Entertainment

AMC’s ‘Low Winter Sun’ set against gritty Detroit backdrop

I’m always suspicious of American adaptations of British TV shows. Truth be told, I never watched NBC’s version of “The Office” because, let’s face it, how could they possibly have topped Ricky Gervais’ brilliant BBC original? It triggers the old “Why bother?” reflex.

Having said all that, I can’t compare AMC’s new cop series, “Low Winter Sun,” to its two-part British TV original, which aired across the pond in 2006, since I never saw that version. But, having watched the first two episodes of AMC’s adaptation, I can say that “Low Winter Sun” grabs you by the lapels and pulls you — forcefully — right into its seamy, low-rent world of intrigue and double- and triple-crosses.

The series stars British actors Mark Strong (reprising his role from the original) and Lennie James — both adopting American accents — and David Costabile (Gale from “Breaking Bad”). It’s set within the gritty, depressing, decaying confines of Detroit; that the “Motor City” recently declared bankruptcy in reality makes the scripted drama here all the more relevant — since there’s enough moral bankruptcy in “Low Winter Sun” to make the Bernie Madoffs of the world feel right at home.

When the series opens we’re introduced to Frank Agnew (Strong) and Joe Geddes, veteran Detroit cops (detectives) who appear to be tight pals as they plot to rid themselves of a workplace distraction in the guise of a bigoted, sexist, Grade A-toxic colleague.

Of course there’s more here than meets the eye, and without giving too much away, Agnew and Geddes find themselves in the cross-hairs of an internal affairs investigation spearheaded by prickly Simon Boyd (Costabile), who knows he’s a despised figure within the Detroit PD and seems to thrive on his oily reputation, taking passive-aggressive joy in needling Agnew, Geddes and their harried boss, Charles Dawson (Ruben Santiago-Hudson).

What I find so intriguing here is what I find so enthralling about Costabile’s other show, “Breaking Bad.” There are several plotlines that, on the surface, appear to be wandering strands of a different story — but which, eventually, are all tied back to the main dramatic arc. One of these strands includes married coke dealers Damon and Maya Callis (James Ransone, Sprague Grayden), who’ve incurred the wrath of a vengeful Detroit mobster — and now have to figure out how to play their criminal hand without losing their lives.

The second episode of “Low Winter Sun” fills in more of the back story, including the tensions between Agnew and Geddes and Agnew’s romantic life.

The city of Detroit provides much of the series’ exterior backdrop, lending “Low Winter Sun” an atmosphere of not only decay, but of a mournful beauty.