The episodic series, "Murder in a Small Town", focuses on the solving of murder mysteries in the small village known as Gibsons, situated off the Canadian west coast. The title could not be more generic, making it nearly impossible to distinguish from others of its genre such as Hulu's "Under the Bridge" or HBO's "True Detective".
However, what stands out about this Fox show, created by Ian Weir based on L.R. Wright's novels, is the softly chilling yet comfortable atmosphere the show cultivates. A large portion of the storyline develops a budding romance that is almost as heartwarming as a Hallmark movie.
As the series opens, we meet Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland), the new police chief who moved in from the city, seeking serenity, and Cassandra Lee (Kristin Kreuk), a librarian who finds herself attracted to the charming newcomer. After meeting online, their relationship progresses through casual meetups and tea parties until murder disrupts their peaceful journey.
The primary mystery unfolds when Carlyle Burke (R.H. Thompson), an elderly man is found dead, shifting the focus firmly onto solving the crime. Yet, as engaging as the title suggests, the implementation of the mystery is rather bland. The exaggeration of clues, particularly false leads, border on ridiculousness. And the resolution doesn't bring any shock or surprise, feeling like an outcome derived more from intuition than keen detective work.
The series attempts to overcompensate for its dull storyline by employing flashy camera work to highlight Karl's detective skills. However, these efforts clash with Karl's persona of being a down-to-earth, perceptive individual, rather than a super-sleuth akin to Sherlock Holmes.
Furthermore, the show misses the opportunity to delve deeply into the communal dynamics of the small town, leaving many promising characters to languish in anonymity. Apart from Karl and Cassandra, we don't really get to know any of the other characters in the first episode, which feels like a missed chance to create a richer world for the audience.
Despite this, the lead characters are easy to empathize with. Karl and Cassandra's chemistry, while not explosive, is credibly written, presenting two introspective people discovering an unexpected bond. As the show progresses, it sets the stage for "Murder in a Small Town" to unfold its unique charm and inhabit a distinct space within its genre.
