Smallscreen Reviews

Review: FX’s Terriers, intrigue by the sea

By April MacIntyre Sep 8, 2010, 1:26 GMT

Terriers star- Donal Logue - "Sons of Anarchy" Season 3 Hollywood Premiere - Arrivals - Cinerama Dome at The ArcLight - Hollywood, CA, USA © Tatiana Beller / PR Photos

FX's president John Landgraf and his team seem to attract showrunners who have great yarns to tell with casts of antiheroes, thieves, scoundrels and all manner of interesting underdogs.

"Terriers" is the latest kid on their block, and as the name suggests, the broken down lead character, Hank (Donal Logue) and his ethically challenged, tenacious aide de camp Britt (Michael Raymond-James) are just like that smart scruffy breed: They flush out the rats, being so close to the ground themselves.

Hank Dolworth is on the uptick from hitting rock bottom. Dolworth lost his police job, his woman and a good chunk of his reputation. But he isn't down for the count and has cobbled together a starter business, enlisting a petty thief he has good instincts about. 

Together the two men are trying to reinvent themselves, keep the Ford truck running and pay the bills. 

But life in the seaside town of Ocean Beach has lots of dirty sexy money secrets, and Hank and Britt are pulled in over their head trying to do right and help an old drinking pal of Hank who is desperate to find his daughter. The subsequent investigation is like pulling a string on your favorite sweater; unraveled secrets are lethal in the San Diego sea air.

"Terriers," an hour-long dramedy, centers on Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James' characters who are partners in an unlicensed private investigation business that is so under the radar, it cannot fail. 

What percolates the action is the outstanding female cast surrounding these guys, Jamie Denbo (lawyer Maggie), Kimberly Quinn (wife Gretchen), Laura Allen (girlfriend Katie) and Donal's own talented sibling Karina Logue (troubled sister Steph).  All of these women light up the story crafted by creator Ted Griffin (Ocean’s Eleven) with Shawn Ryan (The Shield) and Tim Minear (Dollhouse) executive producing. 

Adding to the excellent ensemble is Hank's old police partner Mark Gustafson (Rockmond Dunbar) whose facial expressions relay a thousand emotions in scene; he's the anchor, enforcer and the quiet observer, not quite sure what to make of Hank's motives or lifestyle, but he cares for him even though he doesn't articulate this.  Something is totally rotten in Denmark and Gustafson can smell it, though he isn't quite sure who dealt it.

The pilot introduces a deeply dug in conspiracy that is well beyond the guys, but up until episode five, which is how far I got through this, they manage to chip away until they're really in hot water.

Together the men are trying hard to do it right, and Hank is contacted by his old friend Mickey Gosney who needs them to locate his daughter Eleanor.  Simple enough, until the girl is traced to a real estate mogul who appears to be a figurehead for even bigger, deeper pocketed types who are manipulating a land development deal.

Hank Dolworth (Logue) is a humbled, recovering drunk, who knows what he has lost and has a quiet center about him. It is the natural energy that Donal owns which makes his character Hank so likable. Logue is one of those special actors who is so good at his craft, he elevates everyone else's game in scene.  

Britt Pollack (Raymond-James) is trying so hard to stay on the righteous path, but he loves the action, and he takes what he wants, namely one fetching veterinary student/bartender he fell for when he was committing a B&E in her apartment. Just one look, and the criminal was smitten. 

Pollack's Britt is earthy, reactive and base and Logue's Hank is mercurial in wit, yet focused.

Logue and Raymond-James each have revealed in interviews that they bonded as actors and friends over American author Jack Kerouac’s Big Sur when they appeared on NBC’s canceled series, "Life," a major mistake by the network which wouldn't know a good drama if it stepped in it.  

Today M&C spoke with Donal Logue, who share that Karina Logue (Steph) "is a genius," adding, "My favorite scenes are always with the women in the show. A completely different side of my character comes out."   Working with his sister made him reflect. "There were scenes I had with my sister [in the series] that were almost too emotionally difficult to get through"

"Terriers" has the right cast and writers, charisma and cojones to become a major smallscreen addiction. Great opening theme too!

Terriers premieres Wednesday September 8th at 10/9c on FX.