Set in the early 1990s, City on A Hill is a fictionalised story about corruption, violence and discrimination within the Boston police force. Starring Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge, the story explores the police force, justice system and the lives of the criminals in the city of Boston, leaving Bacon and Hodge’s characters to do what they believe is best for their city.
Kevin Bacon plays Jackie Rohr, a rough and gruff FBI veteran who enjoys the power he holds amongst the corrupt men running the city. It’s made clear from early on that Rohr is bitter about the more restricted and regulated direction the city is taking and he clashes with the people who are trying to do better, including DeCourcy Ward. Ward is played by Hodge and is a district attorney from Brooklyn, who is struggling to come to terms with the attitudes and discrimination he is up against now he works in Boston. He tells Rohr that his long-term goal working as a district attorney in Boston is to rip out the ‘f-ed up machinery in this bullshit city’ and change it for good.
During the hour-long first episode, Ward is given a case that although should have a clear outcome, is somehow muddied by interference of the police – in particular, Rohr. Through this, he realises that if he is to make a difference, he must play by their rules too. Later, after another crime occurs and this case is also given to Ward, he makes the decision to team up with Rohr in what I can only assume will be a messy, fierce and fiery investigation into what happened and who is truly at fault.
The first episode of City on a Hill plays out exactly as the previously released two-minute trailer said it would. The episode does end with a twist, but the other fifty-nine minutes or so feel slow-paced; the focus is not on quickly pushing through the story but instead on setting up the scene, creating an understanding of the situation Boston found itself in during the 1990s and establishing the characters. We’re shown the main crime when it occurs, conversations between Rohr and other corrupt officers as well as Ward’s conversations with his wife and his confrontations with other members of the justice system. We are shown flashbacks and are also introduced to the main characters’ families. There is a lot of general information being given, and yet the show leaves the audience with a lot of questions, feeling like they don’t really know much yet.
So far, I’m enjoying seeing Kevin Bacon play a darker more questionable character and I’m enjoying the dynamic between him and the righteous Aldis Hodge. The Good Cop/Bad Cop dynamic is obvious as of right now, but this show also feels as though it may have a few more tricks up its sleeve – could Ward really straighten Rohr out, or will Rohr just corrupt and ruin Ward? How is each character going to respond and react to this new case? Who will win?
City on a Hill is a gritty crime drama show, pushing boundaries by talking about such a taboo subject as corruption within the police force. Ending episode one with a twist that is bound to reel you in, the show seems to have plenty to offer and if the payoff for the suspense is worth it, it could really cement itself as a standout crime drama show of 2019.
City on a Hill episode one is now streaming on Stan; new episodes released 1 pm every Monday (same time as the US).
Score: 4/5