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Episode Recap: Pilot
New Orleans: Sept. 1, 2005. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Anthony Anderson's Marlin Boulet patrols the flooded streets of the city with his partner, Charlie. When they're back on solid ground, Charlie deserts him.
Sept. 1, 2007: Boulet is a changed man. He's on the edge of a breakdown and doesn't mind bending and breaking rules while he works his cases. His new partner, Cole Hauser's Trevor Cobb, is a bit of an enigma. Boulet can't understand why a Yankee, just back from a tour in Khandar with the Army Rangers, would choose to work in K-Ville.
The case: Boulet's neighbor is killed at a charity event for the 9th Ward, which Boulet and Cobb are working. They pursue the shooter, first on foot then on wheels, but the chase ends at the Riverfront Casino where they find the car abandoned. When drive-by shooters tear up the next charity event, once again organized by local Christine Dubois, the team gets suspicious. No one was shot so they think it was more to scare people than to hurt them. Boulet's ex-partner Charlie, trying to get back on the force and in Marlin's good graces, gives him a lead and helps capture the suspects.
The team: Jeff, Ginger and Captain Emery. We didn't get much face time with any of them, but I'm looking forward to getting to know them better. I'm happy to see Heroes' Tawny Cypress and Big Love's John Carroll Lynch with TV gigs again so soon.
Personal stories: Boulet's wife and daughter are in town for two days. They've been living in Atlanta and have returned for their belongings. Boulet is trying to convince his family their place is with him. His wife won't say she's back for good and their romantic night is spoiled when someone deliberately pumps water into their house from a fire hydrant. Cobb isn't much of a talker and doesn't feel the need to share with Boulet. But Boulet, showing signs of returning to form as a good cop, digs up Cobb's criminal past.
The resolution: Christine Dubois has been grabbing land through intimidation and violence. Boulet and Cobb suspect her father at first but soon learn she hired the security company from the casino to do her dirty work. Her brother was killed in the 9th and she wants to cleanse it of all the people there. People who don't value life. The people who killed her brother with a tire iron for $80.
I think there is a lot of potential here. I would imagine there are a lot of stories to tell about New Orleans and dealing with the aftermath of Katrina, although I think a little more subtlety wouldn't hurt. I like our leads. I've enjoyed Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser on the big and small screens and there are some other familiar faces in the crowd as well. I like Cobb's criminal history. He's making an effort to reinvent himself and do some good and I think that's compelling stuff. I absolutely think Boulet should keep an eye on him but he's got to watch out for himself too. He's got to make sure he's doing right by his family while making sure the desperate lack of resources in the city and on the force doesn't drive him over the edge. I think Charlie will be a good resource and since he's proven himself worthy of Boulet's friendship again, it looks like he'll be back on the force. And, although brief, it was nice to see Lost's Sam Anderson as Mr. Dubois and William Mapother as Mr. Wicks.
What did you think of this show? Let me know if you plan on sticking around to see how things develop. In the meantime, check out our Online Video Guide and this New York Times piece for more on K-Ville.
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Sep 18, 2007 2:19 AM
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First of all, they got the accents right. Finally. The t.v. show Orleans with Larry Haggman was the closest up until now.
Secondly, I cringed when I heard "neutral ground" in the first minutes of the show. My first thought was they were going to hit us over the head will local color and they were trying too hard. Then it turns out that it was meant to sound a little "off" becasue it was a red flag for Boulet that Cobb wasn't telling the truth. Good call.
It's still early, but I think this show has potential. I'd be interested to hear what New Orleanians have to say about it.
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Sep 18, 2007 7:21 AM
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I think this show has great potential but the question is will viewers tune in to watch. Oh and the other question is if it is good, won't FOX cancel it like they usually do with these type of shows??
I wasn't sure I was going to like the show at first. It is tough to take Anthony Anderson serious, but he sells it very well.
Sadly, I don't think the show will be around awhile. Especially since most people will probably opt for the mindless reality craze over good drama.
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Sep 18, 2007 7:28 AM
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I liked the show, but the writers need to be sure they don't overdo Boulet's character.
Also, it would have been nice to have a little bit of realism to this: any good cop worth his salt would have turned in his partner if he still had four months of jail time left. But then again, maybe that's too simplistic...
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Sep 18, 2007 8:44 AM
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I grew up in New Orleans, and while I haven't been back since just before Katrina, this show was a priority for watching for me. I would agree that they did get most of the accents right, but the Captain...well, his wasn't so on target. Not a big deal, though because people from all over live in New Orleans.
Thanks for the mention of the neutral ground! I was laughing when I heard that because I was thinking that anyone watching won't know what the heck that means, unless they know the local language! It was very well handled, though.
Sorry, but there's not a chance that when the partner was discovered as being a criminal, that he would get turned in. This is New Orleans and police and politician corruption is well known. Drinking on the job, criminals in the force, high powered people calling the shots...all realities down there. Maybe it seemed over the top, but that's how it is. Loyalty comes before ethics. My hope is that the show pays more attention to the needs of the people that live there, more than to the corruption. Not sure it can happen, though.
I also hope this show continues and prospers. It's certainly something I'd rather see than the mindless junk on many of the stations. Anderson showed anguish and thought amazingly well. It would be a shame to see this go too soon.
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Sep 18, 2007 9:00 AM
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Actually, they did not get the accent right. To this day, I have never seen a TV show or movie that has gotten it right. I really wish they would just stop trying and concentrate more on the story. Those of us who know and love the city will appreciate it more, and those who don't really know the accent do not know the difference anyway. I know the accent, I know the lingo, I have the accent, as I was born and raised there. I will continue to watch though, as I enjoyed the scenery last night and the storyline was not too bad either. And I do hope they do not go overboard with all the "preconceived" cultures. Some of that is NOT everyday life. For example, I didn't even know New Orleans was known for voodoo until I saw a movie about New Orleans that portrayed everyone as backwooded, voodoo practicing bunch of morons. I hope K-ville makes it, but only time will tell. Geaux Saints!
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Sep 18, 2007 9:08 AM
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Nice post lavano. I agree with you on the turning in his partner thing. To me, that would have actually been unrealistic to do that. I think the show has lots of potential and I do hope they show the stories of the people in New Orleans more. Hopefully Fox will give it a chance to receive an audience but with their track record...
Also, thanks for a great recap Kara.
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Sep 18, 2007 9:13 AM
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justmeagain, I lived in N.O. for 20 years, and, bracing for another chorus of Dennis Quaid's Remy McSwain (in all fairness to DQ, the officer he road with while preparing for the role was from Crowley, but I digress) or the horrid accents in Heaven' Prisoners, Angelheart, I thought what I heard last night sounded more like what I was used to, I don't know, like Harry Connick than Frank Daivs, I guess? it is hard to put your finger on it. But I'd rather it underdone than overdone?
And hey - there wasn't one scene in a row boat in an eerily quiet swamp. I think that's a first!!!!!
Now, if they can somehow tie-in Morgus the Magnificent to a crime.....
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Sep 18, 2007 9:32 AM
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I enjoyed the show a lot. I truly hope that Fox gives it a chance to finds its audience. Lots of potential for this show! I will continue to watch. Ever since Anthony Andersen's stint on "The Shield" he has truly impressed me as a versatile actor! Good job to all.
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Sep 18, 2007 9:34 AM
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As someone who's been down to New Orleans/southern Louisiana post-Katrina, I'm hopeful that this show may shed some light on what it's like down there. Granted, this is just a television show, so who knows ... but one can hope.
It's been 2 years since Katrina, and I don't think people realize how far from normal things really are. I didn't know until I went there, and I don't think I would have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes. The people of southern Louisiana are amazing, and have an incredible spirit, but they still need our help. Hopefully this show will make others realize that.
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Sep 18, 2007 9:34 AM
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So it's common in New Orleans to have criminals in the police department? Any employment security check would have shown this guy was a fraud. And didn't he say he came from "up north" or something? At the very least a background check would have shown he was lying about that. Also, by saying all the records were lost (except the few boxes they saved) are they trying to say that two years ago New Orleans wasn't using a computer system? Because if they were, their disaster plan would have included backing up their data to off-site locations. Plus the criminal records would no doubt have been backed-up by the FBI!
I'm not so sure I could get to like a show with such a shaky premise for one of its leads. Just not very believable.
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Sep 18, 2007 9:39 AM
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...I thought the timing was perfect as far as headlines are concerned, unless they went back and did some uberquick editing: Blackwater (the company hired by Christine) is the name of a real private security company that the U.S. has banned from Iraq after allegedly usng excessive force that resulted in several shooting deaths this weekend. Someone did their homework.
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Sep 18, 2007 9:44 AM
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Yeah, I thought it was pretty good. They never get it completely right in the South, but I think we're all used to that. Although the plotline was a bit weak, the characters are great, and I think there's potential for this to become a very strong character-driven series. It was nice to see Anthony Anderson exercise his acting chops for a change - he's really very good. And Cole Hauser is lovely and enigmatic.
I'm excited to see where this will go, but I could do without all the family histrionics from Marlin's wife. I'm not an old-fashioned person, but in this case, I think she needs to stand by her man. Plus, you know, what does she do - does she have a job or something? It would be nice to see a wife with a career and something else to do apart from scream at her husband.
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Sep 18, 2007 9:48 AM
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I agree with you ctheslayer. While it was far from perfect, they did do a better job than most. I suppose the only way to really get it right is if you grew up there or spent a significant amount of time there. The accent is as unique as the city and culture. I will be watching for someone to order a muffalatta or a poboy "dressed". I do have family there still and I know the struggles they are going through since Katrina and I welcome a show that will realistically shed some light on those struggles and what still needs to be done there.
Oh yes!....I remember Morgan the Magnificent, do you remember Miss Linda and Romper Room? 
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Sep 18, 2007 10:02 AM
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TEchnogeek: No, to my knowledge this is not a typical situation - but nothing that happened in N.O. after Katrina is typical. Yes, NOPD had computers and backup discs - but what happens when you get computer wet? Geez, even in T.S. Allison in Houston when the Med Center was flooded out, all sorts of records, bio experiments, etc., were lost. And that was just one area of a very large city for a few days. Parts of N.O. were underwater for months.
There are people who seem to have disappeared off the face of the planet b/c they were shuttled off on a plane across the country with nothing but the clothes on their backs, no ID, etc. It's been in the news that many prisoners who escaped took advantage of that. Like they explained last night, most of the ones who they just let go were in for lesser crimes with minimal time left on their sentences. People get off for good behavior all the time - why not let a few perps go if it means your time can be spent saving people's lives? That's what I think this show will drive home - it is unbelievable to think thatwhat happened in N.O. could happen in this country, but that's what a natural disaster can do.
As far as being able to get past the Army and serve in Iraq, well, maybe they will elaborate on that later.
justmeagain: Miss Linda! John Pela..Angela and Garland...Hap Glaudi...Buddy D. Uh, this show is making me so homesick!
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Sep 18, 2007 10:02 AM
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