37/39
Remake of HPI (2021)
Tale
Follow Morgan, a single mother of three, and how her extraordinary mind enables her to help solve a crime as she organizes evidence in her turn as a cleaner at the police department. American (English) remake of the French series HPI (2021). Despite his extremely high IQ, excellent memory, and extensive knowledge of the mystery, Morgan makes a series of basic mistakes in the law that anyone who has ever watched a TV legal show would not know to make. In the first episode, for example, he retrieves a document from a locked safe at the suspected victim’s law office that would never be admissible in court—illegally obtained evidence. Nor could it be used to obtain other evidence—violating the legal doctrine of “fruit of the poisonous tree.” In Episode 2, he has to be reminded to wear gloves before handling evidence at the crime scene, and in Episode 3, he removes all documented evidence from the police station, completely breaking the chain of custody and making whatever he’s removed also inadmissible in court. I waited for 4 episodes, giving the show plenty of opportunities to prove itself.
just in another wrapper
This is the exact same pattern in any “detective”, “police” or “legal” shows. This is more of a "light drama" vein than more realistic shows, but it’s still the same formula. It’s “The Finder”, “Elsbeth”, “So Help Me Todd”, etc… If it’s “based on a French series” That just means the French are perfectly capable of using the same tired, hackneyed formula. US shows abuses are rampant, that’s all. Male + female "cheater" team, one is picky and aloof, the other is serious and by the book, they clash but ultimately support each other.
wash, rinse, repeat
The clues are WONDERFUL and often nothing the viewer, any viewer, could ever pick up on… and there’s the rub… a who-did-it series where the audience CAN’T figure out the outcome because they’re not privy to the wondrous (and hidden) clues , which are still to come – but they were supposed to be there all along. 2-5 minute opening main story… 30-35 minute random "case" which works the same as all the other cases… a 2-5 minute main story scene to add a cliffhanger for next week…
So sick of this excessive formula
The premiere of series like this can be interesting because it’s set up for the main story.. but the formulaic pattern sets up in episode 2. and then just repeats itself over and over as long as the series is on TV – often the show is canceled long before the main story is resolved – ie the missing father in this series NEVER has an answer or a conclusion because it’s just " phishing line” of the story to keep viewers hooked until next week. Olsen and Sunjata do a good job, fit the characters well.. some other Actors (mostly cops), not so much. And basically every episode has a big Guest Cast..
which is hit or miss
All in all, it’s a bubblegum series… not really horrible, but not exactly deep or complex in character. I can see why some people might like it, but I’d be surprised if it lasts that long.