A new drama from Fox, Murder in a Small Town is one of the rare new fall TV debuts I was curious to give a chance. Turns out the show has a nice beat and like I read elsewhere, it has a unique perspective that most in its genre find fault with.
Murder in a Small Town (2024) Season One Pilot TV Review
New in town, Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland) has a tough job, but in this small (and sometimes “weird”) town, Karl is hoping for some quiet and peace. Part of finding this is to find someone he can spend time with and so he uses the dating apps where he meets Cassandra (Kristin Kreuk). Kind and warm, and newly single, Cassandra isn’t sure what she wants, but despite his unexpected career, the pair share good conversation.
Even with the happiness of this unexpected meeting, Karl doesn’t find quiet in his new surroundings when a murder finds him.
I’m not a fan of interconnected stories, so the fact that this one does shy away from this in the set up makes me happy. Originally, I thought this would be a kind of connective plot, so seeing a murder solved, even if simply, is a pro. I also suspect the way this plays out reveals something of who Karl is in a way that we don’t even fully realize. Based solely on this hour-long (90 minutes on TV) TV episode, there is lots to recommend this series that I hope means subsequent episodes will only improve rather than detract from what starts out as a fabulous story. It’s just a pace and effect I really hope it keeps.
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‘MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN’ IS IDEAL FOR ANYONE WHO LIKES INTERNATIONAL DRAMA. Review of the Kristen Kreuk Fox TV show. Have you seen it? Share on XThe show starts out with a good concept and interesting plot although it does have some scripting that I don’t love. But then, that’s normal for any show. The TV show is really good conceptually and the cast too is quite fabulous. I have liked Kristin in everything she’s been in and it’s not different here. We also see the son, Rossif, of late actor Donald Sutherland as the lead.
“please disconcert me.”
– Murder in a Small Town
This first mystery isn’t all that unique or different, but with the characters weaving this together makes me curious. Additionally, seeing writers who aren’t fearful of a romance is admirable. Instead of a years long flirtation, they allow for the development of an actual romance, and I respect the heck (more than anyone knows) out of this. Especially in a world that thinks this means the death of a show. If done well, it enhances a story. I’m not sure how our heroine will feature in each of these stories, but interest is piqued and I’m ready for it all.
If you love international TV mysteries or the Jesse Stone movies, Murder in a Small Town is an ideal show to give a chance. Based on a novel by L.R. Wright, Fox’s new procedural has enough unique to make us return for more.
You can stream Murder in a Small Town on Hulu or purchase digitally on places like Amazon
Content: there isn’t much to note outside of the usual crime drama elements. We see a dead body lying with blood pooling around the head. A couple spends the night together. The scene cuts from kissing to someone leaving the bed pulling a shirt on as someone lies in bed. A sexual joke or two is heard. The show is TV-14.