Another cop show, except RZA is on this one. Shout out to John Locke too!
Maybe you’ve heard about it already, but FOX has a new show every Thursday called Gang Related. The basic premise of the show involves a Gang Task Force unit that’s trying to take down gangs in the Los Angeles area. In a twist, detective Ryan Lopez has ties to the Acosta family, the same family the LAPD is investigating. RZA also stars on the show as Cassius Green, a DEA Agent and Lopez’s partner.
So far in the two episodes, there’s a full fledged gang war that has taken place, officers have been killed, drive by’s have murked fools off and there’s still some questions about how real this show coincides with real police life in the field.
You gotta remember, this is made for primetime network TV, not HBO.
The acting can be a little better (maybe it’s the writing for the show?) and we still don’t understand how there can be a detective inside a task force without being thoroughly screened before joining, with no traces of him being tied to one of the most notorious drug lords in L.A., but it happened. Also, the fact Lopez uses cell phones to tip off the Acosta family without getting caught up is oddly peculiar and raises eyebrows.
There’s going to come a point in time when Lopez will have to chose between Los Angelicos and the Gang Task Force and it seems like he’s walking too thin a line for him not to trip up. He’s already come damn close and it’s barely getting started.
You might not find as much violence as you’d hope for, but overall, the show has some potential. You’ll still find at least one or two gun fights every episode. One thing you have to give credit to is the music on the show. We’ve already heard 2 Chainz, 2pac, Future all played randomly. Whoever is coordinating that is doing a great job.
Of course, that’s not enough to carry the series, though.
For those who have watched Gang Related so far, what do you think of the cast and characters? Do you think it’ll survive enough for another season?