Cops and crooks and crime, oh my

I read a lot of detective and crime thrillers, so I guess it makes sense that I also often enjoy that type of thing when sitting in front of the television. And I also tend to enjoy shows more than movies, because they feel more like a book, with the way most shows these days tell one big story stretched over a ten-or-so-episode arc. All the dramas on the various streaming services have really embraced that type of narrative, so I feel sorry for those who miss the old getting-a-new-and-complete-story-every-episode way of doing things (I sometimes do, but not often).

In any event, Amazon Prime has a lot of good crime dramas of this type that you might find worth your time. Recently, I watched all three seasons of Goliath (the fourth season is dropping any day now, if it hasn't already), which stars Billy Bob Thorton as a defense attorney- supremely flawed personally and mostly brilliant in court- going against a huge, powerful, and connected lawn firm, which is probably where the title of the show comes from. Yes, you've seen this type of thing before but it's done well here. Quirky and interesting characters abound, most not all good or all bad, and Billy has a nice relationship with his teen daughter, who looks after him. Cynical crime-related legal shows need a little warmth, after all.

Bosch just included its seven-season run on Amazon Prime, and latecomer me lapped up all 68 or so episodes in, well, about 68 days (my idea of binging a show I really like is doling out one episode per night, so I watch it fast but not that fast, so it'll last a bit). Again, you've seen all this before... colorful cops with their various quirks, lots of station-house politics that often impede the real job at hand, dangerous criminals, and a central protagonist who isn't the easiest to deal with or the best at following orders, yet gets the job done. But, like Goliath, it does all its familiar tropes well. Oh, and Harry Bosch also has a devoted teen daughter to lend a little warmth to the proceedings.

Finally, I just completed the first of the two available seasons of Tin Star. Good show so far, though saying it's a show one likes might not be quite right. It's more like it draws you in despite your often wanting to look away. If Tin Star were a lurid paperback on one of those old drug store spinner racks, the promo copy on the book might be something like: "He took a nice job in a nice town, but Jim Worth is a cop with a secret... a secret that will spell doom for him and his family!" The show really embraces its gritty pulp/noir vibe, and Tim Roth really bites into his character, a nice guy (but not too nice) on the outside, with a darker side that slowly starts bubbling upward, especially when revenge becomes a factor. This one has a supportive daughter character, too... at least she's supportive at first. Remember, it's a dark show. But it's very involving and I'm looking forward to starting season two.

That's it for TV suggestions for now. I might actually get back to discussing a book or two next time!