TV-Series :: Copper

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Anamon

Reviews: 8

Stylish and excitingRating: 1 likes, 1 dislikes

Set in 1860s New York, Copper marks the first big-budget in-house production of BBC America, who previously focused on bringing U.K. programming to the States. During the Civil War, the U.S. are in a state of uncertainty, if not close to falling apart. The gloom and fear of a time of war reaches deep into the bustling streets of New York City. As a viewer, you follow Detective Kevin Corcoran, a hard-boiled Irish immigrant cop, stationed in disreputable Five Points, a neighbourhood of beggars, prostitutes, thieves and murderers. Through his military service, he has made friends from all walks of life, from high-society politicians to blue-collar workers. The show puts these friendships to good use by exploring this turbulent time of American and New York history from many different viewpoints.

While Copper is a crime series at heart, it often focuses more on the political and social circumstances of the day, rather than typical murder plots, which often even serve as comic relief against the bleak backdrops. Stylistically, the delivery is perfect and there are several highlights, such as Franka Potente co-starring as a madam. Storywise, while several plots seem to needlessly dawdle about and forget what they wanted to do, growing increasingly cumbersome (Annie), it is the characters that make you grow most attached. Apart from a few painfully stereotypical traits particularly of the main protagonist, they generally feel like they very much belong into the world portrayed, with their proper thoughts and motivations.

While the sets never really managed to convince me that this all takes place in a huge, bustling metropolis (New York had just recently grown to over 1 million citizens), everything else was done right, as should be expected from such a high-budget production. The writing is brisk, the actors excellent, the style aptly gritty and dusty—and most of all, the exquisitely styled beards can almost make a man burst with envy! Highly recommended.

Review posted on Thursday, January 10th 2013 at 4:35 pm