CBC’s entry into the prime time crime genre this season is a presentation of the folks that brought us Da Vinci’s Inquest and then the short lived Da Vinci’s City Hall (a show that proved the only thing more destined for the cancellation pile than a Canadian politician, is a TV show about Canadian politicians).
Intelligence is from the creative mind of Chris Haddock, who made Canada’s coroner more popular than Quincy and the CSI guys in the home and native land. This time he explores the world of the federal intelligence agencies, local police forces and the criminal element all crossing paths, using each other towards their own ends.
Airing on Tuesday nights, this week is the programs second episode coming after the two hour movie that first aired earlier this year and repeated again two weeks ago. As we wander the streets of Vancouver our local intelligence operatives are involved in a turf war of their own that would shame your average motorcycle gang. Suspicions of each other by the CSIS' types, the Mounties, the Vancouver Police and even the FBI all seem to have the government officials more concerned about protecting their butts than investigating anything resembling criminal activity.
The anti hero of the show (or maybe he’s the hero we’re still not sure) is Jimmy Reardon played by Ian Tracey, a criminal who stumbled across an important bit of government information (the entire roster of snitches and operatives in the Lower Mainland) which was stolen from intelligence operative Ted Altman's (Matt Frewer) car. An incident which actually did happen a few years ago!
Frewer who is probably best known for his Max Headroom days, still gives off that personna it seems with his character a smarmy backstabbing operative who still has ambitions for a shot at the big prize of his department, ready to topple his boss Mary Spalding (Klea Scott) at every turn.
Using his knowledge for his own good, Tracey plays the Intelligence ops, while they play him for information about rival gangs and criminals. In Intelligence it seems that everybody is using somebody. An honourable profession is certainly isn’t.
It’s a fairly well done tale of intrigue, hypocrisy, greed and crime, one which uses Vancouver to its full cinematic value. The folks at CSIS and the RCMP may not be completely enamored of the production, at times the good guys come across as a tad incompetent and more interested in their careers than in serving the public.
Tracey who played first a cop Da Vinci’s Inquest and then the coroner on Da Vinci’s City Hall, is excellent in his role as the scheming crime boss, who seems to have a better handle on his work than the government does on its tasks.
It’s a fine destination for fans of TV crime that makes you think for your entertainment, keeping track of the different players and how their schemes may be their undoing.
You can join in on the investigation Tuesday nights at 9 on the CBC.
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