Fall Pilot Review – TERRIERS on FX

What? TERRIERS is a drama series centering on ex-cop Hank Dolworth and his partner and best friend Britt Pollack, two small0time unlicensed private investigators who become embroiled in a big scandal.  Comedic, edgy, original, a show about high stakes in the face of low expectations, TERRIERS explores what it’s like in today’s America to be “too small to fail.”  Along for the ride are Hank’s ex wife Gretchen, Britt’s girlfriend Katie, Hank’s ex colleague Mark Gustafson, and Hank’s attorney Maggie.

Who? Stars Donal Logue as Hank, Michael James Raymond as Britt, Kimberly Quinn as Gretchen, Laura Allen as Katie, Rockmond Dunbar as Mark, and Jamie Denbo as Maggie.  The pilot guest stars The pilot was written by creator and executive producer Ted Griffin and directed by Craig Brewer.  Shawn Ryan serves as executive producer.  TERRIERS is produced by Fox 21.

Where/When? FX, 10/9c Wednesdays

Why (Why Not)? The show is a buddy cop drama, a dark comedy, a long exploration of the mind of an ex-cop, a man left to deal with his life now that his ex-wife is moving on, and I think Donal Logue has never been better.  He’s relateable, and troubled; as failed as I like my TV characters to get!  Hank has a constant need to help people, and it sometimes gets him into trouble.  His relationship with Britt is fantastic.  They bicker like brothers and best friends always do; at the heart, they absolutely have each others’ backs and their give and take is consistently ompelling.  The show is smart, and makes me think about what I would do in a lot of these situations.   By the end of episode 5, I’m completely hooked and ready to call this my new favorite show of the season (though I will say that it doesn’t have much competition).  I like Michael James Raymond more and more every time I see him, and in one of the first roles where I don’t find myself wishing her off the screen, Laura Allen brings a strong character to life.  The rest of the cast is captivating, as well and I found myself not wanting the show to end at the end of each hour.  A long story short, a smartly written show, that is well acted and provocative, this should be the one new show you sit yourself down to watch on a weekly basis, no matter what other plans you might have!

How? Watch it live, and rewatch the repeat episode that airs right after.  It’s that good.