Small Town Murders is one of the few procedurals that spends as much time developing the romance of its protagonists as it does solving the case.
While some enjoy the cozy mystery atmosphere, others prefer the series to focus on developing a stronger murder arc.
Let’s discuss whether combining the two will be successful, or whether it will be a recipe for disaster.
Kristen Kreuk and Rossif Sutherland Teased Carl and Cassandra’s Relationship as Main Attraction
Kristen Kreuk and Rossif Sutherland joke that murder is just part of the show. The picturesque coastal town captivated viewers, many of whom were shocked by the mountain of murders piling up along its shoreline.
The show is also about love, community and this small town. It explores the heartbeat behind the murders as the two fell in love, and looks at how the cases and their personal lives impacted their relationship.
Their relationship is complicated. He was recently divorced with two teenage daughters. Cassandra is fiercely independent and used to being single.
When they signed up for the dating app, neither had any hope of romance. She did this to appease her friend. He wanted to please his daughters.
They were pleasantly surprised at how well the conversation went and formed an immediate connection. However, it seems Carl and Cassandra got together too quickly.
One minute they were drinking together, the next they were on the bed together. While we love sexy couples, couples who build up their emotions more slowly tend to work better.
It feels like Carl and Cassandra once loved each other and now they need to overcome various obstacles, starting with falling in love later in life.
It’s not easy to trust someone after you’ve been burned, and Cassandra was scared, especially when she and Carl argued about George’s case in the first episode of Season 1 of Small Town Murders.
Neither has clear expectations yet.
Watching their relationship develop is one of the most exciting parts of the series. Cassandra has learned the challenges of dating a cop, while Carl enjoys dating a fierce, opinionated woman like her.
Do the lead actors have chemistry together?
Kristin Kreuk probably has more experience opposite starring roles and knows her way around playing the girl next door. As mentioned before, Cassandra often feels like an adult version of Lana Lang.
She was lively and popular, but people had a natural suspicion of her. Carl was a brooding workaholic, and these tendencies may have cost him his marriage.
However, Carl is a hopeless romantic and is completely outspoken about his crush on Cassandra without being creepy.
Sutherland and Crook create an awkward first date and, ideally, a thoughtful connection between two people who are initially wary of falling in love.
When they share their first kiss, their chemistry is intense, like the two have known each other for years.
While I think a slow burn would have worked better for them since the first season was only eight episodes long, I understand why the series strengthened their relationship.
Does the weekly case format work, or would a longer arc be better?
Many programs use a case-of-the-week format but also include overlaying season arcs.
Each episode of Small Town Murders is based on one of LR Wright’s nine-book series about Carl Ahlberg. They plan to cover six books this season, leaving only three books of material for other seasons.
While I appreciate a faithful adaptation of the book, it might have been better to use the core of the novel and just some of the material.
These cases are interesting because they often involve long-standing feuds or family drama. Typically, these are not hardened psychopaths but people who have committed crimes of despair or passion.
However, some situations, especially premieres, would have been better if they lasted more than one episode.
“Suspect” is one of the most exciting cases that needs more time to breathe, even if it’s only a full two hours instead of 90 minutes.
It feels like there’s something unanswered about George Wilcox that viewers want clarified.
However, Small Town Season 1 Episode 3 shifts gears and focuses more on suspense, largely because of the chilling performances from big-name guest stars like Stana Katic.
In many ways this works, it’s just that it’s too long before the murder and there are almost no scenes of Carl discussing the case with Cassandra.
They had to find a happy medium between Hallmark’s comfortable mystery and fast-paced procedurals.
Guest stars captivate viewers
Guest stars have been one of the key draws to audiences so far.
The show stars a number of big-name actors, including James Cromwell, Stana Katic and Erica Durance, who will appear in the fourth episode.
The reunion of the two Smallville cast members may be the biggest draw of the series.
Having these actors appear as victims or suspects will keep viewers watching for at least a week in the hopes that they’ll come back for more of the show.
Why did you watch Small Town Murders? Do you ship Karl and Cassandra? Do you prefer the case-centered weeks or just tune in when your favorite actors make cameos?
We want to hear your thoughts, so please share them in the comments below.
“Murder in the Town” airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Fox.
