As with, unfortunately, most of American television drama, they find a plot they like and recycle it within the series. The prime example was MASH where each of the leads...in turn...got the same plot thrown at them....new woman...strife from home...whatever and this show, even within the limited first series ends on a very predictable 'happy' note. It's so sugary sweet that my teeth ache and I found myself hoping...just 1 episode..would show some reality instead of the honey-covered solution...but it was not to be. The main actors do a pretty competent job....experience shows and even with the lackluster scripts they...at least..are entertaining but the Indian actor....I can't remember his name...is TERRIBLE...not at all believable in the role and I can't decide if it's the character they wrote for him, or weather he is the wrong actor for the job or if he's simply not a good actor. In any case he is decidedly the weak link and detracts from the whole attempt at realism. Too bad as the camera work is good as are the 3 main actors but the writing and the rest....BLEH!

Without making any comparisons under the microscope and taking into consideration of location and storyline, I will use my favorite "law enforcement" shows: 24 and The Shield (which have seemed to have both ran their course) as well as Southland and Detroit 1-8-7 (both I with a LONG list of seasons, with Southland already seemingly going in that direction).Now there are 2 primary types of shows, the ones that are out on the beat hitting the turf and those whom tend to focus more on the inner-workings of law-enforcement. Southland tends to focus on the "street" element and beat cops, which in its own way makes for an extremely fantastic show. I believe that "street element" is what really gave the drive and made the show 24 spectacular series.The second type is focused on the detective facet and most of the drama is in-house. This is where The Shield and Detroit 1-8-7 make their mark. With The Shield only running 6-7 seasons, I believe that Detroit 1-8-7 has that special "OMG, I can't wait to see what append next episode", just as all the other 3 noted above had done. Now with the possibility of them NOT shooting a second season of Detroit 1-8-7 looming over our heads I fear that we are going to be the victims of yet another GREAT show getting the rug pulled underneath its feet, and there wont ever be a 2nd season. The thought of such a thing (like the single season of Day Break, sours my stomach. Detroit 1-8-7 had it all, great casting, great writing/plot, great acting, and the elements of action, suspense, drama, and the realism of being filmed in Detroit, makes this a dozen season show, easily. They say that it is the lowest rated "scripted" show on ABC, yet ABC has only ? drama/scripted shows? Its a network of "reality TV" crap (sorry to all of the "reality TV" fans, I get enough reality in real life)!Detroit 1-8-7 has received generally positive reviews. It has an average score of 63/100 on Metacritic based on 23 reviews from users. It has an arithmetic mean of 8.4/10 on IMDb and a median rating of 9/10. Robert Bianco of USA Today describes the series as the best police drama on ABC since NYPD Blue ended. Bianco says the show's best trait is its uncommon setting and that it is filmed where it is set, "which gives it an authenticity and a palpable sense of place." The New York Times's television critic Alessandra Stanley said the show is "a throwback to an earlier era of cop shows when steel-edged realism was still novel and there was a thrill to watching terse, streetwise detectives on shows like Dragnet and Kojak cajole witnesses and browbeat suspects. Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_1-8-7Image Awards Year- 2011 Result- Nominated Award- Image Award Category/Recipient(s)- Outstanding Drama SeriesShould they cancel and not continue a second season, I will be forced to sue ABC on the grounds of mental distress and anguish. I will settle out of court for a contract of at least 5 more seasons or should the utmost unfortunate death occur of Michael Imperioli (Detective Louis Fitch) (and if they loose Natalie Martinez's character 'Detective Ariana Sanchez'. Should anyone want to join my plight to keep the show, contact me at rford75 @ gmail.com (spaced for email bot scanners)

I have watched all of season 1 and have to say I absolutely LOVE this show! I am a big fan of crime-drama type TV (CSI, Law & Order) and this is my favorite of all of them. The filming style is so realistic and the characters are complex and multi-dimensional. I haven't seen a series this "real" since Hill Street Blues.When we first meet the primary character, Fitch, it seems like he might spend the rest of the series as the weird, slightly off cop. I was worried the character would end up like Monk...a sort of savant with no social skills. As the episodes pass, we learn more about him and understand why he is so careful to avoid deeper connections with those around him. Layer after layer is revealed and we find an amazing example of a well-developed character.All of the characters in this show are well crafted and all of the actors do a superb job with the roles. There are no trite plot developments...which is shocking considering how many crime drama episodes are already in existence.I hope this series is renewed!

This show is fresh and very original, not another cookie cutter murder show and always the second suspect as the killer. Writers are terrific and the give the excellent cast some quality material, nice job how the story lines are interwoven. It's not just another cop drama, feels like real people with real life situations and problems to solve or resolve, including their own self conflicts. Every symbol, tool or character has a reason to be there. Characters are grounded and well thought out, compelling and we actually root for them, no mystery here, no hidden alcoholics or drug abuse by the show's cops (we've seen it so many times before). Even my 13 year old son has an interest in the show because of the good action and strong story arcs which actually make sense -- no sci-fi effects, these are people facing true crises and figuring it out. Refreshing, refreshing, refreshing! ABC you have a hit, let it mature some more, you'll win recognition for this -- reward your actors, writers and producers, with more episodes, they all deserve it! So does your growing audience.