What I’m Watching: The Chicago Code

The Chicago Code: Season 1, Episode 8 “Wild Onions” (B+)

I guess it’s only been a few weeks, but I feel like this show has been off the air for longer than that. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s already April and we’re only eight episodes into this show, with its future looking bleaker and bleaker for no logical reason. This now serves as the only procedural I’m currently watching, and therefore it has a certain appeal, especially as a more serious show than “Chuck” and a far better one than “The Event,” as far as Monday nights are concerned, that is. Framing any television show or movie on the hottest day of the year is usually a recipe for success, and this episode was no exception. It served as a particularly strong way to get too previously sidelined characters together, involving a decently steamy shower scene with Vonda and Isaac at the end. Liam’s immersion into Gibbons’ business is interesting to watch, and I like the fact that he’s now on the payroll for Gibbons as well as for the police force (I just keep flashing to Martin Sheen explaining to Leonardo DiCaprio that he won’t be paid as a regular cop). What’s the most intriguing and engaging part of this episode, however, is the hiring of Theresa’s new driver. I love it when a high-ranking official like Theresa gets into the action (see also: Captain David Aceveda messing up by taking some innocent kid’s bike in an installment of Shawn Ryan’s other cop show). Bidwell’s use of Wysocki-endorsed blackmail to get Theresa to agree to accept overnight detail was very clever, and his explanation of why he thinks she picked him for the job was a more serious but equally effective way to start their relationship.