To be totally honest the cancellations this year haven’t been that brutal for me so far. I’ve already covered Next in Fashion and don’t have many other cancellations this year. It may be because I’m keeping up with less shows, or if the memory of having seven different shows cancelled in a season is just a tough act to follow. Whatever the reason is I’m grateful. Obviously I don’t mind watching shows that are cancelled abruptly, that’s part of the premise of Gone Too Soon. I prefer to be prepared with what the ending will be, so my expectations are managed. When it comes to the cancellation of Lincoln Rhyme: The Hunt for the Bone Collector, I’m disappointed, but not entirely surprised.
I think I go into TV shows expecting them to get cancelled after one season so I’m pleasantly surprised when they get a second, much like I was when Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist got a second season. Unfortunately Lincoln Rhyme, another NBC show, didn’t get so lucky.
The Gist
Lincoln Rhyme: The Hunt for the Bone Collector is based on the first book in the Lincoln Rhyme Series by Jeffery Deaver. It was also made into a movie in 1999, The Bone Collector, starring Denzel Washington (Fences), Angelina Jolie (Maleficent) and Queen Latifah (Hairspray). I couldn’t tell you how similar they are to either. I’ve never read the books and it has been a long time since I watched the movie, but based on what I have read it’s closer to the books than the movie.
The show follows Lincoln Rhyme (Russell Hornsby, Grimm), a retired detective who, after a run in with The Bone Collector, became a tetraplegic. Years later NYPD officer Amelia Sachs (Arielle Kebbel, John Tucker Must Die) stumbles across a victim left by The Bone Collector (Brían F. O’Byrne, Million Dollar Baby) which leads her to Lincoln’s doorstep. Rick Sellitto (Michael Imperioli, The Sopranos), Lincoln’s former partner, brings Amelia to Lincoln to convince him to consult on the case. After their success, and a little encouragement from his caretaker Claire (Roslyn Ruff, Rachel Getting Married) Lincoln becomes a consultant for the NYPD helping Sachs and Sellitto solve cases all while getting closer to solving the Bone Collector case. Joining them is Sellitto’s new partner, Eric Castillo (Ramses Jimenez, Fear the Walking Dead), forensic scientist Kate (Brooke Lyons, Paradise City), and Felix (Tate Ellington), a computer expert.
At this point I just feel bad for Arielle Kebbel. I loved her on The Vampire Diaries, she is very good in her Hallmark movies, and yet this is her third show to be Gone Too Soon. Grand Hotel and Midnight, Texas haven’t been written about yet, but they are coming. I really like her in this and hope to see her in something else soon.
Should You Watch It
Content wise Lincoln Rhyme is pretty similar to another NBC show Gone Too Soon Hannibal, a team catching killers, but that is where the similarities end. If you were more interested in the crime solving aspects of that show then you will enjoy Lincoln Rhyme.
There is usually a case of the week and headway is made in the Bone Collector case as well, similar to Eye Candy. The show is only ten episodes so there isn’t any room for filler. Everything moves pretty quickly which makes for a great binge. Every episode is better than the one before, so once you start watching you definitely wouldn’t want to stop.
Caution: Cliffhanger
This feels like a minor spoiler, but they catch The Bone Collector in the first season. That mystery is solved, so that is the good news. Bad news is that the final episode introduces a new case that won’t be solved, but honestly it isn’t a huge deal. It’s introduced with only a few minutes left in the final episode. An unknown victim falls in front of them and the team is taunted by the killer.
I think that Lincoln Rhyme falls much more into Daybreak territory. There is a very clear set up for the next season, but the season long arc is wrapped up. A new arc is introduced, but not gone into enough that it feels like a cliffhanger.
Where to Watch it
All episodes of Lincoln Rhyme: The Hunt for the Bone collector are available on Hulu and NBC! The show only has ten episodes so it can be binged in a day; trust me once you start watching you won’t want to stop.
Are you sad about Lincoln Rhyme’s cancellation? Are you planning on checking it out? Wanting to read about more shows that were Gone Too Soon check out my articles on Galavant, No Tomorrow, Class, Dallas, Jericho, Ravenswood, Stitchers, Deception, Take Two, Deadly Class, Whiskey Cavalier, Hap and Leonard, and iZombie?
