After Fox took the iconic Lethal Weapon movie franchise to the small screen, many people were anxious to see how the characters of Murtaugh and Cole would make the transition, and if they transition could be made successfully. Since Mel Gibson and Danny Glover have passed their action prime, finding a chemistry between two stars combined with the Alpha male antics required for a successful transition was one more challenge for the show’s producers.
What evolved was more of a conflict with the two male stars of the show, and what quietly has happened is the supporting cast of the show’s three women have become the major focus of interest of many of the show’s fans. Give credit to the writers who apparently grew weary of all the testosterone that was hampering production and creating a path to success nearly impossible.
First there is Erica Mallick. In the series she is in a relationship with Cole but has creatively managed to emerge as the small screen version of Lethal Weapon 4’s Lorna Cole played superbly by Rene Russo. Writers have successfully created greater depth for Erica in the small screen version, giving her the powerful combination of empowerment and intelligence. She has risen to the level of Assistant DA by exhibiting these characteristics, while still maintaining a level of hotness that keeps the Alpha males attention. But all this is packaged with a clear sense of humility, making Erica one of the women making the show what it needs to be.
Then there is Trish Murtaugh. She can best be described as a woman who can stand her own ground while also helping everyone who surrounds her to keep their feet on the ground as well. There are not very many characters who actually exhibit this quality, and when you consider her relationship with her significant other, this is not something anyone can easily pull off. Yet this is one of the key reasons she is another woman taking over the show. In contrast to many of highly questionable decisions made by people who are around her, her legal mind almost always prevails to make the right decision — a quality that many viewers prefer to see in a character in a drama series.
The show also has many women who make their own mark by supporting these supporting women. Case in point, Detective Bailey. While Trish is outstanding in her own right, she is somewhat limited in the harsh realities of being an LAPD detective. The combination of Bailey’s experience and insight provides the framework that allows Trish to follow the trail and bring justice. Likewise, as Bailey’s partner, The Gute has similar qualities and works well with Bailey on cases.
To complete the list, there are a number of minor female characters that nudge each episode of the show to a funner and more dramatic conclusion. Maya, only 12 years old, is a model for youthful girl power as she definitely speaks her own mind without too much thought of the consequences. It’s easy to give a 12 year old girl a pass for being brash, and the writers use this reality well. On the other hand, Natalie is more of an action character who puts into action what Maya may be thinking. It creates the intended environment of unpredictability, which is worth noting as you continue to watch the series. Remember, early in the movie franchise Riggs was the loose cannon and Murtaugh was the grounded veteran. As time passed, Murtaugh lost his “by the book” mentality and gravitated more towards Riggs’. In the series, these slow transitions are being made by the women.
It is fair to say that the real life drama between Damon Wayans and Clayne Crawford was directly responsible for the shift in focus to the now up-and-coming female characters. Crawford has been replaced, but with that change a significant part of the audience has lost interest. It may take a while for the fans to get over the departure of Crawford, and it is very possible it is when fans notice that it is the women who are actually the strength of the show they will have a greater appreciation for their contribution in making the show what it has been over the last 3 seasons.
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