Network: AMC
Episodes: 10 (hour)
Seasons: One
TV show dates: August 11, 2013 — October 6, 2013
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Mark Strong, Lennie James, James Ransone, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Sprague Grayden, Athena Karkanis, Billy Lush, and David Costabile.
TV show description:
A contemporary story of murder, deception, revenge and corruption, this drama begins with the murder of a cop by a fellow Detroit detective. Initially, it seems to be the perfect crime. Ultimately, the murder pulls him into the heart of the Detroit underworld.
Homicide detective Frank Agnew (Mark Strong) is used to taking on his own burden and the burdens of others. Haunted by a tragedy in his recent past, Frank is vengeful when his new love is abruptly taken from him by a corrupt associate. Although he’s usually straightforward, Frank allows his desire for vengeance to lead him to commit a rash act that puts him at the mercy of fellow Detective Geddes.
A smart-but-slippery veteran homicide detective, Joe Geddes (Lennie James) helps Frank commit an act of vengeance. Frank soon realizes that Geddes may have been playing him all along. He may quite possibly be a corrupt cop himself, one who has murdered to mask his own misdeeds. Geddes may now have Frank firmly in his power.
The commander of Frank’s precinct, Lieutenant Charles Dawson (Ruben Santiago-Hudson) has survived the dirty arena of Detroit crime and politics for 25 years. Dawson intends to stay on top during the latest corruption probe. However, when one of his cops is found dead with a mutilated corpse nearby, he faces scandal and demotion. Dawson puts Frank, his most trusted detective, in charge of the investigation — not realizing that Frank is closely tied to these deaths.
A beautiful and highly intelligent detective, Dani Khalil (Athena Karkanis) is a “bright light” on the force. Obviously fond of Frank, she’s anxious for him to get over a past loss and find happiness — possibly with her. Frank’s uncharacteristically jumpy behavior during his present murder investigation makes Dani suspect that something’s not right with him.
A member of the Detroit Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division, Detective Simon Boyd (David Costabile) is a man on a mission — to find a cop killer. He is officious and believes he’s the smartest guy in the room. He’s willing to be agonizingly patient, knowing that eventually he will capture his prey.
Damon Callis (James Ransone) is a fierce, intelligent and ruthless crime lord who is tired of playing second fiddle to Alexander Skelos, Detroit’s reigning mob boss. He’s conceived an elaborate scheme to wrest power from Skelos. When the corrupt cop that he bought is found dead, his entire network becomes at risk.
Damon’s wife Maya (Sprague Grayden) is every bit as fierce, intelligent and ruthless as her husband. She wants to extend their hold on Detroit’s rackets with several new drug and prostitution “franchises” citywide. She keeps her volatile husband on point, and is always scouting murderous new associates to help her implement her schemes.
One of them is Nick Paflas (Billy Lush), a combat veteran with a psychological disability and who exudes violence and vulnerability at the same time. With nothing to lose, he rises quickly to become Damon’s second in command.
Episode #10 — Surrender
At police headquarters, Frank tells Geddes and Lt. Dawson that he refuses to accept Sean’s confession. In an interrogation room, he tears up Sean’s detailed, hand-written confession, then grills Sean with questions about Brendan’s murder. Sean answers everything perfectly.
In his office, Lt. Dawson tells Frank he can’t ignore Sean’s confession. Frank then glares at Geddes. “You didn’t have to do it you know. She loved me, she wouldn’t have talked,” he says, referring to Katia. Boyd barges into the office and arrests Frank for carjacking the woman at the airport.
Skelos is picked up by his driver. At a stoplight, Damon and Nick rear-end Skelos’s car, then hop out and shoot Skelos and his driver dead.
In a holding room, Boyd accuses Frank of killing Brendan over a girl. “There are deals that could be cut,” he suggests. Frank demands to see his lawyer and A.P.A. Curtright.
At her sister’s house, Maya swears that she’s finally leaving Damon for good. “If you even think about taking the kids back, I will rip your life apart,” her sister threatens.
At the trap house, Sean walks Dani, Geddes and Lt. Dawson through the events surrounding Billy Hobson’s murder and shows them the sink where he claims to have drowned Brendan. Dani is skeptical.
Frank asks his lawyer to represent Sean. He then tells A.D.A. Curtright that Boyd’s investigation could lead to the Lady Belle case falling apart. Curtright agrees they should wait for the Lady Belle conviction before addressing Boyd’s murder accusations.
As Frank leaves the office, Boyd angrily tells him he should have cut a deal. Frank violently shoves Boyd into a wall.
Frank finds Maya at her sister’s house and tells her Sean confessed to murders he didn’t commit. He convinces her to be Sean’s alibi by threatening to arrest her in front of her kids.
Damon and Nick put Skelos’ body in the trunk of his car, then drive it to auto junkyard, where Gus promises to scrap both Skelos’ vehicle and the car they used to rear end him. Damon and Nick head to Flint to lay low.
On the steps of the courthouse, Lt. Dawson tells the press he’s confident they have the right man. Nearby, Frank’s lawyer tells him they can help Sean if they’re able to convince the judge Sean isn’t competent enough to enter a guilty plea.
Mrs. Hobson interrupts Lt. Dawson’s press conference, waving the photo of Damon that Frank gave her. “Tell them what you told me,” she demands, looking at Frank. Frank ignores her. In front of reporters, she calls the D.P.D. “nothing but liars.”
Inside county lockup, Maya asks Sean why he’s confessing. “You’re the one who put me here,” he says, blaming her for getting him hooked on coke and giving up on him. She tells him to go to hell. As Sean is led away, he tells his guard not to admit any visitors or lawyers.
At Geddes’ house, April informs Geddes that her mother wants her to move back in. “Your mom is right, you’re better off with her,” Geddes responds.
Damon calls Maya to tell her Skelos is dead. Still angry at Damon, she mentions that Sean confessed to Billy Hobson’s murder. After the call, Damon confidently tells Nick that he and Maya will come back to him just like she always does.
Geddes visits Frank at home and tells him Boyd called an emergency meeting for the next day. Frank reveals he’s had Brendan’s prepay phone all along and says they’ll need to make it traceable to Sean.
Later, Frank plants the prepay phone in Sean’s folder in the evidence room.
The next day at the mayor’s office, Boyd tells Curtright and Deputy Mayor Cook that Frank and Geddes killed Brendan. He lays out his case, including new evidence from the coroner about the degree of digestion of Brendan’s last meal that puts his time of death in doubt. Dani reveals that she wore a wire to record Frank talking about Katia, who Boyd thinks lured Bobek to his death. Lt. Dawson reminds everyone that they have a suspect who’s already confessed, along with a prepay phone linking him to Brendan.
“You wore a wire,” Frank says, confronting Dani during a break. “You’re a coward,” she counters.
As Damon crosses the parking lot of his motel in Flint, two masked men pull up in a car. One of them gets out and guns Damon down, then takes a photo of Damon’s body with his mobile phone.
Back at the mayor’s office, Curtright apologizes to Frank and Geddes and says there’s no reason to doubt Sean’s sworn statement. Boyd laughs in disbelief as the room empties. “You know I’m right!” he screams repeatedly while angrily slamming a laptop computer against the conference table.
Frank visits Sean to say good-bye. “I told you, I’m no good,” Sean says.
At police headquarters, Frank tells Lt. Dawson to “step forward and take a bow” when the Lady Belle verdict comes in. As for the family members he called about the falsified suicides, Frank suggests they pin the suicide declarations on Brendan. He then agrees to go on psych leave.
As he leaves, Frank tells Dani, “You’re a good cop. If I was you, I’d pack my sh-t up.”
At home, Boyd pours a drink and despondently watches the security cam footage of Frank and Geddes from Brendan’s house.
At Reverend Lowdown’s house, A-K shows Lowdown the photo of Damon’s dead body. When Lowdown asks if there are any cops who might give them heat about the murder, A-K mentions that Maya knows Frank. Lowdown considers that for a moment, then smashes the phone.
Maya crosses to the window as Nick pulls into the driveway in Damon’s car. When Nick exits the vehicle and buries his face in his hands, Maya collapses to her knees, realizing Damon is dead.
At home, Geddes tells April that her place is with him. “What about your big case?” she asks. “It’s over. We got him,” Geddes says.
Frank identifies Katia’s body at the coroner’s office and asks to make funeral arrangements. “What’s the name of the deceased?” the coroner asks. Frank has no answer.
Description courtesy AMC.
First aired: October 6, 2013.
What do you think? Do you like the Low Winter Sun TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for another season?
WHAT A SHAME!!! Really good show – too bad
I haven’t heard of the show. It does seem that the good ones get cancelled before they start.
There are so many TV shows that the so called acting makes you cringe. These guys can act so I suppose that means it will be cancelled People amaze me. The shows they love are so lame Everyone on it did a good job. What a shame for people like us that lose out because the good shows get the axe.
LWS is dark & twisted … The city is dark & twisted … I’m dark & twisted. This works for me ;-).
Sure it has its foibles. Comparing season 1 of anything to the final season of anything is silly. From what I’ve heard, season 1 of breaking bad didn’t do as well as lws did this year. imo, this should mean that it stays on the air. Hopefully amc execs give it a chance.
i like it better than breaking bad…!
One of the best shows that I have seen in years. Great characters, casting, storyline, and definitely should be renewed…..
We agree with Thomas; Hands Down!
My husband and I were disappointed when the show just went off the air and in the meantime, the time slot has been replaced with more zombie Crap. Please bring LWS back.
I never compared it to Breaking Bad. Who could? But I’d like to see it renewed.
I became involved with the search for Katia (AHH, the romantic that I am.) I’m hoping for a 2nd season. The series paled in comparison to Breaking. IMHO, few new introductions wouldn’t.
I appreciate the opportunity to post opinion. Wish many more will, either way.
Definitely renew this show. Could be a real character study of the Detroit police detectives. Will be especially interesting now that the city is bankrupt.
I didnt care too much for the show at first but I have progressively opened up to it as I get to know each character better. In many peoples eyes, it was doomed to fail following Breaking Bad. AMC tried to pimp it off to Breaking Bad’s huge fanbase and I have to say that trying to sell it as a replacement for Breaking Bad was a terrible idea. A show like that would have to be followed by something like HBO’s The Wire in order to hold on to a large portion of the same fanbase. Breaking Bad and… Read more »
This show deserves another season. The acting is very good and the production values are way better than average. The story of corruption has come to a close but has prepared the audience for the redemption of the two lead cops in a new season. Detroit is worthy of having a show unfold on its streets and it’s refreshing not to see LA or NYC as a background. (I have no connection to Detroit.) I hope it gets another shot.
Yea it isn’t the best show in the world and NOTHING could follow Breaking Bad and survive well in that shadow but this show deserves a second season.
***Spoiler***
So glad Damon finally got his due 😉
I think it’s good. Started slowly but it’s picking up especially after 9/29 episode.
They shouldn’t have pushed it so hard at Breaking Bad fans. Tough act for any sow to follow.
The predicament of the main character is more compelling with each episode. If Low Winter Sun had time to develop, he would make a good complex lead. All of the lead characters have good potential. It hasn’t found an audience because of the way it was marketed.
It’s a ok show. And the acting fine. But the story about corrupt cops isn’t catching on. why? because , you can stomach such a story for a while, but a whole series of it, is hard to take. the shield was like that, but it had a character that you liked in spite of his evil nature. and he did good in spite of himself. all we get here is a story about the two cops trying to frame someone else for their murder of the slimey bad cop. I watch it , but it’s because of the actors… Read more »
Lackluster unrealistic plot, bad writting and the name, Low winter sun? Pull the plug!
It is an odd name but its a remake of the British TV miniseries that had the same name. You know how fruity they get across the pond. I was born in Detroit and we never used the term “low winter sun” but it refers to the sun lying lower on the horizon during the winter. It can be blinding at times, making it difficult to find your way.