The Chicago Code Recap: Cabrini-Green

March 1, 2011  |   Filed under: Features,Reviews  |   Posted by:

By: Alexandra Sparco

This week’s episode of The Chicago Code is explosive, literally. In “Cabrini-Green,” Jarek (Jason Clarke) and Evers (Matt Lauria) track down a man suspected of placing bombs in various cities in Chicago. Meanwhile, Colvin (Jennifer Beals) takes an investigation into her own hands when she suspects that someone has ordered a hit on Alderman Gibbons (Delroy Lindo), gunfire is involved – so I’m counting this as “explosive” too.

The first plot, while more explosive and action-oriented doesn’t feel as fulfilling as I feel it should be. I enjoy the bit of mystery involving Jarek and Evers trying to figure out why the bombs were being placed throughout the city, but it all moves way too fast. I expect to feel more engaged when the characters on screen are literally running out of time to solve a case. However, I just feel rushed, uninterested and even a little confused. I may have blinked and missed something that will clear this all up, but I just feel like something that possibly served as a bridge between the gaps was cut.

I enjoy the subplot between Colvin and Gibbons much more than the bomber plot, as it is more cerebrally engaging than the former and also manages to give the viewer information on a few characters. The subtle twists in the case are not overdone for shock-value, but rather play out naturally like real humans are involved instead of scripted fictional characters. While the amount of time we see Colvin out of the office still bothers me, I also do not mind it as much when she investigates the hit on Gibbons. It is gratifying to see her stand up to booing crowds and snarky news reporters at the scene of the crime, and even better to see that she knows that her new Chief of Staff is a planted informant for the corrupt politician. A few of Colvin’s lines feel forced, but it’s a very minor blemish in what is otherwise a fantastic subplot – my favorite parts of which actually include my least favorite character, Gibbons.

When Gibbons thwarts his own assassination attempt by shooting the kid sent to carry out the deed, I can’t help but to like it, and as the kid falls to the ground due to a gunshot wound, I actually believe that someone else pulled the trigger. It is a nice surprise when Gibbons pulls a pistol from under the barber’s cutting cape he’s draped in. Though the moment where undercover detective Liam (Billy Lush) reveals to Colvin that Gibbons was targeted by a black gang because he cares too much for the Irish mob, and doesn’t care enough about the racial minorities was the best out of all of them. While Gibbons isn’t physically involved in the scene, it reveals a great deal about his character and makes me wonder why he turns his back on his own past (he even goes so far as to demolish “Cabrini-Green,” the apartment block he grew up in).

If The Chicago Code keeps this up, Gibbons might actually end up as my favorite character.

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Posted by on March 1, 2011. Filed under Features, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
  • Kevin

    Loved the show and changed my outlook on Gibbons. Liked the way they had him remembering his life growing up and how he still does look after his people, people from where he came from and that put him in office. Maybe he is playing the good/bad guy, either way got to love/hate him. Even Colvin admits that with the community playing up Gibbons as a hero, it pissed her off that deep in side she was giving her nod of the head to him for thwarfting an assasin attempt.
    Great show.

  • dc

    It was ok. Definitely all over the place. Who was the actor that played Lil Monster?