I've broken the addiction, more or less, but there was a time when I watched almost every single cop show on TV. I don't even want to count how many police & detective shows I've watched, but out of all of them, "Homicidios" might be the best one I've ever seen.
First, any review of "Homicidios" has to start with the superbly talented Eduardo Noriega, who plays Tomas Soller, a psychologist consulting the homicide unit investigating the multiple murder committed at the university where Soller is a professor. Initially, Soller is brought on as a consultant because one of the intended victims was also one of his students, but as the investigation advances, Soller's connection to the case deepens, to the point where the case becomes personal and Soller grows obsessed with finding and capturing the killer. As it turns out, the serial killer is a mastermind who manipulates troubled people into murder (no, that's not a spoiler, just the framework of the investigation revealed almost at the beginning). After the manipulated submissive is pushed over the brink to commit murder, the mastermind kills his pawn, then finds another vulnerable object of manipulation.
As it so happens, the head of the homicide unit is also Soller's ex. If that weren't complicated enough, Soller's never gotten over her and takes advantage of their close working relationship to rekindle their romance. Two male detectives and a rookie female round out the rest of the homicide unit, and the four actors play their roles to perfection. Actually, there isn't a weak link anywhere on this show - the lead actors, the supporting cast, the scripts, the production values, the direction - everything is absolutely first rate.
Unfortunately, the dimwits in charge put "Homicidios" in a horrible time slot (starting at midnight), which resulted in (oh, shock!) dismal ratings. So the show ran only one season, 13 episodes jam-packed with mystery, intrigue, suspense, and thrills. It drives me nuts that a show of this quality was canceled, but at least we have this one brilliant season to enjoy.
