It seems like drama has moved south. A trend perhaps started by True Blood and followed by Treme, The Good Guys, Outlaw Country, the recently wrapped up Justified and new entry Memphis Beat. Since these last two have more than little in common I will review both now.

Justified starts with U.S Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) sat down with a known fugitive, he offers him the choice to leave town or die, pulling a gun on Raylan seals his fate, but that is one too many shootings and Raylan is reassigned to is home town in Kentucky. Here childhood friend Boyd Crowder(Walton Goggins has turned into redneck racist and is not only responsible for the murder of one of his gang members but also for launching a rocket into a black church. Tracking down Crowder leads Raylan to cross paths with his past, an ex-wife, a childhood admirer and the mystery of surround his estranged father. Ultimately it all leads to showdown where he is placed in a similar situation as the first scene and has to make the call about shooting his childhood friend.

Based on the character created by Elmore Leonard the pilot sets up that all too familiar police dynamic and while Raylan maybe more gentleman than brute force, his unconventional methods still rials up his boss. With The Shield finishing on such a high last year, it was great to see the return of the brilliant Walton Goggins to the TV screens, he manages to infuse real character in what could a horrible stereotype in other hands. The pilot serves to set up the interesting characters and dynamics, but as a result feels a little back story heavy with many key events taking place prior to the first episode. With a setting that takes us out of the cities we have become use to in other cop shows, there is certainly scope for fresh storylines. However, although bold in the early stages highlighting the consequence of a policeman shooting his gun, by the end you get the feeling that as long as it is a bad guy getting shot, that is all the justification needed.

In the pilot episode of Memphis Beat we are introduced to Dwight Hendricks (Jason Lee) a policeman with very good instincts. When an abused old woman is brought into the station, Dwight learns she was once a great radio DJ who first introduced him to Elvis (he is now an Elvis impersonator in  his spare time).  Emotionally involved in the case his new boss does not approve of his unconventional methods, constantly taking him off the case, this however does not stop his investigation until he finds her abuser.

From the first shot of Jason Lee you start to wonder if this is suppose to be a comedy, then you see the scrawny DJ Qualls in uniform and you know think it is a comedy, then when the first criminal’s trousers fall down, you sigh as it becomes “that type of comedy”. But that is where the comedy ends and a run of the mill police drama starts. Characters are flat and one note facing few, if any consequences for their actions. Only two things stand out, the music (an excellent from soundtrack from start to finish) and the setting. Dwight’s amazing instincts are often mentioned, but there is no explanation about where this comes from, he is no Mentalist and his skills serve only to move the plot forward in a quick and convenient way.

So in a quick summary, Memphis Beat sees Southern gentleman cop Dwight Hendricks solve crime with his unique powers of insight which goes against his by the book boss’ wishes. Justified meanwhile takes place in neighbouring state where U.S Marshal and southern gentleman Raylan Givens upsets his by the book boss because of a trigger happy finger.

Memphis Beat did nothing to peak my interest, I did not get involved with the main character and the horrible mix of comedy and drama was off balance and distracting. I have made it through the first series of Justified and much like the pilot there are some stand out moments that raise it above the usual network offerings, but it is not bold or fresh enough to stand up against other police dramas such as The Shield and The Wire. Law enforcement will always be a popular choice for drama, like medical shows it allows for an easy, self contained story each week, but it is such a well trodden path that you have to throw in something new to win me over.

I’m already dreading the next police drama on my review list Rookie Blue.

Memphis Beat
Created / Written by: Josh Harto and Liz Garcia
Directed by: John Fortenberry
Starring: Jason Lee, Alfre Woodard, DJ Qualls, Celia Weston, Sam Hennings, Leonard Earl Howze, Abraham Benrubi
Date premièred: 22nd June 2010 (TNT)
UK Details: TBC

Justified
Created / Written by: Graham Yost based the character created Elmore Leonard and his short story “Fire in the Hole”
Directed by: TBC
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Erica Tazel, Jacob Pitts, Joelle Carter, Natalie Zea,
Date premièred: 16th March 2010 (FX)
UK Details: 5th May 2010 (FIVE USA)