Anna Wood
Cam Gigandet
Shawn Hatosy
Georgina Haig
Adam Rodríguez
Michael Gladis
Kim Wayans
Gregory Harrison

Created by:
Dana Stevens
Joel Silver

2014
Crime, Drama
CBS
TV-14

“Reckless” looks like something in between “CSI: Miami” and “A Time to Kill” or “Mississippi Burning” … again, looks like. The beginning of the first episode provides a predictable “twist” on a scene that we’ve seen many times before: A woman is supposedly being taken advantage of by a cop during a routine traffic stop. But, of course, things aren’t as they appear. What a shock! The rest of this episode doesn’t do anything to suggest that things will improve.

This show strives to be a sexed-up Southern police-legal procedural. (It’s set in Charleston, South Carolina.) But, instead of providing summer sizzle, there’s barely a fizzle. “Reckless” seems to be going through the motions; it’s merely a clone of better procedurals that precede it.

In addition, the sexed-up part and the drama part don’t mix well; the shifts in tone don’t work. The writing is weak, and the acting does nothing to improve things. Even Shawn Hatosy can’t do much with this material; I’m sure he misses “Southland.” The police corruption angle is old-hat, which really doesn’t matter because it’s hard to care about any of these people. This is all about pretend recklessness; you never get the sense that anyone is truly out-of-control. I just don’t buy any of it.

I’m not finished yet: The character development is stale, due, in part, to the lack of buildup from moment to moment. Things just happen, and the presentation isn’t sharp enough to overcome that flaw. So, if “Reckless” isn’t going to rely on great execution, then all it has left at its disposal is to be a guilty pleasure. But it’s no fun. Kim Wayans can’t even provide a little bit of comedic relief; and she tries here and there. She’s not the only one. If anything, I’m liable to laugh at her instead of with her.

Based solely on the first episode, I see no reason to continuing watching “Reckless.” It’s weak and a waste of time. Who cares what happens next? I’m done.

Verdict: Bad

About: (Source: reckless)

RECKLESS is a sultry legal drama set in Charleston, S.C., where a gorgeous Yankee litigator and a charming southern attorney must hide their intense mutual attraction as a police sex scandal threatens to tear the city apart. Jamie Sawyer is enviously cool, confident and armed with south side of Chicago street-smarts as she takes on the good ol’ boys in the South. Her handsome courtroom rival is Roy Rayder, a divorced father of two, embodies the Old South and is the newly minted City Attorney, thanks to his influential former father-in-law, Dec Fortnum. When disgraced cop Lee Anne Marcus hires Jamie to represent her in a lawsuit against the police department, Jamie and Roy discover that Lee Anne is at the epicenter of a sinister case with dire implications for the members of the Charleston PD. Heading that department is Deputy Chief Holland Knox, a family man who radiates integrity. Working under him are Terry McCandless, a cocky and corrupt detective, and Preston Cruz, Jamie’s well-respected boyfriend who might not be all that he appears. Helping Jamie is her confidante and paralegal, Vi Briggs, an expert at digging up case-winning information. As Jamie and Roy spar in and out of the courtroom, dark secrets simmer behind every door and threaten to tarnish the genteel facade of seductive Charleston.