SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for Sheriff Country Season 1, Episode 1.

The Fire Country spinoff Sheriff Country arrives with a pilot that successfully explains why it exists. It’s easy to turn a hit show into a franchise, but hard to make it a good franchise. And while the Sheriff Country premiere is very much a first episode, it comes with a lot of talent and plenty of potential.

The CBS series spends the bulk of its opening act dumping exposition and also trying to establish witty banter. For those who missed the backdoor pilot that aired last season, Sheriff Country protagonist Mickey Fox is the stepsister of Fire Country‘s Sharon Leone. Fire Country star and co-creator Max Thieriot—also credited as a co-creator on Sheriff Country—makes a guest appearance as Bode, giving life advice to Mickey’s wayward daughter Skye. But once the spinoff can cut through all the chaff, there’s enough here to appeal to people who haven’t seen the other series. The characters stand on their own.

Morena Baccarin (Homeland) exudes the right amount of confidence as Mickey, although sometimes the script makes her a little too snarky. And Mickey’s attitude is mostly balanced out by the people around her. It’s a pleasure to see Matt Lauria back on television after the unjust cancellation of CSI: Vegas, with his character Nathan Boone acting alternatively as a partner and rival to Mickey. Boone turns in his resignation at the end of the premiere—but Lauria is listed as a series regular, so it’s unlikely he actually leaves, and that’s a good thing because Lauria is a strong performer who can anchor a series. Plus, Boone’s willingness to question Mickey and her ability to push back mean that Sheriff Country doesn’t feel like a one-track show.

Christopher Gorham portrays Mickey’s ex-husband Travis and is also an inspired choice for that role. So many TV series make the ex-spouse an antagonistic character, but Gorham knows how to avoid that trope. He’s been there; his guest spot on Accused was one of the most chilling performances ever on that show. Travis feels like someone who can be developed beyond just “the ex,” although his romantic relationship with Mickey’s deputy Cassidy does feel a bit cliche. Cassidy as a character does not, though; Michele Weaver gives her the warmth that Mickey doesn’t have, without naivete. W. Earl Brown rounds out the regular cast as Mickey’s ne’er do well father Wes.

The Sheriff Country premiere is a feel-good episode because it has to be; it must establish why Mickey is the right choice to be sheriff, and why audiences want to spend more time with this group of people. It’s no shock that Mickey’s unorthodox approach to the case works, and she gets to deliver a winning speech at the end. But like Fire Country, this is a series focused on community. The end message isn’t “good guys win” but about the community rallying around the children who need them. A community-focused police drama is a really smart idea; it’s lovely to see a crime drama that doesn’t rely solely on car chases and shootouts, although some of that does exist. But audiences ought to see other (and frankly more realistic) ways of policing.

It does end on an ominous cliffhanger, when Mickey’s daughter finds her now ex-boyfriend dead, and comes home covered in his blood. Mickey turns her in at the sheriff’s station. One has to wonder how long that plot can be sustained. But need for an ongoing mystery aside, Sheriff Country has a talented cast and good intent. It does not rely too heavily on connections to Fire Country to stir up interest. And with the explaining out of the way, the writing should only get stronger. This is one to watch, whether viewers have ever been to Edgewater before or not. It has everything they need for a Friday night escape.

Sheriff Country airs Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Photo Credit: Courtesy of CBS.

Article content is (c)2020-2025 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.