By Joe Skoog ’13
THE ROUNDUP

While most crime solving shows on television today show flashback scenes, cliché one-liners and unrealistic characters, ABC’s “Detroit 1-8-7” offers a refreshing and realistic depiction of crime solving.

Harkening back to the days of “NYPD Blue” and “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Detroit 1-8-7”shows the lives, work and grim realities of Detroit’s leading homicide unit.

Michael Imperioli plays Detective Louis Fitch, the misunderstood but highly respected lead detective, with a young and inexperienced but still talented partner, Detective Damon Washington. The dynamics of the show increase every episode.

This not only adds depth, but also shows different angles to each crime.

Each episode typically has two to three crimes that are being investigated at one time.

Another way the show maintains its realism is in the way the camera moves.

The camera moves and is almost like another character in another documentary style.

It is insinuated that there is a cameraman behind the camera who is following around each of the pairs of detectives, which makes it seem more raw and unfiltered.

Additionally, their shooting of the show on location in Detroit lends a more credible image to the plot.

The dying city is almost seen as a whole other character.

With its time slot of 9 p.m. every Tuesday on ABC, it does not face as much competition because of the other networks’ weaker shows during this time.

This show is a must-watch for fans of realistic cop dramas with developed story lines.