Crime drama with a new twist

Alexa Milan/ Reviewer

If you turn on your TV any given night of the week, you’re bound to come across a crime drama. Network schedules are filled with shows like “CSI,” “Law and Order,” “Without a Trace” and “Cold Case.” These shows bring in millions of viewers every week, but many of them feel bland because they’re formulated just like every other crime show on TV.
CBS’s new drama “Smith,” however, has a fresh originality and puts a new twist on the typical crime drama.

Unlike most crime shows which are told from the perspective of the investigators, “Smith” is told from the criminals’ point of view. The show, which airs at 10 p.m. Tuesday, focuses on a group of five criminals as they plan elaborate heists and deal with the repercussions of their past crimes.

The families of the criminals are central to the story. The show depicts the toll taken on the families while, unbeknownst to them, their husbands and friends commit crimes.

In the show’s pilot, the group concocted a scheme to steal a collection of expensive paintings from a museum. Things go awry during the heist, though, and a sixth member of the group, Sean, is killed by the police. Out of fear of being caught, the group hides Sean’s death from his wife and sends her money, so she’s under the impression that Sean has walked out on her and their child.

The heist also affects the show’s main character, Bobby Stevens, who decides for the sake of his family that after a few more jobs, he’ll set his life straight. His wife, Hope, suspects that Bobby is involved in the heist and begins following him to get proof. Hope also has a mysterious past of her own.

Currently, the team is planning another heist involving stealing a ton of gold while the FBI is still investigating their museum heist.

The title “Smith” refers to the unknown identity of the ringleader of the heist, in this case, it is Bobby Stevens. As the FBI investigates the crime, you find yourself hoping that they find more evidence, because you want to learn more about the criminals’ pasts, but also worrying about the safety of the group and their families because you become attached to their characters.

While a few of the personal storylines can be slow-moving at times, “Smith” has enough action to keep you on the edge of your seat, enough drama to keep you drawn to the story and the characters and enough humorous moments to balance everything out.

The show also boasts a strong cast of big-name actors who have made their mark in both movies and TV, including Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen, Simon Baker, Amy Smart and Shoreh Aghdashloo.

Liotta portrays Bobby with the nice guy-bad guy persona that he’s played so well in film before. You hate to love him, but you do. Madsen gives Hope personality, but doesn’t give away too much of her character, keeping viewers guessing about her past. Baker and Smart add a lot to the team as the impulsive Jeff and the feisty Annie, and Aghdashloo’s crime boss, Charlie, is mysterious and intriguing.

If you like “Ocean’s Eleven” and “The Italian Job,” you’ll appreciate the style of “Smith.” With strong performances, lots of action and interesting storylines, the show doesn’t disappoint. Its originality makes it a nice alternative to the slew of other crime dramas on television.

Contact Alexa Milan at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247