Review: Copper, S1 Ep 3, “In the Hands of an Angry God”
Air date: Sunday, September 2, 2012, 10/9c on BBC America
Rating:
Kevin Corcoran and Matthew Freeman work together to solve crimes
Copper is an intoxicating mix of corruption, greed, racism, and murder. Smack dab in the center of this dizzying Civil War-era world is Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones), a former boxer-turned-cop working for the Sixth Precinct in Five Points—a slummy immigrant area of 1860s New York predominantly populated by Irish and blacks. Newly returned from fighting in the Civil War, Corcoran possesses a strong moral core, fueled by his desperation to find his missing wife Ellen since his daughter was murdered (she’s buried in the local cemetery, which he visits often). His bosses, Capt. Sullivan (Ron White) and Sergeant Byrnes (David Keeley) are both corrupt and try their damndest to thwart Corcoran at every turn, especially in the case of a young girl’s death.
The supporting cast is solid, with an assortment of talented actors who are tailor made for their roles. Eva Heissen (Franka Potente) is a chilly brothel owner with a soft spot for Corcoran; Elizabeth Haverford (Anastasia Griffith), a wealthy do-gooder, is also enthralled with Corcoran; Annie Reilly (Kiara Glasco) was saved by Corcoran from a life of prostitution; and Molly (Tanya Fischer), Eva’s underling, also has a yen for Corcoran. Do you see the common thread here?
Corcoran pays Elizabeth a visit
Corcoran’s sidekicks are Det. Maguire (Kevin Ryan) and Andrew O’Brien (Dylan Taylor). They prove stalwart and loyal, and will not hesitate to resort to violence whenever necessary. Maguire is feckin’ hot as hell, even with his bad eye. Did you see his naked arse in the first episode? The fact that he wants to marry a prostitute speaks well of him; he dreams of having a quiet life on a farm with a wife. He’s unaware that Molly desires Corcoran, and hopefully the male bonds will withstand a woman coming between them. The local physician, Matthew Freeman (Ato Essandoh), a black man, also aids Corcoran by performing forensic examinations. Freeman’s wife, Sara (Tessa Thompson), is leery of, and has hated, white people ever since her brothers were lynched in the Draft Riots. With a pistol always in hand, she’ll defend her husband—and herself—to the death.
During “In the Hands of an Angry God,” we find Corcoran faced with a relatively unusual case: the lynching of a white man. Considering the racial tension between whites and blacks in Five Points, predictably (white) fingers point to the black Reverend Garland (Jim Codrington). The issue of racial tension arises in this conversation between Corcoran and Freeman:
Freeman: “You’re Irish, to the pit of your heart, and you Irish know how to hate.”
Corcoran: “Oh, I hate alright, but not in general. My hates are as specific as my affections…And you, Matthew, need only look at the woman in your bed to know the Irish hold no patent on a brooding heart.”
Eva is not a woman to be messed with!
Not in recent memory have I encountered a show where racial tensions are so explicitly expressed as in Copper (slurs such as “nigger,” “Negro,” and “colored” reflect the racist attitudes of the Civil War-era times). Corcoran and Freeman have close ties from serving in the 71st Regiment together, and they don’t easily forget them. Corcoran is fair, though, and if he suspects a black man, he will uncover as much evidence as he can to prove the suspect is innocent (after all, that’s the law; innocent until proven guilty). While his sergeants wave away Rev. Garland without a trial, Corcoran’s intent on meting out justice.
In this episode, there is an interesting storyline involving the gold locket owned by Corcoran’s wife. Every day, he asks the local people if they have seen it or know its whereabouts, which is just a little heartbreaking. Molly, however, finds it in a pawn shop but when Eva sees it, she nabs it and keeps it for herself. Interestingly, she doesn’t tell Corcoran about it. Why? I suspect she has something up her sleeve, and a burgeoning love for him is likely keeping her from telling him about it. She doesn’t want to lose him, and giving him the locket will bring him closer to finding his wife. Molly, too, wants Corcoran for herself, and this will pit the two strong-headed women against each other. Not to mention young Annie Reilly, who’s also enamored of Corcoran.
OK, why do all the ladies have to be in love with Corcoran? Annie is only 10 years old, and she’s trying to woo a grown man. I feel pity for her, and what she’s been through. Even Elizabeth, the wealthy Englishwoman, flirts with him. The only woman not fond of Corcoran is Sally, and who can blame her? He may be good friends with her husband, but he’s still a white man.
Det Maguire and Molly get cozy
Copper, written by Tom Fontana (Oz, Homicide: Life on the Streets) and Will Rokos (Monster’s Ball, Southland), employs engaging storylines that reflect a piece of U.S. history that I’m not well acquainted with. (I nodded off in high school history; I blame my teacher.) The set and costumes lend an air of authenticity, and you can almost feel the filth and poverty in the daily struggle for survival. The scene of street kids scrambling on the ground, sharing scraps with a dog more than illustrates the aura of desperate times.
With such a solid cast and excellent writing, I am anticipating an incredible first season of Copper.
Watch Copper Sundays, 10/9c on BBC America.
Follow Copper on Twitter: @CopperTV.
LIKE Copper on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CopperTV.
Follow the actors on Twitter: Kevin Corcoran @tomwestonjones, Det. Maguire @KevinRyanII, Matthew Freeman @AtoEssandoh, Robert Morehouse @iamkyleschmid, and Elizabeth Haverford @AnastasiaGLive.
Photos ©2012 BBC America. All Rights Reserved.
Juana
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