It's a great show, and it's too good for a lot of people.

a constant dosage of clichés and mediocre acting.

You're right. It's very good and not at all boring. Maybe a little too dark and introspective for some people and perhaps that's why they think it's boring. I'm older and I can live with a slow paced show but it seems as if a lot of younger people want constant action without the build up, which usually isn't really how life unfolds.

Ahhhh.... the 'dumb people just don't understand 'good art' argument.

First off... LWS is not a terrible show, but it's not a great one at that. The fact that there is nothing else on as remarkable as BB, The Wire, and Treme (all excellent shows) does not elevate this show to the same level of greatness. No in fact it draws unnecessary comparisons to shows that 'got it right'. Like it's sister show "The Killing" it's a show that aimed high but delivered a middling performance. What it benefited in good acting... it lacked was in plot development and story structure. A show that delivered too little story for too many characters. What you consider 'good story' I say was disjointed and paced problematically. What you see as good writing I see as a show struggling under the weight of various scenarios and plots it set up with little connection or meaning to the main narrative. It still didn't answer the main question of the entire show? Is Frank Agnew a good cop? As evidenced by his actions in the final episodes, obviously not.


The show definitely had promise but unlike The Wire, BB, The Sopranos, Treme it lacked the clear confidence to focus on a single narrative and muddied the waters trying to be a larger indictment on Detroit and the people and crimes that inhibit it. This is like 'The Wire'-lite... a show that should never try to be reproduced. Remember the brilliance of The Wire was equal billing to all perpetrators and victims of crime in Baltimore. It was scripted as a 'day in the life' rather than a noirish police drama. There were moments in LWS I enjoyed but more that I found just frustrating. I will admit watching BB ride into the sunset at the top of it's game possibly soured my experience with this show. Perhaps this should have been broadcast in Feburary (actually during winter) when the summer schedule isn't so competitive. I don't mind a 'slow burn' as long as the show takes great pains to have me care about the characters. I loved Deadwood. A show that balanced many supporting characters as it fleshed out the main characters. I watch Downton Abbey. No police shootouts or drug dealer executions on that show... just tons of character development piled upon drama. I would watch a 2nd season of LWS but I would want the show significantly retooled. And more Boyd... alot more Boyd.