I’m not sure why The Chicago Code isn’t succeeding more. It is a smartly written, wonderfully acted show about real cops. The politics of the CPD are exactly how I would imagine them. I get that people are tired of cop shows, I get that people might not take that this is a more realistic portrayal of cops (that we’ve not seen on network TV since NYPD Blue), and I get that, well, despite Tim Minear’s obvious talent, dude’s got the worst luck on planet. But I love this show, and I’m far from the only one.
I’ve got to change my expectations of the Wysocki/Evers partnership. These guys have got a great dynamic. Wysocki keeps trying to dump the kid, but Evers, surprisingly, pushes back and stands up for himself. They fight, they bicker … but I want them to like each other more. Thankfully, they don’t. Because, frankly, that would be stupid. This is why I write about television, instead of writing for television. They are great together, to be sure, but a friendship is not built overnight. Plus, half the reason they work is because they don’t work.
“[Gibbons is] not the only problem Teresa will face,” says show-runner Shawn Ryan on Twitter following this week’s episode. I said, actually as early as the second episode, that The Chicago Code had to stay safely away from letting the story become too serialized. This week’s episode proved my faith in Ryan was not misplaced. Chicago, I hear tell, is a big place, with a ton problems. If the stories all lead back to Gibbons, then those would be doing both the viewers, and the show’s chances to finally catch on, a major disservice (*salutes, Major Disservice).
When I saw Teresa open the box of radios in her office, I was a bit put off. There are over 13,000 sworn police officers in the CPD, and that one case of radios wasn’t going to cut it. But the finale scene, with the Superintendent in the bullpen, personally connecting with the beat cops? That was a great scene … Colvin has been defined in many ways by her separation from the actual cops on the force, it was nice to see her winning them over, and doing it the “right way” (We’ll leave the fact that Motorola probably advises for a full charge before use out of the conversation for now).
Vonda’s storyline took an interesting turn. When she stepped up and took the blame for Moose’s mistake (Though I thought it was a different cop, the one who handed the perp off), I figured Jarek would go ballistic when he found out the true story. But the younger Wysocki had a plan the whole time … it is damn smart to get a little leverage, and great of Jarek to recognize that. She is turning out to be a much smarter cop than her partner.
I was a bit curious as to what the title of the episode was all about. Turns out it is a reference to the Everleigh Club, a “high quality” brothel in Chicago at the turn of the century (You know, the last turn of the century).
Notes & Quotes
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Mar 15, 2011 @ 09:30 EST5EDT
Will you be too upset at my disappointment in the HIMYM reference after waiting all night for this review after seeing your tweet last night? I just can’t believe you haven’t been able to work major disappointment into a review until now; surely not everything you review is as good as this show.
But in all seriousness, this was another great episode of what is IMO the best show on network television and you wrote pretty good review of it as well. Having not gotten to the point in FNL where Matt Lauria joins the cast, it’s interesting to see how well he plays the “I find you attractive” face. It’s probably partly due to the writing, but in both this episode and with the cute nurse, Evers doesn’t have to say anything to the pretty girl, you just see it in his face, and (at least to me), it isn’t really a leer. In almost any other TV show, the love interest of the week is indicated by immediate verbal flirtation.
It also seems like we’ll get to see more into Jarek’s personal life; we just got the glimpse of his ex-wife, hopefully we’ll actually see the fiancée now that we’ve heard her voice. While that’s sure to be interesting, I actually want to see more into Evers’ life, of which we pretty much know nothing. Has he even had a voice-over explaining his motivation for being a police officer yet?
*POST AUTHOR*
Aw, man it all came together. There was a perfect Youtube clip to use and everything! Yeah, I’ve always wanted to work it in naturally, and not force it.
Yeah, Matt Lauria is a much different character on FNL than he is here (though, oddly similar at the same time). I still say we will see more of Nurse Nan.
I think they’ve done a good enough job only revealing bits and pieces of all of the character’s backstory.
As far as his motivations, I just always figured it was the family business. It’s just an assumption, but I think his dad was a CPD cop, and it is a heritage passed down.
All right, fair enough on the HIMYM reference, especially if you just found the YT clip.
As for Evers, I guess I missed the part where they mention his dad being a copper. I think I get his and Liam’s backstory confused sometimes.
I just really hope this doesn’t get canceled. Along with Shameless, it’s the non-comedy (Thursday night’s 1.5 hours of gold on NBC is a different sort of experience) I look forward to the most on TV.
*POST AUTHOR*
Oh, I misunderstood what you said. I think Jarek comes from a family of cops.
I’m with you on Shameless (though I think they need to dump Frank badly), but you couldn’t pay me to watch NBC’s comedies.
I am fairly certain that this episode was originally supposed to be episode 03. The development between Wysocki/Evers was back to the status is had in the pilot as well as the references about Wysocki’s wife and fiancee. Furthermore, the relationship and conflict between Wysocki, his niece, and Moose (I believe that’s his name) again were all reset back to where they were PRIOR to the episode where Wysocki isolated himself from the other cops.
Nothing wrong with this at all. I can see why Fox & Ryan wanted to push the Alderman Gibbons storyline to the front a little more to cement a villain for the first season. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we catch one more out-of-place episode through this first run.
Bottom line though, even “one-off” episodes of this show are phenomenal.
Shawn Ryan mentioned on twitter last night that he decided to write the last two episodes to expand the story prior to this episode.
From Twitter: ShawnRyanTV No. I chose to write/produce 2 eps that i wanted to put between eps 2 & 3
I’m glad that the Wysocki/Niece/Moose relationship was made a bit clearer over the last 2 eps before she took the blame for Moose.
*POST AUTHOR*
Carla’s right…. There was a lot of confusion about episode order, but Fox didn’t disrupt the airing order as intended by the creative team (Not like they’ve ever done that before (cough, cough Firefly, cough cough)).
It’s on Fox, it’s most likely going to be canceled. However I’ll enjoy it until that day comes.
. . . . .
Positivity, Oreo … positivity … !!!
*POST AUTHOR*
I think at this point, Chicago Code has a decent chance for another 13 episodes next season.
I haven’t paid attention, but is the show made by Fox? If so I can see it sticking around for another season. Fox has a way of keeping this around two season before canceling it.
The ratings aren’t great, but if it’s made by Fox they might order some new episodes as filler being that the dinosaur show is in trouble and House is nearing it’s end.
Even so I just hope that the 13th episode has a decent end and now some crazy cliffhanger.
*POST AUTHOR*
Production Companies: 20th Century Fox Television & MiddKid Productions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chicago_Code
Oh awesome, great news. Then that increases the likelihood.
The show is really well done, and is too good for network TV, which is why I’m afraid it’s doomed. But that’s excellent news. :)
I’m enjoying the show quite a bit. One of the better cop shows I’ve seen outside of The Wire.
I was going to argue with you about most realistic cop show since NYPD Blue, i.e., Southland, but then you said network–so I have to agree. Again, look at how the network treated Southland and ratings were never that great–maybe people don’t want real anymore–just shows that they think are real like “Apprentice” and its ilk. I do like the show, and hope it stays around for at least another season. I also like Detroit 1-8-7, but it has rating problems too. What so-called “reality” shows have done to real scripted TV shows of any type, I find really sad.
*POST AUTHOR*
Well, to your point, it originally aired on NBC, right?
I caught one episode, and just didn’t like it. Cudlitz was the only reason I would have had to watch.
It is tough, though, when you’re writing, to throw in “I think” or “that I’ve seen” all the time … I just skip it now :)