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!!! POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD !!!
Pretty Hard Cases ("Cases") is a Canadian cop show that takes place in the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario. As someone born and raised in that part of the country, I'm always on the lookout for shows based there. Between their formulaic nature and the whole idea of "copaganda", I'm often hesitant to pick up a cop show for more than a few episodes. However, I found Cases to be a very fun, engaging, and particularly self-aware show that kept me hooked through the first two seasons.
The plot of Cases is pretty predictable, with well-timed twists and turns, back-stabbing, and double-crosses. Something I appreciate about this show is that the stakes are never so large that it feels like the three or four main characters are on the verge of saving the entire city. The stakes build and build with each solved mystery leading to a bigger one, but it never ballooned into a "one-man wrecking crew" style pursuit.
I also enjoyed that the show stuck to following a single story line with side cases all aiming towards solving the main mystery. I'm not the biggest fan of cop shows going with a "crime of the week" approach with a bigger plot simmering in the background.
I think the strongest part of this show are the characters and the actors playing them. The two main characters are Sam Wazowski played by Meredith MacNeill, and Kelly Duff played by Adrienne C. Moore. Both actors are phenomenal, anchoring the show with their ability to play very different, complex characters, while also flexing their incredible comedic chops.
The entire main cast is very diverse and I really felt like I was watching a show with people I'd been around when I was growing up. Every character is given agency and ample opportunity to assert themselves within the story, creating a richer-feeling environment where the two main characters feel like their part of the world and not floating above it.
The show goes to great lengths to show how people from different communities and backgrounds relate and interact with police, even when members of the force are from those very communities. There are no punches pulled when themes or privilege and consequences come up. Instead of shying away from the vastly different ways two characters of different backgrounds are treated within the police force and from the outside, the show puts these differences front and centre with actors and characters who carry that burden flawlessly.
The romances and relationships feel real and grounded. From two love-struck teens to two divorcees trying to figure out how to make things work, the show's variety of relationship types keeps things fresh and interesting.
If you're in the market for a cop show that's very funny and doesn't veer hard into the copaganda space, I would recommend Pretty Hard Cases. From the diverse cast, incredible acting, and engaging plot, this show's measured and conscious approach to the genre is a breath of fresh air.