Episode 1 – Central Division Review

Posted by Samuel Walters

Advertised with the tagline, “Where did all the gritty cop shows go?” Central Division opens with a briskly paced, snappy episode which establishes not only a number of plot elements, but also stylistic decisions. The dialogue is tightly written, offering wit along with its necessary exposition. The two main characters are introduced by way of their conversation, and we get a legitimate cliff hanger / revelation to conclude the episode. Whether or not the series ultimately lives up to its own advertising remains to be seen. But the opening salvo is, if nothing else, intriguing. And given the nature of web media, capturing the attention of the audience in the first episode — particularly when that episode lasts all of two minutes, is a significant accomplishment.

In this episode:

Memorable dialogue:

“You wanna call Guinness?”
“I could use a drink.”

“It worries me that you imagine a company in Ireland that makes stout beer and adjuticates world records.”
“Both sides looking right past us on this. We stay low down the middle, nobody even points near us.”

Plot developments

Talking about the “situation”
Establishing Internal Affairs and “The Serbians” as possible adversaries
The “discovery” in the trunk of the car

That Detective Edwards finds his wife in the trunk of his car is an ominous development. Indeed, such an extreme revelation might point toward a melodramatic story. A lot will depend on how the series utilizes the setup.

Important production note: Central Division was completed on a budget of $600.

Topics: Mystery, Web Reviews
Filed under: Central Division