Type of Series: Cop Show; Drama.

    Similar Shows: Most ensemble cop shows feature one rookie character. This whole series was based around that character.

    Typical Episode: Typical episodes showcased a balance between what Ryan did at work, and his life off the job. At work, he was frequently (but not always) involved in a major crime from some angle. The rest of the time he hung out with his two buddies, worried about his single mom, and set about moving out into a place of his own.

    The Inner Light:

    Strengths: Good scripts and a likable lead. Another strength, I suppose, is the fact that this is a cop show with a fresh slant.

    Weaknesses: His two buddies weren't the most likable or sympathetic of characters. Normally in TV one of the hero's friends in a bit weird, a bit out there. But in this show, both of them were extreme. The result was that we (the audience) had no real counter-balance on the hero, and his choices. What this show needed was a dull buddy, who offered up a mirror on the hero, with regard to what his life could have been.

    Impressive Characters: Ryan was a likable guy, and his partner was cool.

    Impressive Actors: Sean Maher was very effective as Ryan. At first he seemed a bit too old for the part, but as the weeks went by I realised that his possessed exactly the sort of the grinning innocence the part called for. Ryan, bless him, did spend a lot of time grinning broadly at things he didn't quite understand.

    Impressive Episodes: I enjoyed almost all the episodes on this show's short run, but the one with the blackout stands out particularly well. Ryan and his partner chase a perp into a warehouse, and the partner goes down with a serious wound. The guys are cut off from outside contact, and neither they, nor the bad-guy have a clear escape. A stand-off. With Ryan taking the lead, because his partner is lying down, bleeding to death. Excellent stuff. And an excellent conclusion, with Ryan bargaining to let the guy escape so that his friend will live.

    Impressive Writers:

    Less-Than-Impressive Characters: The buddies were a bit of a drag.

    Less-Than-Impressive Actors:

    Less-Than-Impressive Episodes: About the only real mis-step in the show's brief season was when one of Ryan's buddies was the victim of a robbery. Suddenly The Two Worlds Of Ryan Caulfield... collided. And it made the whole thing seem more like every other cop show we've seen before.

    Less-Than-Impressive Writers:

    Continuity: Nothing too severe. Ryan and a beautiful co-worker were getting closer and closer as the weeks went by.

    Rewatchability: Not high. It's a good show, but I couldn't imagine ever been all that keen to watch it again. I wish there had been more new episdoes though!

    Episode Guide: EpGuides.Com is the best place to go for Episode Guides.

    Reviews:

    Other Info:

    Miscellaneous Comments:    12 April, 2003

    Another enjoyable show, cut off way too soon by TV execs. To be fair, though, from what I've read Ryan's ratings were much lower than the specials that had been in that timeslot before it made it's debut.

    But maybe that has more to do the choice of timeslot. I wouldn't necessarily see Ryan Caulfield as an early evening TV show for all the family. Some episodes, the last for example, were quite dark in tone, and featured death in a warts-and-all fashion.

    However, this is all redundant. It aired when it did, and flopped and was cancelled. End of story.

    I won't pretend that Ryan Caulfield: Year One is some "lost classic" like EZ Streets.

    No.

    It wasn't a classic. Just another Above Average TV Series that was interesting, entertaining, likable and written well enough to impress you once in a while. Had it stayed around, I would definitely have kept watching. Foreshadowing in the produced episodes indicates that Ryan's love life would have taken prominence, his imprisoned father was going to get out and re-enter his life. These were things I would have liked to see.

    It was not meant to be.

    I love television storytelling with a passion.

    But she is a cruel and unpredictable mistress.

    Everytime I sit to watch a series premier I have no idea what will happen next. Will I be enthralled, bored? Will the show soar, sink?

    Once in a while something like The Shield or The Guardian happens. A new story unfolds in that hour and you are elated and enthused by the whole idea of episodic storytelling. Critics shower praise on the show, viewers flock, awards mount up and you get a buzz from that, too.

    Mostly though, those opening episodes are a waste of an hour in your life: Fastlane, Presidio Med, American Dreams.

    In those cases, you don't care too much what happens to the show.

    And then there are the ones you like, the ones that should be hits, should be acclaimed. But aren't. Should last a long time. But don't.

    Love kills.

    Ryan Caulfield: R.I.P.

GRADE: B+

Review by Michael Leddy

Comments are welcome: rikerdonegal@hotmail.com

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