I came across a new drama series on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) earlier this week called "CRACKED" that premiered Tuesday, January 8. The series has a nice mix of police procedural, humor and light psychological drama. I thought some may be interested so here is the post. Enjoy.
About the Series:
Cracked is a unique blend of a police and medical drama inspired by the real-life experiences of police officers and mental-health professionals. The hour-long series is a bold depiction of the psychological side of policing and the emotional impact on front-line workers. It's a fascinating yet affectionate exploration of all dimensions of human behavior.
Cracked stars David Sutcliffe (Gilmore Girls, Private Practice) as Detective Aidan Black, a seasoned officer dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, and Stefanie von Pfetten (NCIS, Battlestar Galactica) as psychiatrist Dr. Daniella Ridley, who leaves her prominent position at a downtown hospital to partner with the police. Black and Ridley are the lead team in a newly formed Psych Crimes Unit where they are joined by Poppy Wisnefski, a young cop cynical beyond her years played by Luisa D'Oliveira, and a compassionate psychiatric nurse, Leo Beckett, played by Dayo Ade. Together they combine police investigative skills and psychiatric insight to resolve crises and solve crimes.
Cast Descriptions:
In the last year Detective Aidan Black was involved in two fatal shootings followed by inquiries, which deemed them both clean and justifiable. He also underwent multiple psych evaluations but none of the psychiatrists found a diagnosis for him that 'fits,' though he does show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
When Aidan has a very public breakdown while in uniform, he's reassigned from his beloved Team Seven ETF squad to the new Psych Crimes and Crisis Unit. There, he's saddled with a partner who doesn't even have a badge or a gun--Dr. Daniella Ridley, Forensic Psychiatrist. He doesn't know how to trust someone who can't defend herself (or him), but is determined to get to know her, to find some way to trust her. Daniella's opinion of Aidan's state when asked? "Well. He's not broken. And if you really want me to apply a diagnosis to Aidan... I'd have to say he's... Cracked."
The icing on the cake of his current mental state is that Aidan's long-term girlfriend and colleague, Homicide Detective Liz Liette (Mayko Nyugen), got tired of his emotional inaccessibility, and moved out.
Aidan will bury himself in his work doing his best to connect with and help others, but will he be able to help himself?
The Psych Crimes and Crisis Unit was Dr. Daniella Ridley's initiative. She helped design the unit with Inspector Caligra, and subsequently left her position at St. Stephen's Hospital- and a dysfunctional relationship with the Chief of Psychiatry, Dr. Sean McCray (Paul Popowich) -to be part of it. Little did she know that Caligra would ask her to keep an eye on Aidan -an idea that makes her extremely uneasy.
A woman with secrets of her own, Daniella is serene and self-assured; patients trust her and witnesses open up to her. She's determined to make the partnership with Aidan and unit work. Her struggle is that she's a perfectionist, and psychiatry is an inexact science.
Detective Poppy Wisnefski is young and impatient. Inspector Caligra chose her for Psych Crimes and Crisis to help her acquire the patience and understanding she needs to go from good cop to great cop.
The daughter of a police officer, Poppy was the only girl in a family of boys and has spent her life proving she can be as tough as her brothers. With a wry sense of humour and the ability to speak uncomfortable truths without batting an eye she definitely comes across as one tough cookie--but does she have a softer side?
Leo Beckett brings to Psych Crimes and Crisis a gentle touch and tough love. He's worked as a psychiatric nurse in inner-city emergency rooms and urban mental hospitals and has seen it all. He's no stranger to high-stakes, thinking-on-your-feet action. And amazingly, he is still a gentle giant who keeps his own counsel. He has an innate, natural discretion but every once in a while, he's the guy you wish you didn't meet as he throws your ass up against the wall forcing you to give up information.
At the helm of Psych Crimes and Crisis is Inspector Diane Caligra who assigns the unit to any case where a psychologically complex mind is involved. Murder, assault, abduction, the team investigates any major crime which might involve an Emotionally Disturbed Person (EDP).
Inspector Caligra knows Aidan has symptoms of PTSD, but he's her best detective and she soon realizes that Aidan's PTSD is actually an advantage. He'd always been empathetic, but has gained an ability to connect on a deeper, darker emotional level. Aidan simply 'gets' crazy, allowing him to see things from the distressed person's point of view and intuitively grasp how to resolve high-stakes situations. And to keep an eye on him, Caligra has enlisted Dr. Ridley's help.
Cast Promotional Photos:
Cracked Promo:
Streaming Options
