The season one finale finds our two leads – Diaz and Harmon – at a crossroads. Diaz is preparing for his 60-day review, which will determine if he proceeds beyond the patrol unit. And Harmon has the choice of leaving patrol and joining Koyama’s drug task force. These two details are placed on hold as the duo joins a dangerous covert mission.
It’s revealed that East Barrio was responsible for the robberies the previous day, as acts of retaliation against one of their own – Smokey. It was his weed shop and his daughter’s home that were robbed. While they cannot confirm it, Harmon believes Smokey is responsible for the two thieves’ deaths. Koyama presents an opportunity to arrest Smokey for these crimes.
A shipment of fentanyl is dropping that evening. Koyama turns one of Smokey’s traffickers so they can catch the transaction in the act. Once they arrest Smokey for drug trafficking, they can saddle him with the murders of the two gang members. Diaz and Harmon must safely monitor until Koy gives the signal to engage. Unfortunately, their presence is blown and a furry of bullets interrupts the night. Diaz and Harmon are on the chase to catch Smokey before more people die.
The episode is solid, filled mostly with formulaic action scenes. They are enhanced again with the first-person body camera perspective. Later, scenes between Harmon, Lasman, and Bishop drive home the caliber of talent in front and behind the camera. Overall, the series is a solid police drama with the buds of becoming something more. While not an entire indictment of the profession, it feels more aware than other cop series. In the end, the police aren’t villains, and neither are the citizens. It all comes down to choices on both sides of the law. Some have more options than others, depending on their environment.
Rating: 8/10