A&E’s latest true crime series Homicide Squad: New Orleans has no relation to The First 48 Presents: Homicide Squad Atlanta, which aired on the same network years ago. But no one seems to be trying very hard to avoid the confusion. After three episodes, the new show comes across as a perfunctorily average imitation of the Atlanta miniseries—for better and for worse.
First, the good: Homicide Squad: New Orleans brings viewers back to one of the most missed cities previously featured in The First 48. Some of the officers who starred in First 48 episodes, such as Maggie Darling and Rob Barrere, have already made appearances. It’s fantastic to see these familiar faces again, and know that they’re still working in the New Orleans Police Department. It’s particularly nice to be reminded that Barrere is now a Sergeant, because his appearances in First 48 episodes suggested that he’d make a great supervisor.
And the idea of doing a series exclusively focused on one homicide unit has its merits. The First 48 Presents Homicide Squad Atlanta proved that it can give more of a look at the inner workings of that particular departments and the dynamics of the detectives, if there’s enough happening at the time to create an investigative or an emotional throughline. The Atlanta series had the “Fallen Angel” case as a backbone and then was able to supplement it by showing individual cases that featured other officers.
But despite the title, Homicide Squad: New Orleans is not a spinoff, sequel or follow-up to that show. It’s actually produced by Wolf Entertainment, which is better known for the One Chicago, Law & Order and FBI franchises. And that stylistic difference is noticeable across the first three episodes.
Wolf Entertainment also produces Nightwatch, A&E’s long-running crime show that is currently based in New Orleans, and the producers’ familarity with the city is one of the pluses. But in other ways, they bring the trappings of their scripted programs to something that has to be handled differently. Audiences will get tired of all the stock shots of New Orleans tourists and revelers, and the reminders of how the Big Easy is a different city than people think it is. There are some overly dramatic camera shots, as well as a frustrating need to put up regular text on the screen to remind viewers who they’re following or where the investigation is at.
Then there are the talking head pieces—cutaways to each featured detective sitting at a table, explaining their thoughts or feelings at a particular moment. Homicide Squad Atlanta used these regularly too, but in that show they worked because the detective essentially served as the narrator of each episode. For example, “Secrets & Lies” is the standout episode because of Detective Kevin Leonpacher’s commentary: both insightful and witty. Homicide Squad: New Orleans hasn’t figured out how to use these yet; they feel more like explainers, or moments put in to fill time between segments.
Time is another issue with the series. Homicide Squad: New Orleans has no sense of urgency, but then it tries to manufacture one with reminders at the top of the screen listing how long it’s been since the initial callout. This regular marking of time just makes it seem more like the show is trying to copy The First 48, which happens to be its lead-in. The time factor is successful in The First 48 because the show always moves with purpose. Even in its slowest moments, when someone is driving in a car somewhere, it feels like something is happening. Detectives like Jason White, Jermaine Rogers and Angela give the show an energy that carries over into the production. Homicide Squad: New Orleans is just moving through the motions, and the new officers featured don’t have the same personality that anyone on The First 48 does—at least, not yet! It’s possible that will come in time.
Homicide Squad: New Orleans is an entertaining enough diversion, and worth a check-in just to get another glimpse at the NOPD Homicide unit. But from its sort of copycat title on down, it lacks its own distinct identity. The series doesn’t offer anything new for true crime fans, and what it does have, other shows on the same network are doing better. Hopefully Wolf Entertainment and A&E can keep working on it, because viewers already know there’s plenty of detectives to follow and stories to tell in New Orleans.
Homicide Squad: New Orleans airs Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. on A&E, with episodes streaming on the A&E app. Photo and video credit: both courtesy of A&E.
