JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Lethal Weapon Season 1 (Fox)

About the Show

Combining action and drama with ride-or-die friendship and humor, Lethal Weapon reimagines the hit movie franchise, as it follows classic cop duo Riggs and Murtaugh, who work a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles.

Grief-stricken after the loss of his young wife and unborn child, ex-Navy SEAL-turned-detective Martin Riggs (Clayne Crawford, Rectify) moves to California to "start over" at the LAPD. He's paired up with Roger Murtaugh (Emmy Award nominee Damon Wayans, My Wife and Kids, In Living Color), who's just coming back to the job after a near-fatal heart attack. Riggs' penchant for diving headfirst into the line of fire immediately clashes with Murtaugh's prudent, by-the-book technique.

When Captain Brooks Avery (Kevin Rahm, Mad Men) assigns them their first case together, Riggs drags Murtaugh into a high-speed chase culminating inside the Long Beach Grand Prix and a seaport shootout with drug dealers -- and despite his protests, the older cop feels more alive than he has in years. Meanwhile, Riggs gets a glimpse of why Murtaugh is so determined to get home safely at the end of each day -- he't got a wife, Trish (Keesha Sharp, The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story), teenagers Roger, Jr. (Dante Brown, Mr. Robinson) and Riana (newcomer Chandler Kinney) and a newborn baby.

Riggs' life-on-the-edge attitude makes him a priority case for the department's psychologist, Dr. Maureen "Mo" Cahill (Jordana Brewster, Furious 7). Rounding out the precinct is Scorsese (Johnathan Fernandez, Girls, Younger), a pathologist with the LAPD who got his nickname after a stint in film school, which no one will let him forget.

By the time their first investigation ends, Riggs realizes he may have found something worth living for -- a partner and friend, Murtaugh. And even Murtaugh figures this arrangement might just work out after all. If only Riggs doesn't get them killed first...

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Television Network:

FOX

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Genre:

Action/Adventure

Crime/Drama

Police Procedural

Comedy 

Based on:

Lethal Weapon films

(starring Mel Gibson & Danny Glover)

Rating:

TV-MA

Cast:

Damon Wayans as Detective Roger Murtaugh

Clayne Crawford as Detective  Martin Riggs

Keesha Sharp as Trish Murtaugh

Jordana Brewster as Dr. Maureen "Mo" Cahill

Kevin Rahm as Captain Brooks Avery

Johnathan Fernandez as Scorsese

Dante Brown as Roger Murtaugh, Jr.

Chandler Kinney as Riana Murtaugh

Michelle Mitchenor as Sonya Bailey

Richard Cabral as Alejandro Cruz

See Full Cast & Crew List on IMDB

 

Watch Full Episodes

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*My Thoughts*

Alrighty... Here's another re-imagining of a popular film franchise! I loved and enjoyed watching the films which starred Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Each one with its own action and adventure. Likewise with this television series. Starring Damon Wayans and Clayne Crawford in those Lethal Weapon classic roles, the series also follows the action and adventure of these two as they solve crime. Each episode has its own world-building and character development. Of course, it does stay true to the basic theme of the Lethal Weapon storyline.

I don't like comparing TV shows to the movie counterpart(s), because it really wouldn't be fair to one or the other. The films were great in its own right. The TV show brings new life to a new generation of a theme that each both shares. Anyways, I really enjoyed the character development as this first season opened and introduced viewers to these characters, and how they are connected. There is no lack of action either. The humor was a nice reprieve from the drama... the elements balanced out. I enjoyed the chemistry between Damon and Clayne. Sometimes, it's hard to see Damon in character since I kept remembering the show In Living Color. To be fair, I have watched him in other TV shows and films. This is a nice change to see him tackle a dramatic role... And he fits the part. On the other hand, I haven't watched anything that Clayne was in, but he fits the part that Mel Gibson made famous. I like his portrayal of Martin Riggs.

Each episode is another and unique adventure for these two, but, in one way or another, each case they work on seems to be connected to each other. As this first season unfolds, we get a more deeper understanding of each of these characters and of what drives them, and how these characters come together...professionally and personally in the show. I enjoyed the flashbacks into Riggs past which revealed so much as to why he is who he is... and how he works through his tragic moment in life. In this TV series, there is more opportunity to develop each character's past and intertwine it to the present. Unlike in a film, there is only so much that can be done in the film.

This show has it's balanced elements of drama, humor, action, and adventure all wrapped in this first season... so far. I am glad too that this series was renewed for a second season since the season one finale left an interesting cliffhanger. Loved it!