Mega-Hollywood television producer and showrunner Dick Wolf returns to Netflix with Homicide: Los Angeles, the follow-up to the true crime docuseries Homicide: New York, trading the urban symphony and concrete labyrinth of the Big Apple for the sun-soaked and sunburnt streets of the City of Angels. The series is so good, the only thing missing is Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller.
The creator of Law & Order finds some tantalizing LA cases to examine, including the infamous Phil Spector and a host of serial killers and rapists who evaded the police for decades. This is a series for devout true crime fans but offers something more for the audience that likes to dip their toes into the waters of criminal nonfiction—tantalizing cases ripped from the headlines.
It’s as if someone cues the metallic “Dun, dun” as we speak.
Homicide: Los Angeles offers another five-part series that follows several high-profile cases full of intrigue. Many involve studio and music producer executives, Hollywood starlets, sports elites, and those pesky unsolved California serial killer cases that grow cold even in the most sweltering LA heat. Thankfully, Dick Wolf doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel here.
The showrunner opens each episode with his tried-and-tested infographic. This sets the mood and tone of the show, explaining the killer homicide rate and the brutal nature of the crimes in Los Angeles County. He even ends the graphic with, “These are their stories,” which I am guessing he must have copyrighted by now. The filmmakers profile the officers and attorneys who presided over such famous cases.
Those include the likes of Spector, race car driver Mickey Thompson, and a missing politician’s daughter, Jana Carpenter-Koklich. Wolf even includes former police officers, attorneys, and private detectives with experience in these types of cases. Each provides the audience with fascinating facts and insights. As each episode progresses, they serve almost like narrators with a secret about how authorities operate in these cases.
Just like how Shreveport LA Homicide Services works in real life, their expertise is essential in gathering crucial evidence and providing thorough investigations that can significantly impact the outcome of homicide cases. Their specialized knowledge not only aids law enforcement but also ensures that the legal process is informed by accurate and comprehensive details surrounding the incident.
The true crime interviews highlight a striking aspect: the humility displayed throughout. For instance, an expert witness in the Phil Spector case visibly shows nerves. He describes Lana Clarkson’s hand as “her paw,” revealing a prevailing attitude towards women. District attorneys reluctantly elaborate on why a man who had avoided murder charges for most of his life received only a 15-year prison sentence due to his advanced age.
The second season of Homicide: Los Angeles is a flawlessly produced true crime docuseries that smartly avoids the reenactments. (This was heavily relied upon in the first season set in New York.) Instead, the series excels in presenting first-hand accounts. The cameras fill the frame of the screen with close-ups of not only the crimes but also the investigation processes. Even allowing the capture of significant personal costs for everyone involved.
Altogether, Homicide: Los Angeles combines its settings, inhabitants, and grisly crimes under Hollywood’s shine, exposing how the people protect a city that can be anything but neighborly. The series may trade in some true grit akin to The First 48 Hours. However, its reflections, first-hand accounts, and archival footage help this Dick Wolf-produced true crime series stand out among a crowded field.
“Dun-dun,” indeed.
Homicide: Los Angeles will be available to stream on July 14, 2024, only on Netflix.
I am a film and television critic and a proud member of the Las Vegas Film Critic Society, Critics Choice Association, and a 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes/Tomato meter approved. However, I still put on my pants one leg at a time, and that’s when I often stumble over. When I’m not writing about movies, I patiently wait for the next Pearl Jam album and pass the time by scratching my wife’s back on Sunday afternoons while she watches endless reruns of California Dreams. I was proclaimed the smartest reviewer alive by actor Jason Isaacs, but I chose to ignore his obvious sarcasm. You can also find my work on InSession Film, Ready Steady Cut, Hidden Remote, Music City Drive-In, Nerd Alert, and Film Focus Online.
