There is no shortage of crime dramas on television and streaming services. Podcasts have a huge supply of stories in the “real crime” category. Is it the chase or the clever detective work that attracts us? Certainly, the police triumphing over the criminals provides an emotionally satisfying conclusion to a dramatic story, all the while proving that crime does not pay and justice is served.
Law & Order – and its many franchises – is a favourite of mine from this genre; apparently millions and millions of others enjoy it, too. Many of us have grown up with Law & Order when you consider that it first appeared in 1990.
What is satisfying is that Law & Order and the entire North American crime drama genre is always set in America. It made total sense given the American ability to tell grand and exciting stories – and their well-established gun culture, of course.
So, when Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent recently came along, I was unsettled. Stories of crime on the streets in my country, my city felt wrong. Toronto is safe and violent crime has been dropping for years despite what the Chief of Toronto Police Services claims at budget time. I do not want Toronto to be tarnished in any way – even for entertainment. And while I was okay with American cities being the backdrop for violent stories, I feel Canadians don’t need this kind of programing about our cities.
Hypocritical? Of course.
However, in popular culture America has always been the target of alien invasions, government conspiracies, third-world dictators and nuclear attacks, all the while being populated by gangsters, drug lords, anarchists, survivalists and international spies. And why not? Americans are good at telling these kind of high-stakes stories.
In Canada, I’m happy with Kim’s Convenience, Murdoch Mysteries and Schitt’s Creek. I’m just not ready for a shootout in a dark gritty ally in Toronto even if it’s make-believe.
