Cop show alert. This doubles as a “my girlfriend watched this on Netflix” alert. The alerts also mean I didn’t see every episode, so I apologize if I missed anything important. Considering how much this show switches time slots I’m sure a lot of people haven’t seen every episode unless they accidentally found it where we did. “Flashpoint” is a pretty hammy show about a Strategic Response Unit in what seems to be the worst place in Canada. The show starts with a lot of normal hostage situations (which I think is more interesting than standard cop show format) and maintains that style predominately, but gets a little more action oriented towards the end of the run. This was likely to keep up the fickle CBS audience comprised of ignorant Americans. We only understand things that move quickly and throw action in our faces. We can’t comprehend delicate police work and psychology. Our neighbors to the north loved the show enough to get a 5th season shot and aired. “Flashpoint” ended its run on December 13, 2012.
They stopped filming because the cast couldn't get out of this Mexican stand off
There are two reasons I gave this show a chance: One is Elliot from “Just Shoot Me!” He’s now Greg Parker the head of SRU 1. That means he’s the king of negotiation and planning. He prefers talking people down compared to shooting them down. He’s divorced from his wife and estranged from his son because of normal cop stuff. Too much work, not enough love; you know the drill. I’m going to refrain from spoiling any parts of season 5 as my girlfriend and her mother have not watched it yet. If you want to see how this noble man turns up……I don’t know. Wait for Netflix to update.
I'm drowning in "Just Shoot Me!" puns
Second reason I gave the show a chance: The Original Pink Power Ranger. Yes Amy Jo Johnson plays Jules Callaghan, the only female on the team for a long while. In fact the bathroom has her name on it instead of women. She is shot at one point and replaced by lady named Donna (she pops up from time to time). She starts dating a guy on the team named Sam. I found him fairly uninteresting outside of one scene he had in the kitchen with Jules. I’m allowed to be shallow every so often people, but I do apologize.
She don't need no stinkin' Megazord
There is also the typical veteran cop Ed. The technical dork Spike and there was an older guy with Parkinson’s named Wordy. He leaves the team and is replaced by a guy named Raf who is there until the end of season 4. He apparently couldn’t handle the job, but likely the actor was unable to commit to season 5 because he was busy doing a bit part in the movie “Stag”.
Normally in an ensemble show I talk about the characters pretty much the whole time. The reason I think I liked this show more than most cop shows (which I say a lot, sadly I might be turning a corner) is because the personal lives were only broached. You know that Spike is dating Sam’s sister and Ed’s wife hates him for never being home; but it almost never dominates the plot. Even the episode where Donna gets married turns into a shoot out. What I’m getting at is I hate the fake drama in cop dramas, and this show cuts it out or makes it feel real. They are way better actors than freaking Woody from “Crossing Jordan”.
...mostly
I know the one person that is going to really care about this review will be disappointed by the depth. But I’m being brief so I don’t spoil season 5 for her. And the rest of you, watch the show if you like cop stuff. It’s top notch for the genre. “Flashpoint” employs real psychology and managed to create scenarios that really make the tension palpate. I don’t ever give ratings, but let’s go 2.5 out of 5. (take into account I would put “Home Movies” at 5)
Let's end with some Sam for the ladies