Crime thrillers have graced our television screens almost as long as television itself has existed.
Peacock’s new miniseriesLong Bright Riveris the exception to the norm.
What Is ‘Long Bright River’ About?
Image via Peacock
Each day, police officer Mickey Fitzpatrick (Amanda Seyfried) patrols her beat in Kensington.
Kensington itself doesn’t fare any better.
The same streets Mickey trod as a child have been ravaged by opioids and poverty.
Image via Peacock
But unlike virtually all of her white male colleagues, Mickey can name every sex worker her car passes.
And when we grieve over our suffering loved ones, isn’t our anger and disappointment misplaced?
They are drowning, and they lack the resources and structure to keep their heads above water.
Image via Peacock
What did you see on TV, Clarice, what did you see?
In keeping with this theme,Long Bright Riversubverts the toxic white savior narrative.
They have always been, and will forever remain, humans with shattered dreams and no other recourse.
Still,not including a more diverse ensemble seems like a fundamental oversight.
Her arresting performance both grounds the proceedings and hovers over them like an ominous storm cloud.
Long Bright Riversignals aparadigm shift in the crime genrethat other series would be wise to follow.
All eight episodes ofLong Bright Riverpremiere March 13 on Peacock.
