Da Vinci’s Inquest: Season One
Acorn Media
A month ago, I had never heard of Da Vinci’s Inquest. Then a copy of season one found its way to my desk, and I am richer for it.
Da Vinci’s Inquest is a well-written Canadian drama that has a gritty feel, yet rarely goes overboard; managing to deliver a strong sense of realism without going to excess on language, violence or graphic imagery.
Dominick Da Vinci (Nicholas Campbell) is a coroner for Vancouver. His drive to uncover the truth behind the deaths brought to him–to “speak for the dead”–often puts him at odds with his colleagues. A recovering alcoholic who occasionally falls off the wagon, Da Vinci is divorced, with joint custody of a teenage daughter. While we certainly have seen this sort of character before, great pains are taken to avoid making him a cliché. As a result, Dominick feels like a real person and not an archtype of the crime genre.
Fans of the late 70s/early 80s sitcom Soap will be delighted to see Donnelly Rhodes (who played Dutch on said show) here as Detective Leo Shannon. Also appearing, as Da Vinci’s daughter, is Jewel Strait, who later played Kaylee on Firefly.
Sadly, this set has no extra features. As one unfamiliar with the show, I would have enjoyed learning a little more about the cast and creative forces behind it. Considering this set is for non-Canadians, it would have made sense to give us a closer look behind the scenes.
After one season, I can say this is one of the best police shows I have seen in the last ten years. Simply fantastic! I can hardly wait for seasons two through seven.
For fans of police shows, this is a must own.
Jeremy Lynch
