Crossing Lines

Posted by Lynna Burgamy on Friday, July 26, 2024

NBC's summer filler is basically a Euro-zone version of 'Criminal Minds'

Produced in Europe, “Crossing Lines” is a credible and gritty crime procedural that NBC is scheduling as summer filler, featuring a crack team “from all over the Euro Zone” assembled to hunt down the worst of the worst. “We’re like the Justice League,” the lone American, played by William Fichtner, muses near the outset, yielding confused shrugs from some of his colleagues. Actually, they’re more like “Criminal Minds” — a former stop made by series creator Edward Allen Bernero — only this time with a bit more flair and a nondescript title that’s nevertheless catchier than “Earning Tax Credits,” which would be equally descriptive.

If nothing else, having this series turn up on a major network (as opposed to, say, BBC America) should remind inward-looking U.S. viewers that we have not cornered the market on psychopathic killers or tormented cops, even if the team’s steely eyed French leader, Louis Daniel (Marc Lavoine), feels compelled to recruit a retired Yank, Fichtner’s twitchy Carl Hickman, to lend his expertise to the operation. Hickman is hiding out in Amsterdam, nursing an old wound and a medicinal habit, as well as a bad attitude.

Related Stories

Multiple cables winding together creating one big cable VIP+

The Great Cable Rollup That Will Never Be

“Sixteen Steps” – As Olympia and Julian get a second shot at a case regarding a tragic death due to contaminated baby formula, their past work on the investigation gives glimpses into what led to their divorce. Also, Matty’s overwhelming stress causes her to consider quitting, on MATLOCK, Thursday, Nov. 14 (9:01-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured (L-R): Kathy Bates as “Madeline Matlock”. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

'Matlock' Boss on Matty's Quest to Avenge Daughter’s Opioid Death and Almost Getting Busted: 'It Gets Even More Difficult for Her'

He shares that last quality, inevitably, with most of his new teammates, who include crime-solving prodigies with special skills from Italy (Gabriella Pession), France (Moon Dailly), Ireland (Richard Flood) and Germany (“Game of Thrones’ ” Tom Wlaschiha, with a much shorter haircut).

Popular on Variety

Pursuing a killer who leaves behind a grisly trail of dead women, the group (organized under the International Criminal Court) runs into the expected jurisdictional skirmishes with local gendarmes, while Louis also grapples with bureaucratic issues in the form of a fatherly ICC inspector played by Donald Sutherland, adding another recognizable (if scarcely present) face to the proceedings.

Directed by Daniel Percival, “Crossing Lines” does represent a hybrid of sorts, containing some of the brooding strains characteristic of British crime shows — which specialize in detectives burdened by dark streaks — with the fundamental skeleton of U.S. procedurals. That said, the whole melting pot of European coppers swapping insults is a rather stale twist on an old formula.

That’s not to say “Lines” is without its merits, starting with Fichtner, always an interesting actor, with a character that suits him (and bears a more-than-passing resemblance to his “Prison Break” stint); and Lavoine, who in the two-part premiere is saddled with his own vague but tragic backstory.

Still, this bit of international cooperation is clearly motivated more by circumstances (and the prospect of sharing production costs) than inspiration. In that respect, the exigencies of fighting crime and financing TV each have a way of creating strange, border-crossing bedfellows.

Read More About:

Jump to Comments

Crossing Lines

(Series; NBC, Sun. June 23, 9 p.m.)

  • Production: Filmed in Prague, Paris and Nice and by Tandem Communications in association with Bernero Prods., TF1 Prods. and Sony Pictures Television Networks.
  • Crew: Executive producers, Edward Allen Bernero, Rola Bauer, Jonas Bauer, Tim Halkin; co-executive producers, Celine Roux, Franck Calderon; producers, Howard Griffith, Charles S. Caroll, Moritz Polter; director, Daniel Percival; writer, Bernero; camera, Laurent Bares; production designer, Jacques Rouxel; editors, Jason Krasucki, Adam Trotman; music, Guillaume Roussel; casting, Priscilla John. 120 MIN.
  • Cast: William Fichtner, Marc Lavoine, Gabriella Pession, Tom Wlaschiha, Moon Dailly, Richard Flood, Donald Sutherland.

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXJ%2Fjq2taKqVq7amw9Jomquno6i2r7OMpaCnnaNiv6bCyJ6uZqaSmHpyfo9pa3JuZmiAcA%3D%3D

CATALOG
    FEATURED TAGS