Backstrom

Backstrom is a new crime/satyr/drama television show that airs every Thursday 9:00 PM on FOX channel started on January 22, 2015. Took set in Portland, Oregon but originally based off a detective story book by a Swedish author, Leif G. W. Persson.


So far there has been 7 episodes aired. Other sources might categorized Backstrom as "comedy", but as I have watched all 7 episodes, I would say it is more of satyr or at least "dark comedy" because the story on each episode were not of your usual detective/crime line. It presents more darker issue on average crime, such as LGBT, prostitution, cults, and underground money laundering scheme. Of course the drama side comes from the characters' personal life which spice up this series.

Talking about the characters, knowing that this still the first season which start off by introducing the characters hence there's still a lot of things that has not been revealed yet, this special-crime unit has the most uncanny personal background could be thrown into an unit. Lets get to know them better :

Detective Lieutenant Everett Backstrom

Rainn Wilson

The leader of this unit is depicted as a washed-out drunkard with narcissistic personality, cynical, bitter, sometime racist and fluent in sarcasm. But behind his dickness front, he is a brilliant detective with soft heart. A combination of Greg House of House MD tv show and Will Graham of Hannibal tv show.







Detective Sergeant Nicole Gravely

Genevieve Angelson

Gravely is the young rookie detective still filled with idealistic and wants to do everything by the book to the letter. She dressed formally, stern look on her face and practically says whatever crossed her mind even if its sound harsh. She is lovable and smart though.




....and here comes the uncanny characters~

Detective John Almond

Dennis Haysbert

Beside being a detective with highest conviction rate in the history of Portland Police Bureau, Det. Almond is also a priest. Yep, you read it right, a priest! The kind that preach in a church priest. He is not just protecting you from crimes wearing panama hat and trench coat , he is also protecting you from sins. A priest with swag~




Sgt. Peter Niedermayer

Kristoffer Polaha

The candy-eye on the team. Niedermayer looks like a model, dressed sharp and classy with a touch of flamboyant and metrosexual vibes. He is kind of clumsy and naive, and expressive especially when he tries to reconstruct how the crime committed with his off the chart imaginations but usually crushed immediately by Backstrom's own theory.




Nadia Paquet 

Beatrice Rosen

She is a civilian consultant that feeds technical IT support for the team. This pretty blonde with eastern Europe accent seems to hide some dark past and most likely to bring complication for the team in the future.







Officer Frank Motto

Page Kennedy

A former MMA fighter that usually do the foot-work, serves as the wing-man, the front-man, the body-man but he brings all the comedic into the show. And his big dream is to "get out of this uniform ASAP".







Other uncanny characters outside the main characters ...

Gregory Valentine

Thomas Dekker

Valentine is a proud gay and an "art dealer" who lives with Backstrom as a tenant. He is also plays the role as Backstrom's informant on the underworld, his "son", and sometimes his "guinea pig". But seems like Valentine serves as Backstrom's anchor to reality and sanity, cause Backstrom does listen to him.





Doctor Deb

Rizwan Manji

Backstrom has a complicated "I don't have to listen to you/ But I have to listen to you if I want to stay as a detective" relationship with Doctor Deb. Backstrom has to passed the physical test required to keep his job but being so stubborn, he tried to con his way out....and Doctor Deb's first prescription to him was "Get a friend".




Overall, this show has a lot of potentials, even though I've read on some media that its on a brink of cancellation due to low rating.