Before the second episode of The Republic of Doyle screens, I wanted to lend my voice of comment to the discussion about CBC's latest "slice of life" dramatic comedy from Newfoundland.
Like everyone else who has opined, I find series star Allan Hawco a worthy descendant of James Garner's beloved private investigator, Jim Rockford. But if the series stars are going to develop the kind of chemistry Rockford had with his father "Rocky," things will have to pick up between Hawco and Sean McGinley. The use of a veteran Irish actor is better casting than we usually see -- with earnest "come from aways" looking into the camera and asking, "How are you, then, my old cockie?" -- but in the first episode, at least, he was just one of Jake Doyle's dysfunctional friends and family members. On the other hand, if we must have a tedious "will he, won't she?" love story with Constable Bennett (Krystin Pellerin), I like it as two corners of a triangle -- with the third provided by Doyle's estranged wife, played with edgy elan by Rachel Wilson.
The plot of the first episode was script-thin, though, wasting an excellent performance from Shawn Majumder, reminding us yet again of his range. Pilots seldom have the luxury of proper exposition, so we could not expect (and did not receive) much more than an introduction to the players who will take us through the half-dozen episodes on offer. But if you expect me to believe that St. John's can make private investigation compelling, do not ask me to accept that a salacious murder/drug/sex scandal will fall open in a matter of minutes.
Ah, St. John's. I hardly knew you with your edgy pursuits and raucous party boats. How much things have changed in fifteen years. The city is a rightful co-star: so bright and colorful. But just tell me the weather will not always be so pleasant. Having solved his first case in the sunniest stretch the Old City has likely ever seen, Jake Doyle deserves some rain, drizzle, and fog.
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