Law and Order

As fancy as it may feel, and as stacked as its ensemble is, Prisoners is pretty much a very well-acted and technically proficient feature-length episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. To be as generous as possible, you might simply take out that NBC drama and insert the grimmest crime procedural on the air you can think of. Like the best cop dramas, Prisoners is compelling and twisty, red herrings planted with care throughout.

The Following, Season 1, Episode 2: “Chapter Two” Written by Kevin Williamson Directed by Marcos Siega Aired Mondays at 9pm (ET) on FOX It’s the second episode of The Following, and now we are beginning to learn the rules of the alternate universe. In this world, anyone can be a serial killer: prison wardens, detectives, …

Community, Season 3, Episode 17, “Basic Lupine Urology” Written by Megan Ganz Directed by Rob Schrab Airs Thursdays at 8pm ET on NBC “Basic Lupine Urology” (an odd title at first until you remember the creator of Law & Order is named Dick Wolf) is light on the character development Community has been trading in …

Most people watch TV passively, as a way to wind down their day or relax with their family. Then there are TV fans, who sit forward in their seats, eager to be challenged and inspired as well as entertained by their favorite series. In general, whether viewed actively or passively, TV is in its nature …

Cop shows have been around almost as long as television itself and have run the gamut, from procedurals to sitcoms to serialized dramas. They’ve given us some of TV’s most memorable and enduring characters, not to mention some of the medium’s best performances. Yet, upon examination, disproportionately few of the detectives who grace our screens …