Shades of Blue Review: Who Are The Good Guys?

I have no idea who the good guys are. I really don’t. Shades of Blue has always blurred the line between good and bad, and it’s honestly kind of exciting to explore these gray areas, but it’s starting to feel like the cops in this story are just bad, and they’re not very good at it either. I’m not sure what to think anymore.

This week on Shades of Blue: Harlee pushes Stahl for her team’s immunity. Miguel visits with Cristina, and Harlee makes him an offer. The gang starts the armored car job, but Loman follows them. Both the FBI and police sides of the operation go vigorously south.

This show is starting to be too convoluted for its own good. I mean, I’m following it, but it’s a really crowded story. Now, I’ll concede this much: it cleared up toward the end. When everything finally hit the fan, and the weird little side case was connected TO the job they were working, everything made more sense. But until then, it was hard to follow at best, and totally ridiculous at first.

I care about the characters on this show less with each passing moment. The problem I have is that every one of them is non-committal. They all change their minds about everything. Harlee waffles back and forth between Stahl and Wozniak more than once an episode (or so it seems). Wozniak has made lots of really great decisions and tons of really terrible ones. The only character who has apparently decided exactly who to be is Loman, whose morals (at least for the time being) seem to be consistent. And even he got everyone into a precarious situation.

Am I supposed to care about the Miguel story? It’s not very interesting. All roads lead to “these cops might get busted”. Cristina might find out, but I can’t see that becoming a long-standing conflict. I suppose the point is that since he was abusive, that Harlee’s decisions aren’t all terrible, even if illegal. I can see why she’d want to put him away. I don’t know, however, why she keeps lying to everyone about everything. Nobody ever stays fooled for more than an episode or two.

For the most part, the show is still well-acted. While it still under-utilizes some talented cast (Drea De Matteo), Ray Liotta and Jennifer Lopez remain compelling as the lead characters. Warren Kole is pretty good as Stahl. Lopez is still the clear strength of the show, but there is only so far that she can carry the show. I think Harlee is a poorly written character that’s all over the place, but Lopez’s conviction and dramatic acting ability make all the rest of it watchable…for now.

I thought this started off interesting, but it’s been dragging to a close rather than escalating. Though I have to admit, the last five minutes or so of the episode were pulse-pounding, gripping moments that shifted the whole momentum of not just this episode, but the last few. It ended on a really exciting note that will propel me to watch through the end of the season.  I’m still on the fence about the show as a whole, but it just got infinitely more interesting.

What did you guys think? Did you enjoy this episode? Let us know!

Shades of Blue airs Thursdays at 10/9c on NBC