide 1x01-1x03

I finally started to Netflix this after much pimping by rachelmanija and after being sick of constantly watching shows that seemed to think that POC either didn't exist, or existed only to support white characteres.

So far, I am really impressed.

The writing is smart and dense. I still don't know most of their names except for Bayliss, Pembleton and Munch (single syllable!), but I can already tell them apart and sort of figure out their basic personalities after just three episodes. I speak as someone who can read fifteen volumes of manga, look up, and then realize she has been mistaking one of the main characters for another the entire time.

It's a show that's been taking a lot of concentration, so far; everyone speaks quickly and in slang. There's not much of an attempt to ease the viewer in. You can tell that this department/team (?) has a history and a dynamic from the get go, which is really nice. We do get Tim Bayliss, freshly come from the mayor, to ease us in, but he really isn't the main character in these three episodes by any means.

Also, I just like that everyone feels like a normal person that I would know. There have been some flashy crimes, but by and large, even though this is the homicide department, you get the sense that these are people who clock in and clock out and try to do their best, but it's not glamorous like some other legal/cop/crime shows I've seen.

And! I feel like I have seen more black people in the past three hours of TV than I have for entire seasons on other shows! Intelligent portrayals too!

( Further race and gender commentary, no spoilers )

Anyway, now I am sad there were only 3 eps. on that disc, because I want to watch more. So far, this is very good, and I'm very impressed.