Stalker Premiere Review
Primetime is filled with procedural shows. No matter where you turn there’s some guy wearing his sunglasses at night and hovering over the corpse of a pretty girl. I have never been a fan of the cop dramas that feel repetitive and never really address the psychology of the crime. That’s why Stalker is so much fun; it is a procedural, but feels more like a Hollywood thriller than a cop show. The cinematic approach makes the show significantly more fun to watch than the many other procedural cop dramas already in syndication. The series revolves around the cases of obsession examined by the Threat Assessment Unit of the LAPD and stars Dylan McDermott as Detective Jack Larsen and Maggie Q as Lieutenant Beth Davis. Together with their colleagues, they solve cases that involve stalking, cyber-harassment, fixation, and general creepy behavior. I was riveted by the premiere; its suspense and interesting characters intrigued me and have made me excited to watch next week.
Like any debut episode, Stalker spends a good amount of time introducing the characters and hinting at their backstories. Detective Larsen has transferred from New York and is new to the unit, unfortunately he doesn’t make the best impression on his boss Lieutenant Davis. This spurs some tension between them, a tension that will undoubtedly last through the season. The episode depicted multiple crimes, each one creepier and more unnerving than the last, and it quickly becomes clear that they are both exceptional detectives. As the plot develops, it is gradually revealed that they each have their own very specific reasons for the type of work they do. It is very clear that both Larsen and Davis intimately know a thing or two about stalking because of their pasts. While there are very few details given, it is clear that their secrets will slowly be revealed over the course of the season and will build a story arc so that the show is not just about a crime-a–week, which makes me all the more likely to make sure my PVR is set.
The highlight of the show was Maggie Q’s Lieutenant Davis. She successfully portrays a well-written, strong, no-nonsense female character. There is a fantastic exchange between Davis and Larsen where he feels that she dislikes him and apologizes if he may have objectified her. He asks why she dresses the way she does if she isn’t looking for male attention and she firmly replies “I dress for myself”. This is just a small taste of the strength she shows throughout the episode while also demonstrating vulnerability. The pilot does not reveal any part of her backstory, but it is obvious that she works in the TAU because she has had some previous personal experience with stalking. As they examine cases, there are hints of her discomfort, but while she is afraid and cautious, she never allows it to cripple her; she still kicks ass.
The show had some small plot points that stretched reality a bit too far and pulled my attention away from the story to the continuity, but none of them were so glaring that they discouraged me from tuning in next week. Stalker may take a slightly Hollywood approach to its subject matter, but with its dynamic characters and interesting plot lines, I thought the pilot did a fantastic job setting up the season and I can’t wait to learn more about the LAPD TAU.
Stalker premiered on Global TV on Wednesday October 1st at 10pm.
