NBC’s newest drama, “Deception,” which premiered last Monday, is a modern-day thriller following the efforts of NYPD detective Joanna Locasto (Meagan Good) to uncover the secrets clouding the suspected murder of her oldest friend, Vivian Bowers. Though the pilot has promise, overused plotlines and character archetypes detract from the otherwise good intentions of the show.
Having grown up in the wealthy Bowers home because of her mother’s employment there, Detective Locasto uses her connection to the family to go undercover, where she hopes to determine how the family was linked to Vivian’s murder and if perhaps the murderer was one of them.
Though the pilot episode may remind the viewer of other crime and suspense shows currently on television, “Deception” has one unique quality: the intriguing use of flashbacks seen throughout. Locasto grew up with the victim, allowing the creators of “Deception” use her memories as evidence in Vivian’s case. As they appear during the episode, viewers can piece together bits of Vivian’s story as Joanna remembers, which helps create a more involved story. This element sets the new series apart because it adds a more personal motivation to the mix, unlike many detective shows today which feature random murders and crimes.
“Deception” also has a quality cast in its favor. Veteran actor Victor Garber (“Alias”) plays his role as Robert Bowers, the father of the victim, with a powerful yet emotional tenor, as he never fails to bring his A-game to the small screen.
The performance by Meagan Good as Joanna Locasto is also captivating; though sometimes subtle, her emotive responses were moving and very believable. Yet, perhaps the most eerie enactment comes from Tate Donovan (“The O.C.”), who plays Vivian’s brother Edward and Joanna’s prime suspect. Donovan coolly embraces the role of an almost-divorced, possibly dangerous playboy and gives a performance that will make the viewer want to know more.
That being said, the series opener simply did not seem to have enough kick to really get viewers interested. Possibly the biggest concern brought up by the pilot is that much of the premise relies on the notion of the archetypal wealthy family: drunks, drug addicts and players. Edward’s wife Sophia, the most exasperatingly stereotypical character, is never seen without a glass of wine in her hand and is incapable of disciplining her 15-year-old daughter Mia. Overall, the use of the rich-but-messed-up family as the center of the series is a tired idea at best and one that lacks interest or creativity.
Unfortunately, Sophia Bowers is not the only character who’s been done before. Detective Joanna Locasto is a powerful female police officer who came from a less than perfect upbringing. Julian Bowers, Vivian’s brother, is a careless playboy with seemingly good intentions, while Joanna’s former partner Will is a hard-hitting cop who has been in love with her the entire time. Needless to say, these are all familiar and some are even uncannily similar to those featured on other television shows today.
In all, “Deception” has the potential to become a drama worth watching, but the pilot episode certainly leaves viewers wanting. With cliché characters and a tired plot, there’s not enough intrigue to draw the viewer in, and, unfortunately, what’s really lacking is the suspense necessary to this type of crime-related television show. If the creators of “Deception” are able to increase the tension and downplay the unoriginal, uninspired characters, the new series may have a chance – but until then, viewers’ TV time should be spent elsewhere.
