With a lot tv to select from, networks are struggling to search out methods to make their collection stand out. That is the case with CBS All Entry’ Interrogation, a gimmicky procedural that enables viewers to observe episodes in any order they please.
“When chilly case detectives reopen an unsolved case, they abandon the linear narrative offered within the information of the unique investigation,” states the intro to the collection. Reasonably, detectives comply with “the proof within the order they select.” In Interrogation, viewers are supposed to mimic this strategy, choosing and selecting which “clues” to comply with by skipping round to whichever episodes appear to have promising leads. The thought is that we really feel as if we’re working the case ourselves — a fairly intelligent conceit throughout a time when individuals are not solely obsessive about true crime collection and podcasts, however are additionally constructing Web communities which can be devoted to amateur detectives investigating cases. Opposite to most of its different packages, CBS All Entry is dropping all 10 episodes without delay on Thursday, Feb. 6, slightly than weekly.
The pilot of Interrogation introduces us to the case (which is predicated on a real story): 17-year-old Eric Fisher (performed by Kyle Gallner, Veronica Mars) is charged and convicted of brutally murdering his mom for $150. Fisher, who’s the one who known as 911, instantly turns into the principle suspect — particularly as a result of he has a historical past of drug dependancy. A lot of the episode takes place throughout the interrogation (get it?), when he’s questioned by Detective David Russell (Peter Sarsgaard, The Killing); these interrogations are taken from actual police information. Eric says he’s harmless, regardless of the proof in opposition to him, and “our” position as detectives is to attempt to determine if he’s really harmless or not.
From there, we are able to select the place to go. You may watch an episode titled after a possible suspect that was talked about on the finish of the pilot, or learn all of the episode descriptions and go together with what appears probably the most compelling… or simply randomly decide a quantity and go from there. (The finale, in fact, it meant to be watched final.) It’s actually an attention-grabbing gimmick — particularly for CBS, the king of crime procedurals, since placing the collection on its streaming service permits the community to mess around with its often formulaic strategy. But whereas it’s an admirable strategy, sadly it doesn’t precisely work. Largely, it feels as if all the collection exists solely to service the gimmick slightly than present to serve the story it needs to inform.
It’s unlucky as a result of it is a superb story and there are actually attention-grabbing bits strewn all through, resembling Eric’s harrowing experiences in jail, that are bolstered by a advantageous efficiency from Gallner (although generally it’s exhausting to shake the truth that he appears a bit like Walter White and acts rather a lot like Jesse Pinkman). Eric’s fervent want to coach himself in authorized issues as he maintains his innocence is a fascinating thread to comply with … if solely we have been capable of really comply with it! Plots involving Eric’s grieving father (David Strathairn) land properly, whereas a lot of the backstory into Russell’s household largely bores, although the Internals Affairs investigation picks issues again up. (Sarsgaard, in fact, is predictably nice, as is Vincent D’Onofrio in just a few episodes.) But it surely regularly feels extra like interconnected vignettes as a result of the story will ramp as much as one thing, solely to have it’s absent from the episode I occurred to decide on.
It’s a tough collection to evaluate as a result of I stored questioning if possibly a few of the lesser facets would work if I’d watched in a distinct order. It’s the kind of collection that ought to be straightforward to grow to be obsessive about, to race by way of all of the episodes keen to search out out the reality, however due to the present’s design, it lacks the momentum to carry curiosity. It turns into clear that sure twists would’ve hit a lot more durable had I watched a distinct episode prior.
It’s irritating as a result of all the parts are there however Interrogation unknowingly sacrifices its personal high quality by permitting us to decide on the place to go. The story was adequate that I used to be dying to know the conclusion however the way in which it was offered made me wish to skip forward to the finale as a substitute of losing time meandering across the different eight episodes. The thought of a Select Your Personal Journey strategy to a criminal offense procedural is actually thrilling on paper; it’s a real disappointment that it doesn’t work in execution.
TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: Interrogation has nice performances, an attention-grabbing and compelling thriller, however typically comes undone by its distinctive gimmick.